Matthew West alongside Taylor Swift were some of this year's top names during the Nashville Songwriter's Awards ceremony.

The 5th Annual Nashville Songwriter's Awards ceremony put on by Nashville Songwriter's Association International (NSAI) was held on September 20 at the famous Ryman Auditorium. 

West won the award for Songwriter-Artist of the Year. He was the first Christian artist to get this type of award. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Matthew West (@matthewjwest)

"People often ask me why I write Christian music," says West on Instagram. "I’ve sang it before: if you know Jesus like I know Jesus, then you know the reason why."

West's wife and two daughters attended the ceremony. West performed 'Me on Your Mind' during the event with Anne Wilson who is featured on the latest version. 

"And now the @nsaiofficial Songwriter-Artist of the Year award – for the first time in over 20 years – has been given to a Christian songwriter," says West. "I'd like to take credit, but I know that I wouldn’t be here without the God who has stayed with me and all of YOU sharing my messages about His life-changing love. That’s the power of Jesus' music!"

The well-known pop/country artist Taylor Swift took home the Songwriter-Artist of the Decade award. Garth Brooks was also honoured during the evening with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award.


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