Ashley Gorley on Songwriters Hall of Fame honor, advice for new class

Bryan West, USA TODAY NETWORKTue, April 14, 2026 at 2:49 PM UTC

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Ashley Gorley had already built one of the most dominant songwriting careers in Nashville, but the Songwriters Hall of Fame still felt out of reach.

The hitmaker behind dozens of country chart-toppers, including Morgan Wallen's "Last Night," Chris Stapleton's "You Should Probably Leave" and Luke Bryan's "Play It Again," reflected on his 2025 induction at the CMA Triple Play awards on April 13.

"I thought I had zero shot," he says. "I would have bet a lot of my own money on me not being anywhere on the ballot of that thing."

Gorley joined the same class that included George Clinton, Rodney Jerkins and members of The Doobie Brothers. The ceremony, held at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, marked a full-circle moment for Gorley, who had attended the event for years simply as a fan.

"I've gone for like 10 years as a fan," he says. "Literally as a fan."

Ashley Gorley speaks after accepting his award during the CMA Triple Play Awards at the Country Music Hall Fame and Museum on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.

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He brought nearly 30 guests, including family, collaborators and longtime friends, filling multiple tables at the celebration. The most lasting moment came from the stage, when his daughter spoke in tribute.

"That was the most special night I've had ever," he says. "Just hearing her say that stuff about me."

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Now, a new class is preparing for that same milestone. The Songwriters Hall of Fame will welcome its 2026 inductees on June 11 in New York, led by Taylor Swift, who becomes the youngest female inductee in the organization’s history. The class also includes Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins and Christopher Stewart, among others.

To be eligible, songwriters must have released their first commercial song at least 20 years prior, a benchmark Swift reached with her 2006 debut single "Tim McGraw." Inductees must attend the ceremony in person, adding to the significance of the night.

For Gorley, the experience underscored something that even decades of success had not diminished the weight of being recognized alongside the writers who are shaping the music industry.

His advice to the new class: Take it all in.

"I think culturally, right now, a lot of things are just kind of not being celebrated," he says. "I'm making sure everybody takes like a minute to thank him and just be thankful to just be a small part of this thing when you look around this room and just don't take it for granted."

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ashley Gorley on Songwriters Hall of Fame awards and writing advice

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