The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) recently hosted its grandest celebration of the year for country songwriters, the NMPA Gold & Platinum Gala. Held on Thursday night, October 23, 2025, at the esteemed Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, the event lauded over 150 talented songwriters whose country compositions achieved Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) during the July 2024-June 2025 eligibility period. A significant highlight was the recognition of more than 70 multi-platinum songwriters who were honored on stage.

Ashley Gorley was distinguished as the top male songwriter of the year for an impressive third consecutive time. This accolade recognizes the non-performing male songwriter with the highest number of RIAA certifications over the past year. Among his highly acclaimed songs earning certifications were “I Had Some Help,” “Rumor,” and “You Should Probably Leave.” NMPA president/CEO David Israelite lauded Gorley, equating his songwriting prowess to that of sports legends, calling him “the Michael Jordan, the Patrick Mahomes of songwriting.” In his acceptance, Gorley humbly acknowledged the variety and enduring quality of all honored songs, particularly older classics like “Where the Green Grass Grows” and “In Color,” underscoring the high standard and lasting impact of country music.

The title of top female songwriter of the year was bestowed upon Amy Allen, who achieved more certifications than any other non-performing female songwriter in the country genre during the same period. Her notable contributions include the Koe Wetzel and Jessie Murph collaboration, “High Road.” From the stage, Allen expressed profound gratitude, attributing her passion for country music to her love for storytelling. She credited her foundational influences, Dolly Parton and John Prine, and her “real Holy Trinity” of Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna, and Hillary Lindsey, for shaping her as a songwriter and person. Allen praised Nashville as a hub of endless inspiration, songcraft, and genuine lyricism, and a home for her favorite collaborators, expressing deep thanks for its open embrace.

A special moment of the evening was the presentation of the Platinum Anthem Award to Country Music Hall of Famer Dean Dillon. He was honored as a co-writer of the highest-certified song of the year, the RIAA 17x platinum-certified “Tennessee Whiskey.” Originally released by David Allan Coe in 1981, the song found renewed fame through Chris Stapleton’s bluesy rendition, introducing it to a new generation. Dillon acknowledged his co-writer, Linda Hargrove, and proudly declared Nashville songwriters to be “the best in the world.” The tribute continued with ERNEST delivering a faithful rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey,” expressing his honor to perform for Dillon, an artist who inspired his own dream of writing country songs.

The gala also featured captivating performances from celebrated artists. Brothers Osborne performed their 3x platinum-certified 2015 hit, “Stay a Little Longer,” fondly recalling their past as servers at the Country Music Hall of Fame before their success. Their acoustic rendition evolved into a powerful guitar jam. Maddie & Tae graced the stage, performing their 4x platinum-certified hit “Die From a Broken Heart,” sharing how the Nashville community taught them everything about songwriting. In a delightful and unexpected moment, a dog even joined them on stage as they concluded their song. They also performed a newer track, “Somebody Will.” The evening, filled with heartfelt tributes and joyous celebrations, perfectly encapsulated the sentiment voiced by Amy Allen: “Long live songwriters.”

The extensive list of honored works underscored the vibrant health of country music songwriting. Certifications ranged from 2x Platinum for songs like Thomas Archer and Chris LaCorte’s “Wind Up Missin’ You” and Jess Leary’s “Where the Green Grass Grows,” to 3x Platinum hits such as Kelly Archer and Brett Tyler’s “Wild As Her” and John Osborne and TJ Osborne’s “Stay A Little Longer.” Moving up to 4x Platinum were tracks like Zach Kale, Emily Landis, and Jim McCormick’s “The Good Ones” and Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, and Deric Ruttan’s “Die From A Broken Heart.”

The higher tiers of recognition included 5x Platinum for Ashley Gorley and Chris DuBois’s “You Should Probably Leave” and James Otto and Lee Thomas Miller’s “In Color,” and 6x Platinum for Ashley Gorley and Kyle Jacobs’s “Rumor” and Jacob Hackworth, Jet Harvey, and Heath Warren’s “Rock and a Hard Place.” The ascent continued with 7x Platinum for Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose’s “Girl Crush,” 8x Platinum for Zach Kale and Jon Nite’s “I Hope,” and Diamond/10x Platinum for Matt McGinn and Jordan Schmidt’s “What Ifs.” Further impressive achievements included 11x Platinum for Thomas Archer and Taylor Phillips’ “Hurricane” and Matt McGinn’s “Heaven,” culminating in Dean Dillon’s 17x Platinum “Tennessee Whiskey,” exemplifying the profound and lasting impact of these songwriting masterpieces.