The 55th Annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala will be held on October 6 at Music City Center.
Brad Paisley, Emmylou Harris; Press Images Provided
Brad Paisley, Emmylou Harris, Jim Lauderdale, Don Cook, Steve Bogard, and Tony Martin will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. They will join the 247 existing members during the 55th annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6, at Music City Center in Nashville.
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame: Class of 2025 Announcement
On Wednesday morning (August 6), music industry personnel and fellow Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees gathered at Nashville’s historic Columbia Studio A inside Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business on Music Row, where Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame’s executive director Mark Ford and chair of the board of directors Rich Hallworth unveiled the Hall’s class of 2025.
“Gathering as we do each year, to reveal and welcome the members of our incoming class, is truly one of the highlights of our calendar,” Hallworth shared during the event. “To these outstanding songwriters, we say, thank you for sharing your songs and your artistry with us. We are proud to honor you this fall, when you will officially join your legendary peers in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
At the event, it was revealed that Paisley, originally elected in 2024 and deferring his induction to 2025 at his own request, was elected in the Contemporary Songwriter-Artist category. Emmylou Harris was elected in the Veteran Songwriter-Artist category. Steve Bogard and Tony Martin were selected in the Contemporary Songwriter category, while Jim Lauderdale was chosen for the Contemporary Songwriter-Artist category. Don Cook was elected in the Veteran Songwriter category.
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Contemporary Songwriter/Artist: Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley; Photo Courtesy of Jeff Lipsky
Unable to attend the press conference in Nashville, Paisley shared a video message to express his gratitude for the prestigious honor.
“What an honor this is to be included in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. I moved to town to do this because of all of you in this room and so many of the people in this hall of Fame and to be included in it, it’s still sinking in what that means. It’s really an amazing thing to be in this group and to know that I’m accepted enough in the town that I wanted to live in so desperately and to be a part of this industry is such an amazing honor and blessing. And thank you so much for this. It’s still really sinking in, and I look forward to October when this is made official. And most importantly, I’d like to thank Chris Dubois, who taught me how to write songs. So anyway, thank you guys. Can’t wait to see you all in person.”
Brad Paisley was born and raised in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He received his first guitar from his grandfather at the age of eight, who also taught him how to play. By 13, he had written his first song and performed it publicly—an experience that led to an eight-year run performing on Wheeling’s Jamboree USA. After graduating from high school, Brad spent two years at West Liberty State College before earning a full ASCAP scholarship to Belmont University in Nashville, where he majored in music business. Just one week after graduating, he signed a publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing.
His songs were soon recorded by artists like David Kersh, David Ball, and Tracy Byrd before Brad signed with Arista Nashville and began recording his own music. As an artist, he has charted 33 self-penned singles on Billboard’s Top 20, including 15 No. 1 hits and 14 additional Top 10 songs. Notable tracks from his catalog include “He Didn’t Have To Be,” “Alcohol,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Celebrity,” “Ticks,” “Letter to Me,” “Then,” “This Is Country Music,” “Water,” and the duet with Carrie Underwood, “Remind Me.”
A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, Paisley was named ASCAP’s Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year in 2004, and NSAI’s Songwriter/Artist of the Year in both 2002 and 2005.
Veteran Songwriter/Artist: Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris, Press Image Provided
Emmylou Harris was unable to attend this morning’s Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee announcement, however, she passed along a message to share with those in attendance. “Thank you to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. I am so honored to be inducted into the Class of 2025. I look forward to seeing you all and celebrating at the Gala in October,” a message from Harris read.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Emmylou Harris was raised in North Carolina and Virginia. By high school, she had developed a deep passion for playing guitar and graduated as valedictorian. She eventually left college to immerse herself in New York’s Greenwich Village folk scene. After signing with Jubilee Records, she released her debut album in 1970, which featured five original songs.
Following a move to Washington, D.C., Emmylou met Gram Parsons, joined his band, and discovered a lasting love for country music. After Parsons’ untimely passing, she formed her own band and signed with Reprise Records. Her 1975 album included the iconic track “Boulder to Birmingham.”
She continued to find success on the charts, with “White Line” reaching No. 14 on the Country chart in 1985 and “Heartbreak Hill” peaking at No. 8 in 1989. “In My Hour of Darkness,” originally recorded with Parsons in 1973, resurfaced as a No. 15 Bluegrass hit in 2007 for John Starling & Carolina Star. Her 1986 song “Sweetheart of the Pines” was later reimagined by Dale Ann Bradley, becoming a No. 17 Bluegrass hit in 2016.
Other notable songs from Emmylou’s catalog include “A River For Him,” “Amarillo,” “Red Dirt Girl,” “The Pearl,” and “Woman Walk the Line.” Harris was inducted into the SPBGMA Hall of Greats in 1995, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
Contemporary Songwriter: Steve Bogard
Steve Bogard, Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Of the prestigious honor, Steve Bogard shared, “This is an amazing honor, and I’m both humbled and excited. First, I’ve got to thank the Nashville Hall of Fame Foundation Board of Directors, and thank Rich very much, and thank all the voters. I don’t really know who they all are, but they have pretty good taste. I’m thrilled to be in a group with my songwriting heroes. These are men and women that I looked at the back of records and read their names. I learned their songs and covered their songs. I saw their names on Billboard and tried to live up to him. Never dreamed I’d be actually in their company. So it’s for me, the ultimate acceptance, and I can’t express my gratitude enough. Nashville is the key word here in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame induction.”
Florida native Steve Bogard began his songwriting journey in Tampa, where his teenage rock band days led to two self-penned singles released on Scepter Records. He later moved to Memphis and scored a Top 20 R&B hit with James Carr before heading to Miami, where, at just 19 years old, he became a staff writer for Atlantic Records. There, his songs were recorded by artists like Rita Coolidge, Delaney & Bonnie, and others.
Bogard went on to release solo albums in Canada and the U.K., but it was an 11-year-old song, “Touch Me With Magic,” that brought him his first major country success. Released by Marty Robbins in 1979, the track reached No. 15 on the country chart and earned a BMI Award. In 1982, Steve relocated to Nashville, where his first No. 1 hit came five years later with Lee Greenwood’s “Mornin’ Ride.”
That success opened the door for more chart-toppers, including Reba McEntire’s “New Fool at an Old Game,” George Strait’s “Carried Away” and “Carrying Your Love With Me,” Jack Ingram’s “Wherever You Are,” and Dustin Lynch’s “Seein’ Red.” In 2000, Bogard’s “Prayin’ for Daylight” launched the career of Rascal Flatts as their debut single. Two of his songs recorded by Dierks Bentley—“Every Mile a Memory” and “Long Trip Alone” — earned Grammy nominations in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
Contemporary Songwriter Category: Tony Martin
Tony Martin, Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Tony Martin took to the podium to express gratitude for being elected into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“Thank you everyone. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. I always said half jokingly that writing a song is either the easiest thing in the world to do or it’s impossible. And that’s kind of how I feel about trying to describe how I feel right now. It’s very easy to express, but finding all the right words is going to be impossible. I want to thank the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Everybody who put my name in the hat, everybody pulled it out and voted for me. Like Steve, I don’t know who you are and I can’t thank all of you, but I will every chance. Again, it’s a blessed thing to love something and it love you back. And I love Nashville. I love songs. I was raised here. I grew up among its legends and to be numbered among them, it’s an honor and to have the words Nashville and songwriter forever attached to my name. That’s a privilege and I thank you. Thank you very much.”
Born in Georgia and raised in Nashville, Tony Martin has been immersed in country songwriting his entire life. As the son of acclaimed country songwriter Glenn Martin, he grew up surrounded by legends like Sonny Throckmorton, Mickey Newbury, and Hank Cochran. While working as a journalist for a Chicago newspaper, Tony began writing parody songs for fun—until his father encouraged him to take his songwriting talent more seriously.
In 1988, Tony wrote “Baby’s Gotten Good at Goodbye,” which his father pitched to George Strait. The song became a dream debut—Tony’s first demo, first cut, first single, first hit, and first No. 1. Since then, he’s built an impressive catalog of chart-topping hits.
His songwriting credits include “A Little More Summertime” by Jason Aldean, “I’ll Think of a Reason Later” by Lee Ann Womack, “Just to See You Smile” by Tim McGraw, “Living and Living Well” and “Go On” by George Strait, “No Place That Far” by Sara Evans, “Settle for a Slow Down” by Dierks Bentley, “Third Rock from the Sun” by Joe Diffie, and “You Look Good in My Shirt” by Keith Urban.
Contemporary Songwriter/Artist: Jim Lauderdale
Jim Lauderdale was unable to attend as he is currently on the road, but he was sure to send in a video message. Lauderdale said, “Thank you so much Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, this means the world to me to be in the company of so many of my songwriting heroes. And I would be there with y’all today, but I’m out on the road or I would be in a heartbeat and I’m looking forward to October and thank you so much and really appreciate it.”
Lauderdale was born in Troutman, North Carolina, and raised in Due West, South Carolina. After graduating from college in 1979, he spent a few months in Nashville before heading to New York City. By the late 1980s, he had joined the national touring cast of Pump Boys & Dinettes and relocated to Los Angeles, where he began gaining momentum as both a performer and songwriter.
In the early 1990s, Lauderdale returned to Nashville and quickly started landing cuts with major artists, including George Strait. By the mid-’90s, his songs were making regular appearances on the country charts, including Mark Chesnutt’s “Gonna Get a Life,” Patty Loveless’s “Halfway Down,” and the duet “You Don’t Seem to Miss Me” by Loveless and George Jones. Toward the end of the decade, Strait scored two Top 5 hits with Lauderdale’s “We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This” and “What Do You Say to That,” the latter originally recorded by Jim himself for BNA Records in 1998.
As an Americana artist, Lauderdale has released an impressive 37 albums, earning two Grammy Awards for Bluegrass Album of the Year. His Bluegrass catalog includes hits like “Mighty Lonesome,” “One Blue Mule,” and “Iodine.” His collaborations with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys produced the Bluegrass Top 10 hits “I Feel Like Singing Today” and “She’s Looking at Me,” the latter named the 2002 Americana Music Association (AMA) Song of the Year.
In recognition of his contributions, Jim Lauderdale received the AMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Veteran Songwriter: Don Cook
Don Cook, Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Don Cook was present to receive the prestigious honor and took the podium to sincerely thank everyone who has supported him along the way.
“Thanks so much. Thanks to the Hall of Fame Board and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame for this incredible honor. I’ve worn a lot of hats in this community. I’ve been here for a long time. Elvis was alive when I got here, and some people say he’s still alive, but if I’m remembered for anything, I hope I’m remembered for my part in this beautiful community. I can’t believe that I get to do this for a living,” Cook shared with the industry-only audience. “My first demo session, Grady Martin, played guitar on it. That’s how long I’ve been here. And my last demo session, Jeff King played on it and my first co-writer was Ray Van Hoy, who’s in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. My last co-writer was Kix Brooks and over. I think we have a couple more to write probably, but it is such an unbelievable honor for me. I don’t know what to say other than I just, the blessing of my life is my wife, Charmaine, that I’ve been married to for a long time. But the blessing of my career is being a Nashville songwriter, and it’s absolutely topped off by this honor. I thank you so much for it. Thanks.”
Don Cook was born in San Antonio, Texas, and began writing songs at age 12. By 14, he had recorded his first demo and spent his teenage years performing at various Houston coffeehouses. Three days after graduating from the University of Texas, Don arrived in Nashville, where he met publisher Don Gant and was signed to Acuff-Rose Publishing. When Gant moved to Tree Publishing, Don followed, and in his first year there, he earned 11 cuts, including “Cryin’ Again” by The Oak Ridge Boys and “Lady Lay Down” by John Conlee—his first #1 as a songwriter.
Throughout the 1980s, Don penned additional hits such as Conway Twitty’s “Julia,” T. Graham Brown’s “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again,” Steve Wariner’s “Small Town Girl,” and Lee Greenwood’s “Somebody’s Gonna Love You.” In the early 1990s, he co-wrote “Brand New Man,” Brooks & Dunn’s debut single, and began producing the duo. This collaboration produced several co-written #1 hits, including “My Next Broken Heart,” “Only in America,” and “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.”
What Is The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame?
NaSHOF executive director Mark Ford, HOF member Sharon Vaughn, class of 2025 inductees Don Cook, Tony Martin and Steve Bogard and HOF member Jerry Foster. Back row (l-r) are: Wayne Kirkpatrick, Marcus Hummon, Gary Nicholson, Tim Nichols, Even Stevens, Kix Brooks, Larry Gatlin, Victoria Shaw, Tony Arata, Gary Burr and Rich Hallworth, chair of the organization’s board of directors; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame is considered one of the most prestigious honors a songwriter can receive. Since its founding in 1970, the Hall has recognized 247 of the most influential songwriters across all genres who have shaped the sound of Music City. Its esteemed members include legends such as Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Garth Brooks, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant, Johnny Cash, Don & Phil Everly, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Alan Jackson, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Bob McDill, Bill Monroe, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Paul Overstreet, Dolly Parton, Dottie Rambo, Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Ray Stevens, Cindy Walker, and Hank Williams.
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