CMA Celebrates Triple Play Songwriter Recipients 

“Take a look around, y’all, tell me I’m wrong / Ain’t the whole wide world just one big Country song?” LOCASH’s chart-topping hit, “One Big Country Song,” perfectly illustrates Country Music’s unique ability to describe a sentiment that listeners everywhere can relate to. As do the song’s three co-writers—Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, and Michael Hardy. The songwriters are just three of the 19 songwriters CMA recently awarded with its distinguished Triple Play Award.  

CMA hosted its 12th CMA Triple Play Awards on May 12 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works during an industry ceremony, marking the event’s official return following a two-year postponement due to the pandemic. Presented to songwriters who pen three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period based on the Country Aircheck, Billboard Country Airplay and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, the Triple Play Awards are a pinnacle achievement among songwriters as well as CMA. Composers make up one of the organization’s 17 professional categories of membership, and the Triple Play Awards have given much-deserved attention to the work of Country Music’s songwriting community for more than a decade.  

Throughout the Triple Play Awards ceremony, countless songwriters accepted their trophies while sharing heartfelt appreciation for the recognition, often pointing to the inspiration they have felt for songwriters who have come before them—many of which have previously been awarded with Triple Play Awards.  

One such inspiration—Bob DiPiero. As one of Nashville’s most celebrated and consistent songwriters, DiPiero became the inaugural recipient of CMA’s Songwriter Advocate Award, which was created to recognize an individual who has dedicated their life to supporting and advancing the art of songwriting and careers of songwriters. With more than 1,000 songs recorded by other artists—including countless hit singles and several No. 1 hits—DiPiero has been a driving force not only in the development of the Triple Play Award honor, but also with the creation of the CMA Songwriters Series, which began in 2005 at Joe’s Pub in New York City.  

“The Triple Play Awards I have won are a high watermark in my career,” says DiPiero. “Seeing the new Triple Play Award winners accept their trophy’s makes me feel like Country Music’s  future is in good hands. [And] Receiving the first ever CMA Advocacy fills me up with gratitude,” he continues. “I have just done what is in my heart to do.”

The Triple Play Awards event personified the true nature of the Country genre, full of collaboration, artistry and the creative minds that make up its ecosystem. Triple Play Award honorees were surprised by special guest presenters, all with a meaningful relationship to the songwriters. Special guests ranged in relationship and notoriety, from a father, a daughter, and a wife, to friends, colleagues, and co-writers, sharing heartfelt stories and speaking of the impact each recipient has had on their lives and careers. While songwriter after songwriter highlighted the importance of these awards—often citing when the dream of receiving a Triple Play was born—the full scope of the industry, from labels, publishers and PROs to managers and artists, acknowledged and celebrated this monumental achievement.  

“Being in the room during the Triple Play Awards was such a wonderful reminder that our songwriting community is one of the most unique and special aspects of our industry,” reflected Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “In a lot of ways, the heartbeat of Country Music starts with the songwriters, and you could feel that heart and camaraderie so tangibly at this year’s ceremony. I loved looking around and seeing the support and genuine excitement from the guest presenters and others in the room there to cheer on this year’s recipients. And I won’t soon forget the electric performances by Shenandoah, Jeffrey and Neal to honor Bob’s songwriting legacy.”   

Throughout the Triple Play Awards ceremony, as an ode to DiPiero’s long list of memorable hit singles, he was surprised with exciting performances by long-time friends. Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire of Shenandoah performed “The Church on Cumberland Road,” Jeffrey Steele performed “Gone,” and Neal McCoy performed the classic “Wink!,” walking into the crowd to not only toss the mic to DiPiero for a verse, but also while catching the eye of reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs in the front row, who enthusiastically sang into the mic: “All she’s gotta do is just give me that wink!”  

See below for the full list of CMA Triple Play Award winners:    

Brock Berryhill

• “Good As You,” recorded by Kane Brown
• “What Happens in a Small Town,” recorded by Brantley Gilbert & Lindsay Ell
• “Homesick,” recorded by Kane Brown

Luke Combs

• “Even Though I’m Leaving,” recorded by Luke Combs
• “Does To Me,” recorded by Luke Combs ft. Eric Church
• “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” recorded by Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
• “Lovin’ On You,” recorded by Luke Combs
• “Forever After All,” recorded by Luke Combs
• “Better Together,” recorded by Luke Combs

Ross Copperman

• “Love Someone,” recorded by Brett Eldredge
• “Living,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
• “What She Wants Tonight,” recorded by Luke Bryan
• “Catch,” recorded by Brett Young
• “Nobody But You,” recorded by Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani
• “Happy Anywhere,” recorded by Blake Shelton ft. Gwen Stefani

Corey Crowder

• “I Love My Country,” recorded by Florida Georgia Line
• “Long Live,” recorded by Florida Georgia Line
• “Famous Friends,” recorded by Chris Young & Kane Brown

Zach Crowell

• “Good Vibes,” recorded by Chris Janson
• “Ridin’ Roads,” recorded by Dustin Lynch
• “Kinfolks,” recorded by Sam Hunt
• “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s,” recorded by Sam Hunt
• “Waves,” recorded by Luke Bryan
• “Country Again,” recorded by Thomas Rhett

Jesse Frasure

• “One Big Country Song,” recorded by LOCASH
• “hole in the bottle,” recorded by Kelsea Ballerini
• “What’s Your Country Song,” recorded by Thomas Rhett

Ray Fulcher

• “Even Though I’m Leaving,” recorded by Luke Combs
• “Does To Me,” recorded by Luke Combs ft. Eric Church
• “Lovin’ On You,” recorded by Luke Combs

Ashley Gorley

• “Catch,” recorded by Brett Young
• “Hard To Forget,” recorded by Sam Hunt
• “One Big Country Song,” recorded by LOCASH
• “One of Them Girls,” recorded by Lee Brice
• “hole in the bottle,” recorded by Kelsea Ballerini
• “What’s Your Country Song,” recorded by Thomas Rhett
• “Single Saturday Night,” recorded by Cole Swindell
• “Country Again,” recorded by Thomas Rhett
• “You Should Probably Leave,” recorded by Chris Stapleton

Michael Hardy

• “One Big Country Song,” recorded by LOCASH
• “Some Girls,” recorded by Jameson Rodgers
• “More Than My Hometown,” recorded by Morgan Wallen

Hillary Lindsey

• “What She Wants Tonight,” recorded by Luke Bryan
• “ONE BEER,” recorded by HARDY ft. Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson
• “hole in the bottle,” recorded by Kelsea Ballerini

Shane McAnally

• “Make It Sweet,” recorded by Old Dominion
• “Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
• “Nobody But You,” recorded by Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani
• “Hard To Forget,” recorded by Sam Hunt
• “7 Summers,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
• “Champagne Night,” recorded by Lady A

Randy Montana

• “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” recorded by Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
• “Pretty Heart,” recorded by Parker McCollum
• “Better Together,” recorded by Luke Combs

Josh Osborne

• “One Man Band,” recorded by Old Dominion
• “Kinfolks,” recorded by Sam Hunt
• “Nobody But You,” recorded by Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani
• “Hard To Forget,” recorded by Sam Hunt
• “7 Summers,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
• “Happy Anywhere,” recorded by Blake Shelton ft. Gwen Stefani
• “Beers and Sunshine,” recorded by Darius Rucker
• “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s,” recorded by Sam Hunt
• “Sand In My Boots,” recorded by Morgan Wallen

Hunter Phelps

• “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” recorded by Chase Rice ft. Florida Georgia Line
• “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” recorded by Jameson Rodgers ft. Luke Combs
• “Thinking ‘Bout You,” recorded by Dustin Lynch ft. MacKenzie Porter

Thomas Rhett

• “Beer Can’t Fix,” recorded by Thomas Rhett ft. Jon Pardi
• “Be A Light,” recorded by Thomas Rhett ft. Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban
• “What’s Your Country Song” recorded by Thomas Rhett

Jonathan Singleton

• “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” recorded by Luke Combs
• “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” recorded by Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
• “In Between,” recorded by Scotty McCreery
• “Things A Man Oughta Know,” recorded by Lainey Wilson
• “Cold As You,” recorded by Luke Combs
• “Same Boat,” recorded by Zac Brown Band

Ernest Keith Smith

• “I Love My Country,” recorded by Florida Georgia Line
• “More Than My Hometown,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
• “Big, Big Plans,” recorded by Chris Lane

Josh Thompson

• “One Margarita,” recorded by Luke Bryan
• “Be A Light,” recorded by Thomas Rhett ft. Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban
• “Wasted On You,” recorded by Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen

• “Chasin’ You” recorded by Morgan Wallen
• “7 Summers” recorded by Morgan Wallen
• “More Than My Hometown” recorded by Morgan Wallen