Photo courtesy of CMA/John Russell

It was three cheers for three No. 1s at the annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon with the presentation of the CMA Triple Play Awards, which honor songwriters who pen three chart-topping hits in a 12 month period.

The Triple Play Awards were presented at the Second Annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon and was attended by several artist/songwriters including Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban in addition to hit tunesmiths from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, as well as songwriter members of CMA, NSAI, and representatives of some of the most successful publishers in Music City.

In alphabetical order, the recipients of CMA’s Triple Play Award included:
• Rhett Akins: “Gimmie That Girl,” “All About Tonight,” “All Over Me”
• Casey Beathard: “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” “Don’t Blink,” “Ready, Set, Don’t Go”
• Dierks Bentley: “Feel That Fire,” “Sideways,” “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes”
• Zac Brown: “Chicken Fried,” “Whatever It Is,” “Toes”
• Kristian Bush: “All I Want To Do,” “Already Gone,” “It Happens
• Dallas Davidson: “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” “Gimmie That Girl,” “Rain is a Good Thing”
• Tom Douglas: “I Run to You,” “Southern Voice,” “The House That Built Me”
• Chris DuBois: “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” “Then,” “Welcome to The Future”
• Wyatt Durrette: “Chicken Fried,” “Whatever It Is,” “Toes”
• Ashley Gorley: “All-American Girl,” “You’re Gonna Miss This,” “Start a Band 2009″
• Ashley Gorley: “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” “Then,” “American Saturday Night”
• Ben Hayslip: “I’ll Just Hold On,” “Gimmie That Girl,” “All About Tonight”
• Alan Jackson: “Small Town Southern Man,” “Good Time,” “Country Boy”
• Brett James: “It’s America,” “Out Last Night,” “Summer Nights”
• Brett James: “Cowboy Casanova,” “The Truth,” “The Man I Want To Be”
• Luke Laird: “Hillbilly Bone,” “Temporary Home,” “Undo It”
• Hillary Lindsey: “So Small,” “Last Name,” “Just A Dream”
• Kelley Lovelace: “Online,” “All-American Girl,” “I’m Still A Guy”
• Jennifer Nettles: “Stay,” “All I Want To Do,” “Already Gone”
• Brad Paisley: “Online,” “Letter to Me,” “I’m Still A Guy”
• Brad Paisley: “Then,” “Welcome To The Future,” “American Saturday Night”
• Bobby Pinson: “All I Want To Do,” “She Never Cried In Front Of Me,” “Already Gone”
• Monty Powell: “Sweet Thing,” “Kiss A Girl,” “Til Summer Comes Around”
• Darius Rucker: “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” “Alright”
• Stephony Smith: “How Was I To Know,” “It’s Your Love,” “Perfect Love”
• Jeffrey Steele: “Love Is A Beautiful Thing,” “Everyday,” “Here”
• Taylor Swift: “Should’ve Said No,” “Love Story,” “White Horse”
• Carrie Underwood: “Cowboy Casanova,” “Temporary Home,” “Undo It”
• Carrie Underwood: “So Small,” “All-American Girl,” “Last Name”
• Keith Urban: “Sweet Thing,” “Kiss A Girl,” “Til Summer Comes Around”

“It’s great to be a part of Country Music. I appreciate you not kicking me out yet.I’d like to thank all the writers and artists in this room. I think I get as much inspiration currently from what’s on the radio as I did from old Country Music. I’m really proud to be a part of it these days,” said Brad Paisley.

“To all the writers in this room, you guys have the hardest job. I can stand up there all day and sing – and I love that – but you create something out of air. And that is so amazing. I have so much respect for you. I love you guys. Thank you so much. Maybe someday I’ll consider myself one of you, but I’ve got a long way to go,” said Carrie Underwood.

“Thank you so much for this, CMA. I guess the new phrase should be ‘God bless the girls and the boys who make the noise down on 16th Avenue.’ Thank you very much,” said Keith Urban.

Congrats to all the artists who managed multiple hits!

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