Pictured (L-R top row): Corey Crowder, Randy Montana, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern, Ashley Gorley, host Jim Beavers, Brock Berryhill, Jonathan Singleton (L-R bottom row:) Hunter Phelps, Ross Copperman, Ernest Keith Smith, Hillary Lindsey, CMA Songwriter Advocate Award recipient Bob DiPiero, Zach Crowell and Jesse Frasure. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA
The Country Music Association hosted its 12th CMA Triple Play Awards on Thursday (May 12) at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. The industry ceremony marked the event’s official return following a two-year postponement due to the pandemic. In addition to honoring 19 CMA Triple Play Award recipients, CMA also awarded Bob DiPiero, Founder of Being Bob Music, with the inaugural CMA Songwriter Advocate Award.
The CMA Triple Play Award is presented to songwriters who pen three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period. Honored last night for this achievement were Brock Berryhill, Luke Combs, Ross Copperman, Corey Crowder, Zach Crowell, Jesse Frasure, Ray Fulcher, Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Randy Montana, Josh Osborne, Hunter Phelps, Thomas Rhett, Jonathan Singleton, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson and Morgan Wallen.
The ceremony was hosted by CMA Board Chairman and composer, Jim Beavers. Throughout the evening, the Triple Play Award honorees were surprised by special guest presenters, all with a meaningful relationship to the songwriters. Special guest presenters included Brantley Gilbert for Berryhill, Randy Goodman for Combs, Josh Van Valkenburg for Copperman, Tyler Hubbard for Crowder, Madeline Merlo for Crowell, Stevie Frasure for Frasure, Dierks Bentley for Gorley, Kelsea Ballerini and Lindsey’s daughter Bennett for Hillary Lindsey, father Billy Montana for Randy Montana, Bart Herbison for Osborne, Gorley for Phelps, Combs for Singleton, Brad and Brett Warren for Smith, and Mark Wright for Thompson.
Triple Play Award honorees who could not be in attendance, including Fulcher, Hardy, McAnally, Thomas Rhett and Wallen, shared video acceptances.
DiPiero was presented the new CMA Songwriter Advocate Award, which was created to recognize an individual who has dedicated their life to supporting and advancing the art of songwriting and careers of songwriters. Throughout the evening, as an ode to DiPiero’s long list of memorable hit singles, he was surprised with performances by good friends Neal McCoy, who performed the classic “Wink!,” Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire of Shenandoah performing “The Church on Cumberland Road,” and Jeffrey Steele performing “Gone.”
For a list of songs that the honorees were recognized for click here.
Bob DiPiero pictured with Neal McCoy who performed “Wink!” in his honor. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA
Jeffrey Steele performs “Gone” to honor Bob DiPiero. Photo: Caitlin Harris/CMA
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