Swift won country song of the year for “Teardrops On My Guitar,” a song the young music star co-wrote. Casey Beathard won songwriter of the year for the second time, in part for his hand in penning Kenny Chesney’s “Don’t Blink” and George Strait’s “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls.”

Hank Williams Jr. was honored as a BMI Icon, joining Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and others in the pantheon.

Big Kenny won an award for writing the Tim McGraw tune “Last Dollar (Fly Away)” and Kristian Bush of Sugarland won for the duo’s “Everyday America.”