This award honors a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader whose multifaceted contributions across songwriting, recording, production, touring, film, television, literary works and philanthropic efforts have positively impacted the country music genre and community.
Known as “Whisperin’ Bill,” Anderson, 88, rose to fame in the late 1950s by writing the song “City Lights,” which was first performed by Ray Price and became a No. 1 country hit. Anderson went on to become one of country music’s most successful songwriters and artists, with songwriting credits including George Strait’s “Give It Away,” Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss’ “Whiskey Lullaby” and Kenny Chesney’s “A Lot of Things Different.” He won an ACM Award in 2007 for cowriting “Give It Away,” and was the first recipient of the ACM Poet’s Award in 2008. Other accolades include five Grammy nominations and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also the longest-standing member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Curb, 81, is a producer and songwriter, as well as the founder and owner of Curb Records, a leading independent record label. Since entering the music industry in the 1960s, Curb has worked with the likes of Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Lyle Lovett, Wynonna Judd, Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice, Dylan Scott, Kelsey Hart, Hank Williams Jr. and Jo Dee Messina. He has cowritten hits and themes for numerous films and television series. Outside of music, Curb served as Lt. Governor of California from 1979 to 1983 and established the Mike Curb Foundation, which provides funds to support music education, preserve historical music sites, aid homelessness initiatives and more. He has stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Music City Walk of Fame. He was first elected to the ACM board of directors in 1991.
Past recipients include Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Eric Church, Charlie Daniels, Mike Dungan, Joe Galante, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, George Jones, The Judds, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, George Strait, Conway Twitty, Ben Vaughn, Hank Williams, Trisha Yearwood and Dwight Yoakam.
