CMA Triple Play Awards Shine Spotlight on Nashville Songwriters

Members of Nashville’s songwriting community gathered at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Monday for the 2026 CMA Triple Play Awards. The celebratory evening honored 16 songwriters who achieved the remarkable milestone of writing or co-writing three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period.

Those recognized with Triple Play honors included Andy Albert, Louis Bell, John Byron, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Gorley, Riley Green, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Ella Langley, Chase McGill, John Morgan, Blake Pendergrass, Taylor Phillips, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, and Morgan Wallen, although Green, Langley, Post, and Wallen were unable to attend.

Hosted by songwriter and CMA Board Member Jim Beavers, the evening also recognized Bart Herbison with the 2025 CMA Songwriter Advocate Award. In tribute to his legacy, Josh Osborne delivered a performance of “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” with Lee Roy Parnell following with “They Don’t Know You.”

This marked John Morgan’s first CMA Triple Play Award, earned for writing chart-toppers “Friends Like That,” recorded by John Morgan featuring Jason Aldean, “Whiskey Drink,” and “How Far Does A Goodbye Go.”

Moments before the event, Morgan kept things honest and humble, opening up about the surreal feeling of earning a spot among Nashville’s top songwriters.

“I’m just happy to be here, to be honest with you. It’s such a niche category of songwriters that even have the ability to achieve this. And again, I get imposter syndrome sometimes…I’ve been so blessed to be in great rooms and just be there at the right time and contribute however I can. That’s always my goal… I always try to read the room and make sure that I’m adding to what everybody else is feeling and vibing on. It’s a fun job. I know that.”

Meanwhile, Jessie Jo Dillon, a second-time CMA Triple Play winner, took a moment to reflect on what the recognition means for songwriters as a whole and her continued disbelief at earning the honor again.

“I think it means a lot because I feel like I say this probably too much, but there are no songs without songwriters. So when we do get forgotten, that’s a little bit crazy to me because you’re talking about a business that actually wouldn’t work or be there without us. So for CMA to recognize us tonight is amazing,” she shared. “And one number one is definitely hard. Three is absolutely bananas. Last year in my speech for this, it’s honestly something I never thought I would get. I didn’t think I was that kind of a songwriter. And then to get it two years in a row, I almost just can’t even process that, to be honest with you.”

Dillon, who was honored for writing the chart-topping singles “Lies Lies Lies” recorded by Morgan Wallen, “Am I Okay?” recorded by Megan Moroney, and “Happen To Me” recorded by Russell Dickerson, admitted she loves how different each of the three songs is.

“When I was just starting as a writer, I always hoped to be able to be a bit of a chameleon and do different things. And I think each one of these songs resonates because they’re just pretty pure. I mean, ‘Happen To Me’ is a banger of having fun, but it’s pure. ‘Am I Okay?’ is an amazing love song that was very pure when we wrote it. And then ‘Lies, Lies, Lies’ is definitely one you cut yourself open to write and was also very pure. So even though they’re all very different, they come from a really honest place,” she explained.

Throughout the evening, the songwriters took to the stage to express their sincere gratitude to the CMA and the Nashville songwriting community.

“It is not lost on me how cool this is,” ERNEST said from the stage. “There’s a lot of legendary songwriters in this town that have had great careers that somehow haven’t gotten a triple play. I think this is one of the coolest things you can get as a songwriter.”

Chase McGill admitted to feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

“I’m deeply indebted to this town,” he shared.

In addition to the Triple Play honorees, the Country Music Association also recognized 43 songwriters who earned their first No. 1 song since last year’s Triple Play Awards, as well as Paul Overstreet’s upcoming induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the rotating Songwriter category.

The 2026 CMA Triple Play Awards Recipients:

Andy Albert 
“Bigger Houses” recorded by Dan + Shay 
“Hometown Home” recorded by LOCASH 
“Somewhere Over Laredo” recorded by Lainey Wilson 

Louis Bell 
“I Had Some Help” recorded by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen 
“Pour Me A Drink” recorded by Post Malone featuring Blake Shelton 
“Guy For That” recorded by Post Malone featuring Luke Combs  

John Byron  
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” recorded by Dylan Scott 
“What I Want” recorded by Morgan Wallen featuring Tate McRae 
“Just In Case” recorded by Morgan Wallen 

Jessie Jo Dillon 
“Lies Lies Lies” recorded by Morgan Wallen  
“Am I Okay?” recorded by Megan Moroney  
“Happen To Me” recorded by Russell Dickerson 

Ashley Gorley 
“Liar” recorded by Jelly Roll 
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” recorded by Dylan Scott 
“Park” recorded by Tyler Hubbard  

Riley Green 
“you look like you love me” recorded by Ella Langley featuring Riley Green 
“Worst Way” recorded by Riley Green  
“Don’t Mind If I Do” recorded by Riley Green featuring Ella Langley  

Charlie Handsome 
“Guy For That” recorded by Post Malone featuring Luke Combs 
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” recorded by Dylan Scott 
“What I Want” recorded by Morgan Wallen featuring Tate McRae 

Jacob Kasher Hindlin 
“Beautiful As You” recorded by Thomas Rhett 
“Love Somebody” recorded by Morgan Wallen  
“What I Want” recorded by Morgan Wallen featuring Tate McRae 

Ella Langley 
“you look like you love me” recorded by Ella Langley featuring Riley Green 
“weren’t for the wind” recorded by Ella Langley  
“Choosin’ Texas” recorded by Ella Langley 

Chase McGill 
“Happen To Me” recorded by Russell Dickerson 
“I Got Better” recorded by Morgan Wallen 
“20 Cigarettes” recorded by Morgan Wallen  

John Morgan 
“Friends Like That” recorded by John Morgan featuring Jason Aldean 
“Whiskey Drink” recorded by John Morgan  
“How Far Does A Goodbye Go” recorded by John Morgan 

Blake Pendergrass 
“Just In Case” recorded by Morgan Wallen 
“Heart Of Stone” recorded by Jelly Roll 
“I Got Better” recorded by Morgan Wallen 

Taylor Phillips
“Liar” recorded by Jelly Roll 
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” recorded by Dylan Scott 
“Fix What You Didn’t Break” recorded by Nate Smith 

Austin Post 
“I Had Some Help” recorded by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen 
“Pour Me A Drink” recorded by Post Malone featuring Blake Shelton 
“Guy For That” recorded by Post Malone featuring Luke Combs  

Ernest Keith Smith 
“Guy For That” by Post Malone featuring Luke Combs  
“Just In Case” recorded by Morgan Wallen 
“I Got Better” recorded by Morgan Wallen 

Morgan Wallen 
“I’m The Problem” recorded by Morgan Wallen 
“What I Want” recorded by Morgan Wallen featuring Tate McRae  
“Just In Case” recorded by Morgan Wallen