The writers of NSAI's Professional Songwriters Division also singled out 10 songs and their writers for the organization's 2006 awards, informally dubbed "The Songs I Wish I'd Written." Recipients were:
1) "Believe" (Ronnie Dunn, Craig Wiseman / recorded by Brooks & Dunn);
2) "If You're Going Through Hell" (Dave Berg, Annie Tate, Sam Tate / recorded by Rodney Atkins);
3) "Jesus, Take The Wheel" (Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson / recorded by Carrie Underwood);
4) "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right" (Marty Dodson, Jason Matthews / recorded by Billy Currington);
5) "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" (John Kennedy, Tammi Kidd / recorded by LeAnn Rimes);
6) "Rose Garden" (Joe South / recorded by Martina McBride);
7) "Skin (Sarabeth)" (Joe Henry, Doug Johnson / recorded by Rascal Flatts);
8) "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" (Gary Hannan, John Wiggins / recorded by Joe Nichols);
9) "What Hurts The Most" (Steve Robson, Jeffrey Steele / recorded by Rascal Flatts);
10) "When I Get Where I'm Going" (Rivers Rutherford, George Teren / recorded by Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton).
Jimmy Buffett, Hugh Prestwood and Jim Weatherly were inducted as the newest recipients of one of the nation's highest songwriting honors - induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Trisha Yearwood and Michael Johnson paid tribute to Prestwood by treating the audience to a sampling of his legendary songs. Yearwood presented "The Song Remembers When" (her hit recording of that song earned an Emmy Award and NSAI's Song of the Year in 1993), while Johnson revisited his chart success with the Prestwood-penned tunes "That's That" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder." Other highlights from Prestwood's catalog include "Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart" (Randy Travis), "The Sound Of Goodbye" (Crystal Gayle), "Ghost In This House" (Shenandoah) and "On The Verge" (Collin Raye). Hall of Fame member Mike Reid provided the induction speech.
American Idol finalist and two-time Dove Award Nominee George Huff and Skip Ewing celebrated Weatherly, whose classics include "Midnight Train To Georgia," "Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)" and "You're The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me" (Gladys Knight & The Pips), as well as "A Lady Like You" (Glen Campbell) and "Someone Else's Star" (Bryan White). Back-up vocals during Huff's performance of "Midnight Train to Georgia" were provided by Marshall Chapman, Gretchen Peters and Buzz Cason. Longtime Weatherly friend Charlie Monk provided the induction speech.
Big & Rich joined with Marshall Chapman and Buzz Cason to honor Buffett, whose discography includes hits such as "Margaritaville" and "Come Monday," as well as "Volcano," "Changes In Latitudes," "He Went To Paris," "Fins," "A Pirate Looks At Forty" and "Son Of A Son Of A Sailor." Longtime Buffett friend Don Light provided the induction speech.
NSAI - The writers of NSAI's Professional Songwriters Division (2006)