Olivia Rodrigo, Chris Stapleton, Melissa Etheridge and More Take the Stage at 2026 BMI Troubadour Awards Honoring Sheryl Crow
By Website Content Manager
Crow is now part of an exclusive group of recipients that includes John Fogerty, John Oates and Lucinda Williams, all previously recognized with the prestigious honor.
Nashville came together Monday night to celebrate one of the city’s most influential figures in music: Sheryl Crow.
The nine-time Grammy winner added another prestigious achievement to her career on Sept. 14, when she was presented with the 2026 BMI Troubadour Award during an intimate, star-studded dinner at BMI’s Nashville offices. The event quickly became one of Music City’s hottest gatherings, taking place just one night before Americana Fest was set to begin across town.
Following a cocktail reception attended by artists and industry figures including Amanda Shires, Amy Grant, Chris Isaak, Dave Cobb, Grace Bowers, Hayes Carll, Joy Oladokun, Jesse Welles, Luke Dick, Maren Morris, Matraca Berg, Peter Frampton, Rita Wilson, Sam Bush and Swamp Dogg, BMI Nashville Vice President of Creative Clay Bradley opened the evening by reflecting on Crow’s remarkable career.
Jason Isbell was the first performer of the night, taking the stage with a rendition of Crow’s 1993 debut single, “Run Baby Run.”
Melissa Etheridge followed with a high-energy performance of “If It Makes You Happy.” She was accompanied by an accomplished group of Nashville musicians, including Nick Buda, Dan Dugmore, Jedd Hughes, Steve Mackey, Guthrie Trapp and Jimmy Wallace.
Eric Church then offered a more stripped-down interpretation of “Leaving Las Vegas,” bringing a soulful acoustic feel to the Crow classic.
Jeff Trott, a longtime collaborator who worked with Crow during the early stages of her career, later shared memories of creating songs that would eventually become some of her biggest hits. Lauren Daigle then performed “Everyday Is a Winding Road,” a Crow-Trott collaboration. Crow responded to the performance with a standing ovation and warmly expressed her affection for Daigle from across the room.
Chris Stapleton was next, speaking about his admiration for Crow not only as a songwriter but also as a friend. The Kentucky singer then delivered a commanding version of “I Shall Believe.”
The evening ended with a surprise appearance from Olivia Rodrigo. Before performing Crow’s 1993 song “Strong Enough,” Rodrigo spoke about the qualities she admires most in the honoree, saying, “What inspires me the most about [Crow] is her heart, her kindness, and her generosity.”
Rodrigo’s ethereal rendition earned an emotional reaction from Crow, providing a fitting conclusion to a night dedicated to celebrating the singer-songwriter’s enduring influence and contributions to music.