Hank Williams Jr. and Reba McEntire will be honored during this fall's invite-only annual awards of the performance right organizations BMI and ASCAP.

Hank will be honored as a BMI Icon at BMI's 56th annual Country Awards on Nov. 11 at the company's Music Row offices.


Hank wrote hits including "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down," "Country Boy Can Survive," "Family Tradition," "Born to Boogie," "Dixie on My Mind" and "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound." He's had six platinum and 20 gold albums.

"Hank Williams Jr. has long been an icon of hardworking, hard-playing Americans," says BMI's Jody Williams, "and we're looking forward to honoring Hank's profound legacy as a songwriter this November. His songs are about real life - his life - he is the guy in his songs, and generations of fans have identified with that hardscrabble authenticity."

Past BMI Icon winners include Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Isaac Hayes and James Brown.

Reba will be honored with the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award during the 46th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards on Oct. 13 at the Ryman Auditorium.

"Reba is one of the greatest singers ever in country music," says Connie Bradley, ASCAP senior vice president. "She won CMA Female Vocalist four times and Entertainer of the Year once. Not only is Reba a phenomenal country singer, but she's had a hit Broadway show and a hit television series. She has always stayed Reba and always stayed true to country music.

"Songwriters really love Reba because she has remained open to their material throughout her career."

Reba has sold more than 55 million records and earned 31 No. 1 hits, including "Can't Even Get the Blues," "Little Rock," "Whoever's in New England" and "Does He Love You."

The Tennessean