2025Ω ASCAP Nashville Songwriters Celebration header

2025 ASCAP Nashville Songwriters Celebration

November 17, 2025

On November 17, ASCAP celebrated the writers and publishers of the biggest country and Christian music songs of the past year at an exclusive gathering in downtown Nashville. Ashley Gorley was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year for a record-breaking 12th time, and Brandon Lake earned his second ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year award. Shaboozey was honored for his incredible year with the ASCAP Country Songwriter-Artist of the Year award, and he was joined by his "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" co-writers to accept the ASCAP Country Song of the Year award. Brandon Lake and Pat Barrett won ASCAP Christian Song of the Year honors for "Praise."

On the publisher side, Sony Music Publishing and Essential Music Publishing LLC took Country and Christian Publisher of the Year, respectively. See below for our full list of winners.

COUNTRY SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Ashley Gorley

Fix What You Didn't Break • I Am Not Okay • Liar • Love Somebody • Park • Whiskey Whiskey

CHRISTIAN SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Brandon Lake

Hard Fought Hallelujah • Praise • That's Who I Praise

COUNTRY SONGWRITER/ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Shaboozey

At their core, Shaboozey's mega-hits “Good News” and “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” are simple: an acoustic guitar, a pensive lyric, and a charismatic performer who feels every word. These are vulnerable songs, about trying to find light in the darkness. The world needs Shaboozey and his music right now.

COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR: A Bar Song (Tipsy)

Writers: Sean Cook, Jerrell “J-KWON” Jones, Joe Capo Kent, Shaboozey, Mark "Tarboy" Williams
Publishers: Essancy Music, LLC, Hood Hop Music, Kreshendo, Range Music Publishing, Seeker Music, Sony Music Publishing, Tarpo Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music

CHRISTIAN SONG OF THE YEAR: Praise

Writers: Pat Barrett, Brandon Lake
Publishers: Brandon Lake Music, Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing LLC, Housefires Sounds

COUNTRY PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR: Sony Music Publishing

4x4xU • BACKSEAT DRIVER • A BAR SONG (TIPSY) • BEAUTIFUL AS YOU • COMING HOME • COUNTRY HOUSE • COUNTRY SONG CAME ON • COWBOYS CRY TOO • FIX WHAT YOU DIDN'T BREAK • FRIENDS LIKE THAT • HANG TIGHT HONEY • HAPPEN TO ME • HARD FOUGHT HALLELUJAH • HIGH ROAD • HOUSE AGAIN • I AM NOT OKAY • LIAR • LOVE SOMEBODY • LOVE YOU, MISS YOU, MEAN IT • PARK • THIS IS MY DIRT • WHISKEY WHISKEY

CHRISTIAN PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR: Essential Music Publishing

GOODBYE YESTERDAY • HARD FOUGHT HALLELUJAH • LOVES GOT A WAY • PRAISE • THAT'S WHO I PRAISE • THE CROSS • THE PRODIGAL • THE TRUTH • WORSHIP THROUGH IT

Winning Songwriters & Publishers of the Most Performed ASCAP Country Songs of 2024

† indicates that a writer is a 1st-time ASCAP Country Music Award winner

4x4xU

Publishers: Louisiana Lady, Sony Music Publishing

AFTER ALL THE BARS ARE CLOSED

Writer: Jacob "JKash" Hindlin
Publishers: 13117 Music, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing

ALL THE WAY

Writer: Charles Forsberg†
Publishers: Artist Publishing Group, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Mammyth Audio LLC

AMERICAN GIRL

Writer: Tom Petty
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group

BACKSEAT DRIVER

Writer: Jacob Davis
Publishers: Songs Of Black River, Sony Music Publishing

BEAUTIFUL AS YOU

Writers: Joshua "Ammo" Coleman†, Jacob "JKash" Hindlin, Alexander "Eskeerdo" Izquierdo
Publishers: Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Livelihood Music Company LLC., Maverick King Publishing, Prescription Songs, Sony Music Publishing, Top Notch High Quality Music

BIGGER HOUSES

Writers: Andy Albert, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
Publishers: Beats and Banjos, Concord Music Publishing, Sugarplumsongs, Tacklebox Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music

BREAKIN' IN BOOTS

Writer: Matt Stell
Publishers: 124 Records, Endurance Music Group

COMING HOME

Writers: Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi
Publishers: Bird And Bean Music, Me Gusta Music, Sharkules Music, Sony Music Publishing, Tiny Handstand, Trevor’s Advocate Publishing, Turs And Chorus, Universal Music Publishing Nashville, Warner Chappell Music

COUNTRY HOUSE

Writer: Josh Osborne
Publishers: Songs for Indy and Owl, Sony Music Publishing

COUNTRY SONG CAME ON

Writer: Neil Medley
Publishers: Party Of 3 Songs, Sony Music Publishing, Southend Kid Music

COWBOY SONGS

Writer: George Birge
Publishers: Big Machine Music, Endurance Music Group

COWBOYS CRY TOO

Writers: Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan†
Publishers: Feel Your Way Through Publishing, Secret Meadow Songs, Sony Music Publishing

DAMN GOOD DAY TO LEAVE

Writer: Jonathan Singleton
Publishers: Prestige Countrywide, Spirit Music Nashville, The Vault Music

DEVIL YOU KNOW

Writers: Jon Hall†, Sam Martinez†
Publishers: Group Projects Writers, Silly Sweater Publishing, Warner Chappell Music

FALL OF SUMMER

Writers: Derek George, Frank Rogers
Publishers: Beats By Baby Brent, Burley Bishop Music, Fluid Tunes, Fluidtunes II, Spirit Music, Spirit Music Nashville, The Vault Music

FIX WHAT YOU DIDN'T BREAK

Writers: Ashley Gorley, Nate Smith
Publishers: The Core Entertainment, Domain Capital Group, Nate Smith Music Publishing Company, Poppy's Picks, Sony Music Publishing

FRIDAY NIGHT HEARTBREAKER

Writer: Chris Tompkins
Publishers: Cascade Road Songs, Tompkins Family Vacation, Warner Chappell Music

FRIENDS LIKE THAT

Writer: Will Bundy
Publishers: Cornman Music, Sea Gayle Music, Songs for Margo, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Wild Willy Music

GOOD NEWS

Writers: Sean Cook, Shaboozey
Publishers: Essancy Music, LLC, Kreshendo, Range Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music

GUY FOR THAT

Writer: Louis Bell
Publishers: Bell Ear Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Nashville

HANDS OF TIME

Writer: Scooter Carusoe
Publishers: Endurance Music Group, More Magic Carusoe Music, Warner Chappell Music

HANG TIGHT HONEY

Writer: Paul Sikes
Publishers: Endurance Music Group, Louisiana Lady, Sony Music Publishing, Sounds of Soperman Music

HAPPEN TO ME

Writer: Robert Hazard†
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing

HARD FOUGHT HALLELUJAH

Writer: Brandon Lake†
Publishers: Brandon Lake Music, Essential Music Publishing LLC

HIGH ROAD

Writers: Amy Allen, Jessie Murph, Josh Serrato†, Gabe Simon†
Publishers: Concord Music Publishing, Gabe Simon Music Publishing, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, These Are Songs Of Pulse, Unrest, Warner Chappell Music

HOMETOWN HOME

Writer: Andy Albert
Publisher: Concord Music Publishing

HOUSE AGAIN

Writer: Neil Medley
Publishers: Party Of 3 Songs, Sony Music Publishing, Southend Kid Music

I AIN'T SAYIN'

Writer: Emily Reid†
Publisher: Reservoir

I AM NOT OKAY

Writer: Ashley Gorley
Publishers: Domain Capital Group, Poppy's Picks, Sony Music Publishing

JUST IN CASE

Writer: Jacob "JKash" Hindlin
Publishers: 13117 Music, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing

JUST TO SAY WE DID

Writers: Matt Drag, Brett James, David Lee Murphy
Publishers: Big Machine Music, M Drag Songs, Murphy Boys Music, Songsofbj, Songs of Peer Ltd., Warner Chappell Music

LIAR

Writer: Ashley Gorley
Publishers: Domain Capital Group, Poppy's Picks, Sony Music Publishing

LIES LIES LIES

Writer: Chris Tompkins
Publishers: Cascade Road Songs, Tompkins Family Vacation, Warner Chappell Music

LIFE WITH YOU

Writers: Kyle Schlienger†, Scott Stepakoff
Publishers: Curb Songs, Indeciso Publishing LLC, Me Gusta Music, SMACKsongs

LONELY ROAD

Writers: Travis Barker†, Bill Danoff, Mary Danoff, John Denver
Publishers: Beat Poet Music, BMG Gold Songs, Dino Park Publishing, JD Legacy Publishing, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, My Pop’s Songs, Reservoir, Warner Chappell Music

LOVE SOMEBODY

Writers: Nicholas Gale†, Ashley Gorley, Yaakov Gruzman†, Jacob "JKash" Hindlin, Elof Loelv†, Steve Mastroianni†
Publishers: 13117 Music, Domain Capital Group, Electric Feel Music Publishing, Elof Loelv Publishing, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Livelihood Music Company LLC, Poppy’s Picks, Sony Music Publishing, Stellar Sun Songs

LOVE YOU, MISS YOU, MEAN IT

Writer: Ben Hayslip
Publishers: Songs By Slip, Sony Music Publishing

MILES ON IT

Writers: Nicholas Gale, Connor McDonough†, Riley McDonough†
Publishers: Artist Publishing Group, Cirkut Breaker Ventures, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Spirit Music, The Vault Music

ONE BAD HABIT

Writers: Marc Beeson, Aaron Eshuis, Tony Lane
Publishers: Bellamarla, Concord Music Publishing, Crazy Wolf Tunez, Holy Ship Music, Me Gusta Music, SMACKBLUE, Warner Chappell Music

PARK

Writers: Ashley Gorley, Canaan Smith†
Publishers: Endurance Music Group, Domain Capital Group, Haylo Music Works, Poppy’s Picks, Ramsey Rose, Sony Music Publishing

POUR ME A DRINK

Writer: Louis Bell
Publishers: Bell Ear Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Nashville

SWEET DREAMS

Writers: Amy Allen, Josh Serrato†, Gabe Simon†
Publishers: Concord Music Publishing, Gabe Simon Music Publishing, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, These Are Songs Of Pulse, Unrest, Warner Chappell Music

TEXAS

Writer: Kyle Sturrock†
Publishers: Kyle Sturrock Music, Universal Music Publishing Nashville

THIS IS MY DIRT

Writers: Paul Digiovanni, Jeremy Stover
Publishers: Anthem Entertainment, Paulywood Music, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Nashville

TRUCK ON FIRE

Writer: Carly Pearce
Publishers: Altadena, BMG Gold Songs, Redfeather Publishing

WHAT HE'LL NEVER HAVE

Writers: Robert Gatlin†, Dylan Scott, Logan Robinson†
Publishers: Curb Songs, Gatlin Family Publishing, Native Foreigner Publishing

WHISKEY DRINK

Writer: Kurt Allison
Publishers: BMG Gold Songs, Makena Cove Music

WHISKEY WHISKEY

Writers: Ashley Gorley, Amman Nurani†
Publishers: Lush Publishing Worldwide, Michael Scott Paper Company Publishing Company, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music

Winning Songwriters & Publishers of the Most Performed ASCAP Christian Songs of 2024

† indicates that a writer is a 1st-time ASCAP Christian Music Award winner

ALL BECAUSE OF MERCY

Writers: AJ Pruis, Matthew West
Publishers: Combustion Music, Open On Sunday, Me Gusta Music, Pruis Not Prius, Story House West Wing Music

ALWAYS ONLY JESUS

Writer: Jess Cates
Publishers: Capitol CMG Publishing, We Are TIM Music, Zoom Out Songs

THE CROSS

Writer: Matthew West
Publishers: Essential Music Publishing LLC, My Story Your Glory Music

GOD BE THE GLORY

Writers: Andrew Bergthold, Taylor Hill^†
Publishers: CURB|Word Music Publishing, Goodbye 99, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, The Piranha Club

GOODBYE YESTERDAY

Writers: Gracie Binion^†, Josh Holiday^†
Publishers: Essential Music Publishing LLC, Dvout Music Songs, Elevation Worship Publishing 2, Three Tulips

HARD FOUGHT HALLELUJAH

Writer: Brandon Lake
Publishers: Brandon Lake Music, Essential Music Publishing LLC

HONESTLY, WE JUST NEED JESUS

Writers: Riley Friesen, Terrian Bass Woods^†
Publishers: Maison De Emack, Me Gusta Music, Norften Music, Riley Friesen Publishing

I GOT YOU

Writer: Monty Rivera^†
Publisher: Capitol CMG Publishing, Orange Pyramid

LET IT BEGIN

Writer: Emily Weisband
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing, Weisowl

LOVES GOT A WAY

Writer: Rachael Lampa
Publishers: Essential Music Publishing LLC, Mamaknowsmusic

MADE FOR MORE

Writer: Josh Baldwin
Publishers: Bethel Music Publishing, Glory Ghost Publishing

NOTHIN' SWEETER

Writer: Benji Cowart
Publishers: Capitol CMG Publishing, GoBillsMusic, We Are TIM Music

PLACE IN THIS WORLD

Writers: Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith
Publishers: Age to Age Music Inc, Music Services, Reservoir, Riverstone Music, Sony Music Publishing

THE PRODIGAL

Writers: Jared Condon^†, Josiah Queen^†
Publishers: Artistry Artist, Essential Music Publishing LLC, AJosiah Queen Publishing

SOMEBODY LIKE ME

Writer: Colby Wedgeworth
Publishers: Capitol CMG Publishing, Wedgeworth Publishing

SOMEBODY PRAYED

Writers: Michael Cochren, Crowder, Ben Glover
Publishers: 9 T One Songs, Ariose Music Group Inc, Capitol CMG Publishing, Maison De Emack, Michael Cochren Music Company, sixstepsrecords

STILL WATERS (PSALM 23)

Writer: Justin Richards^†
Publishers: 2Mix Music Amplitude, Spirit Music Nashville , Vault Music

TAKE IT ALL BACK

Writers: Daifah Davies^†, Colby Wedgeworth
Publishers: Capitol CMG Publishing, Wedgeworth Publishing

THAT'S MY KING

Writers: Taylor Agan^†, Kellie Besch^†
Publishers: Bridge Workship, CURB|Word Music Publishing, Kellie Besch Music, Taylor Agan Publishing

THAT'S WHO I PRAISE

Writers: Brandon Lake, Zac Lawson^†, Micah Nichols^†
Publishers: Amishengine, Brandon Lake Music, Essential Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, ZVC SONGZ

THE TRUTH

Writer: Matthew West
Publishers: Essential Music Publishing LLC, My Story Your Glory Music

UP + UP

Writer: Colton Dixon
Publishers: Dior And Athens Publishing, Travellers Hollow Music, LLC

WORSHIP THROUGH IT

Writers: AJ Pruis, Keith Everette Smith, Matthew West
Publishers: Combustion Music, Essential Music Publishing LLC, Me Gusta Music, Music Services, My Story Your Glory Music, Pruis Not Prius, Story House West Wing Music, Wave Tree Music

YOUR WAY'S BETTER

Writer: Pera^†
Publisher: Pera Krstajic

Watch winning song videos on YouTube

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Hear winning songs on Spotify

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2025 ASCAP Country Music Awards Rules & Regulations

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2025 ASCAP Nashville Songwriter Celebration press release

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2025 ASCAP Christian Music Awards Rules & Regulation

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