George Strait, Miranda Lambert to Receive Songwriting Honor in Texas
Since 2006, the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association has taken the distinct honor of cementing the legacy of some of the Lone Star State’s most revered songwriters in their Hall of Fame. In 2026, the case can be made the class has more star power than ever before.
“King” George Strait, Miranda Lambert, along with Keith Gattis and Don Cook will be this year’s Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees in a ceremony set to transpire on February 21st at the Moody Theater (ACL Live) in downtown Austin.
For pure songwriters, there’s few that are more accomplished from Texas than Don Cook, originally from Carrizo Springs. He’s written an incredible twenty #1 hits, including 13 hits with Brooks & Dunn alone—including some of the duo’s biggest songs like “Brand New Man” and “My Next Broken Heart.” Cook’s songwriting and production helped define ’90s country. He also wrote songs for fellow inductee George Strait, along with Alabama and Kenny Rogers among others.
Originally from Georgetown, TX, Keith Gattis wrote and co-wrote tracks for the likes of fellow inductee George Strait, Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, Gary Allan, Randy Houser, Charlie Robison, Randy Rogers Band, Jack Ingram, Wade Bowen, Cory Morrow, and Sara Evans just to name a few. As a studio player, he worked with George Jones, Jon Pardi, Brandy Clark, Bruce Robison, and Sunny Sweeney among others.
Gattis wrote “El Cerrito Place,” which after becoming a signature song for Charlie Robison, was released by Kenny Chesney as a successful radio single. He also wrote the Chesney single “When I See This Bar” and George Strait’s 2013 single “I Got a Car.” Albums that Keith Gattis produced include Wade Bowen’s Solid Ground (2018), and Randy Houser’s Magnolia (2019). Gattis was one of the most prolific multi-disciplinary contributors to country music in the last 25 years. He passed away in 2023.
Though Miranda Lambert from Lindale, TX is mostly known as a performer, she’s also known as a performer who writes or co-writes many of her own songs, including some of her biggest hits such as “Bluebird,” “Tin Man” and “Automatic,” all three of which were nominated for Grammy Awards. She’s also the most awarded artist in ACM Awards history, written songs with and for other artists such as Chris Stapleton’s “What Am I Gonna Do” and Ella Langley’s landmark “Choosin’ Texas” that’s currently #1
Just as importantly, Miranda Lambert is a massive champion of songwriters, from forming the supergroup The Pistol Annies with songwriters Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, to working with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall on The Marfa Tapes, to shouting out people like John Moreland and Tyler Childers early in their career, to recording the songs of John Prine, Patty Griffin, Waylon Payne, Brandy Clark and more.
Perhaps the most controversial pick will also be arguably the biggest name. It’s certainly true that Strait has not been very prolific as a songwriter in his career. But he has written more than what he tends to get credit for. “I Can’t See Texas From Here” is one of the best songs from his second album Strait From The Heart, and was written by Strait himself. On his 2019 record, the #1 Honky Tonk Time Machine, George co-wrote eight of the album’s tracks alone. But let’s be honest, it’s the songs of others he built his career on.
But that doesn’t mean that George Strait hasn’t contributed incredibly to songwriting. Without George Strait, critically-important songwriters to country music such as Dean Dillon and Jim Lauderdale may have never had careers, or been able to focus on the craft of songwriting like they did, penning some of the genre’s most legendary tunes. Strait’s talent was knowing a good song when he heard one, and then singing the hell out of it like only he could.
Not every year for the past 20 has the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association announced new inductees. They wait until the get a good crop of them to honor, and then they move forward. 2026 is one of those years, with the February 21st induction ceremony now sold out.
Over the years, Texas has become synonymous with some of the top songwriters in all of music. It’s due to songwriters and performers like Don Cook, Keith Gattis, Miranda Lambert, and George Strait.
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February 15, 2026 @ 10:27 am
And George’s guitar is extremely sad due to this,, because George gets all the credit, and no one pays any attention to George’s guitar; not even George.
February 17, 2026 @ 8:49 am
That guitar don’t have that beautiful smile , if it did it would be number 1
Even though it don’t have that smile it can sure put a smile on the Fans face with all the all the number 1 hits he wrote and sang with that sweet guitar. Thank You George Strait for the most beautiful song I have ever heard, they really touch the heart and give that guitar a big kiss for me. Please
February 15, 2026 @ 10:41 am
George Strait is the artist that made me fall in love with country music as a kid. With that said, is this a stretch, probably.
He’s had two #2 on the Billboard country airplay charts that he co-wrote, Living for The Night and Here For A Good time
But some of my favorite album cuts of his since his “Twang” album in 2009 have been his co writes,
“That’s What Breaking Hearts Do”(A hidden Gem on his Love Is Everything album),
“The Book”,
“Drinking Man” (Got up to #37 in 2012)
“Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” (Got up to #17 in 2019)
“Everything I See”
“Codigo”
February 15, 2026 @ 1:31 pm
The truth is that a lot of these Halls of Fame rely on big names to draw attention to their organizations and the lesser known names they induct. George Strait has written more songs than his detractors give him credit for, but he’s not a Hall of Fame songwriter in anyone’s estimation. And I don’t think this is a stats game. Townes Van Zandt didn’t write a bunch of hits.
When the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) gave George the “President’s Keystone Award” some years back, I defended it, because the intent of the award was about how much you champion songwriters as opposed to being a songwriter yourself.
They’re not really making that distinction here. So yes, I think having mixed feelings about this is very fair.
February 17, 2026 @ 10:55 am
I really like all these songs he has co-written and totally agree with you that the song ‘That’s what breaking hearts do’ is a hidden gem! Besides there is another song (Strait out of the box album) he wrote early in his career, which I also like – called “I don’t want to talk it over anymore”.
I think there are about 28 songs which he has written/co-written. Not many – but because he has a lot of fans (especially in Texas I suppose) know and like them. And all songs are traditional country which seems to disappear somehow. So I think he played an important role for (Texas) country music not only as a singer but also as a songwriter. However, because George is mainly a co-writer it is okay having mixed feelings about this. I really don’t know what he thinks about it… When he was at the Kennedy Center Honors he said ‘did I really do this much?’…..
February 15, 2026 @ 1:00 pm
With all kinds of respect to Strait; he’s not a songwriter worthy of this.
But sure, his name is worth a lot of free PR.
February 15, 2026 @ 3:11 pm
It’s high time that Miranda starts getting credit as a prolific songwriter. So many of her song lyrics come from her and she’s solo written quite a few songs.
February 15, 2026 @ 5:08 pm
I actually thought this was a joke when I saw George Strait’s name. What’s next for George, the Musician’s Hall Of Fame?
February 15, 2026 @ 5:26 pm
Class of 2006, represent.
All these Halls of Fame are going to induct George Strait eventually because he actually shows up to the induction ceremonies, sells out tickets, brings attention to the institutions and the other inductees. That’s what this is.
February 15, 2026 @ 10:08 pm
Aww maybe if the independent artists you love that only plays for 15 people a night was better at writing their songs they would be a bigger deal but george can teach them to know a hit vs writing it
February 16, 2026 @ 4:56 am
You do realize that George Strait pretty much didn’t write any of those hits? And do you not realize how the music industry as a whole worked, especially back when George Strait was relevant? Any song can be a hit as long as it gets repeated enough times, making the radiostations the gatekeepers of what would become a hit or not. If you like artists who make “big hits” like George strait or Morgan Wallen over artists who write great lyrics then that’s fine, but I don’t see how you can argue that it doesn’t go against everything that a songwriting honor is supposed to represent.
February 16, 2026 @ 8:43 am
We all know how the country airplay system works. But unlike a lot of the forgettable number one hits of the last 15 years, lots of George’s hits have gone on to become true classics in country music. Amarillo By Morning, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, Check Yes Or No, Ocean Front Property.
Not sure your comparison of Strait to Morgan Wallen holds any weight as Wallen has co-written most of his big hits
February 16, 2026 @ 12:25 pm
Elvis Presley, Buck Owens, Bobby Bare, and not to forget Garth Brooks… the country music hemisphere is full of “successful” co-writes in the name only.
Give me 50% of the song (as a writer), and I will record it.
February 16, 2026 @ 6:59 pm
@sof–I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. Bobby Bare? The only singles of his that a quick look-up shows him getting writer’s credit on are “All American Boy” (when he was using the pseudonym Richard Parsons) and “God Bless America, Again” (cowrite).
Bare didn’t take any credits on the songs that made him: “Detroit City,” “Baltimore,” “500 Miles,” Marge is at the Lincoln Park Inn,” “Dropkick Me, Jesus,” and, “Marie Laveau,” “The Winner” and all the other Shel Silverstein songs.
Bare did try to write songs and had a small amount of success.
He-co-wrote a handful of songs with Billy Joe Shaver and a few with Harlan Howard.
And Bare is the sole writer of a song that was released by Johnny Paycheck and revived and covered by Charley Crockett
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5XbKGLjF_w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwIADL9g1ys
February 17, 2026 @ 9:32 am
Lucky; as Shaver himself said many times: Bare demanded half of the songs. They are written by Shaver alone.
And Howard shared a lot of co-writes early in his career just to get the songs cut by the likes of Buck and Bobby and Wynn. Jan Howard joked about the “co-writes” several times when she was a guest at the Country Family Reunion shows.
February 15, 2026 @ 9:56 pm
Reading some of these comments, I have to say something. George paved the way for so many of the younger country music artists. He’s been around a long time & does great work. The fact that he sells out tickets, & brings attention to the institutions and other artists – that’s something right there in itself. It takes a lot to have that kind of capability. That deserves appropriate credit. Don’t discount what that means. There’s a lot of strength in that guy. He’s a force – a powerful & constant one for all of country music.
February 16, 2026 @ 12:27 pm
But this makes the award pointless.
He’s not a great writer. Period.
February 16, 2026 @ 3:51 am
As a huge George Strait fan I’d like to comment on whether he deserves this honor. Well, on the website of the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association it says that it honors ‘Texas songwriters who have played an important role in defining Texas’ distinctive culture’. Although George has only written a few songs (e.g. I can’t see Texas from here or ‘I just can’t go on dying like this’) in his early career he has written/co-written some really good songs later (including Texas Swing songs and songs about Texas) Most of them aren’t recognized – they are deep tracks. But one of his better known co-written song is “Here for a good time” which was a top ten song in 2011 (not mentioned in the article?) And even Dean Dillon said that George was a very good songwriter. As George appears as co-writer on most of these songs some people think that he hasn’t contributed much to the writing. But there are interviews on youtube where George tells how it was writing them songs, who brought the ideas, who finished it etc. And it really shows that he is a talented songwriter. The fact that he didn’t write his big hits should not mean that he doesn’t deserve this honor.
February 16, 2026 @ 5:25 am
I think the way George makes a song his own and makes you think he wrote it is one of his best strengths.
Sometimes you hear a songwriter sing his one song and then hear another version by a pro like George and you can hear and feel the difference.
Congrats to all of them !
February 16, 2026 @ 9:08 am
I see the typical Strait doesn’t write enough/ pick enough BS. He may not have “street cred” with all the enlightened snobs. He is quite a vessel for a song/songwriter. He has certainly helped to “Save County.” A lot of the artists we discuss here, are pretty questionable. Oh, ask almost anyone, fellow artists, Joe on the street, Strait is mentioned as a favorite. If they want to honor the guy, fine with me. I see it more as state heritage/pride honor.
February 16, 2026 @ 9:15 am
: D Tell it, honey.
February 16, 2026 @ 9:23 am
I think it’s fair to wonder if this is an award befitting of George Strait, and if there’s not a songwriter out there that deserves it more. I also think it’s fair to recognize that organizations like the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association do great work, and if George Strait can help them sell out their event and bring more attention to it and the fellow nominees, so be it.
And similar to Tyler Childers winning a Grammy for a silly kiss off song (“Bitin’ List”) as a song award, it’s fair to acknowledge that Childers deserves a Grammy, even if not for that particular song. George Strait deserves whatever awards organizations choose to give him because he’s George Strait. This is not a hill worth dying on. But I also think it’s fair to question the decision.
February 16, 2026 @ 11:14 am
Pointing out that Strait wasn’t involved in writing most of the songs he’s recorded over his career is not snobbery, it’s reality. This may bother you, but it’s the truth. It reminds me of all the people who used to say Carrie Underwood is such a “great songwriter.” Being in the room when some of the top songwriters in the world write the songs you record doesn’t make you a great songwriter. You can love Strait’s music and still admit this honor is disingenuous.
February 16, 2026 @ 12:51 pm
We can’t have it both ways. We complain that the Country Music Hall of Fame is to restrictive and has a waaay to long backlog of country artists who should’ve been inducted years ago. The Texas Heritage Songwriters Association is now being questioned for not being restrictive enough. As I said earlier, is it a stretch probably, but as Trigger said if it’s a nice payday and a nice boost of exposure for the association and keeps it afloat to induct more serving picks in the future, I guess it’s a win win. Honestly I’d never heard of the association til know
February 16, 2026 @ 2:01 pm
This isn’t about having it both ways, it’s about deception and rewriting Strait’s story; Strait wasn’t involved in songwriting for the majority of his career. It would be like putting Beyonce in the Country Music Hall of Fame because she dabbled in country late in her career.
In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter, but it’s an interesting discussion. Imagine if the Rock Hall started putting in rappers and pop acts…oh wait… 😂
Cheers!
February 17, 2026 @ 8:19 am
Or country singers, Hello Dolly
February 17, 2026 @ 12:59 pm
question for trigger
do you consider lainey wilson to be an actual song writer like a true lyricist and composer of melodies?
i listen to a lot of her interviews and she seems obsessed in wanting to be seen as a songwriter first.
like a writer in a way Dolly Parton and taylor swift are
but I am not sure the establishment is ever going to give her that honour.
some thinks she is a change a word and get a third kind of writer.
February 17, 2026 @ 1:36 pm
Hey boy,
I’m honestly not informed enough about Lainey Wilson’s career to make that assessment. I don’t want to accuse her of absconding with writing credits she doesn’t deserve, or to question her legitimate desire to be a songwriter. I can say I’ve been less impressed with the writing of her music as time has gone on and we’ve seen the industry really sink their fangs into her deeply. The industry clearly sees her as the future, hence the Entertainer of the Year awards. But it’s all still being propped up industry more than organic synergy. All that said, I think Lainey is a sum positive. I hope she is more intentional with her songwriting, especially if it’s a muscle she wants to flex.
February 17, 2026 @ 1:59 pm
okay
thank you for the answer, it seems fair enough
I did read some of your reviews for her work, (Whirlwind and Somewhere Over Lerado) you seem to find her decent to good and you even listed all her song writing credits.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-lainey-wilsons-whirlwind/
anyway you should watch out for her more as a writer, she really wants to be taken seriously as a writer. she says it all the time in her interviews.
As for Miranda, I am happy that she is getting that honour now. it’s crazy how in the 2000s, Taylor Swift marketed her entire career on been a song writer first.
Miranda could have done that but she chose not to or maybe it got swept under the bus. I think Miranda would have found more mainstream success if she took the taylor route as a writer more than a vocalist or singer.
Lainey wants to be seen as a taylor swift kind of writer. So please have that in mind when you review her work.
February 17, 2026 @ 2:07 pm
And yes, you are right that she is what the establishment has forced on us. (Lainey Wilson)
she has won the cma entertainer of the year twice, an award carrie underwood has never won and carrie is one of the best touring country acts.
Miranda has not even won that CMA Award.
the question now is will they move on to Ella Langley as their new star, Ella does have a more unique sound and even has a hot 100 number 1 song. A song miranda also help co write.
Lainey has not even had a Hot Country Song that went number 1.
I know she has had like 9 number 1s on the country airplay chart but she has never had a hot country number 1 and she has won even more awards than carrie underwood.
anyway I will stop now as this is not a lainey wilson thread.
Trigger you need a forum here, where fans can discuss this stuff to more details.
February 17, 2026 @ 5:39 pm
King George and Queen Miranda
February 17, 2026 @ 8:01 pm
Happy for Miranda! Long overdue.
She deserves this award solely for being one of the songwriters of “Carousel”, an unbelievably great song.
February 20, 2026 @ 9:09 am
Unless a singer has a solo write, I am skeptical of their contributions.
February 20, 2026 @ 9:42 am
Haggard’s drummer at the time, Ed Burris, contributed the words “roman sandals” to the Okie song, and Hag gave him 50% credit.
Burris said he lived well off that.
February 20, 2026 @ 2:40 pm
solo right? I think 2 is the main limit to real contribution and sometimes 3
also what of when you have a bernie turpin and elton john senario
Benie writes all the lyrics
elton does the composing.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:33 pm
#George Strait is more a Country Music Writer than just his ability to choose the best songs to sing as people keep saying.and George Strait began his singing and writing career by recording three songs with the Texas D label(the father of Mike Dally, one of the longest members of the Ace In The Hole Band) before the tragic death of his daughter: Jenifer Lyn Strait which changed him forever. It is that tragic.