Jim McBride
April 28, 1947
2023 Inductee

Jim McBride is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and a past president of Nashville Songwriters Association International. He moved from his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama to Nashville to write songs full-time after Conway Twitty took his song, “A Bridge That Just Won’t Burn” to #2 on the country charts. Jim’s #1 came the year he moved to Nashville when Johnny Lee recorded “Bet Your Heart on Me.” In 1983, his song “Dixie Boy” was on the CMA Album of the Year “The Closer You Get” by the band, Alabama.

In the 1980s, 90s, and the first decade of the new millennium brought dozens of chart singles and album cuts from McBride, including “Rose in Paradise” (Waylon Jennings’ last #1 song). In 1987, McBride began writing with a yet-to-be discovered Alan Jackson. Their collaboration resulted in four #1 songs for future Country Music Hall of Fame member, Jackson, and a dozen album cuts for Jackson and Randy Travis.

Jim McBride has been awarded 14 BMI and ASCAP Awards, including the 1994 ASCAP and CMA Song of the Year for “Chattahoochee.” He earned 3 awards from the Nashville Songwriters Association International, as well as, 4 Music City News Songwriter Awards.

In 1995, McBride received the Music Creators Award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame for his contributions to the music heritage of his home state. McBride has reaped 5 Song of the Year nominations from the Grammys, the Country Music Association, and the Academy of Country Music for his songs, “Chattahoochee” and “Angels in Waiting” (a hit for Tammy Wynette).

Jim McBride’s songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Reba McEntire, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride, Travis Tritt, Toby Keith, Dwight Yokam, The Oak Ridge Boys, Keith Whitley, Crystal Gayle, Gene Watson, Trace Atkins, Luke Bryan, and dozens of others. McBride has had numerous hits on gospel, bluegrass, and foreign charts. His songs are on over 70 million records sold worldwide.