August 26, 2008

‘Home’ Finds A New Home Atop Country Charts

The creative hive behind "Home" toasted the song and each other Monday, August 25 in BMI's Music Row lobby. Recorded by neo-traditionalist Blake Shelton and co-written by BMI songwriters Alan Chang and Amy Foster, along with svelte crooner Michael Bublé, "Home" first topped charts in 2005 as a Bublé-recorded smash.

When Miranda Lambert heard the appetent love song, she slipped it into regular rotation on Blake Shelton's iPod, planting the seed for a country chart-topper. Shelton's emotive version included harmony vocals from Lambert, and marks his fourth trip to the top of the charts.

Blake Shelton (left) pauses for a photo with "Home" co-writers Amy Foster (center) and Alan Chang (right).

Pop star Josh Kelley (left) showed his support for friend Amy Foster (right).

Power huddle: Starstruck President Narvel Blackstock (left), Warner Bros. Records Executive Vice President Bill Bennett and BMI Vice President (center), Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams (right) smile for the camera.

Cherry Lane Music's Michelle Berlin (left) and BMI's Mark Mason (right) enjoy the party.

Amy Foster (left) receives her new Takamine guitar from BMI's Jody Williams (right). BMI bestows the custom guitars on songwriters who pen no. 1 country singles.

Blake Shelton cracks up the audience and his colleagues on stage. Pictured are (l-r): co-writer Alan Chang, Blake Shelton, producer Brent Rowan, Warner Bros. Records' Gator Michaels and Bill Bennett, with Universal Music Publishing's Pat Higdon.

Singer/songwriter Georgia Middleman (left) celebrates with friend Amy Foster (right).

Pictured are (l-r): co-writers Alan Chang and Amy Foster, Blake Shelton, Universal Music Publishing's Pat Higdon and BMI's Jody Williams.

Pictured are (l-r): back row: Starstruck Entertainment's Narvel Blackstock, Warner Bros. Records' Bill Bennett and Gator Michaels, Universal Music Publishing's Pat Higdon, producer Brent Rowan and Starstruck Entertainment's Brandon Blackstock; front row: BMI's Clay Bradley, co-writer Amy Foster, Blake Shelton, co-writer Alan Chang and BMI's Jody Williams.

Photos by Kay Williams