Willie Nelson to Receive Gershwin Prize

Country legend Willie Nelson has been named the next recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress.  He other composers and performers who've received the award in years past, including Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel,  Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

He is being honored for his 60 years of songwriting and musicianship which included 25 No. 1 singles, 68 studio albums and 11 Grammy awards. The Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honors living musicians in the spirit of pioneering songwriters George and Ira Gershwin.

According to 'Librarian of Congress', James Billington, “Willie Nelson is a musical explorer, redrawing the boundaries of country music throughout his career. "A master communicator, the sincerity and universally appealing message of his lyrics place him in a category of his own while still remaining grounded in his country-music roots. His achievements as a songwriter and performer are legendary. Like America itself, he has absorbed and assimilated diverse stylistic influences into his stories and songs. He has helped make country music one of the most universally beloved forms of American artistic expression."

Nelson will receive the award in Washington, D.C. in Novemeber.

loc.gov