Buxton, who was recently nominated as ACM’s top new female vocalist, performed a number of tunes from her EP, including the self-penned “Stupid Boy,” which was a number one hit for Keith Urban.

Honest lyrics that cut straight to the heart of real life have become a trademark for the Lawrence, Kansas native, who first became enamored with songwriting after discovering Stevie Nicks as a teen. “Stevie’s lyrics were like poetry,” explains Sarah, “so I started to write poetry of my own . . . full of angst, and confusion. And the more I became interested in artistry and disinterested in school activities, the more nervous my poor mother became!”

Meeting Nicks in person after graduation sealed the deal for Buxton, who enrolled at Nashville’s Belmont University and was soon fronting a southern rock jam band and touring the Southeast. A short-lived marriage at 23 provided plenty of material to write about, and when buddy John Rich gave her a needed push and some encouragement about sticking to her musical guns, Buxton was armed and ready to conquer the country world.

Songs like “American Daughters,” “That Kind Of Day,” and “Innocence” impressed Lyric Street Records enough to sign her to a deal and release an EP this summer, and she’s poised to make her recording debut in 2008. But for a girl who’s already packed a lot of living into her 27 years, the biggest adjustment with her artist debut isn’t facing the crowds, or even coming up with witty banter onstage.

As she recently laughed and told the Lawrence Journal-World, “Being a songwriter for so many years, it was kind of a shock this year to go through stuff like, ‘Golly, I’ve got to do my hair again? I just did it two days ago!’”

Rodney Atkins nailed the capstone on his red-letter year by receiving six nominations, including Top Male Vocalist, Album and Song of the Year. One of the feel-good stories of 2007, Atkins saw his ACM-nominated project If You're Going Through Hell achieve platinum status. After toiling in Nashville for 10 years in relatively ambiguity, the universally loved honky tonker's hard-earned recognition and fan-driven success slapped smiles on faces all over Music Row.

Duos Big & Rich and Sugarland each scored four nods. Charismatic and eclectic, Big & Rich earned recognition in the prestigious Top Vocal Duo category and Single, Song and Video of the Year for the poignant ballad "Lost in this Moment." Big Kenny landed an additional two nominations for his producing credits. Sugarland underscored their staying power with a Top Vocal Duo nod as well; the pair's stirringly original tune "Stay" became one of the industry's buzz songs, earning nominations for Single Record, Song and Video of the Year. Member Kristian Bush also earned recognition for his production of the tune.

Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift snagged three nods each. Critical darling Lambert's nominations for Top Female Vocalist, Album and Single Record of the Year reflect both the growth of her audience and creativity. Country's favorite wunderkind Taylor Swift's nominations reflect the strength of her year: nods in both Top Female Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist reiterate the breakout strength of her year.

BMI affiliates swept both the Top Vocal Duo and Top New Male Vocalist categories. Duo nominees include Brooks & Dunn, Halfway to Hazard and Montgomery Gentry; Luke Bryan, Jack Ingram and Jake Owen will vie for the Top New Male Vocalist prize.

Additional BMI nominees include Keith Urban for Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist; Rascal Flatts, also for Entertainer of the Year plus Top Vocal Group; Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood for Top Female Vocalist; Diamond Rio, the Eagles and Little Big Town for Top Vocal Group; Sarah Buxton for Top New Female Vocalist; Lady Antebellum and The Wreckers for Top New Duo Vocal Group; Gary Allan and his latest no. 1 single "Watching Airplanes" for Single Record of the Year; producers Tony Brown, Mark Wright, Nathan Chapman, Scott Borchetta, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank and Byron Gallimore; songwriters Rodney Clawson and Keith Anderson for co-penning Big & Rich's "Lost in this Moment"; as well as Tim McGraw, Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow in the Vocal Event of the Year category.

2008 BMI ACM Award Nominees

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Rascal Flatts
Keith Urban

TOP MALE VOCALIST
Rodney Atkins
Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

TOP VOCAL GROUP
Diamond Rio
Eagles
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

TOP VOCAL DUO
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Halfway To Hazard
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland

TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
Luke Bryan
Jack Ingram
Jake Owen

TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
Sarah Buxton
Taylor Swift

TOP NEW DUO OR VOCAL GROUP
Lady Antebellum
The Wreckers

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Miranda Lambert (Columbia)

If You're Going Through Hell
Rodney Atkins (Curb)
Co-produced by Rodney Atkins

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift (Big Machine)
Produced by Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Famous In A Small Town"
Miranda Lambert
Columbia

Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Co-produced by Big Kenny
Warner Bros/WRN

"Stay"
Sugarland
Co-produced by Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore
Mercury

"Watching Airplanes"
Gary Allan
Co-produced by Gary Allan, Mark Wright
MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
"Don't Blink"
Co-written by Casey Beathard
Publishers: Lavender Zoo Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Acuff
Rose (BMI)

"Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Co-written by Keith Anderson, Rodney Clawson
Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), Writer's Extreme Music (BMI)

"Watching You"
Rodney Atkins
Co-written by Rodney Atkins, Steve Dean
Publishers: Bethar Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI)

"Stay"
Sugarland

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
"Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Co-produced by Big Kenny

"Stay"
Sugarland
Producer: Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore

"Watching You"
Rodney Atkins

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Because Of You"
Produced by Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

"Find Out Who Your Friends Are"
Featuring Tim McGraw

"What You Give Away"
Vince Gill With Sheryl Crow
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank
MCA Nashville

Check out live photos from the event

Full BMI Grammy Award Winners List

Unable to attend the ceremony due to a tardy issuance of her visa, Winehouse watched, accepted awards and performed twice via satellite in London. Her innate vintage cool and authentic emotion echoed through her performances of Record and Song of the Year, “Rehab,” along with “I’m No Good.” After claiming the most Grammys of any artist throughout the evening, including Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album, Winehouse’s ubiquitous artistic shadow was most certainly in attendance.

Charismatic rap star Kanye West further emphasized his staying power with wins in Rap Album and Solo Rap Performance of the Year. Honored both as a songwriter and recording artist, West also earned Rap Song of the Year bragging rights for “Good Life.” In addition to garnering accolades for his solo work, West claimed Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his collaboration with Common on “Southside.”

“What a beautiful day this is in Los Angeles!” Herbie Hancock’s visible surprise while accepting his Album of the Year trophy provided a sublimely extemporaneous moment during the telecast. The first jazz project in 43 years to win Album of the Year, Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters features collaborations with numerous contemporary stylists, including Norah Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae. The project also garnered Best Contemporary Jazz Album honors.

BMI’s preeminent rock family enjoyed a successful night as well. The unfaltering Foo Fighters took home Best Hard Rock Performance honors for driving single “The Pretender,” while their Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace earned Rock Album of the Year. Critical darlings and rock purists The White Stripes claimed Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the title track to Icky Thump, which also garnered Best Alternative Album bragging rights for the enigmatic duo.

Beloved jazz saxophonist and composer Michael Brecker received posthumous awards for Best Jazz Instrumental Album (Individual or Group) and Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Perennial favorites The Clark Sisters also secured honors for Best Gospel Performance and Best Gospel Song.

Additional winners included Carrie Underwood for Best Female and Keith Urban for Best Male Country Vocal Performances; Calle 13 for Best Latin Urban Album; Ray Price and Willie Nelson for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals; Juan Luis Guerra for Best Tropical Latin Album; Vince Gill’s These Days for Best Country Album; Rihanna’s “Umbrella” for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration; Maroon 5 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals; and Alison Krauss for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

The BMI Country Awards turned a spry 55 years old as they were held tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 6, at the performing right organization's Music Row offices in Nashville. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) - the first home for country music - was also the first U.S. organization to honor the genre's songwriters and publishers with their own awards show in 1953. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Jody Williams, Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, hosted the black-tie ceremony toasting the writers and publishers of the past year's 50 most-performed country songs in the BMI repertoire.

2007 BMI Country Awards: Award Winning Songs

Jeffrey Steele received his second Country Songwriter of the Year title, while his poignant composition "What Hurts The Most" earned the coveted Song of the Year crown. Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville snagged Publisher of the Year bragging rights for the sixth consecutive year, and a tribute to Willie Nelson recognized the newest BMI Icon's unifying music and humble dignity.

"What Hurts The Most," co-written by Jeffrey Steele and published by Gottahaveable Music and Bug Music/Songs of Windswept, landed the 39th Robert J. Burton Award, presented to the most performed country song of the year. Recorded by crossover titans Rascal Flatts, the nostalgic ballad earned a slew of accolades including two Grammy nominations, and became the group's fifth no. 1 single.

Nashville's best-selling artists have come to rely on 2007 Country Songwriter of the Year Jeffrey Steele's uncanny hitmaking prowess. Steele secured his first Country Songwriter of the Year win in 2003, and has spent the past four years enriching his bejeweled catalog, which includes five of this year's most performed songs: Rascal Flatts' "My Wish," "Me and My Gang," and "What Hurts the Most," Steve Holy's "Brand New Girlfriend" and Keith Anderson's "Every Time I Hear Your Name."

With 17 songs among this year's top 50, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville (through its companies Sony/ATV Acuff Rose, Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Sony/ATV Melody and Sony/ATV Tree) picked up its sixth consecutive Publisher of the Year win. The publishing powerhouse accumulated the highest percentage of copyright ownership thanks to award songs including "Give It Away," "Would You Go With Me," "Every Mile A Memory," "Tim McGraw" and "Kerosene."

The capstone of the evening took the form of the Icon tribute to beloved legend Willie Nelson, featuring performances by fellow pioneers Kris Kristofferson and Emmylou Harris, along with contemporary country trendsetters Toby Keith, Josh Turner and Keith Urban. Willie Nelson's ascendance to internationally-renowned treasure is a singular path marked by self-belief and musical brilliance. As a BMI Icon, Nelson will perhaps be recognized most for his songwriting, which has long enraptured the entire world. His love of the offbeat and heedlessness of conventional time signatures have made Nelson an innovative and inimitable guitarist. As a singer, his deft phrasing and naked sincerity are irresistible. A romantic aesthete, Willie Nelson makes all that he touches beautiful. The Texas native's "Crazy," "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground," "Funny How Time Slips Away," "On the Road Again" and "Good Hearted Woman" merely skim the surface of a catalog stacked with unvarnished classics. Famous for his ceaseless touring, Nelson is an untiring philanthropist and humanitarian, most visibly through Willie-coined events including Farm Aid.

The 2007 BMI Country Awards also honored hit songwriters Brett Beavers, Rodney Clawson, Jamey Johnson, Tony Martin, Bill Anderson, Steve Bogard, Scotty Emerick, Toby Keith, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Bobby Pinson and the Warren Brothers, who each supplied two or more songs to the top 50 list.

Publishers EMI Blackwood Music, Inc; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.; Jeffrey Steele Music Group; Bug Music/Songs of Windswept; Universal Music Publishing Group; Big Gassed Hitties; Brett Beavers Music Group; Gold Watch Music; Music of Stage Three and StyleSonic Music each took home three or more awards.

Bob DiPiero, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs and Hank Williams, Jr. were honored for their songwriting contributions and welcomed to the esteemed ranks of the Nashville Songwriters Hall Fame during the 38th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony held Sunday, October 14.  Members of the Nashville songwriting and publishing community filled the ballroom of the Renaissance Nashville hotel to celebrate the musical contributions of the newest inductees.

During the evening's ceremonies, each new member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was inducted by a fellow artist, friend or family member, while star-studded performances highlighted their respective repertoires.

Bluegrass icons Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs were inducted by Marty Stuart, who joined Flatt's band at the age of 13.  The Grammy®-winning Del McCoury Band took the stage to perform the Flatt & Scruggs hits "If I Should Wander Back Tonight," "Earl's Breakdown," "Little Cabin Home on the Hill," "Don't Get Above Your Raisin'" and the Martha White jingle before Stuart joined them on "Foggy Mountain Breakdown."  Flatt's widow Gladys Flatt and granddaughter Tammy Brumfield joined Scruggs to accept the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Manny Award.  "It's been a wonderful ride," Scruggs said.  "Thank you all very much."

Hank Williams, Jr. was inducted in "family tradition" by his daughter, Holly Williams.  "It's a surprise that I'm inducting my dad tonight," she said.  "I'm a songwriter myself. It's my passion, and I am a true fan of my dad."  She then performed three of his songs-"Feelin' Better," "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" and "Blues Man"-before country chart-topper Gretchen Wilson took the stage to perform the Bocephus classic, "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down."  With his induction, Williams joins his legendary father as the only father/son members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.  As he accepted his award, Williams told the crowd that he had taken banjo lessons from Scruggs at the age of 19.  "I'm from the old school," he said.  "I know a lot of you are saying that these awards don't mean anything to old Hank, but this one is special.  I need this, thank you, and I need y'all."

Bob DiPiero's career began when he arrived in Music City in 1979 and found an early supporter in Amy Kurland, owner of the renowned Bluebird Café, so it was fitting that she presided over his induction.  DiPiero's friends in the Hit Men of Music Row-Craig Wiseman, Tony Mullins and Jeffrey Steele-performed a medley of his hits including "American Made," " Take Me As I Am" and "Blue Clear Sky" before Neal McCoy performed his #1 hit "Wink," which was named BMI Country Song of the Year in 1995. "Coming from Youngstown, Ohio, I thought I might be indicted, but not inducted," DiPiero quipped as he accepted his award.   "I definitely didn't get here by myself," he said, before acknowledging a long list of supporters, mentors and fellow writers.  "I love all of you.  Thank you for this honor."

In addition to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductions, the hall's sister organization, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), presented its annual Songwriter Achievement Awards.  The organization's professional songwriter members named "Bless the Broken Road," by Bobby E. Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon, their Song of the Year.  BMI singer/songwriter Taylor Swift shared the Songwriter/Artist of the Year honor with Alan Jackson. 2007 was a breakthrough year for Swift, who wrote or co-wrote every song on her platinum-selling eponymous debut. Taylor is the youngest recipient of the award to date.

NSAI's Professional Songwriters Division also voted for their favorite songs of the year. Informally dubbed "The Songs I Wish I'd Written," members select 10 hits each year that fit the bill. Bobby E. Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon's "Bless the Broken Road," recorded by Selah with Melodie Crittenden; Casey Beathard and Ed Hill's "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," recorded by Tracy Lawrence; Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson's "Give It Away," recorded by George Strait; Luke Bryan's "Good Directions," recorded by Billy Currington; Bobby Pinson and Trent Tomlinson's "One Wing in the Fire," recorded by Tomlinson; Sarah Buxton's "Stupid Boy," recorded by Keith Urban; Merle Haggard's "The Seashores of Old Mexico," recorded by George Strait; and John Scott Sherrill and Shawn Camp's "Would You Go With Me," recorded by Josh Turner all scored the colleague-voted nods.

Marriage to a major movie star no doubt increased media attention on the country artist tenfold, but it also seems to have fueled his creative powers as well, since the new album has been hailed by many as Urban’s best and most powerful. The first single, “Once in a Lifetime,” has already made history as the highest-charting debut (No. 17) in the 62-year history of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart; it was also the most-downloaded album on iTunes.

The road to success has been rocky for this superstar, who spent a decade paying dues in Nashville after moving to the States in 1992. He first garnered attention as part of the Aussie-tinged band The Ranch, which packed houses around town with their dynamic live shows, but failed to catch fire at radio with their Capitol Records debut in 1997. Going solo proved to be the ticket for Urban, and his 1999 self-titled debut secured him a place as a standout talent among country’s newcomers. But it was 2002’s Golden Road that truly launched Urban’s career. Hits like “You’ll Think of Me,” “Somebody Like You” and “Raining On Sunday” made him a platinum seller.

The album eventually sold over three million copies, and by the time Be Here was released in 2004, Urban was spending the majority of his time at the top of the charts, racking up No. 1s with hits like “Days Go By,” the monster ballad “Making Memories of Us,” and his seventh chart-topper, “Better Life,” which he co-penned with Richard Marx. (The two also collaborate on the new album on the song “Everybody.”)

With that caliber of success comes a certain pace, however, and Urban no doubt battled exhaustion and weariness as he conquered the road first as a supporting act for both Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney, and then on his own headlining theater tour in 2004 and arena tour in 2005. And so he found himself sequestered in rehab during the honeymoon phase of his marriage and the crucial promotional set-up period for his fourth studio album. The move was a courageous one for anyone, but for an artist at the height of his popularity even more so, some might say. But honesty and emotional sincerity has always been a hallmark of Urban’s work.

“It’s just an accurate reflection of where I am now,” Urban says of his new record. “It’s about life. The title came from a great old movie called ‘Love, Pain and the Whole Damned Thing,’ and we just swapped ‘damned’ for ‘crazy,’ and it gave the right sense of how the album feels and what it’s about.”

Co-producing the album with longtime collaborator Dan Huff at Urban’s Nashville home may have provided an extra creative stimulant as well. “I found this house that had a great room in the front with windows all around and amazing views, and almost all of the songs for this album were written there. It was supposed to be the dining room, but I sacrificed that for the music.”

Dinner-parties-be-damned turned out to be a smart philosophy for Urban, whose first two songs from the album have already skyrocketed up the charts. One of his favorite songs, current single “Stupid Boy,” was the most-added song on the charts two weeks in a row, and was chosen by Kidman. The ballad addresses how foolish and reckless men can be with the hearts of the women they love, and was co-written by new artist Sarah Buxton, who also recorded it for her own record.

Other gems on the record include “God Made Woman,” featuring choir backing and a majestic mix of string arrangements by David Campbell, and “Raise the Barn,” a rousing nod to those rebuilding in New Orleans featuring buddy Ronnie Dunn. “I’ve always wanted to do a song with Ronnie, and he records all his vocals in an old barn on his property. Needless to say, when we did it there was a whole lot of ‘raising’ going on!”

The album includes a healthy mix of country and pop, which is just what Urban was going for in widening the road for not only country artists, but all artists in general. “I have different tastes,” explained Urban recently. “Diverse is not necessarily scattered. I can’t take too much of the same thing. The iPod has allowed for diversity in people’s tastes. It’s not about genre. It’s for short attention span people who want Metallica and Merle Haggard. And I think it has created acceptance for diversity on a single record.”

GAC's Country Music Across America interviewed "Stand" co-writer Danny Orton (left) and BMI songwriter Blair Daly (right)

The CMA's Hank Adam Locklin (right) presented a certificate to Blair (left)

Combustion Music Group President Chris Farren made a special presentation

With this No. 1, Blair earned his BMI signature Takamine guitar. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's David Preston, Blair Daly and BMI's Jody Williams

The Combustion crew got together for a shot. Pictured are (l to r): Combustion Music Group's Chris Van Belkom, Ashley Hertzog, Blair Daly, Stephanie Greene and Chris Farren

Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Phil Graham, Lyric Street's Doug Howard, Windswept Publishing's Steve Markland, co-writer Danny Orton, BMI songwriter Blair Daly, Combustion Music Group's Chris Farren and Stephanie Greene, with BMI's Jody Williams

Photos by Steve Lowry