Crow joins the likes of John Fogerty, John Oates and Lucinda Williams among the select few honorees of the prestigious accolade

NEED TO KNOW

• Sheryl Crow received the 2026 BMI Troubadour Award at a star-studded event in Nashville
• Performers included Olivia Rodrigo, Chris Stapleton, Melissa Etheridge, Jason Isbell and Lauren Daigle
• Crow expressed gratitude for her career and was gifted a Gibson guitar and custom vinyl of her second album

Nashville showed out on a Monday night to honor one of its music community’s brightest visionaries: Sheryl Crow.

The nine-time Grammy Award-winning artist notched another hole in her belt on Sept. 14, becoming the recipient of the 2026 BMI Troubadour Award, presented at a star-studded dinner in Nashville at the BMI office that proved itself as the definitive place to be in Music City on a Monday night, falling on the night before Americana Fest kicks off around town.

After a cocktail hour where the likes of Amanda Shires, Amy Grant, Chris Isaak, Dave Cobb, Grace Bowers, Hayes Carll, Joy Oladokun, Jesse Welles, Luke Dick, Maren Morris, Matraca Berg, Peter Frampton, Rita Wilson, Sam Bush and Swamp Dogg mingled, BMI Nashville’s VP of Creative Clay Bradley led off opening remarks about Crow before Jason Isbell took to the stage to perform a rendition of Crow’s 1993 debut single “Run Baby Run.”

Directly after Isbell, Melissa Etheridge delivered a fiery, electric take on Crow’s “If It Makes You Happy,” backed by an all-star band of Nashville musicians: Nick Buda, Dan Dugmore, Jedd Hughes, Steve Mackey, Guthrie Trapp and Jimmy Wallace. Etheridge’s energy was immediately followed by Eric Church taking to the stage to perform a soulful acoustic cover of “Leaving Las Vegas.”

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Following remarks from Jeff Trott, who recalled early days working with Crow on what have now become some of her greatest hits, Lauren Daigle took to the stage to perform a moving interpretation of “Everyday Is a Winding Road,” which was written by Crow and Trott. The performance elicited a standing ovation from Crow, who professed her love to Daigle across the room.

After Daigle, none other than Chris Stapleton took to the stage to remark on his love for Crow as both a songwriter and a friend, before powerfully commanding a cover of “I Shall Believe” in the way that only the Kentucky crooner can.

Rounding out the star-studded bill was a surprise performance from Olivia Rodrigo, who professed, “What inspires me the most about [Crow] is her heart, her kindness, and her generosity,” before delivering an ethereal rendition of Crow’s 1993 track “Strong Enough,” which, like Daigle, elicited an emotional ovation from Crow at the conclusion of the performance.

Among the remarkable slate of performances, an equally remarkable list of artists sent along video messages, played during the award ceremony, to congratulate Crow. This included bits from The Chicks, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Robert Earl Keen, and Peter Stroud, as well as attendees Oates and Wells.

Crow was presented with the Troubadour award to round out the evening, which came alongside a gifted Gibson J-45 guitar. When she took to the stage, she shared that she has been “lucky to be in the room when something divine happens.”

“Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord, Thank you, God, Thank you, Maker,” she later shared of her gratitude towards both the award and her continued creative inspiration.

Those in attendance were gifted custom YETI mugs with Crow’s and the awards’ names etched on the side, as well as the first-ever vinyl pressing of Crow’s self-titled second album.

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