Taylor Swift Tops Nashville Songwriter’s Association International Awards

Taylor Swift and awards: they just go together. The 20-year-old country wunderkind once again picked up Songwriter/Artist Of The Year at NSAI’s annual awards ceremony in Nashville. It was her third time winning in four years.

“Ever since I can remember, my favorite thing in the world has been a good story,” said Swift at the ceremony. “I loved books, and then poetry, and then I discovered a town where they told cool stories in magical ways, and that was Nashville. Thank you for being wonderful to me. I’m enjoying telling my stories.”

Also at the event, four songwriters were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame: Stephen Foster, Steve Cropper, Paul Davis and Pat Alger.

Country mega-star Garth Brooks was on hand to perform and honor co-writer Pat Alger, playing their hits “Unanswered Prayers,” “The Thunder Rolls” and “That Summer.”

“Pat understands the craft of songwriting,” said Brooks. “He knows what it is, is what it is. If you think you can make something, then it will never live and breathe.” Alger told a story of how the first time he played “Unanswered Prayers,” it was at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. He got an ovation after the first chorus.

In other news, Brad Paisley co-writer Chris Dubois was named NSAI’s Songwriter of the Year, and Miranda Lambert’s “House That Built Me” (written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin) picked up Song of the Year.