{
  "id": 9381524,
  "title": "Ella Langley, Riley Green, Vince Gill Among Top Honorees at Nashville Songwriters Awards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/ella-langley-riley-green-vince-gill-among-top-honorees-at-nashville",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-23T16:59:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/riley-green-ella-langley-nashville-songwriters-awards-1236345315/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 22, 2026, the Nashville Songwriters Awards took place at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, honoring the songwriters behind some of the year's most beloved songs. Among the top honorees were Ella Langley, Riley Green, and Vince Gill. Langley, along with Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor, and Luke Dick, was recognized for co-writing the song of the year, \"Choosin' Texas.\" She made a surprise appearance at the event, performing \"Be Her\" alongside HARDY, Jordan Schmidt, and Smith Ahnquist, and later performed \"Choosin' Texas\" with Taylor and Dick. Langley emphasized the importance of believing in her collaborators, stating that she is grateful for the songwriters who bring her stories to life.\n\nRiley Green, who recently released his album \"That’s Just Me,\" was named Songwriter-Artist of the Year. He expressed his gratitude for being a part of the country music community and credited his late grandfather, Buford, for inspiring his love of poetry and storytelling. Green also performed \"Don’t Mind If I Do\" with Hannah McFarland, a song honored as one of NSAI’s \"10 Songs I Wish I’d Written.\"\n\nBlake Pendergrass was honored as Songwriter of the Year for his work on songs like Morgan Wallen's \"20 Cigarettes\" and \"Just in Case.\" ASCAP president/chairman of the board and songwriter Paul Williams received the NSAI’s President’s Keystone Award, co-writing classics such as \"Rainbow Connection\" and \"I’m Going to Go Back There Someday\" for the 1979 film The Muppet Movie. Williams reflected on the power of songwriters to share their experiences and celebrate the human condition.\n\nVince Gill was presented with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award. During his acceptance speech, Gill recalled hearing his first band's song on the radio while driving on Interstate 40 in Oklahoma City as a teenager. He credited that moment with giving him hope and reaffirming his belief in the potential of his career. Gill performed Vince Gill's tribute to the late songwriting legend Don Schlitz, \"The Gambler,\" in honor of Schlitz's work.",
  "summary": "Other honorees included Blake Pendergrass, songwriter and music exec Paul Williams and the late songwriting legend Don Schlitz.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}