The 62nd ASCAP Country Music Awards recently took place in Nashville, honoring the most prominent songwriters and publishers in country music. Ashley Gorley received the prestigious Songwriter of the Year award for an impressive 11th time, solidifying his status as a leading figure in contemporary country music. Gorley’s notable contributions include co-writing several of the year's most-performed songs, such as "World on Fire" and "Save Me the Trouble."
Chris Stapleton was recognized as Songwriter/Artist of the Year, with his tracks "White Horse" and "Think I'm in Love with You" among the top-performed songs. The highlight of the evening was the announcement of "Last Night" as Song of the Year, co-written by Gorley and JKash. This single achieved significant commercial success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and maintaining its position for 16 non-consecutive weeks, marking a record for the 21st century.
Sony Music Publishing was awarded Publisher of the Year for the 11th consecutive time, reflecting its dominance in the industry with 24 of the most-performed songs in the past year. Among these is the chart-topping "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey, which concurrently led both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts. The event celebrated the achievements of songwriters and provided a platform for networking among industry professionals.