12th Annual Music & Memories

With a name like Rivers Rutherford, it's no surprise this soulful storyteller was destined to become one of Nashville, Tennessee's (and music's) most talented and accomplished singer-songwriters. Having grown up in the shadow of Elvis' Graceland homestead in Memphis, Rutherford came out of the gates swinging, landing his first cut with American legends Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson (aka The Highwaymen). What followed were eight #1 hits, multiple Grammys, CMA and ACM nominations, and over 20 ASCAP Awards, including both of the coveted awards for Country Song Of The Year and Songwriter Of The Year, all of which have firmly established Rutherford's position within the upper echelon of Nashville's most lauded songwriters.

You'll see Rivers' name on #1 songs by Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton (for the stunning and Grammy-nominated duet "When I Get Where I'm Going"), Kenny Chesney, Rodney Atkins, Trace Adkins, and Brooks & Dunn - penning the duo's most successful single to-date ("Ain't Nothing 'Bout You") which spent 6-weeks at #1 and won both 2002 Billboard and 2002 ASCAP Song Of The Year awards. Rivers has also enjoyed success with Country giants the likes of Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, Faith Hill, and Gary Allan.

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