“Country Music Awards Shock: Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen’s Epic Tie Stuns Audience! Watch Their Unforgettable Song Swap!”
Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen both received the BMI Country Music Awards’ Songwriter of the Year honor, which resulted in a tie. The event took place on Tuesday night at BMI’s Nashville headquarters. To mark the special occasion, BMI arranged a surprise performance where Wallen and Combs sat together and performed each other’s popular songs.
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During the event, Wallen delivered an acoustic rendition of Combs’ “Going, Going, Gone,” while Combs reciprocated by singing Wallen’s “Thought You Should Know.” These memorable performances were captured in video excerpts.
Luke Combs
The two songwriters are also contenders for the entertainer of the year award at the upcoming CMA Awards scheduled for tonight, adding to the excitement surrounding their achievements.
Wallen clinched another significant win at the BMI Awards as his song “You Proof” was named the most performed song of the year by the performing rights organization. Wallen co-wrote the hit with BMI signatories Ernest Keith Smith and Charlie Handsome, alongside ASCAP member Ashley Gorley, who couldn’t participate in the BMI honor due to being with a different PRO. However, Gorley attended the event to celebrate the success of writers signed to his publishing company, Tape House. The BMI CEO, Mike O’Neill, congratulated Gorley on being named ASCAP songwriter of the year the previous night.
The BMI Country Music Awards’ tribute performances, a customary highlight of the event, paid homage to the annual Icon winner, Matraca Berg, who was honored this year. Lainey Wilson performed “Strawberry Wine,” originally recorded by Deana Carter, who was present at the event. Additionally, Ashley McBryde performed “Wrong Side of Memphis,” an early hit for Trisha Yearwood, and Kenny Chesney, along with Grace Potter, delivered a rendition of their own hit “You and Tequila.”
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. received the publisher of the year accolade at the ceremony for its involvement in 25 of BMI’s 50 most played songs of the year, including “You Proof,” “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan, and “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” by Cole Swindell.
Matraca Berg, the Icon award recipient, was celebrated during the event, with O’Neill highlighting the numerous artists who have covered Berg’s songs, including Randy Travis, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Patty Loveless, Dusty Springfield, and Reba McEntire. Berg, in her speech, expressed gratitude to her husband, Jeff Hanna, of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and playfully acknowledged retired music executive Joe Galante, who had played a significant role in her career.
Reflecting on her surprise at receiving the Icon award, Berg humorously recounted her conversation with Clay Bradley, who informed her of the honor during a dinner. She expressed hope that her recognition as the third woman to receive the BMI Icon award at the country awards, following Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, signifies more opportunities for women in the industry.
