Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton & Taylor Swift Among Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame 2026 Nominees

Other nominees include Jim Beavers, Rodney Clawson, Dallas Davidson, and more.

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Lauren Jo Black

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July 15, 2026

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Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton; Photos Provided, Taylor Swift; Photo by Andrew Wendowski

The nominees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) Class of 2026 have been announced, with country superstars Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton among the nominees, along with global superstar Taylor Swift.

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame revealed the list of 12 nominees early Wednesday morning. The nominees represent two of the organization’s five categories and are being recognized for their outstanding contributions as songwriters.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Contemporary Songwriters Category nominees include Jim Beavers, Shawn Camp, Rodney Clawson, Dallas Davidson, Marv Green, Lee Thomas Miller, Neil Thrasher and Chris Tompkins.

The nominees in the Contemporary Songwriter/Artist Category are Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Taylor Swift and Phil Vassar. 

“Well-deserved congratulations to all the nominees in our contemporary categories,” NaSHOF Executive Director Mark Ford shared in a statement. “We look forward to announcing those who will be inducted this fall as members of our Class of 2026.” 

Each nominee has achieved significant songwriting success dating back at least 20 years, highlighting the lasting impact of their work throughout their careers.

From this year’s group of nominees, two songwriters and one songwriter/artist will be selected for induction by members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, along with fellow professional songwriters and artists.

The 2026 inductees will be announced in the coming weeks and officially inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame later this year.

A Look at the 2026 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Nominees 

Songwriters

Jim Beavers: A Texas native, Beavers has penned hits including Luke Bryan’s “Drink A Beer,” Dierks Bentley’s “Sideways,” and Gary Allan’s “Watching Airplanes.”

Shawn Camp: The Arkansas native’s songwriting credits include Willie Nelson’s “A Beautiful Time,” Brooks & Dunn’s “How Long Gone,” and Garth Brooks’ “Two Piña Coladas.”

Rodney Clawson: A Texas native, Clawson is behind songs such as Jason Aldean’s “Amarillo Sky,” Luke Bryan’s “Drunk On You,” and George Strait’s “I Saw God Today.”

Dallas Davidson: The Georgia native has written several country hits, including Blake Shelton’s “Boys ’Round Here” featuring Pistol Annies & Friends, Lady A’s “Just A Kiss,” and Lee Brice’s “One Of Them Girls.”

Marv Green: A Southern California native, Green’s credits include Lonestar’s “Amazed,” Tim McGraw’s “I Called Mama,” and Carrie Underwood’s “Wasted.”

Lee Thomas Miller: The Kentucky native has written hits including Jamey Johnson’s “In Color,” Joe Nichols’ “The Impossible,” and Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This.”

Neil Thrasher: An Alabama native, Thrasher’s songwriting credits include Randy Houser’s “How Country Feels,” Kenny Chesney’s “There Goes My Life,” and Jason Aldean’s “Try That In A Small Town.”

Chris Tompkins: The Alabama native has written chart-toppers including Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats,” Luke Bryan’s “Drunk On You,” and Morgan Wallen’s “Lies Lies Lies.”

Photo Courtesy of Miranda Lambert
Photo Courtesy of Miranda Lambert

Songwriter/Artists

Miranda Lambert: A Texas native, Lambert has written many of her own hits, including “Automatic” and “Over You,” as well as Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.”

Chris Stapleton: A Kentucky native, Stapleton’s songwriting credits include his own songs “Broken Halos” and “Starting Over,” along with Kenny Chesney’s “Never Wanted Nothing More.”

Taylor Swift: Born in Pennsylvania and raised in Nashville, Swift’s songwriting catalog includes her own hits “I Knew It, I Knew You” and “Love Story,” as well as Little Big Town’s “Better Man.”

Phil Vassar: A Virginia native, Vassar’s credits include his own songs “In A Real Love” and “Just Another Day In Paradise,” along with Jo Dee Messina’s “Bye, Bye.”

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.