Lyle Lovett, Shawn Camp, Lee Thomas Miller and More Share Heartfelt Tributes at Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
From moving tributes to funny family stories, the songwriters shared what matters most beyond the music
Key Takeaways
- Lyle Lovett and Shawn Camp credit their parents for supporting their musical dreams.
- Lee Thomas Miller shares a funny, heartfelt tribute to his wife of 35 years.
- Taylor Swift, Lyle Lovett and four other songwriters are inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Family, friendship and the power of songwriting took center stage at the 56th Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame annual gala on October 26. Held at Nashville’s Music City Center, the ceremony honored six songwriters and artists whose work has left a lasting mark on music.
J.I. Allison, Shawn Camp, Bruce Channel, Lyle Lovett, Lee Thomas Miller and Taylor Swift were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait received the organization’s Career Maker Award.
While the evening celebrated remarkable musical achievements, many of the honorees turned their attention to the people who supported them along the way.
Lyle Lovett credits his parents for supporting his dreams
Lovett was inducted in the veteran songwriter/artist category. After Pat Alger introduced him and Kathy Mattea performed his song “If I Had a Boat,” Lovett spoke about the importance of family.
“I just think of family,” Lovett said. “To see Taylor Swift with her parents, to see Bubba Strait [George Strait’s son] and his family with his parents, to see Larry Gatlin and to meet his son who’s here with his dad, reminds me of how my parents supported me.
“I don’t think there was ever a point in their lives when they made decisions based on what they wanted to do,” he continued. “They made decisions in their lives based on what they had to do. When I came along, they didn’t hold that against me and gave me every opportunity they could. They sent me to piano lessons, to guitar lessons. They didn’t take very well with me, but I’m still practicing. But they gave me every opportunity they never had, and they gave me the chance to make choices in my life based on what I wanted to do.”
Shawn Camp thanks his parents and songwriting collaborators
Camp, inducted in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame songwriter category, also paid tribute to his parents after legendary songwriter Jim Lauderdale welcomed him to the stage.
“I owe everything to momma and daddy,” said Camp, whose credits include George Strait’s “River of Love” and Garth Brooks’ “Two Piña Coladas.”
“They’re here with me tonight, Betty and Darryl Camp, sitting at my table. They have been married 71 years.”
Camp also made sure to recognize the fellow writers who helped him along the way.
“To all my co-writers, I appreciate y’all. Thank you so much. If you’ve ever written a song with me, you’re as much a part of this thing as I am. I sure appreciate you.”
Bruce Channel celebrates 55 years of marriage
Channel, inducted in the veteran songwriter category, is known for enduring hits including “Hey! Baby,” “Party Time” and “Don’t Worry ’Bout Me Baby.”
Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn welcomed Channel to the stage. During his speech, Channel thanked his wife of 55 years, Christina, and shared that he was looking forward to the next 55 years.
J.I. Allison is honored at Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The late Allison, who co-wrote Buddy Holly classics including “That’ll Be the Day” and “Peggy Sue,” was honored in the legacy category.
His wife, Joanie, accepted the award on his behalf following a rousing performance of “That’ll Be the Day” by Chuck Mead.
The tribute was one of several memorable musical moments throughout the evening. Lainey Wilson performed Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” while Lee Roy Parnell delivered a rendition of Channel’s “Hey! Baby.” Verlon Thompson, Tim Couch and Emmylou Harris performed Camp’s “Magnolia Wind.”
Jamey Johnson also took the stage to sing “In Color,” which he co-wrote with Miller and James Otto.
Lee Thomas Miller thanks his wife with a funny speech
Miller, inducted in the songwriter category, has penned hits including Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” and Joe Nichols’ “The Impossible.”
After Alabama’s Randy Owen welcomed him to the stage, Miller began by acknowledging his wife, Jana, with a story that had the audience laughing.
“At my first number one party, I forgot to thank my wife. We’re still talking about it, so let’s start there,” he said.
“35 years ago, she walked into a dive bar in Kentucky. I sang that old classic romantic sonnet, ‘Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine,’ Lee’s version. And she said, ‘Oh yes, take me away from all of this and make me poor.’ Five months later she married me. She has known me lost, broken, rejected, disappointed, disillusioned and irrelevant. I warned her the road would be hard and music will come first. And for some reason she signed up for all of that.”
Miller continued with an affectionate description of the many roles his wife plays in his life.
“Jana is the muse, the counselor, the antagonizer, the girlfriend, the accountant, the voice of reason, the voice of irrational lunacy, the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other,” he continued. “She’s incredibly wise, incredibly expensive, patient and consistently unpredictable. Without her, none of this happened.”
Miller also shared a story about his late mother and her decidedly unimpressed attitude toward famous people.
“Daddy would enjoy it. Mama was more complicated,” he said. “20 years ago, when I told her I was having dinner with the sitting President of the United States, Mama said after a disgusted pause, ‘Lee Thomas, you’re too impressed with people.’ So I apologize to all of the famous people here tonight. My mother would have simply not cared. I can only imagine how unimpressed she would have been with you, Taylor Swift, the most famous person in the world. I don’t think you would have Taylor Swifted her enough to move that needle. However, she would have probably liked your husband. She wouldn’t know who he is.”
The evening offered a reminder that behind the songs that become part of our lives are the writers who create them, the collaborators who help bring them to life and the families who stand beside them.
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