NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR 2026 NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME

Twelve exemplary songwriters have been announced in two of five categories as nominees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the organization announced July 15.  The entire slate of inductees-elect will be announced in the coming weeks and officially inducted into the Hall later this year.

“Well-deserved congratulations to all the nominees in our contemporary categories,” NaSHOF Executive Director Mark Ford said.  “We look forward to announcing those who will be inducted this fall as members of our Class of 2026.”

The nominees in the Contemporary Songwriters category are Jim Beavers, Shawn Camp, Rodney Clawson, Dallas Davidson, Marv Green, Lee Thomas Miller, Neil Thrasher and Chris Tompkins.

The nominees in the Contemporary Songwriter/Artists category are Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Taylor Swift and Phil Vassar.

All nominees experienced their first significant songs at least 20 years ago.  A total of two songwriters and one songwriter/artist will be elected by Hall of Fame members and other professional songwriters and artists.

Nominees At A Glance (Songwriters):

Jim Beavers is a Texas native whose songwriting credits include “Drink A Beer” by Luke Bryan, “Sideways” by Dierks Bentley and “Watching Airplanes” by Gary Allan.

Shawn Camp is an Arkansas native whose songwriting credits include “A Beautiful Time” by Willie Nelson, “How Long Gone” by Brooks & Dunn and “Two Piña Coladas” by Garth Brooks.

Rodney Clawson is a Texas native whose songwriting credits include “Amarillo Sky” by Jason Aldean, “Drunk On You” by Luke Bryan and “I Saw God Today” by George Strait

Dallas Davidson is a Georgia native whose songwriting credits include “Boys ’Round Here” by Blake Shelton w/ Pistol Annies & Friends, “Just A Kiss” by Lady Antebellum and “One Of Them Girls” by Lee Brice. 

Marv Green is a Southern California native whose songwriting credits include “Amazed” by Lonestar, “I Called Mama” by Tim McGraw and “Wasted” by Carrie Underwood. 

Lee Thomas Miller is a Kentucky native whose songwriting credits include “In Color” by Jamey Johnson, “The Impossible” by Joe Nichols and “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Trace Adkins.

Neil Thrasher is an Alabama native whose songwriting credits include “How Country Feels” by Randy Houser, “There Goes My Life” by Kenny Chesney and “Try That In A Small Town” by Jason Aldean.).

Chris Tompkins is an Alabama native whose songwriting credits include “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood, “Drunk On You” by Luke Bryan and “Lies Lies Lies” by Morgan Wallen.

Nominees At A Glance (Songwriter/Artists):

Miranda Lambert is a Texas native whose songwriting credits include her own “Automatic” and “Over You,” as well as “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley.

Chris Stapleton is a Kentucky native whose songwriting credits include his own “Broken Halos” and “Starting Over,” as well as “Never Wanted Nothing More” by Kenny Chesney. 

Taylor Swift is a Pennsylvania-born, Nashville-raised songwriter whose credits include her own “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film)” and “Love Story,” as well as “Better Man” by Little Big Town. 

Phil Vassar is a Virginia native whose songwriting credits include his own “In A Real Love” and “Just Another Day In Paradise,” as well as “Bye, Bye” by Jo Dee Messina. 

Induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame is one of the nation’s most highly prized songwriting honors.  Since 1970, the Hall has enshrined 254 of the greatest writers from all genres of music ever to put words to music in Music City.