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The Grammy Award for Best Country Song (sometimes known as the Country Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1965. The award is given to the songwriter(s) of the song, not to the artist, unless the artist is also the songwriter.
There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:
From 1965 to 1968, it was known as "Best Country & Western Song"
From 1969 to 1983, it was awarded as "Best Country Song"
In 1984, it was awarded as "Best New Country Song "
From 1985 to the present, it has again been awarded as "Best Country Song" Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for music released in the previous year. Lori McKenna , Josh Kear , Chris Stapleton , and current winner Kacey Musgraves hold the record of most wins in the category with three wins each.
Two-time winner Roger Miller was the first recipient of the award. 1970 winner Shel Silverstein 1971 winner Marty Robbins 1972 winner Kris Kristofferson 1977 winner Larry Gatlin 1981 winner Willie Nelson 1982 winner Dolly Parton 1986 winner Jimmy Webb 1992 co-winner Naomi Judd Two-time winner Vince Gill 1994 winner Lucinda Williams Two-time winner Shania Twain 2003 winner Alan Jackson Two-time winner Hillary Lindsey 2009 winner, Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland Two-time winner Taylor Swift 2011 winner Lady A Two-time winner Shane McAnally Three-time winner Kacey Musgraves 2015 winner Glen Campbell Three-time winner Lori McKenna 2018 winner Chris Stapleton 2020 winner Tanya Tucker Two-time winner Brandi Carlile
Year[I]
Song
Songwriter(s)
Artist(s)
1980
"You Decorated My Life "
Debbie Hupp and Bob Morrison
Kenny Rogers
"All the Gold in California "
Larry Gatlin
Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers
"Blue Kentucky Girl "
Johnny Mullins
Emmylou Harris
"Every Which Way But Loose "
Milton Brown, Steve Dorff and Snuff Garrett
Eddie Rabbitt
"If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me "
David Bellamy
The Bellamy Brothers
1981
"On the Road Again "
Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
"Drivin' My Life Away "
David Malloy , Eddie Rabbitt and Even Stevens
Eddie Rabbitt
"He Stopped Loving Her Today "
Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman
George Jones
"I Believe in You "
Roger Cook and Sam Hogin
Don Williams
"Lookin' for Love "
Bob Morrison , Wanda Mallette and Patti Ryan
Johnny Lee
1982
"9 to 5 "
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
"Elvira "
Dallas Frazier
The Oak Ridge Boys
"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool "
Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan
Barbara Mandrell
"Somebody's Knockin' "
Ed Penney and Jerry Gillespie
Terri Gibbs
"You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma "
Larry Collins and Sandy Pinkard
David Frizzell and Shelly West
1983
"Always on My Mind "
Wayne Carson , Johnny Christopher and Mark James
Willie Nelson
"I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home "
Dewayne Blackwell
David Frizzell
"Nobody "
Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan
Sylvia
"Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands "
Don Goodman, Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy
Lee Greenwood
"She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft) "
Tim DuBois
Jerry Reed
1984
"Stranger in My House "
Mike Reid
Ronnie Milsap
"Baby I Lied "
Deborah Allen , Rory Bourke and Rafe Van Hoy
Deborah Allen
"I.O.U. "
Kerry Chater and Austin Roberts
Lee Greenwood
"Lady Down on Love "
Randy Owen
Alabama
"A Little Good News "
Tommy Rocco, Charlie Black and Rory Bourke
Anne Murray
1985
"City of New Orleans "
Steve Goodman
Willie Nelson
"All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight "
Hank Williams Jr.
Hank Williams Jr.
"Faithless Love "
JD Souther
Glen Campbell
"God Bless the U.S.A. "
Lee Greenwood
Lee Greenwood
"Mama He's Crazy "
Kenny O'Dell
The Judds
1986
"Highwayman "
Jimmy Webb
The Highwaymen
"Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On "
Bob McDill
Mel McDaniel
"Desperados Waiting for a Train "
Guy Clark
The Highwaymen
"40 Hour Week (For a Livin') "
Dave Loggins , Lisa Silver and Don Schlitz
Alabama
"I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me "
Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell
Rosanne Cash
"Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night) "
Mike Reid , Troy Seals and Fred Parris
Ronnie Milsap
"Love Is Alive "
Kent Robbins
The Judds
1987
"Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days) "
Jamie O'Hara
The Judds
"Daddy's Hands "
Holly Dunn
Holly Dunn
"Guitar Town "
Steve Earle
Steve Earle
"Guitars, Cadillacs "
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam
"Whoever's in New England "
Kendal Franceschi and Quentin Powers
Reba McEntire
1988
"Forever and Ever, Amen "
Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz
Randy Travis
"All My Ex's Live in Texas "
Sanger D. Shafer and Lyndia J. Shafer
George Strait
"80's Ladies "
K. T. Oslin
K. T. Oslin
"I'll Still Be Loving You "
Todd Cerney , Mary Ann Kennedy , Pat Bunch and Pam Rose
Restless Heart
"Telling Me Lies "
Betsy Cook and Linda Thompson
Dolly Parton , Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris
1989
"Hold Me "
K. T. Oslin
K. T. Oslin
"Chiseled in Stone"
Vern Gosdin and Max D. Barnes
Vern Gosdin
"I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried "
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell
"She's No Lady"
Lyle Lovett
Lyle Lovett
"Streets of Bakersfield "
Homer Joy
Dwight Yoakam with Buck Owens
Year[I]
Song
Songwriter(s)
Artist(s)
2000
"Come On Over "
Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Shania Twain
Shania Twain
"Amazed "
Marv Green , Chris Lindsey and Aimee Mayo
Lonestar
"Choices "
Mike Curtis and Billy Yates
George Jones
"Ready to Run "
Marcus Hummon and Martie Seidel
Dixie Chicks
"Two Teardrops "
Bill Anderson and Steve Wariner
Steve Wariner
2001
"I Hope You Dance "
Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers
Lee Ann Womack
"Breathe "
Stephanie Bentley and Holly Lamar
Faith Hill
"Feels Like Love "
Vince Gill
Vince Gill
"One Voice "
Don Cook and David Malloy
Billy Gilman
"The Way You Love Me "
Michael Dulaney and Keith Follese
Faith Hill
2002
"The Lucky One "
Robert Lee Castleman
Alison Krauss & Union Station
"I'm Already There "
Gary Baker , Richie McDonald and Frank Myers
Lonestar
"One More Day "
Steven Dale Jones and Bobby Tomberlin
Diamond Rio
"There Is No Arizona "
Lisa Drew, Jamie O'Neal and Shaye Smith
Jamie O'Neal
"When I Think About Angels "
Roxie Dean , Jamie O'Neal and Sonny Tillis
2003
"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) "
Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
"The Impossible "
Kelley Lovelace and Lee Thomas Miller
Joe Nichols
"Long Time Gone "
Darrell Scott
Dixie Chicks
"Mendocino County Line "
Matt Serletic and Bernie Taupin
Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack
"Three Days"
Radney Foster and Pat Green
Pat Green
2004
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere "
Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins
Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
"Beer for My Horses "
Scotty Emerick and Toby Keith
Willie Nelson and Toby Keith
"Celebrity "
Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley
"Forever and for Always "
Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Shania Twain
Shania Twain
"Wave on Wave "
Pat Green , David Neuhauser and Justin Pollard
Pat Green
2005
"Live Like You Were Dying "
Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman
Tim McGraw
"It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long"
Rodney Crowell and Vince Gill
Notorious Cherry Bombs
"Miss Being Mrs. "
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
"Portland Oregon "
Loretta Lynn and Allen Shamblin
Loretta Lynn and Jack White
"Redneck Woman "
John Rich and Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
2006
"Bless the Broken Road "
Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon
Rascal Flatts
"Alcohol "
Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley
"All Jacked Up "
Vicky McGehee , John Rich and Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
"I Hope "
Keb Mo' , Martie Maguire , Natalie Maines and Emily Robison
Dixie Chicks
"I May Hate Myself in the Morning "
Odie Blackmon
Lee Ann Womack
2007
"Jesus, Take the Wheel "
Hillary Lindsey , Brett James and Gordie Sampson
Carrie Underwood
"Every Mile a Memory "
Brett Beavers , Dierks Bentley and Steve Bogard
Dierks Bentley
"I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today "
Matraca Berg and Jim Collins
Gretchen Wilson
"Like Red on a Rose "
Melanie Castleman and Robert Lee Castleman
Alan Jackson
"What Hurts the Most "
Steve Robson and Jeffrey Steele
Rascal Flatts
2008
"Before He Cheats "
Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear
Carrie Underwood
"Give It Away "
Bill Anderson , Buddy Cannon and Jamey Johnson
George Strait
"I Need You "
Tony Lane and David Lee
Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill
"If You're Reading This "
Tim McGraw , Brad Warren and Brett Warren
Tim McGraw
"Long Trip Alone "
Brett Beavers , Dierks Bentley and Steve Bogard
Dierks Bentley
2009
"Stay "
Jennifer Nettles
Sugarland
"Dig Two Graves "
Ashley Gorley and Bob Regan
Randy Travis
"I Saw God Today "
Rodney Clawson , Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby
George Strait
"In Color "
Jamey Johnson , Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto
Jamey Johnson
"You're Gonna Miss This "
Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller
Trace Adkins
Year[I]
Song
Songwriter(s)
Artist(s)
2010
"White Horse "
Liz Rose and Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
"All I Ask for Anymore "
Casey Beathard and Tim James
Trace Adkins
"High Cost of Living"
Jamey Johnson and James T. Slater
Jamey Johnson
"I Run to You "
Tom Douglas , Dave Haywood , Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott
Lady Antebellum
"People Are Crazy "
Bobby Braddock and Troy Jones
Billy Currington
2011
"Need You Now "
Dave Haywood , Josh Kear , Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott
Lady Antebellum
"The Breath You Take "
Casey Beathard , Dean Dillon and Jessie Jo Dillon
George Strait
"Free "
Zac Brown
Zac Brown Band
"The House That Built Me "
Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin
Miranda Lambert
"I'd Love to Be Your Last"
Rivers Rutherford , Annie Tate and Sam Tate
Gretchen Wilson
"If I Die Young "
Kimberly Perry
The Band Perry
2012
"Mean "
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
"Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not "
Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy
Thompson Square
"God Gave Me You "
Dave Barnes
Blake Shelton
"Just Fishin' " "
Casey Beathard , Monty Criswell and Ed Hill
Trace Adkins
"Threaten Me with Heaven"
Vince Gill , Amy Grant , Will Owsley and Dillan O'Brian
Vince Gill
"You and Tequila "
Matraca Berg and Deana Carter
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
2013
"Blown Away "
Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins
Carrie Underwood
"Cost of Livin' "
Philip Coleman and Ronnie Dunn
Ronnie Dunn
"Even If It Breaks Your Heart "
Will Hoge and Eric Paslay
Eli Young Band
"So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore "
Jay Knowles and Adam Wright
Alan Jackson
"Springsteen "
Eric Church , Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell
Eric Church
2014 [ 1]
"Merry Go 'Round "
Shane McAnally , Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne
Kacey Musgraves
"Begin Again "
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
"I Drive Your Truck "
Jessi Alexander , Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary
Lee Brice
"Mama's Broken Heart "
Brandy Clark , Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves
Miranda Lambert
"Mine Would Be You "
Jessi Alexander , Connie Harrington and Deric Ruttan
Blake Shelton
2015 [ 2]
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You "
Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond
Glen Campbell
"American Kids "
Rodney Clawson , Luke Laird and Shane McAnally
Kenny Chesney
"Automatic "
Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert
"Give Me Back My Hometown "
Eric Church and Luke Laird
Eric Church
"Meanwhile Back at Mama's "
Tom Douglas , Jaren Johnston and Jeffrey Steele
Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill
2016 [ 2]
"Girl Crush "
Hillary Lindsey , Lori McKenna and Liz Rose
Little Big Town
"Chances Are"
Hayes Carll
Lee Ann Womack
"Diamond Rings and Old Barstools "
Barry Dean , Luke Laird and Jonathan Singleton
Tim McGraw
"Hold My Hand"
Brandy Clark and Mark Stephen Jones
Brandy Clark
"Traveller "
Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton
2017 [ 3]
"Humble and Kind "
Lori McKenna
Tim McGraw
"Blue Ain't Your Color "
Clint Langenberg, Hillary Lindsey and Steven Lee Olsen
Keith Urban
"Die a Happy Man "
Sean Douglas , Thomas Rhett and Joe Spargur
Thomas Rhett
"My Church "
Michael James Ryan Busbee and Maren Morris
Maren Morris
"Vice "
Miranda Lambert , Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne
Miranda Lambert
2018 [ 4]
"Broken Halos "
Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton
"Better Man "
Taylor Swift
Little Big Town
"Body Like a Back Road "
Zach Crowell , Sam Hunt , Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne
Sam Hunt
"Drinkin' Problem "
Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Shane McAnally , Josh Osborne and Mark Wystrach
Midland
"Tin Man "
Jack Ingram , Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall
Miranda Lambert
2019 [ 5]
"Space Cowboy "
Luke Laird , Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves
"Break Up in the End "
Jessie Jo Dillon , Chase McGill and Jon Nite
Cole Swindell
"Dear Hate "
Tom Douglas , David Hodges and Maren Morris
Maren Morris with Vince Gill
"I Lived It "
Rhett Akins , Ross Copperman , Ashley Gorley and Ben Hayslip
Blake Shelton
"Tequila "
Nicolle Galyon , Jordan Reynolds and Dan Smyers
Dan + Shay
"When Someone Stops Loving You "
Hillary Lindsey , Chase McGill and Lori McKenna
Little Big Town
Year[I]
Song
Songwriter(s)
Artist(s)
2020 [ 6]
"Bring My Flowers Now "
Brandi Carlile , Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker
"Girl Goin' Nowhere "
Jeremy Bussey and Ashley McBryde
Ashley McBryde
"It All Comes Out in the Wash "
Miranda Lambert , Hillary Lindsey , Lori McKenna and Liz Rose
Miranda Lambert
"Some of It "
Eric Church , Clint Daniels , Jeff Hyde and Bobby Pinson
Eric Church
"Speechless "
Shay Mooney , Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers and Laura Veltz
Dan + Shay
2021 [ 7]
"Crowded Table "
Brandi Carlile , Natalie Hemby and Lori McKenna
The Highwomen
"Bluebird "
Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert
"The Bones "
Maren Morris , Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz
Maren Morris
"More Hearts Than Mine "
Ingrid Andress , Sam Ellis and Derrick Southerland
Ingrid Andress
"Some People Do "
Jesse Frasure , Shane McAnally , Matthew Ramsey and Thomas Rhett
Old Dominion
2022 [ 8]
"Cold "
Dave Cobb , J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon and Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton
"Better Than We Found It"
Jessie Jo Dillon , Maren Morris , Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz
Maren Morris
"Camera Roll"
Ian Fitchuk , Kacey Musgraves and Daniel Tashian
Kacey Musgraves
"Country Again "
Zach Crowell , Ashley Gorley and Thomas Rhett
Thomas Rhett
"Fancy Like "
Cameron Bartolini, Walker Hayes , Josh Jenkins and Shane Stevens
Walker Hayes
"Remember Her Name"
Mickey Guyton , Blake Hubbard, Jarrod Ingram and Parker Welling
Mickey Guyton
2023 [ 9]
"'Til You Can't "
Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis
Cody Johnson
"Circles Around This Town "
Ryan Hurd , Julia Michaels , Maren Morris and Jimmy Robbins
Maren Morris
"Doin' This "
Luke Combs , Drew Parker and Robert Williford
Luke Combs
"I Bet You Think About Me "
Lori McKenna and Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift featuring Chris Stapleton
"If I Was a Cowboy "
Jesse Frasure and Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert
"I'll Love You Till the Day I Die"
Rodney Crowell and Chris Stapleton
Willie Nelson
2024 [ 10]
"White Horse "
Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson
Chris Stapleton
"Buried"
Brandy Clark and Jessie Jo Dillon
Brandy Clark
"I Remember Everything "
Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves
Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves
"In Your Love "
Tyler Childers and Geno Seale
Tyler Childers
"Last Night "
John Byron, Ashley Gorley , Jacob Kasher Hindin and Ryan Vojtesak
Morgan Wallen
2025 [ 11]
"The Architect "
Shane McAnally , Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne
Kacey Musgraves
"A Bar Song (Tipsy) "
Sean Cook, Jerrel Jones , Joe Kent, Collins Obinna Chibueze , Nevin Sastry and Mark Williams
Shaboozey
"I Am Not Okay "
Casey Brown, Jason DeFord , Ashley Gorley and Taylor Phillips
Jelly Roll
"I Had Some Help "
Louis Bell , Ashley Gorley , Hoskins, Austin Post , Ernest Smith, Ryan Vojtesak, Morgan Wallen and Chandler Paul Walters
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
"Texas Hold 'Em "
Brian Bates , Beyoncé , Elizabeth Lowell Boland , Atia Boggs , Megan Bülow , Nathan Ferraro and Raphael Saadiq
Beyoncé
2026 [ 12]
"Bitin' List"
Tyler Childers
Tyler Childers
"Good News "
Sean Cook, Collins Obinna Chibueze , Michael Ross Pollack , Sam Elliot Roman , Nevin Sastry and Jacob Torrey
Shaboozey
"I Never Lie "
Carson Chamberlain , Tim Nichols and Zach Top
Zach Top
"Somewhere Over Laredo "
Andy Albert , Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson and Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson
"A Song to Sing "
Jenee Fleenor , Jesse Frasure , Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
^[I] ^[II] Songwriters with multiple wins [ edit ] Songwriters with multiple nominations [ edit ]
9 nominations 8 nominations 7 nominations 6 nominations 5 nominations 4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations
^ "2014 Nominees" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2013-12-08 .^ a b List of Nominees 2015 ^ List of Nominees 2017 ^ Lynch, Joe (November 28, 2017). "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees" . Billboard . Retrieved December 15, 2017 . ^ Grammy.com, 7 December 2018 ^ Lynch, Joe (November 22, 2019). "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List" . Retrieved November 22, 2019 . ^ 2021 Nominations List ^ "2022 GRAMMYs Awards: Complete Nominations List" . GRAMMY.com . 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2021-12-06 .^ "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List" . GRAMMY.com . November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .^ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List | GRAMMY.com" . www.grammy.com . Retrieved 2023-11-12 .^ "2025 Grammys: See the Full Winners & Nominees List" . Grammy Awards . February 2, 2025. Retrieved April 1, 2026 .^ Willman, Chris (November 7, 2025). "Grammy Nominations 2026: Kendrick Lamar Leads With Nine as Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and Leon Thomas Land Among Top Nominees" . Variety . Retrieved November 7, 2025 .
Awarded to songwriters
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Special awards Ceremonies
(years are of music release; ceremonies are the next year) Related By country
General Children's, Comedy, Narration, Classical Country & American Roots Gospel & Contemporary Christian Jazz, Traditional Pop, Musical Theater Latin, Global, African, Reggae Package, Notes & Historical Pop & Dance/Electronic Production, Engineering, R&B, Rap and Spoken Word Poetry Rock, Metal & Alternative Special Awards
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