Hal Blair, Rodney Crowell, Paul Overstreet, John Prine Inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame “ Three Wooden Crosses” is NSAI Song of the Year; Jeffrey Steele is Songwriter of the Year; Toby Keith is Songwriter/Artist of the Year 2003 Hall of Fame Inductee Rodney Crowell receiving his Manny Rodney Crowell, John Prine, Paul Overstreet and the late Hal Blair are the newest additions to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The four men were inducted Sunday, Nov. 2, during annual ceremonies conducted by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville. In conjunction with the Hall of Fame inductions, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) conferred a series of Songwriter Achievement Awards. “Three Wooden Crosses,” by Doug Johnson and Kim Williams, was named Song of the Year. The Songwriter of the Year prize went to Jeffrey Steele, writer of “These Days” by Rascal Flatts. The Songwriter/Artist of the Year was Toby Keith. Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill paid tribute to Crowell by treating the audience to a sampling of his many hits, which include “Leavin’ Louisiana In The Broad Daylight,” “I Ain’t Living Long Like This,” “Song For The Life,” “Ashes By Now,” “Shame On The Moon,” “After All This Time” and “Please Remember Me.” Longtime friend and Universal South Co-Founder Tony Brown provided the induction speech. Bonnie Raitt joined Hall of Fame members “Cowboy” Jack Clement and Roger Cook to celebrate Prine, whose classics include “Angel From Montgomery,” “Paradise,” “Love Is On A Roll,” “I Just Want To Dance With You,” “Sam Stone,” “Grandpa Was A Carpenter” and “Dear Abby.” Longtime friend and Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson provided the induction speech. 2003 Hall of Fame Inductee John Prine receiving his Manny Songwriters Rory Lee and Jim Collins saluted Overstreet, whose hits include “On The Other Hand,” “Forever And Ever Amen,” “Love Can Build A Bridge,” “When You Say Nothing At All,” “Long Line Of Love,” “Seein’ My Father In Me” and “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.” Randy Travis provided the induction speech by way of videotape. Riders In The Sky revived favorites from Hal Blair’s catalog, including “Ringo,” “One Has My Name, The Other Has My Heart,” “Please Help Me I’m Falling” and “Ninety Miles An Hour (Down A Dead End Street).” Country Music Historian Robert K. Oermann provided the induction. Longtime Blair friend Dean Kay accepted on behalf of his late friend and co-writer. Each Hall of Fame inductee was presented with the coveted “Manny” (short for “Manuscript”) Award. Besides honoring the Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist of the Year, the writers of NSAI’s Professional Songwriters Division also singled out 11 songs and their writers for its 2003 Achievement Awards (informally dubbed “The Songs I Wish I’d Written”). Recipients were “ A Lot Of Things Different” (Bill Anderson, Dean Dillon), “Almost Home” (Craig Morgan, Kerry Kurt Phillips), “Celebrity” (Brad Paisley), “Drift Away” (Mentor Williams), “I Believe” (Donny Kees, Skip Ewing), “Somebody Like You” (John Shanks, Keith Urban), “Stay Gone” (Billy Kirsch, Jimmy Wayne), “The Impossible” (Kelley Lovelace, Lee Thomas Miller), “Then They Do” (Jim Collins, Sunny Russ), “Three Wooden Crosses” (Doug Johnson, Kim Williams) and “Travelin' Soldier” (Bruce Robison). “ Three Wooden Crosses” was the top choice of the NSAI Pro writers. Three Jeffrey Steele songs – “My Town” by Montgomery Gentry, “These Days” by Rascal Flatts and “When The Lights Go Down” by Faith Hill – placed among the top 40 vote-getters and earned Songwriter of the Year honors for Steele. A pair of Toby Keith songs – “Beer For My Horses” by Toby Keith & Willie Nelson and “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)” by Toby Keith – earned Songwriter/Artist of the Year honors for Keith. Paul Overstreet reflects on his career during his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members Jack Clement and Roger Cook celebrate the induction of their friend John Prine into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame with a medley of some of his classic songs. Riders in the Sky honor 2003 Hall of Fame Inductee Hal Blair by performing a medley of his award-winning songs. Bonnie Raitt delivers a moving tribute to John Prine with a stunning performance of 'Angel From Montgomery.' Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill deliver a beautiful musical tribute to their friend Rodney Crowell during his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Songwriter and Publisher Dean Kay speaking on behalf of his friend Hal Blair during Mr. Blair's posthumous induction. J. Fred Knobloch and Karen Staley perform a memorial medley honoring recently deceased Hall of Fame members including Johnny Cash, Felice Bryant, Otis Blackwell and Redd Stewart. Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson during his induction remarks for John Prine. Songwriters Rory Lee and Jim Collins performing an induction medley for Paul Overstreet. Tony Brown delivers a touching tribute to Rodney Crowell   mail@nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com