Introduction:
A legendary CMA “Song of the Year” award winner has unexpectedly passed away, leaving the country community in shock. So, who was it and what were their contributions? Moreover, who did they work with that makes this even harder? Keep reading for all of the details surrounding the situation.
CMA ‘Song Of The Year’ Winner Dead
Whenever any influential member of the country industry passes away, it is a very sad day. They have likely had an impact in some way, and their colleagues feel broken. Such is the case with a CMA “Song of the Year” award winner who unexpectedly died at the age of seventy-eight. They were an iconic songwriter who wrote for the likes of Reba McEntire and Johnny Cash.
Jim McBride was known for his achievements as a songwriter and not only won the CMA, but also other accolades. In 1995, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Following that, in 2017, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, which was a well-deserved honor. His work was so revered that it has garnered him five Grammy nominations. It was not just Reba and Johnny with whom Jim worked. He also had a long resume, which included:
- Patty Loveless
- Waylon Jennings
- Alabama
- Willie Nelson
- Kris Kristofferson
- Toby Keith
However, his big songs were for Alan Jackson, and they were “Chattahoochee” and “Chasing that Neon Rainbow.” As for his cause of death, the reason it was so unexpected was that he was not ill. Rather, Huntsville, Alabama-born Jim took a fall, and that led to his passing. The Alabama Music Hall of Fame sent their love and condolences for the legacy of Jim McBride:
Our condolences go out to Jeanne and the entire McBride family on the passing of Mr. Jim McBride. Jim was a beloved Alabamian, songwriter, friend, mentor, and so much more.
Celebrating Jim
After the death of the beloved and legendary CMA winner became public, many celebrated his life. They rushed to social media to make it known how influential Jim McBride was and always had been:
- A truly sad day in the Nashville songwriting community with the news that Jim McBride passed away. An even better person than he was a songwriter. Sympathies to his family.
- RIP Jim McBride. Thanks for writing so many of my favorite songs.
- Today we say goodbye to Jim McBride (1947–2026) — a true giant of country music whose words and melodies became part of the American soundtrack.
It seems like nothing will be the same in the country music world now that he is gone. However, he is so beloved, and his legacy will last a lifetime.
Did you know who he was and the songs he helped create? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and may his memory be a blessing.
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