Ella Langley and Riley Green Lead Nashville Songwriter Awards
The ninth annual Nashville Songwriter Awards at the Ryman Auditorium honored Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' as song of the year. Riley Green was named songwriter-artist of the year, and Vince Gill received recognition among other honorees. The event celebrated the songwriting community behind country music's biggest hits.
The ceremony featured multiple live performances woven between awards, with Ella Langley joining HARDY, Jordan Schmidt, and Smith Ahnquist for "Be Her" before reuniting with co-writers Joybeth Taylor and Luke Dick for the night's top-winning song. Riley Green brought Hannah McFarland onstage for "Don't Mind If I Do," one of ten selections in the "10 Songs I Wish I'd Written" segment, which also recognized Blake Pendergrass's work on two Morgan Wallen tracks.
Paul Williams received the president's keystone award, arriving onstage alongside the Muppet character Gonzo, a nod to his enduring "Rainbow Connection" from 1979's The Muppet Movie. Vince Gill was saluted with the Kris Kristofferson lifetime achievement honor, capping an evening that also saw Green credit his grandfather Buford's wit as an early songwriting influence.
The awards could reinforce Nashville's emphasis on craft over celebrity, potentially shaping how emerging songwriters view career pathways in country music. Recognition from peers may elevate the honorees' profiles for publishing deals and co-writing invitations, while spotlighting the collaborative relationships behind hit records. The event may also remind audiences that country's commercial successes often trace back to a tight-knit creative community whose contributions are frequently overlooked in mainstream coverage.