Vince Gill & Charlie Handsome Lead 2026 NMPA Gold & Platinum Gala Honorees

The 2026 NMPA Gold and Platinum Gala honoured more than 150 Nashville songwriters whose country songs received new RIAA certifications. Charlie Handsome was named songwriter of the year, while Vince Gill received a legacy songwriter icon award, recognising both recent commercial success and enduring work.

The ceremony covered certifications earned between July 2025 and June 2026, including songs old and new. Luke Combs’s “Beautiful Crazy” received the platinum anthem honour after reaching 15-times Platinum; Handsome earned 35 new country certifications, and songs by Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood and others were also recognised. The late Brett James was remembered as a co-writer of “Jesus, Take the Wheel”, which reached 3-times Platinum.