Reba, Alan & GAC Honored by ASCAP

Alan Jackson performs at the Nightly Concert on the Vault Concert Stage LP Field Saturday, June 7 in Downtown Nashville during the 2008 CMA Music Festival. Photographer: John Russell / CMA

Oct. 14, 2008 — Alan Jackson, behind his hit "Small Town Southern Man," earned a big-time award Monday night when he was named ASCAP’s Songwriter/Artist of the Year during the performing rights organization’s annual country music awards at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Alan, who last won the Songwriter/Artist trophy in 2003, ended a three-year victory string by John Rich. Among the songs that propelled Alan to the win were "A Woman’s Love" and "Small Town Southern Man." But Alan wasn't the only one honored.

Reba McEntire collected the Golden Note Award, recognizing significant career achievement. Reba sang her first Top 10 hit, "(You Lift Me) Up To Heaven," during the event, in which Brooks & Dunn, LeAnn Rimes and Kelly Clarkson also performed some of her songs, according to the Associated Press.

"I'm absolutely flattered to be here," Reba told The Tennessean. "The song is the thing for me. If I don't have a great song, I don't record. And this place is full of the people who write these great songs."

Great American Country (GAC) received the ASCAP Partners In Music Award for their contribution toward the promotion and support of songwriters, musicians and artists while expanding the reach of Country Music. Brad Paisley and ASCAP Senior Vice President/Licensing Vincent Candilora presented the award to GAC President Ed Hardy and Senior Vice President of Programming Sarah Trahern.

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers) is one of three U.S. agencies that collects and distributes performance royalties on behalf of songwriters.

"Good Directions" claimed ASCAP’s Song of the Year trophy for Rachel Thibodeau, who co-wrote the Billy Currington hit with BMI composer Luke Bryan. Dave Berg earned Songwriter of the Year after turning out such hits as Emerson Drive’s "Moments," Rodney Atkins’ "These Are My People" and Chris Cagle’s "What Kinda Gone."

The black-tie ceremony attracted a bevy of familiar faces. Among those in attendance, WKRN-TV reported, were Brad Paisley, Josh Turner, Kellie Pickler, the Grascals, Dierks Bentley, Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus.