BMI Foundation Presents the Dolly Parton Songwriters Award to Emerging Singer-Songwriter Audrey Ketter
L-R: BMI Foundation Trustee and BMI Vice President, Creative, Clay Bradley and 2025 Dolly Parton Songwriters Award Recipient Audrey Ketter. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI
Nashville, TN - June 10, 2025 - BMI Foundation, Inc. is thrilled to announce that Flagstaff-based singer-songwriter Audrey Ketter was honored with the Dolly Parton Songwriters Award at the CMA Fest Ryman & BMI Block Party in Nashville on June 5th.
Ketter’s winning song “Golden Road” was selected from over 400 submissions by a panel of music industry experts. BMI Foundation Trustee and BMI Vice President, Creative Clay Bradley presented Ketter with the prestigious award following performances by Josh Weathers, Grace Tyler, Wynn Williams and Tyler Braden.
On receiving the award, Ketter said, “I’m so honored to be receiving the 2025 Dolly Parton Songwriters Award for my song ‘Golden Road.’ I wrote ‘Golden Road’ about relationships that last throughout time, which I was able to watch in my grandparents’ and my parents’ lives, and I really hope that it resonates with you too. I want to say a huge thank you to BMI, the BMI Foundation, and of course, Dolly Parton, for this huge opportunity.”
Surprising Ketter with her salutations, songwriting legend Dolly Parton commented, "Congratulations to Audrey on being celebrated for her songwriting. Her song 'Golden Road' is a beautiful song that will touch many people, like it has me. Songwriting has always been my first love, and I have been with BMI since I published my first song as a very young girl. They have always been so supportive of me as well as all the young writers that come to town. I want to thank BMI for their support of the songwriters' award named in my honor. We all wish you the very best Audrey and we look forward to hearing your songs throughout the years.”
Audrey Ketter wrote her first song at age five, and at eighteen is now releasing her debut album Close to Home. She credits her community as playing a huge role in shaping who she is—church leaders, music teachers, mentors, producers, family, and friends have generously supported her in her songwriting pursuits. After graduating from high school, Ketter plans to pursue a degree in Commercial Music at Grand Canyon University, continuing to grow her songwriting craft.
The Dolly Parton Songwriters Award is an annual, national competition open to aspiring songwriters with a monetary prize of $10,000 for the best original song entry in the genres of Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk, and roots. Originally established in 2015 as the Nashville Songwriting Scholarship, the award was created to celebrate the BMI 75th anniversary and pay homage to the musical epicenter and “Songwriting Capital of the World,” Nashville, Tennessee. In 2022, the program was revised to honor the creativity and generosity of the legendary artist Dolly Parton with an endowment from Sony Music Publishing's Rusty Gaston as well as a contribution from country superstar Luke Combs.
About the BMI Foundation, Inc.
The BMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to encourage the creation, performance, and study of American music. The Foundation’s programs include competitive scholarships for songwriters and composers, operating grants for nonprofit arts presenters, and support for innovative music education initiatives in schools and communities across the country. For more information about the work of the Foundation, please visit our website at www.bmifoundation.org. For exclusive news and content, follow @bmifoundation on Twitter and Instagram, and like BMI Foundation on Facebook.
