Blake Pendergrass was named NSAI Songwriter of the Year last night during the annual Nashville Songwriter Awards at the historic Ryman Auditorium, capping a career-defining year for one of Music City’s most in-demand songwriters.
Accepting the honor in an emotional speech, Pendergrass reflected on the years of uncertainty and perseverance that led him to the Ryman stage, dedicating a special moment to his mother, who is currently hospitalized.
“I remember crying in the car with my parents about eight years into this journey and asking them if they thought I should keep going,” Pendergrass shared. “And them encouraging me to. And my mom's in the hospital right now. Say a prayer for her later this evening.
“I've watched songs climb the chart. I've watched songs fall off the chart. And I've watched songs never make it onto the chart. At this point in my career, I’ve felt like the kid that's never going to make it. I’ve felt like the kid that is the least talented one in the room. I’ve felt like the guy with something to prove. I’ve felt like the guy that proved it. But what I do believe is that God has put me on the greatest adventure that I could ever ask to be on with the best people I could ever ask to be a part of it with.”
The songwriter’s peers honored Pendergrass with three performances from his catalogue. Ethan Burdick performed Pendergrass' first major-label cut, “865” (co-written with John Byron), while Warren Zeiders entertained the crowd with a performance of “Betrayal” (written by Justin Ebach, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Blake Pendergrass, Ali Tamposi, Warren Zeiders). Vincent Mason took the stage to perform his hit “Wish You Well” (written by Jessie Jo Dillon, Chris LaCorte, Pendergrass and Geoff Warburton).
The honor comes during a remarkable 2026 for Pendergrass, who has earned seven No. 1 hits to date, including Morgan Wallen’s “20 Cigarettes,” “Don’t We,” “I Got Better” and “Just In Case”; Jelly Roll’s “Heart Of Stone”; Tucker Wetmore’s VMA-nominated “Brunette”; and Jordan Davis and Thomas Rhett’s “Ain’t A Bad Life.”
His recent work includes Morgan Wallen’s “Been By Now,” which currently sits in the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, as well as Dan + Shay’s “The Old Guys (feat. Cody Johnson)” and Wyatt Flores’ “Scared of Heights,” the title track of Flores’ latest album.
An ACM-nominated songwriter, Pendergrass celebrated his first CMA Triple Play award in April 2026 for “Just In Case,” “Heart of Stone” and “I Got Better.” He is also set to make his Grand Ole Opry debut Sept. 29.
Pendergrass’ growing list of accolades comes alongside an extraordinary track record of chart success and critical recognition. He is a writer on three GRAMMY-nominated albums, including Lainey Wilson’s Whirlwind standout “Broken Hearts Still Beat,” Post Malone’s “Who Needs You” and Conner Smith’s “Steal My Thunder (feat. Tucker Wetmore)” from Twisters: The Album. He also co-wrote seven songs on Jelly Roll’s GRAMMY-winning album Beautifully Broken.
His longstanding creative partnership with Wallen has produced some of the biggest songs in country music. Pendergrass earned eight cuts on Wallen’s One Thing At A Time, including “Dying Man” and “Ain’t That Some,” and went on to land 15 cuts on Wallen’s latest album, I’m The Problem, including a 100% solo write on “The Dealer (feat. ERNEST).”
Across his catalog, Pendergrass has amassed more than one billion streams, with additional recordings by Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, HARDY, Chase Rice, Dustin Lynch and more.
From songs that top the charts to moments that define a career, Pendergrass’ NSAI Songwriter of the Year win marks a significant milestone in a journey that began with a songwriter questioning whether he should keep going – and has now taken him to one of Nashville’s most celebrated stages.
Photo Credit: Catherine Powell
