The ACM Awards have named their 2025 Songwriter of the Year ahead of Thursday’s live show.
It’s a big week for country music as artists and fans gear up to celebrate the Academy of Country Music Awards’ 60th celebration. The ceremony will honor some of the biggest acts of the past year as well as industry professionals who made an impact on the genre.
Hosted by Reba McEntire, Country Music’s Biggest Night will be held at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday, May 8. In addition to recognizing the genre’s greatest talents, the night will also feature an impressive lineup of performances. Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Wynonna, Chris Stapleton, Leann Rimes, Miranda Lambert, and more are slated to perform.
Songwriter of the Year Nominees
As in years past, the ACM revealed some early winners ahead of the live show. As announced in late April, Ella Langley and Zach Top earned New Female Artist of the Year and New Male Artist of the Year honors, respectively. Another early trophy recipient was the Songwriter of the Year.
The 2025 Songwriter of the Year nominees are:
Ashley Gorley
Ashley Gorley is a songwriter and producer from Danville, Kentucky. Gorley has penned over 60 number-one hits that have been recorded by artists including Luke Bryan (“That’s My Kinda Night”), Carrie Underwood (“All American Girl,” “Don’t Forget To Remember Me”), Blake Shelton (“I Lived It”), Thomas Rhett (“Marry Me,” “Life Changes”), and many more. His songs span the genres of country, pop, and Christian music. Gorley also founded Tape Room Music, a publishing company, and has earned multiple ASCAP, BMI, and NSAI Songwriter of the Year awards, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential songwriters in Nashville.
Chase McGill
Chase McGill is a Nashville-based songwriter known for hits he’s penned for Luke Bryan, Morgan Wallen, Thomas Rhett, and Kane Brown. McGill’s work has earned him a CMA Triple Play Award, an honor given to songwriters who earn three No. 1 songs within a 12-month span. Some of his recent hits include Luke Bryan’s “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset,” “The Way I Talk” by Morgan Wallen, and “Lose It” by Kane Brown.
Jessi Alexander
Jessi Alexander has written hits for artists like Miley Cyrus (“The Climb”), Blake Shelton (“Mine Would Be You”), and Lee Brice (“I Drive Your Truck”). Most recently, her song “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” was recorded by Luke Combs and was released as the lead single from the soundtrack for the 2024 movie Twister. Jessi has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and earned Song of the Year honors from both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association in 2013.
Jessie Jo Dillon
Jessie Jo Dillon is the reigning ACM Songwriter of the Year. A five-time Grammy nominee, Dillon has written more than 900 songs. Her biggest hit was “10,000 Hours,” a song she wrote for Dan + Shay. She was unaware that Justin Bieber would be collaborating with the duo on the song. Upon its release in 2019, “10,000 Hours” made history on Billboard‘s Streaming Songs chart by “becoming the highest-charting non-holiday country song in the history of the chart.” Dillon has also had songs recorded by George Strait, Maren Morris, Jelly Roll, Hardy, Megan Moroney, and more.
Josh Osborne
Josh Osborne is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter who has co-written numerous No. 1 hits for artists like Kacey Musgraves, Sam Hunt, Miranda Lambert, and Kenny Chesney. His credits include the Grammy-winning song “Merry Go ‘Round” by Kacey Musgraves. He also penned two of Sam Hunt’s biggest hits, “Take Your Time” and “Body Like A Backroad.” Osborne is one of the most nominated and winningest modern songwriters in Nashville, but has never won ACM’s Songwriter of the Year honors.
Songwriter of the Year Winner
The 2025 ACM Awards Songwriter of the Year is … Jessie Jo Dillon!
Congratulations to Jessie Jo Dillon on her well-deserved win!
Tune into the 60th ACM Awards on May 8th at 8 p.m. EDT on Prime Video or the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch to see who else will take home a coveted trophy.