ALABAMA Granted “Lifetime Wish” During Nashville Songwriting Awards

Legendary country band ALABAMA marked a huge career milestone by accepting the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award.

During the 8th Annual Nashville Songwriters Awards held in Music City on September 23, ALABAMA was honored with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Acheivement Award. Kristofferson, who died in 2024 at the age of 88, was a founding member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). The award was created as a way to honor Kristofferson’s legendary writing career while recognizing those who came after him and their impact on the genre through songwriting.

The “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” singer’s wife, Lisa Kristofferson, made a rare public appearance to personally present ALABAMA with the award named after her husband. ALABAMA frontman Randy Owen represented the band to accept the award. Bandmate Jeff Cook died in 2022, and Teddy Gentry was unable to attend “as he was under the weather.”

Jason Aldean, Gordon Mote, and Lorrie Morgan were also on hand to honor the group with performances of some of their greatest hits, including “My Home’s In Alabama,” “There’s No Way,” and “Tennessee River,” respectively.

“NSAI’s pinnacle Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award is an honor bestowed on songwriters that exemplify a revolutionary, creative spirit, intelligence, integrity and musical and literary excellence over the span of their expansive careers,” Lisa Kristofferson said in a statement. “ALABAMA’s genre-rocking style and musical brilliance fits this award like a glove … So deserving. Bravo ALABAMA for all the beautiful songs that have sweetened our lives forever.”

Owen and Gentry responded to the honor, with the latter saying that it fulfilled a longtime wish.

“This award was a lifetime wish for me. As a songwriter, musician and singer, being honored for our contributions as songwriters is the most welcome accomplishment in my world,” Gentry said. “The Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award from NSAI means more to me than I can put into words.”

Owen, who wrote or co-wrote some of the band’s biggest hits, including “Mountain Music,” “Tennessee River,” and “Fallin’ Again,” said that he was honored to receive the award created by one of his icons.

Previous Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award winners include Willie Nelson (2013), Garth Brooks (2022), Bill Anderson (2018), Bobby Braddock (2023), and Alan Jackson (2024).

About ALABAMA

More than five decades ago, cousins Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and Jeff Cook launched a band, making a name for themselves throughout the southeast. In 1977, the trio landed a record deal and quickly became one of the hottest country bands of the ’80s.

With more than 27 No. 1 songs, multi-platinum albums, and numerous awards in the ’80s decade alone, ALABAMA cemented their place as the most successful band in country music history. The ’90s brought seven more albums and six more No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

RELATED: ALABAMA RELEASES “SONG OF THE SOUTH” IN 1988

In 2005, the band was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

In November 2022, ALABAMA co-founder Jeff Cook died following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.