Winner: Freeman Leverett

The 2026 Awards Show was held on April 23 at the Morton Theatre, marking the 10th anniversary of the Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Awards. The milestone evening opened with a special acoustic performance by Futurebirds and celebrated the release of a vinyl compilation featuring a decade of award-winning songs.

Freeman Leverett was announced as the 2026 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year for his song I Wanna Go There.

Andrea DeMarcus won runner up for For the Journey

Each finalist performed their nominated song as part of the program:

Andrea DeMarcus, for For the Journey

Julia Barfield, for Altavista, VA

Freeman Leverett, for I Wanna Go There

Michael Joe White, for Garage

Your Ex’s Pets, for U Yes U

2026 Judges

Alfred Banks, Aaron Dowdy, Jay Gonzalez, Vanessa Briscoe Hay, Jim White

Winner: Ritika

The 2025 Awards Show was held in Athens and celebrated another outstanding year of songwriting in our community. The evening brought together finalists, guest speakers, and supporters to honor the legacy of Vic Chesnutt and recognize exceptional original work by Athens-area songwriters. Ritika was announced as the 2025 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year. Each finalist performed their nominated song as part of the program. See the 2025 Finalists and Show page for more information about this year’s event, and explore the links below to listen to each nominee’s performance.

Ant da Ripper, for
Dust Yo Crown Off King

Gaby Delliponti, for
Picture Perfect

hey, nothing, for
Maine

Lane Marie, for
When Will You See

Ritika, for
Sweet Bitter

2025 Judges

James Ponsoldt, Heather McIntosh, Tim Maggart, Griffin Lotson

Winner: Clover County

The 2024 Awards Show was held on Thursday, May 2, at the 40 Watt in downtown Athens. The Awards Show included featured performances by Caroline Aiken, Michael Wegner, and last year’s winner Trvy. Clover County was announced as the 2024 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year! Each finalist performed their nominated work as well. See the 2024 Finalists and Show page for more information on this year’s show, and see the links below to listen to each nominee!

Clover County (A.G. Schiano), for Glass and Gold

Mannequin Party (Spencer Paul), for Little Metal Lunch Box

lighthearted (Gracie Huffman), for Riverside

Little Mae (Ethan and Sam Caspary), for Magnolia

Goodie (Garrett Boyd), for Floating Away

2024 Judges

Matt Arnett, Myke C-Town, Bryan Howard, Robert Schneider, Megan Slankard

Winner: Trvy

The 2023 Awards Show was held on Thursday, May 2, at the 40 Watt in downtown Athens. The Awards Show included featured performances by Caroline Herring and last year’s winner Elijah Johnston. Trvy was announced as the 2023 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year! Each finalist performed their nominated work as well. See the links below to listen to each nominee!

Trvy (Trevor Wiggins), for The Cost

Dylan Lofton, for Early Bird

Four Eyes (Erin Lovett), for Magic 8 Ball

Night Palace (Avery Draut), for Stranger Powers

Cardynal, for If You Love It

2023 Judges

Cassie Chantel, Caroline Herring, Boo Ray, Robert Schneider, Gordon Lamb

Winner: Elijah Johnston

The 2022 Awards Show was held on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at the 40 Watt in downtown Athens. The Awards Show included featured performances by Ben de la Cour, Sarah Zuniga, last year’s winner Cassie Chantel, and by the five finalists for the Awards. Elijah Johnston was announced as the 2022 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year! Each finalist performed their nominated work (click on the links below to listen).

2022 Finalists:

Bo Bedingfield, for Beautiful World

Gabriella Delliponti & Hunter Guess, for Monsters

Elijah Johnston, for Molly Haskell

Michael Wegner, for Seriously

Trvy (Trevor Wiggins), for Shield

2022 Judges

John Keane, Joe Silva, Dave Marr, Trina Meade, Amy Ray

Winners: Cassie Chantel and Wesdaruler

The 2021 Awards Show took place at Creature Comforts (outdoor, covered patio) on Thursday, May 6, and was livestreamed on the YouTube event page. The Awards Show included featured performances by the instructors from the 2021 Seminar and Workshop Series--Jim White, Caroline Aiken, Sylvie Simmons, Marc Anthony Thompson, and last year’s winner, Jim Willingham. Patterson Hood also made a special remote appearance Cassie Chantel and WesdaRuler were announced the 2021 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Winners (two categories in 2021). Each finalist performed their nominated work (click on the links below to listen).

2021 Finalists:

Bo Bedingfield, for I’ve Always Known

Cassie Chantel, for Ms. America

Jim White, for My Life’s a Stolen Picture

Charlie Hartness, for The Little Owlett

Kxng Blanco, for Deddy

*WesdaRuler featuring Louie Larceny, for Going Down

2021 Judges

Caroline Aiken, Marcel P. Black, Patterson Hood, Andrew Rieger, Sylvie Simmons

Winner: Jim Willingham

The 2020 Awards Show pivoted to a pre-recorded Facebook video extravaganza, with recordings-from-home by the finalists and the great support of Dominar Films and the dedicated awards committee. After a January kickoff show at Hendershot’s, the all-star panel of judges reviewed this year’s outstanding nominations to name the winner and the five finalists, who recorded their nominated songs from their yards, homes and apartments as part of this year’s remote show.

2020 Finalists:

Randall Bramblett, for Vibrating Strings

Dope KNife (Kedrick Mack), for Things Got Worse

Jim Willingham, for Open Hood

Sarah Zúñiga & Daniel Fisher, for What is Love to You

Jim White (Michael Davis Pratt), for Jolly Crocodile

2020 Judges

Adan Bean, Boo Ray, Caroline Aiken, Gabe Vodicka, Patterson Hood

Winner: Lydian Brambila

2019 Finalists:

Lydian Brambila, for Sirena

Don Chambers, for The Last Thursday

Carly Joy King (The Little Strong), for Just Listen

Greg Meredith, for Mirrors

Ross Shapiro, for Possibilities

2019 Judges

Boo Ray, Gordon Lamb, Jimmy Sanders, Laura Carter, Mariah Parker

Winner: Linqua Franqa (Mariah Parker)

2018 Finalists:

KyKy Renee Knight, for Ostensibly Discouraged

Linqua Franqa (Mariah Parker), for The Con & The Can

Andrew Rieger, for All Things Combined

Sean Stephansen, for My Last Letter

Cindy Wilson, for No One Can Tell You

2018 Judges

Armistead Wellford, Ben Allen, Jimmy Sanders, Knowa & Mokah Johnson, Michael Turner

Winner: Andrew Huang

2017 Finalists:

Drew Albenesius, for The Company Kept

Dana Downs, for Blue Destiny

Andrew Huang, for Dear Adam Dear Eve

Erin Lovett (Four Eyes), for Everyone I Know [Will Die]

Sarah Zúñiga, for People Do Crazy Things For Love

2017 Judges

Chris Shupe, David Lowery, Knowa Johnson, Mike Dekle, Mokah Johnson