67th Annual BMI Country Awards & Fashion

Top Country songwriters & publishers honoured at November 12th event; “Rocky Top” to be presented inaugural Evergreen Award

Country music great Dwight Yoakam was in the spotlight at this year’s BMI Awards Banquet on Music Row (Tuesday Nov 12, 219) .

The new Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee was presented with the organization’s President’s Award at the BMI ceremony. His songs were sung by Jon Pardi (“Guitars, Cadillacs”), Bob Weir with Margo Price (“Fast As You”) and the sensational, harmonizing Highwomen backed by Jason Isbell (“A Thousand Miles From Nowhere”).

Video tributes were offered by Paige Levy, Billy Bob Thornton, Eric Church, Peter Cooper, Jim Ed Norman, Ken Burns, Emmylou Harris and Marty Stuart.

“Awards…remind me of how lucky I am to make a living doing what I love,” said Yoakam. “I wrote primarily because these were things I needed to say.

BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill hostedthe ceremony with Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Creative, Nashville. The BMI President’s Award is presented to songwriters who have distinctly and profoundly influenced the entertainment industry. In receiving the award, Yoakam joined an impressive list of past honourees that includes Kenny Chesney, P!nk, Harlan Howard, Brooks & Dunn, Pitbull, Adam Levine, Billy Sherrill, and Toni Braxton.

Yoakam has sold over 25 million albums worldwide, with five reaching the #1 spot on Billboard. He is a 21-time nominated, multiple GRAMMY Award winner, who has 12 gold albums and 9 platinum or multi-platinum albums. He is also the recipient of the Artist of the Year award from the Americana Music Association.

Highlights from the 2019 BMI Country Awards Honoring Dwight Yoakam

BMI’s Songwriter of the Year award was a tie between Ross Copperman and Nicolle Galyon. “I’m so thankful every day of my life,” said Ross. “And thank-you, BMI, for everything you do for us.”

GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter and producer  Copperman addied to his cachet as one of the most influential figures in country music after taking home his third BMI Songwriter of the Year award last night, following wins in 2016 and 2017.

“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to work with incredible artists and co-writers and can’t thank the BMI team enough for their unwavering support,” Copperman said after the event.

Ross Copperman takes home his third BMI Songwriter of the Year award.
Photo Credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

Fortuitously, his fourth solo track of 2019, “Feels Like I’m Home,” co-written with hitmakers Lolo Pritchard and Jon Nite, was made available to all digital partners last Friday, Nov. 8. Recently Copperman moved up to No. 3 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart with four tunes in rotation, including “Living” (Dierks Bentley), “Tip of My Tongue” (Kenny Chesney), “Catch” (Brett Young) and “What She Wants Tonight” (Luke Bryan).

Ross Copperman Accepts The Songwriter of the Year Award at The 2019 BMI Country Awards

Fresh off his ACM Award win for Music Event of the Year as producer of the Dierks Bentley and Brothers Osborne collaboration “Burning Man,” Copperman continues to extend his impressive list of professional accolades. A five-time CMA Triple Play Award winner, Copperman is nominated for CMA Single of the Year for the Dierks Bentley and Brothers Osborne collaboration “Burning Man” and was nominated twice last year for CMA Album of the Year for Keith Urban’s Graffiti U and Dierks Bentley’s The Mountain.
 Likewise, Copperman’s songwriting talents have shined on a total of 21 No. 1 hits for artists such as Luke Bryan (“Strip It Down”), Kenny Chesney (“Setting the World on Fire”) and Florida Georgia Line (“Confession”). Earlier this year, his “Stars Are on Your Side” was featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday and was also featured on an episode of ABC’s award-winning show Grey’s Anatomy. Copperman has had numerous other major placements in TV shows and movies including CSI: NY, The Vampire Diaries, The Biggest Loser, NCIS and Nashville.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Copperman is on the ACM board of directors for Lifting Lives, a philanthropic effort that funds music health programs while also serving members of the music community who face unexpected hardships. He has also led a very personal nonprofit initiative as co-founder of Songfarm, a program that provides high school students the proper studio equipment to help them reach their music dreams. visit songfarm.org.

Being a Part of the BMI Family at the 2019 BMI Country Awards

Nicole Galyon’s co-written “Tequila” was named Song of the Year. She movingly recalled first coming to the BMI banquet and watching from outside as the driver for Greg Oswald. Then she attended as a “plus one” on the arm of her award-winning songwriter husband Rodney Clawson. Then she started writing songs and winning BMI awards, herself. So it was a long trip to the stage to accept Songwriter of the Year.

tequila won song of the year at the @bmi awards last week! this one has taken us on such an incredible journey, and we’re grateful for every minute of it. thank you to our fans for listening, and thank you radio for always having our backs. 🥃 pic.twitter.com/v4rKclKepG

— Dan + Shay (@DanAndShay) November 20, 2019

“Coming to this night has been a metric of how I measured my career,” said Nicolle. “I have stars in my eyes.”

Nicolle Galyon Accepts The Songwriter of the Year Award at The 2019 BMI Country Awards:

BMI introduced a new honour, the Legacy Award. The Legacy Award will honor indelible classics that not only found commercial success, but have also found a life of their own in the consciousness of the public. This year’s honour went to the timeless “Rocky Top,” penned by legendary BMI writers Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. The invitation-only ceremony will take place at BMI’s Music Row offices.

A few photos from The BMI Awards this week! We were so excited to celebrate “Cry Pretty” this year. Missed you, @LoriMcKennaMA! ✨🎶😊 pic.twitter.com/jSVq1E74Mh

— Creative Nation (@_CreativeNation) November 15, 2019

One outstanding feature of the gala was that there were an impressive 20 songwriters receiving their first BMI Awards – Riley Green, Ryan Hurd, Michael Hardy, Morgan Evans and Morgan Wallen, for starters.

The other first-time honorees were Jeff Middleton, Will Weatherly, Jason Gantt, J.P. Williams, Rob Snyder, Channing Wilson, Blake Chaffin, Brad Clawson, Phillip LaRue, Chase McGill, Erik Dylan, Lindsay Rimes, Rob Willford and Mark Holman. Also receiving his first BMI country songwriting award was Chris Stevens, although he has many big CCM hits to his credit.

CONNECT with BMI:

ABOUT BMI:

Celebrating over 78 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in 14 million musical works created and owned by more than 900,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.‘s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI’s The Weekly™ and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.

67th Annual BMI Country Awards Carpet Fashion

Abby Anderson – The bubby 22-year-old “Make Him Wait” singer-songwriter wore a wine coloured one shoulder tiered gown and open heels.

Carrie Underwood – The 36-year-old “Southbound” superstar received a BMI award for her hit tune Cry Pretty. She looked relaxed and sparkled in glittering floral halter gown that featured an emerald top half and a dark blue skirt; the sleeveless number featured floral designs embroidered throughout with a charcoal metal chainlink accent along the neckline, waist and sides.

Dustin Lynch arrived to the BMI awards show with beautiful model Kelli Seymour (Select Model); in April, he said during his The Bobby Bones Show interview that he was on a date recently but didn't divulge if he was in a relationship. Kelli stunned in a rose and silver wrap dress wearing silver heels.

TOP (L-R): Abby Anderson, Carrie Underwood, Kelli Seymour (Select Model)
BOTTOM (L-R): Heather Morgan, Ingrid Andress, Jessie James Decker

Heather Morgan – The 34-year-old "Stranger to Myself" songwriter wore a full length polka -dot with side black and white waitline accents.

Ingrid Andress – The 28-year-old Colorado "More Hearts Than Mine" singer-songwriter wore a black trouser suit with silver detailing adding matching black pointy heels.

Jessie James Decker – The 31-year old singer-songwriter and TV personality wore a low-cut striped dress with ruffled sleeves

showing off cleavage in the plunging low-cut striped number which has a symmetrical hemline with lace accents. She paired the black and cream hued number with some strappy gold heels adding her large diamond wedding ring with matching diamond studded earrings and a gold pendant necklace.

Jessie Jo Dillon SWAG RAGS: The Love Her Like She’s Leaving and Break Up In The End songwriter wore a multi-colored sleeved Alice and Olivia full length dress | Neil Robison (hair + make up), Tan (Beautiful By Joule) Instagram

Kalie Shorr – The 25-year-old "F U Forever" singer-songwriter wore a bubble sleeved Elleryland back top adding a grey skirt for a monochromatic look. She carried a Zadig & Voltaire and stepped out in style adding black open Cape Robbin flame accent wedge heel sandals She carried a Sac Lolita Leo Flower purse | Hair (shannon skybolt)

Kelsea Ballerini – Attending the awards with Aussie husband Morgan Evans (who was a BMI medallion award winner) rocked a red set strapless low-cut crop top; she paired the red top - which featured a zipper detail in the center  with matching hued trousers adding cream Stuart Weitzman sandals. | Stylist (Hannah Kerri), Makeup (Kelsey Deenihan)

TOP (L-R): Jessie Jo Dillon (Alice and Olivia), Kalie Shorr (Elleryland), Kelsea Ballerini
BOTTOM (L-R): Lindsay Ell (Attico), Maggie Rose, Maren Morris

Lindsay Ell - Golden Girl Moment: The 30-year old Canadian singer-songwriter glowed in a short gold striped Attico dress (Shop) with sequinned details. Nashville Fashion Stylist (Cherie Kilchrist LA/), Nashville Wardrobe Stylist (Logan Wilson);

Glam (Tarryn Feldman). Swipe Instagram photos.

Maggie Rose – The 31-year-old "Body on Fire" singer-songwriter donned a black jumpsuit adding silver spiked heels | Wardrobe (Raina Gir)

Maren Morris – The 29-year old "The Bones" singer-songwriter hit the carpet with husband and father-to-be Ryan Hurd wearing a smart crystal emblazoned blazer with matching trousers; her barely-there baby bump peeked through the cover up

Meghan Patrick – Attending the attend the 67th Annual BMI Country Awards with her boyfriend Mitchell Tenpenny the 32-year- old Grace & Grit songstress wore a strapless black plunging leather dress with a side slit adding open black ankle strap heels | 

Styling (Bed Head by TIGI), Hair (amika), Hair & Makeup (Kristen Carbine Alford; Chantal Ingram)

RaeLynn – The 25-year-old "Bra Off" / The Voice season 2 alum choose a gown by designer Michael Fausto. The God Made Girls singer accessorized with Vince Camuto shoes, a Gedebe bag, Andrea Fohrman earrings and rings by Dannijo and Nina Tank - Instagram Video Clip

Sara Evans Rainbow Number: The 48-year old "Born to Fly" singer sparkled like a disco ball wearing a Retrofete "Gabrielle" cocktail dress in sequin rainbow-striped georgette. It features a V neckline, Long blouson sleeves, removable velvet sash at waist.

With a hem that hits above the knee (Product BGF20_TZ8D3). She added a pair of Massimo Bonini Gold pointy heels and carried a lemon

Gedebe clutch. | Tiffany Gifford (Celebrity Wardrobe Stylist), Hair & Makeup / Glam (Debbie Dover; #maccosmetics #nyxcosmetics)

TOP (L-R): Meghan Patrick, Natalie Hemby, RaeLynn (Michael Fausto)
BOTTOM (L-R): Sara Evans (Retrofete), Stephanie Quayle (ALEXIS), Tanya Tucker (Double Dranch)

Stephanie Quayle – The 37-year-old "If I Was A Cowboy" singer-songwriter wore a

black embroidered lace ALEXIS Hilaria Dress from their Fall-Winter 2019 ready to wear collection. The embroidered dress had a  mock neck. (Product £498.52  shop-alexis.com)

Tanya Tucker – The 61-year old "Bring My Flowers Now" singer chose a patterned multitude of colour look adding  

Double Dranch attire from her own collection (Website)

SOURCE: Daily Mail via @DailyMailCeleb (Getty Images)