50th Annual BMI Country Awards Honor Top Music Makers on Nov. 5

Posted in News on October 20, 2002

BMI will salute the past year's most popular country songs on Tuesday, November 5 at the 50th Annual BMI Country Awards, the oldest awards program honoring country music creators. Staged at the company's Music Row offices, the black-tie, invitation-only event spotlights the 50 most performed songs of last year. BMI President & CEO Frances Preston and BMI Nashville Vice President Paul Corbin will present Citations of Achievement to the writers and publishers of the top 50 songs. The evening will culminate in the announcement of Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year, and Most Performed Country Song of the Year (the Robert J. Burton Award).

Among the guests expected are last year's BMI Songwriter/Artist of the Year Toby Keith, Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn, Martina McBride, keith urban, Kenny Chesney, Marty Roe and Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio, Vince Gill & Amy Grant, Aaron Tippin, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Steve Wariner, Bill Anderson, Jeffrey Steele, Randy Owen of Alabama, Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, Andy Griggs, Trick Pony and Steve Holy.

Among the distinguished talents who have previously been crowned BMI Country Songwriter of the Year are Harlan Howard, Don Gibson, Bill Anderson, Roger Miller, John D. Loudermilk, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Dennis Morgan, Paul Overstreet, Vince Gill, Shania Twain, Tom Shapiro, Dixie Chick Martie Maguire, Ronnie Dunn, Bobby Braddock and eight-time victor Billy Sherrill. In addition to Keith, other top winners from the 2001 BMI Country Awards were Songwriters Marv Green and Aimee Mayo, and Tia Sillers, writer of Song of the Year "I Hope You Dance."

Read a brief history of the BMI Country Awards

Check back here at 10 pm CT/11 pm ET November 5 for a complete list of 2002 BMI Country Award winners. High-resolution photos will also be available for downloading at press.bmi.com.

SOURCENews TAGS Country BMI Country Awards Alabama Bill Anderson Bobby Braddock Diamond Rio Ronnie Dunn Vince Gill Amy Grant Marv Green Andy Griggs Merle Haggard Steve Holy Harlan Howard Carolyn Dawn Johnson Toby Keith Kris Kristofferson John D. Loudermilk Martie Maguire Martina McBride Roger Miller Paul Overstreet Randy Owen Frances Preston Bruce Robison Marty Roe Tom Shapiro Billy Sherrill Tia Sillers Jeffrey Steele Aaron Tippin Trick Pony Shania Twain Keith Urban Steve Wariner