2026 Songwriter Serenade Announces Finalists and Winner

The 2026 Songwriting Serenade songwriting competition transpired in Schulenburg, TX on Saturday, May 2nd, with Madison, Tennessee-based songwriter Natalie Price coming in first place, Nashville’s Claire Kelly taking home 2nd place, and Charlie Chamberlain also from Nashville coming in 3rd. All of the 15 semi-finalists who participated in the judged competition took home cash prizes, with over $10,000 handed out in total.

Judged by professional songwriters Libby Koch, Josh Grider, Susan Gibson, and Walt Wilkins, the 19th annual Songwriters Serenade saw all fifteen semi-finalists perform two songs at the St. John Church Outdoor Pavilion after being whittled down from the hundreds of original entries. Then seven finalists were selected who all played a final song to choose the winner.

As host and co-chair of the Songwriter Serenade Tom McDaniel explained at the beginning of the competition, a couple of entrants they received in 2026 turned out to be AI. That really underscores the importance of human-based songwriting, and grassroots events like the Songwriter Serenade that emphasize the importance of the craft. The human experience is what was on display as the finalists all played their last song.

Charlie Chamberlain sang a song called “Moravia, TX” that he actually wrote last year at the Songwriter Serenade while hanging out at Tom McDonald’s nearby ranch. It was raining a lot and his boots got muddy. “I’ll never wash Moravia off my boots,” was the hook of the song from the cowboy country songwriter.

So many of the final songs were about deeply human connections, just like so many of the best songs are. Karen Dahlstrom from Brooklyn, NY sang her song “If I’d Known You” about regretting not asking questions of your parents about the kind of people they were when you had the chance to. China Kent from Colorado sang “Halfway”—a breakup song, but one about breaking up with a friend in adulthood, using the Continental Divide as a literally tool to tell the story of the separated and estranged friends.

2nd place winner Claire Kelly performed her song “The Roads You Can Run” that was inspired after a night of “shooting dice and shooting whiskey,” and then the next day holding a friend’s baby, and feeling the contrast in life, and the different paths we can choose. Kelly also really distinguished herself with her voice, and by writing songs that accent it. “How do you know if you’re going the wrong way, or just taking the long way?” the song asks.

In a strange twist of fate, the final three songs performed were all inspired by the songwriters’ grandmothers, and from the 5th Place, 4th Place, and eventual winner of the competition. Sarah Morris from Shoreview, MN sang “I Don’t Mind” that she wrote for her grandmother Mary Alice. “She was my person,” Morris explained.

Alicia Stockman from Utah said taking the stage, “Hello, I’m here for the grandma portion of the competition.” But instead of exploring her close relationship with her grandmother, it was about the disconnect she felt with her grandmother who spent so much time looking to the afterlife. Stockman used the song to say the things she couldn’t say to her grandma in-person.

When eventual winner Natalie Price took the stage, she joked, “Just found out we’re all playing our grandma songs. So we’re going to find out who’s grandma was the best.” Price’s song called “I Remember” was about her grandmother who passed away in 2021, and whether her grandma was the best or not, her song was the best of the competition according to the judges. “You were blind, but you could see my dreams,” Price sang about her grandma, who had lost both hearing and vision at the end of her life.

Originally from Texas, Natalie Price portrays her music as “Ameri-kinda” with the way her music comes with strong songwriting instincts, but incorporates folk and indie influences into her sound. Mary Bragg produced Price’s 2023 self-titled album.

The Songwriting Serenade concludes with the winner playing multiple songs, along with the judges performing for the audience. Then on Sunday, the participants all hang out with the judges, working on songs and talking about the craft at Tom McDonald’s nearby ranch. The entire event can be streamed on Facebook.

2026 Songwriting Serenade Winners, Finalists, and Semi-Finalists:

1st – $2,000 – Natalie Price

2nd – $1,500 – Claire Kelly

3rd – $1,000 – Charlie Chamberlain

4th – $900 – Alicia Stockman

5th – $800 – Sarah Morris

6th – $700 – Karen Dhalstrom

7th – $600 – China Kent

8th – 15th – $400 – Bud Bierhaus, Gabe Israel, Sidney Kenley, Lia Menaker, Giulia Millanta, Amanda Murari, Teni Rane, and Stephanie Sammons.

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