Photo credit: Tammie Arroyo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country Music Hall of Fame member and Grand Ole Opry legend Bill Anderson was honored with the prestigious ACM Icon Award on Wednesday, August 19 during the 19th ACM Honors at The Pinnacle in Nashville.
Known as “Whisperin’ Bill,” he was celebrated for his extraordinary contributions to country music and a legendary career spanning more than seven decades as a recording artist, songwriter, author and television personality.
Bill shared, “There’s an old gospel song called, ‘I Wouldn’t Take Nothin’ For My Journey Now,’ and that’s pretty much how I’m feeling standing here tonight. I wouldn’t take anything for these 65-plus years, journeying through the world of country music among you and alongside you. You’ve been awfully good to me, and I’ll never be able to tell you how much I appreciate it. And this is the cherry on top of the sundae.”
The ACM Icon Award recognizes individuals whose multifaceted contributions have made a lasting impact on the Country Music genre and community. Bill’s recognition adds to a celebrated list of honors that includes induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Bill received the honor alongside fellow ACM Icon Award recipient Mike Curb.
For more information on Bill Anderson, visit billanderson.com
ABOUT BILL ANDERSON:
Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry titan Bill Anderson is the rare songwriter whose first major label cut went to No. 1 on the charts, was named Song of The Year and sparked a writing career that is currently in its seventh decade. The song, “City Lights,” was written when Anderson was a 19-year old Georgia disc jockey and became a career-defining hit for Ray Price in 1958. The song opened doors for him in Nashville, leading him to signing with BMI and Tree Publishing. Anderson was far from a one-hit wonder. He followed “City Lights” with country standards like “Tips Of My Fingers,” the GRAMMY-nominated “Once A Day,” “Saginaw, Michigan,” “That’s What It’s Like To Be Lonesome,” “I Missed Me,” “Cold Hard Facts Of Life,” which earned him another GRAMMY nomination, “Mama Sang A Song,” the crossover smash, “Still,” and countless others. He was voted country Songwriter of the Year six times during his first decade in Music City. His success continued into the 1970’s with award-winning hits like “Slippin’ Away,” “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” “I May Never Get To Heaven,” and the disco-flavored, “I Can’t Wait Any Longer.” The 1980’s saw Anderson’s chart-topping career take a hiatus as he became a TV network game show host, spokesman for a national restaurant chain and a nonstop touring Grand Ole Opry performer. In the 1990’s he came roaring back with a vengeance, however, as he seriously turned to co-writing for the first time. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, his collaborations with the newer generation of Nashville tunesmiths resulted in hits like “Wish You Were Here,” the GRAMMY-nominated “Two Teardrops,” “A Lot Of Things Different,” for Kenny Chesney, “Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn),” for Vince Gill and two CMA Song Of The Year trophies for “Whiskey Lullaby,” with Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss and George Strait’s “Give It Away,” in 2005 and 2007 respectfully. He continues to write today with songs like Brad Paisley’s “Dying To See Her.”
