THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES SONGWRITING EXCELLENCE WITH 2026 CMA TRIPLE PLAY AWARDS
Bart Herbison to Receive 2025 CMA Songwriter Advocate Award
CMA to Recognize 16 Triple Play Honorees and Over 40 First-Time No. 1 Songwriters at Annual Nashville Ceremony
As part of its year-round commitment to celebrating excellence in Country Music, the Country Music Association today announced the recipients of the 2026 CMA Triple Play Awards, honoring the songwriters behind some of the format’s biggest No. 1 hits. Hosted by composer and CMA Board member Jim Beavers, the awards ceremony will take place Monday, April 13 in Nashville.
This year’s 16 CMA Triple Play Award recipients are Andy Albert, Louis Bell, John Byron, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Gorley, Riley Green, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Ella Langley, Chase McGill, John Morgan, Blake Pendergrass, Taylor Phillips, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith and Morgan Wallen. CMA will also recognize over 40 songwriters celebrating their first No. 1 Country hit since the last ceremony. In addition, Bart Herbison, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), will receive the CMA Songwriter Advocate Award.
“Songwriters are the heartbeat of Country Music, and the CMA Triple Play Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate the creativity and hard work it takes to land three No. 1 songs in a single year,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “It’s just as special to recognize Bart with the CMA Songwriter Advocate Award, as well as honor those celebrating their very first No. 1 — a milestone that is often the start of an extraordinary career. Bringing our songwriting community together to recognize these achievements is one of the most meaningful ways CMA supports the people behind the music and the continued growth of the genre.”
“I am humbled at this recognition by the Country Music Association,” says Herbison. “And I want to use this opportunity to thank the hundreds and hundreds of writers, particularly anyone who served on the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Board of Directors during my tenure, who have all been integral to our advocacy efforts.”
The CMA Songwriter Advocate Award honors individuals who have significantly supported and advanced the art and careers of songwriters, leaving a lasting impact on Country Music and the songwriting community. Herbison has been a relentless advocate for songwriters, spearheading major industry advancements including the Music Modernization Act and long-term capital gains protections that have returned millions to creators. He led efforts that produced a historic 44% increase in mechanical royalties and helped establish the Mechanical Licensing Collective. Through strategic investments like the Bluebird Café and Music Mill studios, Herbison has strengthened the songwriting community while elevating its future. His decades of leadership have made a lasting and historic impact on Country Music.
The CMA Triple Play Award recognizes songwriters who achieve three No. 1 hits within a 12-month period, as measured by the Country Aircheck, Billboard Country Airplay and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Reflecting CMA’s broader mission of celebrating excellence and serving the Country Music community, the honor highlights the essential influence songwriters have in defining the sound and success of Country Music. Through the Triple Play Awards and its other industry recognitions, CMA honors the talent, creativity and dedication of those who continue to propel the genre forward.
Celebrating their first CMA Triple Play Award this year is Albert, Bell, Green, Kasher Hindlin, Langley, Morgan, Pendergrass and Post. Gorley remains the most decorated recipient and is set to receive his 27th CMA Triple Play Award at this year’s ceremony.
The 2026 CMA Triple Play Awards recipients are recognized for the following:
Andy Albert
“Bigger Houses,” recorded by Dan + Shay
“Hometown Home,” recorded by LOCASH
“Somewhere Over Laredo,” recorded by Lainey Wilson
Louis Bell
“I Had Some Help,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
“Pour Me A Drink,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton
“Guy For That,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Luke Combs
John Byron
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” recorded by Dylan Scott
“What I Want,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae
“Just In Case,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Jessie Jo Dillon
“Lies Lies Lies,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“Am I Okay?,” recorded by Megan Moroney
“Happen To Me,” recorded by Russell Dickerson
Ashley Gorley
“Liar,” recorded by Jelly Roll
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” recorded by Dylan Scott
“Park,” recorded by Tyler Hubbard
Riley Green
“you look like you love me,” recorded by Ella Langley feat. Riley Green
“Worst Way,” recorded by Riley Green
“Don’t Mind If I Do,” recorded by Riley Green feat. Ella Langley
Charlie Handsome
“Guy For That,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Luke Combs
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” recorded by Dylan Scott
“What I Want,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae
Jacob Kasher Hindlin
“Beautiful As You,” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Love Somebody,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“What I Want,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae
Ella Langley
“you look like you love me,” recorded by Ella Langley feat. Riley Green
“weren’t for the wind,” recorded by Ella Langley
“Choosin’ Texas,” recorded by Ella Langley
Chase McGill
“Happen To Me,” recorded by Russell Dickerson
“I Got Better,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“20 Cigarettes,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
John Morgan
“Friends Like That,” recorded by John Morgan
“Whiskey Drink,” recorded by Jason Aldean
“How Far Does A Goodbye Go,” recorded by Jason Aldean
Blake Pendergrass
“Just In Case,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“Heart of Stone,” recorded by Jelly Roll
“I Got Better,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Taylor Phillips
“Liar,” recorded by Jelly Roll
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” recorded by Dylan Scott
“Fix What You Didn’t Break,” recorded by Nate Smith
Austin Post
“I Had Some Help,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
“Pour Me A Drink,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton
“Guy For That,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Luke Combs
Ernest Keith Smith
“Guy For That,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Luke Combs
“Just In Case,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“I Got Better,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen
“I’m The Problem,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“What I Want,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae
“Just In Case,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
About the Country Music Association
Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. Music industry professionals and companies across the U.S. and around the globe are members of CMA. The organization serves as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advances the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Fest, which benefits the CMA Foundation and music education and is taped for a three-hour network television special, “CMA Fest”; and “CMA Country Christmas.” All of CMA’s television properties air on ABC.
Bart Herbison will receive the 2025 CMA Songwriter Advocate Award at the CMA Triple Play Awards on April 13 in Nashville.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Bart Herbison
