Sunday evening (October 16), the best of the best in Nashville’s songwriting community gathered at the Renaissance Hotel in the heart of Music City, where dozens of tunesmiths were recognized at the 41st Anniversary Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony.
The honorees were Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, John Bettis, Thom Schuyler and Allen Shamblin.
Also eliciting cheers was superstar Taylor Swift, who picked up two awards early in the evening (for the fourth consecutive year, Taylor Swift was named the Songwriter/Artist of the Year/+one of the winners of ‘The Songs I Wish I’d Written’ category) and stayed on to sing a tribute to Jackson. She sang "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)." The crowd gave her a standing ovation.
"That was the prettiest version I've ever heard," said Jackson of Swift's performance when he came to the stage. He said he had heard Swift's sing "Teardrops on My Guitar" and predicted great things for her, even before he knew her name.
"I knew she was going to be big," he drawled, "but I didn't know she'd be that big."
Counting the hour-long cocktail reception, the event ran for five and-a-half hours. Around 1,000 people attended.
Will a video of her performance of "Where Were You" be made available? I know she covered it in concert last month, but I'd like to hear it without all the screaming fans...
She stays getting recognition for her songwriting talent... 
