CMA Celebrates Top Songwriters During 11th Annual CMA Triple Play Awards

CMA Songwriters Series Draws Sold-Out Audience to Marathon Music Works with
Country Music’s Biggest Hitmakers

CMA recognized 16 of Country Music’s most successful songwriters during the 11^th Annual CMA Triple Play Awards Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. During the luncheon, honorees received trophies for having written three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period based on the Country Aircheck, Billboard Country Airplay and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern welcomed luncheon guests before turning the podium over to event host Jim Beavers, CMA Board President Elect and Big Yellow Dog Music songwriter, who presented trophies to the 16 songwriters: Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Ross Copperman, Justin Ebach, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Shay Mooney, Jon Nite, Josh Osborne, Bobby Pinson, Matthew Ramsey, Jordan Reynolds, Thomas Rhett, Trevor Rosen and Dan Smyers. Video montages of YouTube fan videos were played prior to each recipient sharing comments onstage.

Earning a trio of CMA Triple Play Awards for the second time in his career for penning nine songs within a 12-month period, Gorley is the most decorated Triple Play Award recipient with 15 total Triple Play trophies to his credit.

Brown secured his first Triple Play Award with his newborn daughter amongst the luncheon’s special guests. “I am glad to call Nashville my home,” he remarked. “I want to say thanks to Universal for taking me in and connecting me with a bunch of writers that have become some of my best friends. A lot of my No. 1’s are their first No. 1’s and it’s just amazing to be a part of.”

First-time Triple Play Award recipient Ebach shared a story about a message he received from a stranger on Facebook. “’I know you don’t know me, but my wife got diagnosed with cancer last year and her first song on her playlist was “Singles You Up.” For her it was an anthem to get her through chemo.’ It’s amazing how a ridiculous title like that can go and do something like that in somebody’s life and lift them up basically in the worst time possible. What we do here really matters and I’m grateful for this town giving me the chance to do that,” said Ebach.

“This means a lot to me because no one voted on it,” said Pinson. “You either did it or you didn’t. You aren’t waiting on someone to say you did it. I appreciate that and I know everyone up here does. This is my second one and my last one was 11 years ago. I think that probably means more to me than if I had got a bunch back to back. I had to stay here a long time and that takes a lot of people for a guy to be himself for that long.”

“To my team that listens to my songs, my two best A&R people my two little girls. If they don’t like it in the car, then it probably means it’s not a great song,” said Thomas Rhett. “Super grateful to the Lord for allowing me to write songs and sing them for people. It’s a huge honor.”

After the luncheon, Copperman hosted a sold-out CMA Songwriters Series show at Marathon Music Works featuring songwriters Ebach, Gorley, Nite, Pinson and Reynolds performing songs they’ve written, including several of their CMA Triple Play Award-winning songs and sharing never-before-told stories with the room.

“We got to write this song (‘Living’) in Telluride, CO, talking about life and all the things we take for granted on an everyday basis,” said Gorley. “This is one of those rare songs that we try to live by a little bit. Most of our songs we try to do the opposite. This is one of those that you try to pay attention to.”

Reynolds had encouraging words for all of the songwriters in the room. “I was you not long ago and just encourage you guys. Keep doing your thing. Keep doing what you think is cool and hopefully that becomes cool. Nobody likes you until somebody likes you, and then everybody likes you. That’s how this town works. So just keep plugging away.”

“We’ve all written songs that we love and we love to hear our good songs get heard but most of us are writing bad songs to afford our good song habit,” Pinson joked.

“We’re all friends and we cheer for each other,” said Copperman. “I get emotional watching all these guys play these songs because they have worked so hard to get here. It’s amazing. Part of my personality is that I just want everyone to get along. I wrote a song called ‘Get Along’ and Kenny Chesney recorded it.”

In addition to the special performance, $3 from every ticket sold will benefit CMA’s philanthropic arm, the CMA Foundation, which is committed to improving and sustaining high-quality music education programs across the U.S. See the full set list below.

CMA Songwriters Series Set List:

Ross Copperman – “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” (Recorded by Keith Urban)
Justin Ebach – “Good Girl” (Recorded by Dustin Lynch)
Jon Nite – “Knockin’ Boots” (Recorded by Luke Bryan)
Jordan Reynolds – “Speechless” (Recorded by Dan + Shay)
Bobby Pinson – “Burning Man” (Recorded by Dierks Bentley)
Ashley Gorley – “Living” (Recorded by Dierks Bentley)
Ross Copperman – “Woman, Amen” (Recorded by Dierks Bentley)
Justin Ebach – “Here Tonight” (Recorded by Brett Young)
Jon Nite – “I Hope” (Recorded by Gabby Barrett)
Jordan Reynolds – “10,000 Hours” (Recorded by Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber)
Bobby Pinson – “Some Of It” (Recorded by Eric Church)
Ashley Gorley – “Dirt On My Boots” (Recorded by Jon Pardi)
Ross Copperman – “Nobody But You” (Recorded by Blake Shelton, duet with Gwen Stefani)
Justin Ebach – “Singles You Up” (Recorded by Jordan Davis)
Jon Nite – “Break On Me” (Recorded by Keith Urban)
Jordan Reynolds – “All To Myself” (Recorded by Dan + Shay)
Bobby Pinson – “Up”
Ashley Gorley – “I Don’t Know About You” (Recorded by Chris Lane)
Ross Copperman – “Get Along” (Recorded by Kenny Chesney)
Justin Ebach – “Sleep Without You” (Recorded by Brett Young)
Jon Nite – “Break Up in the End” (Recorded by Cole Swindell)
Jordan Reynolds – “Tequila” (Recorded by Dan + Shay)
Bobby Pinson – Comedic medley of songs recorded by Sugarland
Ashley Gorley – “Remember You Young” (Recorded by Thomas Rhett)

The 11^th Annual CMA Triple Play Awards recipients were recognized for the following:

Kane Brown
“Lose It” recorded by Kane Brown
“Good As You” recorded by Kane Brown
“One Thing Right” recorded by Marshmello & Kane Brown

Luke Combs
“She Got The Best Of Me” recorded by Luke Combs
“Beautiful Crazy” recorded by Luke Combs
“Beer Never Broke My Heart” recorded by Luke Combs

Ross Copperman
“Woman, Amen” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“Get Along” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“Love Ain’t” recorded by Eli Young Band

Justin Ebach
“Singles You Up” recorded by Jordan Davis
“Good Girl” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Here Tonight” recorded by Brett Young

Jesse Frasure
“One That Got Away” recorded by Michael Ray
“One Thing Right” recorded by Marshmello & Kane Brown
“Remember You Young” recorded by Thomas Rhett

Ashley Gorley
“What Makes You Country” recorded by Luke Bryan
“Eyes On You” recorded by Chase Rice
“Love Ain’t” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Rumor” recorded by Lee Brice
“Living” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“I Don’t Know About You” recorded by Chris Lane
“Good Vibes” recorded by Chris Janson
“Remember You Young” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Ridin’ Roads” recorded by Dustin Lynch

Michael Hardy
“Up Down” recorded by Morgan Wallen featuring Florida Georgia Line
“Simple” recorded by Florida Georgia Line
“God’s Country” recorded by Blake Shelton

Shay Mooney
“Speechless” recorded by Dan + Shay
“All To Myself” recorded by Dan + Shay
“10,000 Hours” recorded by Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber

Jon Nite
“Break Up In The End” recorded by Cole Swindell
“Knockin’ Boots” recorded by Luke Bryan
“Living” recorded by Dierks Bentley

Josh Osborne
“Kiss Somebody” recorded by Morgan Evans
“Hotel Key” recorded by Old Dominion
“One That Got Away” recorded by Michael Ray

Bobby Pinson
“Burning Man” recorded by Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
“Some Of It” recorded by Eric Church
“Rearview Town” recorded by Jason Aldean

Matthew Ramsey
“Hotel Key” recorded by Old Dominion
“One That Got Away” recorded by Michael Ray
“Make It Sweet” recorded by Old Dominion

Jordan Reynolds
“Speechless” recorded by Dan + Shay
“Tequila” recorded by Dan + Shay
“All To Myself” recorded by Dan + Shay

Thomas Rhett
“Sixteen” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Look What God Gave Her” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Remember You Young” recorded by Thomas Rhett

Trevor Rosen
“Hotel Key” recorded by Old Dominion
“One That Got Away” recorded by Michael Ray
“Make It Sweet” recorded by Old Dominion

Dan Smyers
“Speechless” recorded by Dan + Shay
“Tequila” recorded by Dan + Shay
“All To Myself” recorded by Dan + Shay