ASCAP Awards Celebrate Ashley Gorley, Dierks Bentley and the Biggest Songs of 2016

On a chilly Monday (Nov. 6) evening inside Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, members of the country music songwriting community gathered together for the 55th annual ASCAP Awards. The celebration, put on by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, honored those ASCAP songwriters and publishers of the most performed country songs of 2016.

Among the night’s honorees was five-time Songwriter of the Year, Ashley Gorley, who explained to Sounds Like Nashville that having a song cut by an artist is a huge honor that he doesn’t take lightly.

“Really humbled by the fact that I continue to get people to record these songs year after year. So I am just trying to stay in that zone, hopefully keep raising the bar and coming up with stuff that they want to do,” Gorley explained on the red carpet prior to the event. “The buzz doesn’t wear off from like… it’s midnight, I’m still downloading the songs. I’ve never even heard their version of them. A lot of times that happens. I’m buying them just like anybody, going ‘hey, I wonder what this sounds like,’ because it’s always a fine line of them choosing it or not. Always a blessing and always lucky to have that happen.”

The 55th annual ASCAP Awards also named Kelsea Ballerini the recipient of the Vanguard Award. The Vanguard Award specifically recognizes the impact of outstanding ASCAP members on musical genres that shape the future of American Music.

“From the moment she released her debut single, Kelsea Ballerini’s fearless songwriting and gifted vocals have made her one of the most exciting new artists in country music,” said John Titta, ASCAP Executive Vice President, Membership, previously. “By combining pop and country sounds with thoughtful, emotionally honest lyrics, she has unapologetically forged her own creative path to success and gained millions of fans along the way. We are thrilled to honor her with the ASCAP Vanguard Award.”

See what went down at the 55th annual ASCAP Awards when we chatted with Gorley, Brothers Osborne, Old Dominion, Jillian Jacqueline and more on the red carpet. The full list of honorees can be found below.

Top Five Songs of the Year:

“Lights Come On,” Jimmy Robbins, Jordan Schmidt (No.1 for Jason Aldean)

“May We All,” Jamie Moore (No.1 for Florida Georgia Line)

“Snapback,” Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Performed by Old Dominion (No.2 for Old Dominion)

“Somewhere on a Beach,” David Kuncio, Josh Mirenda, Performed with Dierks Bentley (No.1 for Dierks Bentley)

“Wanna Be That Song,” Brett Eldredge, Performed by Scooter Carusoe (No. 1 for Brett Eldredge)

Special Awards:

The Founders Award: Rodney Crowell

The Vanguard Award: Kelsea Ballerini

The Partners in Music Award: Varnell Enterprises

Songwriter of the Year: Ashley Gorley (fourth consecutive year, fifth time total)

Song of the Year: “Somewhere on a Beach,” Dierks Bentley, artist

Publisher of the Year: Warner Chappell