The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has finally announced its nominees for this year's induction ceremony, and the artists included in the lineup are bigger than ever.
According to Billboard, the nominees are divided into two categories. The first one will be the contemporary songwriters, including Larry Cordle, Frank J. Myers, Gary Nicholson, Hillary Lindsey, Jim Lauderdale, Tia Sillers, Tommy Sims, and Ronnie Rogers.
The second one is the contemporary songwriters/artists category, which features four nominees: Shania Twain, Pam Tillis, Brad Paisley, and Kirk Franklin.
In a statement, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Executive Director Mark Ford congratulated the nominees, saying the organization is looking forward to early August, the date when they'll announce those who will be inducted as members of the Class of 2022.
The artists mentioned above experienced their first significant songs at least 20 years ago. In the end, only two songwriters and one artist-songwriter will be inducted and elected by members of the HOF and other professional musicians who have written or co-written at least one Nashville song.
In addition, two other categories will be included: the veteran songwriter and veteran songwriter/artist.
The nominees should have an experience of having a significant song from at least 30 years ago.
As of this writing, the organization has not announced the official nominees for the two veteran categories.
Per the outlet, first-time nominee Lauderdale is popularly known for writing hit songs like "Gonna Get a Life," "Patty Loveless," and "Halfway Down" by Mark Chesnutt.
He also wrote "When Did You Stop Loving Me" by George Strait.
Aside from being a successful songwriter, he's also a recording artist with hit singles like "Mighty Lonesome."
On the other hand, Hillary Lindsey is eligible to be nominated as her first hit was released in 2002 after serving as a writer for Martina McBride's "Blessed."
She also co-wrote Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel," which earned a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2006.
In total, Underwood has recorded over 40 tracks written by Lindsey, including "So Small" and "Wasted."
Other nominees are Myers, who wrote "I Got Mexico" for Eddy Raven, Nicholson for Charley Pride's "The Power of Love," "That's the Thing About Love," and many more.
The winners will be inducted on October 30, 2022, during the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala at Music City Center.
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