‘Pretty Little Poison’ Named Song Of The Year, Jaron Boyer Named Songwriter Of The Year At 2024 SESAC Nashville Music Awards

Yesterday (Nov. 17) – just days before the highly-anticipated 58th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards – SESAC songwriters, music publishers and more gathered at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to kick off the fun-filled week, honoring those behind some of the biggest country songs of the year at the 2024 SESAC Nashville Music Awards.

Hosted by SVP, Head of Nashville Creative Shannan Hatch – as well as Senior Directors, Creative Services ET Brown and Lydia Cahill – more than 400 songwriters, music publishers and industry professionals were in attendance at the one-of-a-kind evening, celebrating the country music community as a whole.

“Everybody’s finally in town. You never see any of the same people ever,” singer-songwriter Tyler Rich dished while speaking to Country Now on the red carpet. “We’re always busy, going crazy on the road, and so getting to reconnect with all these different songwriters – we pour our hearts and souls into rooms writing songs, and then sometimes you don’t see each other for a year – it’s an awesome family reunion.”

“It’s not just the people that I’ve known for, you know, 25 years. There’s a lot of new people that we get to meet and hang out with and see on stage,” singer-songwriter Lee Brice added about the SESAC Awards. “It’s just fun to be here, and it is good to see all my old friends too and what they’re doing. Just celebrating the songwriters.”

Megan Moroney Performs, Receives SESAC Spotlight Award

Kicking off the annual award show, 27-year-old Megan Moroney took the stage to perform her smash hit “Am I Okay?” – the title track from her sophomore album – prior to accepting the SESAC Spotlight Award.

Said award honors Moroney’s recent achievements, from her three CMA Award nominations to her headlining Am I Okay? Tour and beyond. Additionally, her songs “I’m Not Pretty” and “Indifferent” — both written by Moroney and published by Georgiamo, Sony Music Publishing —received nods throughout the evening.

“Tonight, I feel like we’re really celebrating songwriters, so I’m excited to be here,” Moroney gushed on the red carpet, just moments before taking the SESAC Awards stage. “Songwriting is my favorite part of the job, so yeah. I just love seeing everyone. I am thankful that they chose to honor me this year.”

The “emo cowgirl” then transitioned to talking about the CMA Awards taking place on Wednesday (Nov. 20), where she landed her second consecutive New Artist of the Year nomination, as well as Female Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year (“I’m Not Pretty”) nods.

“With the CMAs, that’s just a dream come true. To even attend is cool,” she shared with an ear-to-ear smile. “To be nominated and also get to perform, it’s going to be a big week. I have a lot of friends coming. My family’s coming to town.”

Warren Zeiders Performs “Pretty Little Poison”

Aside from Moroney, 25-year-old Warren Zeiders also took the SESAC Awards stage – alongside co-writers Ryan Beaver and Jared Keim – to perform their chart-topping tune “Pretty Little Poison.” Deservedly, the song earned the award for SESAC Song of the Year just moments after the trio finished their passion-packed performance.

Admitting that this is his first time at the SESAC Awards, Zeiders raved on the red carpet, “I think the best thing about tonight for me is just being here with the two writers on ‘Pretty Little Poison’…We’re all celebrating our first number one all together, and it’s a beautiful thing. I’m excited to hopefully take home a win tonight.”

He then delved into what “Pretty Little Poison” means to him – as well as Beaver and Keim – telling Country Now, “I knew the day we wrote it, it was something special. It’s always nice to see when you trust your gut and people come through and what you were feeling was real… People have connected with that song in such a big way, and it’s been awesome to see.”

Jaron Boyer Receives SESAC Songwriter Of The Year Award

Jaron Boyer accepts Songwriter of the Year; Photo by Getty

Aside from the SESAC Spotlight and Song of the Year Awards, two other massive recognitions are the SESAC Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year Awards, which went to Jaron Boyer and Warner Chappell Music (respectively).

Boyer, known for being behind smash hits like Jason Aldean’s “Let Your Boys Be Country” and George Birge’s “Mind On You,” earned an SESAC Award as well as a custom-designed Gibson guitar and Jostens ring for his achievements, and subsequently, a standing ovation.

“I almost retired from songwriting a couple years ago, and I had some good friends make me not quit,” he said during his acceptance speech, shouting out some of said friends: Michael Tyler, Michael Knox, Matt Gorman, Kaylin Roberson and more.

Nevertheless, for the full list of honorees at the 2024 SESAC Nashville Music Awards, see below.

SESAC 2024 Honorees

“PRETTY LITTLE POISON”

Written by Jared Keim

Published by Warner Chappell Music, Twelve6 Sequoia

Recorded by Warren Zeiders

“WE DON’T FIGHT ANYMORE”

Written by Pete Good

Published by Warner Chappell Music, King Pen Songs, SMACKWORKS Music

Recorded by Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton

“MIND ON YOU”

Written by Jaron Boyer, Michael Tyler

Published by Marlowe Sinclaire Songs, MTNoize, peertunes LTD, Melodies of CTM Outlander

Recorded by George Birge

“TUCSON TOO LATE”

Written by Josh Jenkins

Published by Follow Me Where I Go, SMACKWORKS Music

Recorded by Jordan Davis

“LET YOUR BOYS BE COUNTRY”

Written by Allison Veltz Cruz, Jaron Boyer

Published by Allison Veltz Sensations, Marlowe Sinclaire Songs, Hipgnosis Tunes, peertunes LTD, Songs of Porterfied Music

Recorded by Jason Aldean

“LOVE YOU AGAIN”

Written by Casey Brown

Published by Track & Feels, Warner Chappell Music, Tape Room Tunes

Recorded by Chase Matthew

“CREEK WILL RISE”

Written by Chris LaCorte

Published by Card Tables Music, Concord Tunes, Hang Your Hat Hits

Recorded by Conner Smith

“I’M NOT PRETTY”

Written by Megan Moroney

Published by Georgiamo, Sony Music Publishing

Recorded by Megan Moroney

“INDIFFERENT”

Written by Megan Moroney

Published by Georgiamo, Sony Music Publishing

Recorded by Megan Moroney

“CAN’T HAVE MINE”

Written by Matt Alderman

Published by Aldysongs, Curb Congregation Songs

Recorded by Dylan Scott

“GLORY DAYS”

Written by Seth Mosley

Published by M & M College Fund, Sony Music Publishing

Recorded by Gabby Barrett

“WINE INTO WHISKEY”

Written by Justin Ebach

Published El Chapo Music

Recorded by Tucker Wetmore

“HEARTLESS YEAR”

Written by Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist

Published by Three Pisces Music, Vitrolacaster Music

Recorded by The Band of Heathens

“FOX HUNT”

Written by Sierra Ferrell

Published by Abel Elba, Pulse Worldwide

Recorded by Sierra Ferrell

“GOOD TOGETHER”

Written by Rachael Price

Published Warner Chappell Music, 17 Lake Street Music

Recorded by Lake Street Dive

“LOVE OF A GIRL”

Written by Seth Avett, Scott Avett, Bob Crawford

Published by First Big Snow Publishing, NemoIVMusic, Truth Comes True Publishing, Ramseur Family Fold Music

Recorded by The Avett Brothers

“AMERICAN DREAMING”