The ninth annual Nashville Songwriter Awards honoured the writers behind some of country music’s most notable songs of the year at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor and Luke Dick won song of the year for “Choosin’ Texas”, while Riley Green was named songwriter-artist of the year and Blake Pendergrass songwriter of the year.

Paul Williams received NSAI’s president’s keystone award, and Vince Gill was presented with the Kris Kristofferson lifetime achievement award. Don Schlitz’s “The Gambler” received the legendary song honour, while performances throughout the evening celebrated the winning songs and honourees, including Gill, Langley and Green.