Matthew West just earned another career accolade, and it’s a big one. The Illinois native was honored with the Songwriter/Artist Award of the Year at the recent Nashville Songwriter Awards, hosted by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). West is only the second Christian singer-songwriter to receive the honor.

“What an honor to receive this award from NSAI!” West said after the ceremony. “I was humbled to be standing on stage at the Ryman Auditorium being recognized in front of a room full of the best songwriters in the world. I was told this was only the second time in 50 years that my award went to a Christian artist. I am so proud to represent the genre of Christian music at this year’s awards.”

The 45-year-old, who also received seven ASCAP Christian Music Awards the following night, and is nominated for seven Dove Awards, finds the NSAI honor especially poignant considering his genre of music.

“To be able to represent a whole genre is very meaningful to me,” West reflected to Country Now. “I moved to Nashville never with a desire to be put in any sort of category. I’ve always loved country music, gospel music and Christian music, and so my desire was ‘Don’t put me in a box. I’m just gonna write songs and hopefully they’ll speak to people.’ And so, tonight feels kind of full circle because I’ve very much felt embraced by the country songwriting community and I’ve had songs recorded by country artists.

“Most of my music is known – or more well known in Christian music but tonight just feels like … I didn’t know it, but this was the vision I had in my head from day one, to just keep writing songs that matter to people, hopefully inspire people regardless of the genre,” he added. “But it is an honor to represent Christian music too.”

West kicked off the night by performing his “Me On Your Mind” collaboration with Anne Wilson . Other honorees of the night included Garth Brooks, Ashley Gorley, Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift, who made a surprise appearance to accept the award for Songwriter of the Decade.

“I want to say thank you to the NSAI for getting us all together for this event,” Swift said. “For me, tonight feels brimming with a genuine camaraderie between a bunch of people who just love making stuff, wo love the craft, who live for that rare, pure moment when a magical cloud floats down right in front of you in the form of an idea for a song, and all you have to do is grab it, then shape it like clay. Prune it like a garden, and then wish on every lucky star or pray to whatever power you believe in that it might find its way out into the world and make someone feel seen, feel understood, feel joined in their grief or heartbreak or joy for just a moment.”

West’s new book, The God Who Stays, is out now. He just announced the release of a double album, My Story Your Glory, which will be released on February 17, 2023. Pre-order will be available here beginning on Friday, September 23. Find music and tour dates at MatthewWest.com.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Elicity Public Relations / Jason Davis