CMA Triple Play Award Songwriter Recipients Celebrated During Industry Ceremony

THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES CMA TRIPLE PLAY AWARD SONGWRITER RECIPIENTS DURING INDUSTRY CEREMONY IN NASHVILLE

Bob DiPiero Awarded Inaugural CMA Songwriter Advocate Award with Surprise Performances by Neal McCoy, Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire of Shenandoah, and Jeffrey Steele

CMA hosted its 12^th CMA Triple Play Awards last night, 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. In addition to honoring 19 CMA Triple Play Award recipients, CMA also awarded Bob DiPiero, Founder of Being Bob Music, with the inaugural CMA Songwriter Advocate Award. The ceremony was hosted by CMA Board Chairman and composer, Jim Beavers.

The CMA Triple Play Award is 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. In total, the 19 songwriters awarded trophies this year account for those who achieved these three No. 1 songs a 12-month period from May 2019 to February 2022: Brock Berryhill, Luke Combs, Ross Copperman, Corey Crowder, Zach Crowell, Jesse Frasure, Ray Fulcher, Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Randy Montana, Josh Osborne, Hunter Phelps, Thomas Rhett, Jonathan Singleton, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson and Morgan Wallen.

Throughout the evening, the Triple Play Award honorees were surprised by special guest presenters, all with a meaningful relationship to the songwriters. Special guest presenters included Brantley Gilbert for Berryhill, Randy Goodman for Combs, Josh Van Valkenburg for Copperman, Tyler Hubbard for Crowder, Madeline Merlo for Crowell, Stevie Frasure for Frasure, Dierks Bentley for Gorley, Kelsea Ballerini and Lindsey’s daughter Bennett for Hillary Lindsey, father Billy Montana for Randy Montana, Bart Herbison for Osborne, Gorley for Phelps, Combs for Singleton, Brad and Brett Warren of The Warren Brothers for Smith, and Mark Wright for Thompson.

Triple Play Award honorees who could not be in attendance, including Fulcher, Hardy, McAnally, Thomas Rhett and Wallen, shared video acceptances that were played throughout the evening.

DiPiero was presented the brand new CMA 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. The individual receiving this award has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of songwriting in the Country Music genre throughout a course of years and has proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on the songwriting community. Their presence will have a long-term positive impact on Country Music and CMA for generations to come.

Throughout the evening, as an ode to DiPiero’s long list of memorable hit singles, he was surprised with performances by good friends Neal McCoy who performed the classic “Wink!,” Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire of Shenandoah performing “The Church on Cumberland Road,” and Jeffrey Steele performing “Gone.” Prior to DiPiero accepting his award, a video montage played with interviews and congratulatory messages from artists, songwriters and industry executives who have worked closely with DiPiero and whose careers have been impacted by his work. Kix Brooks, Dean Dillon, Mike Dungan Amy Kurland, Reba McEntire, Tim Nichols, Steele and Craig Wiseman spoke about his writing being genius, clever and timeless, along with his infectious and distinct laugh, while Chris Young, Jason Gantt, Jeff Garrison and Caitlyn Smith sent in their congratulations to DiPiero for the well-deserved award.

The 12^th CMA Triple Play Awards recipients were recognized for the following:

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