The National Music Publishers’ Association celebrated an array of top country songs and the writers who created them Thursday night (Oct. 22), during the 8th annual NMPA Gold and Platinum Gala, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville.
The NMPA’s president/CEO David Israelite welcomed the audience of songwriters, music publishers and others in Nashville’s music industry elite, while the company’s Cara Cunningham and Charlotte Sellmyer were among those also leading the charge in honoring writers.
The event honored over 150 songwriters whose country songs have achieved Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum and Diamond or above status, as certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) from the July 2025-June 2026 eligibility period. Songwriting plaques were presented to more than 80 multi-platinum hitmakers from the Nashville community.
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) CEO Mitch Glazier was also in attendance to honor the hits and songwriters recognized during the ceremony.
Laci Kaye Booth launched the evening with a performance of her song “Daddy’s Mugshot,” featured on her new album Love Ain’t for the Faint of Heart.
The annual NMPA Gold and Platinum Gala honors new RIAA certifications for songs, no matter when they were initially released; thus, the evening feted songs both new and classic. Numerous songs were honored during the evening, including the Morgan Wallen-recorded “Chasing You,” which was celebrated Diamond, the Carrie Underwood-recorded “Before He Cheats” (11x Platinum), and a handful of 12x-Platinum songs: Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Combs’s “Hurricane” and Wallen’s “Last Night,” as well as his 13x-Platinum “Whiskey Glasses.”
Also among the songs honored this year was the 3x Platinum “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” written by Gordie Sampson, Hillary Lindsey, and the late Brett James. Cornman Music president Nate Lowery accepted the accolade on behalf of James, who passed away just over a year ago. The audience responded with tremendous applause and a standing ovation.
The platinum anthem honor, which recognizes the highest-certified song of the year, went to “Beautiful Crazy,” written by Luke Combs, Rob Williford and Wyatt Durrette, and recorded by Combs. The song earned 15x Platinum certification in December 2025. Brett Young honored the writers by putting his own soulful spin on a performance of “Beautiful Crazy,” while songwriter Williford took the stage to accept the honor.
“I think about that kid that just dreamed about hearing a song he wrote on the radio,” Williford said. “I thought, ‘Man, if I can just accomplish that, if I got a No. 1, or if I won song of the year, I will have made it. I’m here to tell you, I’m here 10 years later, and I’m just as hungry, just as fired up, I’m still trying to chase this passion of pulling lyric and melody out of thin air.”
Charlie Handsome was celebrated as top songwriter of the year. It was noted that he earned 35 new RIAA certifications over the last year, in the country genre alone. Among his certified songs being honored were “Wasted on You,” “Last Night,” “You Proof” and “Heartless.”
“Thanks everybody who helped,” Handsome told the crowd. “I want to thank my family – my mom’s here, my brother, my wife. All the guys I write with… it’s the same crew every time but without them I’m not here.”
Vince Gill was honored with the legacy songwriter icon award, for his work in writing lasting impactful hits. His songs “One More Last Chance” and “Go Rest High on That Mountain” received new certifications.
“His awards are countless, his talent is extraordinary, his humility is legendary,” Israelite told the audience. “But perhaps his greatest achievement is that, after all these years, his songs aren’t just standing the test of time — they are making history.”
“I love writing songs, always have,” Gill told the audience. “It kind of came last, the songs did…I was always known for my singing, always known for my guitar playing, stuff like that… took a while for people to believe I was a decent songwriter. I sure was grateful for that change.”
Gill then shared the often-told story of how the late Country Music Hall of Famer George Jones once drove a riding lawn mower several miles to purchase alcohol, after his wife had hidden his car keys to prevent him from drinking; that tale helped inspire Gill’s 1992 song “One More Last Chance,” which he performed during the NMPA gala. Gill then also offered up perhaps the evening’s most moving moment, a version of his song “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” a song he said he wrote for his older brother.
“I’m grateful for this song and what it has gone on to do to help people get through a rough stretch,” Gill said.
