Randy Owen is the latest recipient of the BMI Icon Award. The 74-year-old accepted the honor during the annual BMI Awards, where he also received several musical tributes in his honor.
During his heartfelt acceptance speech, Owen thanked Teddy Gentry, who along with Owen and the late Jeff Cook founded Alabama 55 years ago.
“I want to thank BMI. I thank y’all for the call,” Owen said when accepting the award, joined on stage by Gentry. “When y’all called me and said the Icon Award, I cried. It’s so special. All the songs that I had written, had it not been for Teddy coming up with harmonies and making them work, still being my closest friend, it never would have worked out. So I’m very grateful to Teddy, and I love you. I appreciate you being here tonight. It means the world to me and my family. I appreciate you, and we’re still rocking.”
In addition to Owen’s speech, Riley Green performed “My Home’s in Alabama,” while Luke Bryan sang a stripped-down version of “Feels So Right,” and Blake Shelton sang Alabama’s classic “Mountain Man.”
Toby Keith received the BMI Icon Award in 2022. Other previous recipients include Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson and more.
“Randy Owen’s impact on country music is immeasurable and his songwriting has left an undeniable mark on the genre,” VP of Creative Clay Bradley says. “His talents have solidified Alabama as one of the most successful Country bands of all time and his memorable melodies and relatable lyrics continue to influence countless artists that follow in his footsteps. We are honored to present him with this year’s BMI Icon Award.”
Owen has been part of one of country music’s most successful groups for more than five decades, but his music career is not his biggest passion. Instead, it’s the work he’s done with Country Cares, which has to date raised more than one million dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and is the thing Owen is most passionate about.
“The notoriety and success, especially in the entertainment business, you do something with it, in a good way, to help your fellow man, and you work toward the goals, and you find something that you’re passionate about,” Owen shared with Eveyrthing Nash and other outlets, during the recent Country Cares for St. Jude event. “Don’t mess with it. If you’re not passionate about it, and you don’t really care about it, don’t put up a front. This is important to me. This is something that should be important to anybody that gets involved at St. Jude. I guess I just get so charged up every time I visit the hospital.”
Alabama has a few shows on the calendar for the remainder of the year. Find all of their music and upcoming concerts at TheAlabamaBand.com.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for BMI