Randy Owen Honored As BMI Icon At Star-Studded 72nd Annual BMI Country Awards

The evening also featured the presentation of both the BMI Songwriter of the Year and BMI Country Song of the Year awards.

By

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

November 20, 2024

at

10:10 am

Share on:

(L-R) Clay Bradley, Vice President, Creative, Nashville, BMI, Riley Green, 2024 BMI Icon Award winner, Randy Owen, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and Mike O’Neill, President/CEO, BMI pose onstage at the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

Amid a busy week in Nashville, songwriters and artists gathered for the 72nd Annual BMI Country Awards, celebrating the genre’s leading songwriters and music publishers behind this year’s most-performed songs, while also honoring country legend Randy Owen with the prestigious BMI Icon Award.

Hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Nashville’s VP, Creative, Clay Bradley, the evening recognized the 50 most-performed songs of the past year, including Chayce Beckham’s “23,” Chris Janson’s “All I Need Is You,” Kane Brown’s “Bury Me In Georgia,” Jelly Roll’s “Need a Favor,” Cody Johnson’s “The Painter,” Luke Combs’ “Where the Wild Things Are,” and more

(L-R) Mickey Raphael and Riley Green perform onstage during the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI
(L-R) Mickey Raphael and Riley Green perform onstage during the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI
Luke Bryan performs onstage during the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI
Luke Bryan performs onstage during the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI
Blake Shelton performs onstage at the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI
Blake Shelton performs onstage at the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

The prestigious BMI Icon Award was presented to Randy Owen following a few memorable musical tributes. Riley Green added a southern touch to “My Home’s in Alabama,” Luke Bryan delivered his own take on “Feels So Right,” and Blake Shelton wrapped up the tribute with a performance of the timeless classic, “Mountain Music.”

Owen took to the stage to deliver a short, yet heartfelt speech. 

“I want to thank BMI… thank y’all for the call. When y’all called me and said the Icon Award I cried. It is so special. All the songs that I had written, had it not been for Teddy [Gentry], coming up with the harmonies and making ’em work, still being my closest friend, it never would’ve worked out. So I’m very grateful to Teddy and I love you. I appreciate you being here tonight. It means the world to me and my family, and I appreciate you and we’re still rocking.” 

2024 BMI Icon Award winner, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of Alabama speak onstage at the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI
2024 BMI Icon Award winner, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of Alabama speak onstage at the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

With this award, Owen joins the likes of songwriting legends Toby Keith, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Dean Dillon, Hank Williams, Jr., Bill Anderson and Vince Gill who are previous BMI Icon Award recipients.

(L-R) Mike Steinberg, EVP, Chief Revenue & Creative Officer, BMI, Chase McGill, Leslie Roberts, Assistant Vice President, Creative, Nashville, BMI, Mike O'Neill, President/CEO, BMI and Clay Bradley, Vice President, Creative, Nashville, BMI pose onstage at the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI
(L-R) Mike Steinberg, EVP, Chief Revenue & Creative Officer, BMI, Chase McGill, Leslie Roberts, Assistant Vice President, Creative, Nashville, BMI, Mike O’Neill, President/CEO, BMI and Clay Bradley, Vice President, Creative, Nashville, BMI pose onstage at the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

Chase McGill and Zach Bryan shared the prestigious BMI Songwriter of the Year honor, each contributing to six of Country music’s most-performed songs. McGill’s songwriting credits include Morgan Wallen’s “Ain’t That Some,” Luke Bryan’s “But I Got a Beer in My Hand,” Conner Smith’s “Creek Will Rise,” Russell Dickerson’s “God Gave Me a Girl,” Jordan Davis’ “Next Thing You Know,” and Thomas Rhett’s “Mamaw’s House.” Meanwhile, Bryan penned hits such as “Burn, Burn, Burn,” “Dawns,” “Hey Driver,” “I Remember Everything,” “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” and “Sun to Me.”

The 2024 BMI Country Song of the Year was Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” published by Big Loud Mountain, John Byron Music, Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. “Last Night” held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking 16 nonconsecutive weeks, marking the longest run ever for a solo song.

BMI awarded the Publisher of the Year honor to Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., which published 34 of the 50 most-performed songs of the year. Those include Parker McCollum’s “Burn It Down,” Tyler Hubbard’s “Dancin’ in the Country,” Riley Green’s “Different ‘Round Here,” Warren Zeiders’ “Pretty Little Poison,” Bailey Zimmerman’s “Religiously,” and more.

Share on:

Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.