Introduction
At the 2019 BMI Country Awards, Dwight Yoakam was honored with the prestigious BMI President’s Award, a recognition for his influential and long-standing contributions to country music. In his heartfelt and humble acceptance speech, Yoakam reflected on his unique journey in the music industry and expressed deep gratitude to the people who supported him along the way.
Unlike many other honorees who started their careers writing songs for others, Yoakam explained that he began songwriting out of necessity — he needed original material to perform. He joked that while musicians may say they would perform for free, it’s best not to tell that to the music industry, but he truly meant that making music has always been a passion, not just a profession.
He thanked BMI, noting that every BMI award he’s received over the years holds equal importance to any platinum record. These awards serve as constant reminders of how fortunate he’s been to make a living doing what he loves.
Yoakam also gave special thanks to key figures who helped launch his career, including Sherman Halsey, the late music video director and visionary who recognized Yoakam’s potential early on in 1985. He credited Halsey with being instrumental in bringing Warner Bros. executives like Paige Rowden to see him perform, setting the stage for his breakthrough.
He acknowledged the support he received from both the Los Angeles music scene and the Nashville community, saying he sometimes felt like a “foster child” from the West Coast, but was welcomed and embraced by the country music world.
Finally, Yoakam expressed personal thanks to Emily, his partner, for her support in recent years, and to his collaborators on projects such as SiriusXM’s Bakersfield Beat. He closed by thanking BMI, the performers of the night, and the audience for enduring the “arctic” air conditioning, ending with warm appreciation for the honor and everyone who’s stood by him throughout his career.