Sam Hunt was named this year’s songwriter-artist of the year during Monday (November 2nd) night’s 53rd annual ASCAP Country Music Awards. He wrote four of the most-played country songs of the year, including “Leave The Night On,” which was named Song of the Year.
Sam told USA Today, “It’s really special. It’s interesting to see our songs in the same conversation with all these other great songs.”
Trisha Yearwood was honored with the ASCAP Voice of Music Award. Justin Timberlake introduced the musical guests paying homage to Trisha, which included Lady Antebellum, who performed “Walkaway Joe,” Trisha’s step-daughter Allie Brooks, who took on “She’s In Love With The Boy,” and Reba who performed a rendition of “The Song Remembers When.” Former President Jimmy Carter presented Trisha with the award. After the ceremony, Trisha said she was still in awe over the presentation. “I don’t know where to begin. You know, having Lady Antebellum . . . having Reba . . . having Allie, our daughter, sing for me . . . (sighs) I just – overwhelming. And then to have Justin Timberlake come out and talk about me…and then – icing on the cake – President Carter presenting me with that award. I’m still just reeling and going over the night, over and over in my head.”
Other artist-songwriters honored during the ASCAP Awards included Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood for “Bartender”; Charles and Darius Rucker for co-writing “Homegrown Honey”; and Dierks Bentley for “Drunk On A Plane.”
