Bruce Robison (left) chats with legend Guy Clark (right).

BMI also presented a Million-Air certificate to Carter's "Crossfire" co-writer and Double Trouble member Reese Wynans, celebrating more than one million performances of the tune.

BMI's Jody Williams (right) presents "Crossfire" co-writer and Double Trouble member Reese Wynans (left) with a Million-Air certificate.

Singer/songwriter Bill Carter kicked off the performances.

Austinite Monte Warden performs his composition "Desperately," a hit for George Strait. Warden co-wrote the tune with fellow performer Bruce Robison.

Bruce Robison performed familiar hits along with songs from his newest album Eleven Stories and 2007 EP It Came From San Antonio.

Sunny Sweeney introduces her distinct honky tonk to the audience.

Bill Carter belts out another tune.

Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Jody Williams, "Crossfire" co-writers Ruth Ellsworth Carter, Bill Carter and Reese Wynans, Sunny Sweeney, Bruce Robison and Monte Warden.

Photos by Eric England

The co-writers of "So Small" huddle together for a photo. Pictured are (l to r): Luke Laird, Carrie Underwood and Hillary Lindsey.

During the presentation, BMI's Jody Williams praised the dedication and skill of Underwood's behind the scenes team, which includes Oglesby Writer Management's Chris Oglesby, producer Mark Bright, Joe Galante and his staff, 19 Management's Ann Edelblute and all of Edelblute's 19 Management colleagues. Of course, Jody also praised Carrie directly: "So here's to the girl from Oklahoma who quickly mastered every aspect of her career," he said. "BMI could not be more proud of you, and I feel certain we'll be doing this again real soon."

BMI's Shelby Kennedy (center) and Jody Williams (right) present Carrie Underwood (left) with her BMI signature Takamine guitar, in recognition of her first no. 1 hit as a songwriter.

Newly affiliated BMI songwriter Luke Laird is called to the stage. Pictured are (l to r): Luke Laird and Carrie Underwood, with BMI's Shelby Kennedy and Jody Williams.

Luke Laird habitually cracks up the crowd and his co-writers. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Jody Williams, Luke Laird, Carrie Underwood and Hillary Lindsey.

Carrie Underwood reflects on the feeling of adding "hit songwriter" to her list of accomplishments. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Jody Williams, Luke Laird, Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, Oglesby Writer Management's Chris Oglesby and producer Mark Bright.

Pictured are (l to r): Oglesby Writer Management's Nate Lowery, BMI's Shelby Kennedy, Hillary Lindsey, Luke Laird, Carrie Underwood, Oglesby Writer Management's Chris Oglesby, Oglesby Writer Management's LeAnn Phelan, 19 Entertainment's Ann Edelblute and BMI's Jody Williams.

Pictured are (l to r): Oglesby Writer Management's Chris Oglesby, co-writers Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, and Carrie Underwood, BMI's Shelby Kennedy and Jody Williams, producer Mark Bright, RCA's Joe Galante and CMA's Tammy Genovese.

Photos by John Russell