SESAC names 'Thank God' song of the year
SESAC, one of Nashville's performing rights organizations, honored its top songwriters and publishers Sunday night during its annual Nashville Music Awards held at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Jon Nite took home Songwriter of the Year for his multiple hits including "Dancin' in the Country" recorded by Tyler Hubbard; “You Didn’t,” recorded by Brett Young; and “Pick Me Up,” recorded by Gabby Barrett. Nite has 18 No. 1 songs to his name and told the crowd Sunday night he had to write a thousand songs before he had one cut.
"In 1998 I moved here with 500 bucks and now I'm here," Nite said. "Just keep writing songs that are part of your life, cause that's what I've been doing and those are the only ones that ever work, Just be true to yourself."
He added that "Dancin' in the Country" was inspired by the true story of him and his wife of 26 years parked on a dirt road years ago "in the middle of nowhere in Texas" where she taught him to two-step.
"That's why we wrote that song. It sounds like we made it up, but that's really what happened," he said.
Artists including Keith Urban, Barrett Dierks Bentley congratulated Nite via a pre-recorded video that also featured Nite's family. At the end of his acceptance speech, SESAC's SVP and Head of Nashville Creative Shannon Hatch presented Nite with a custom Gibson guitar.
SESAC's Song of the Year: Kane and Katelyn Brown's 'Thank God'
“Thank God,” was SESAC’s Song of the Year, written by Josh Hoge and Christian Stalnecker and recorded by Kane Brown and his wife, Katelyn Brown. Sony Music Publishing took home the title of Publisher of the Year, after winning seven awards throughout the night.
Kane Brown attended to help present the award to Hoge and Stalnecker.
Megan Moroney opened the show with an acoustic performance of her hit "Tennessee Orange." Dillon Carmichael played his song "Son of A," and also received his first award as a songwriter for that song.
Jamey Johnson received a standing ovation for his rendition of Albert E. Brumley's "I'll Fly Away," in honor of Brumley being presented the SESAC Heritage Award for his 80-year partnership with SESAC.
Here is the full list of SESAC's 2023 honorees:
“THANK GOD”
Written by: Josh Hoge, Christian Stalnecker
Published by: Blunts and Bonfires Music, Feels Like Friday, Sony Music Publishing, Chorus 2 Music, RMM 416 Publishing
Recorded by: Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown
“DANCIN’ IN THE COUNTRY”
Written by: Jon Nite
Published by: Cuts Like A Nite Music, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Tyler Hubbard
“TENNESEE ORANGE”
Written by: Megan Moroney
Published by: Georgiamo, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Megan Moroney
“YOUR HEART OR MINE”
Written by: Justin Ebach
Published by: Phat Racoon, Universal Tunes
Recorded by: Jon Pardi
“YOU DIDN’T”
Written by: Jon Nite
Published by: Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Brett Young
“PICK ME UP”
Written by: Jon Nite
Published by: Cuts Like A Nite Music, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Gabby Barrett
“GIRL IN MINE”
Written by: Casey Brown
Published by: Track & Feels, Warner Chappell Music, Tape Room Tunes
Recorded by: Parmalee
“WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE”
Written by: Chris LaCorte
Published by: Card Tables Music, Hang Your Hat Hits, Concord Tunes
Recorded by: Sam Hunt
“BURY ME IN GEORGIA”
Written by: Josh Hoge
Published by: Blunts and Bonfires Music, Chorus 2 Music, Sony Music Nashville
Recorded by: Kane Brown
“OUT IN THE MIDDLE”
Written by: Ben Simonetti, Zac Brown
Published by: Simonetti Music Publishing, Day For The Dead Publishing
Recorded by: Zac Brown Band
“Y’ALL LIFE”
Written by: Josh Jenkins, Pete Good
Published by: Follow Me Where I Go, SMACKWORKS Music
Recorded by: Walker Hayes
“SON OF A”
Written by: Dillon Carmichael
Published by: Riser House Tunes, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Dillon Carmichael
“PARTY MODE”
Written by: Jared Keim
Published by: Twelve6 Sequoia, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Dustin Lynch
“CHANGE OF HEART”
Written by: Margo Price, Jeremy Ivey
Published by: Peach Pit, Fisheye, RMM 416 Publishing, Good Songs We Love
Recorded by: Margo Price
“THAT KIND OF LIFE (THAT KIND OF DAY)”
Written by: Jim Lauderdale
Published by: Wudang Mountain Songs, Critter City Music
Recorded by: Jim Lauderdale
“TALL AND MIGHTY”
Written by: Kelsey Waldon
Published by: MyKaintuck Publishing, Do Write Music
Recorded by: Kelsey Waldon
“DON’T LET THE DARKNESS”
Written by: Ed Jurdi
Published by: Three Pisces Music
Recorded by: The Band of Heathens
“ALL I REALLY WANNA DO”
Written by: Henry Brill
Published by: Kobalt Group Publishing
Recorded by: Devon Gilfillian
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: SESAC crowns Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year at annual event
