SESAC Awards Honor Kenny Rogers, Lady Antebellum, Justin Ebach and More
Some of country music's biggest songwriters were recognized at the 2017 SESAC Awards, held Sunday, November 5 in Nashville.
The 2017 SESAC Awards were held Sunday night (Nov. 5) at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum where some of the genre’s biggest songwriters were recognized. Kenny Rogers was honored with the 2017 Legacy Award and during the celebration artists including Lee Brice and Craig Campbell paid tribute to the country legend.
Brice, who recently released his self-titled album, grew up listening to Rogers with his family and tells Sounds Like Nashville that he decided to cover “Twenty Years Ago” at the awards as the song had a major impact on his life as a budding singer-songwriter.
“My momma always wanted my daddy to dye his beard white,” Brice says with a laugh on the red carpet before the ceremony. “My daddy’s name is Kenny. She always thought it was sexy. That’s what we listened to — Kenny Rogers. When I was about 11, I got my own radio for the first time and [“Twenty Years Ago”] came on. This is when I really started writing songs heavily and being serious about it. The song I’m doing tonight, it really molded who I am as a writer and a singer now. He had a hit with it, but it was bigger than a hit for me. It changed my life.”
Craig Campbell; Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for SESAC
Campbell, meanwhile, decided to cover Rogers’ iconic piano ballad “Lady.” The singer and pianist chose the song himself and admits that he felt some pressure to perform it in front of the country legend.
“I’m honored to be performing for Kenny. I hope I make him proud,” he says. “It all begins with a song. This particular awards show is all about the songwriter. It’s a special night to be able to honor the people who are in the trenches writing songs and I’m glad to be part of it.”
Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum; Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SESAC
Meanwhile, Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott was in attendance to receive the SESAC Humanitarian Award on behalf of her band’s philanthropic work with LadyAID as well as present Rogers with his Legacy Award. A close family friend, Scott reminisced about first hearing Rogers debut his song “The Greatest” on her parents’ couch when she was 11.
“I will never forget it. It was a huge moment having this world class legend in our living room,” she says with a smile. “As we’ve grown and as our career took off with Lady Antebellum, [I remember] how encouraging he’s been. He’s never wasted an opportunity to encourage and inspire, share nuggets of wisdom with any artist he talks to.”
SESAC is a music rights organization based in the U.S. The publishing rights organization works to make sure its writers and publishers have both performance and mechanical rights and many of their writers shared their appreciation for the organization and the Nashville songwriting community. Runaway June’s Naomi Cooke was recognized on Sunday for penning the trio’s breakthrough hit “Lipstick.” She tells Sounds Like Nashville she’s been attending the awards show for the past five years while dreaming and writing songs.
“To be here and to be honored, I’ve cried a few times today,” she admits. “It means everything to me as a songwriter. To be recognized by my peers, it’s all I can ever want. Everything that we do starts with songwriting so it’s really important for us to be recognized for that. Without the songs, this doesn’t exist.”
Runaway June; Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SESAC
Song of the Year winner and 2015 Songwriter of the Year recipient Cary Barlowe, who penned Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To,” calls his recognition a blessing.
“We’re in a business where you never know when you’re going to write another great song so the fact that I somehow keep getting into good situations, I’m very grateful and I’m happy to be here,” he shares.
Additionally, Brice Long who co-wrote Jon Pardi’s previous No. 1 hit “Heartache On the Dance Floor” offered up songwriting advice before the ceremony began.
“Don’t wait on inspiration. Write a lot. If you just sit around waiting for something to come, it’s perspiration not inspiration anymore,” he explains. “You have to work and write a lot. I’ve been here for 25 years and for a lot of us, the success that we’ve had depends on how hard we work at it and how much we want it.”
SESAC Awards Honors:
Songwriter of the Year:
Justin Ebach
Song of the Year:
“It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To”
written by:
Cary Barlowe
published by:
Castle Bound Music, Spirit Nashville Three
recorded by:
Billy Currington
Publisher of the Year:
Warner Chappell Music
Country Performance Activity Awards:
“BABY, LET’S LAY DOWN AND DANCE”
written by:
Kim Williams, Victoria Shaw
published by:
All My Soul Music, Victoria Shaw Songs, Castle Bound Music
recorded by:
Garth Brooks
“FLATLINER”
written by:
Matthew Bronleewe, Jaron Boyer
published by:
Forest For The Trees Music, So Essential Tunes, Jaron Boyer Music, peertunes ltd
recorded by:
Cole Swindell
“HEARTACHE ON THE DANCE FLOOR”
written by:
Brice Long
published by:
BLongSongs, Wordspring Music, W.B.M. Music Corp.
recorded by:
Jon Pardi
“IT DON’T HURT LIKE IT USED TO”
written by:
Cary Barlowe
published by:
Castle Bound Music, Spirit Nashville Three
recorded by:
Billy Currington
“LIPSTICK”
written by:
Caroline Hobby, Naomi Cooke
published by:
Hyper Hobby Music, Thunder Cookie, Fabulicious Music, Hatchoooo Music Publishing, BMG / Legends of Magic Mustang Music, Music of Platinum Pen, W.B.M. Music Corp.
recorded by:
Runaway June
“MAKE YOU MINE”
written by:
Seth Mosley
published by:
CentricSongs, Capitol CMG Amplifier, Music Services Inc
recorded by:
High Valley
“SLEEP WITHOUT YOU”
written by:
Justin Ebach
published by:
Wordspring Music, W.B.M. Music Corp.
recorded by:
Brett Young
“MY OLD MAN”
written by:
Zac Brown, Ben Simonetti, Niko Moon
published by:
Day For The Dead Publishing, Simonetti Music Publishing, Siva Moon Publishing, W.B.M. Music Corp., Reach Music Tunes, Kobalt Group Publishing
recorded by:
Zac Brown Band
“OUTSKIRTS OF HEAVEN”
written by:
Craig Campbell
published by:
Skabetti Bowl of Songs Publishing, BMG/Legends of Magic Mustang Music, W.B.M. Music Corp.
recorded by:
Craig Campbell
“SEEIN’ RED”
written by:
Steve Bogard
published by:
Casa Del Amor Music, BMG/Legends of Magic Mustang Music, W.B.M. Music Corp.
recorded by:
Dustin Lynch
“THEY DON’T KNOW”
written by:
Jaron Boyer
published by:
Jaron Boyer Music, peertunes ltd
recorded by:
Jason Aldean
“WHAT IFS”
written by:
Matt McGinn
published by:
SMACKWORKS Music, Kobalt Group Publishing
recorded by:
Kane Brown ft. Lauren Alaina
