October 23, 2025 (Nashville, Tenn.) – Earlier this week, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) began its multi-part Board election, elevating one and adding two new songwriters to the 27-member Board. Parker Welling, who began her second term on the Board in April 2025 was elected to serve as the Industry Liaison on the executive committee, the small group of sitting members who act as the officers and leadership of the Board. Songwriter Ben Williams has been elected to fill Welling's traditional seat for the remainder of her unexpired term. In addition to the new addition of Williams, songwriter-artist Drew Baldridge has joined the Board as an Artist-Writer Representative.
Current Board members Rhett Akins and Roger Brown were reappointed to their positions, with Akins remaining an Artist-Writer Representative and Brown as the Legislative Chair. These positions take effect immediately. The election process will finalize with a vote from the professional membership and further selections by the NSAI board to determine the remainder of the 2026 NSAI Board of Directors.
About Parker Welling
Nashville native Parker Welling is a GRAMMY-nominated songwriter whose songs collectively have over 2 billion streams and she has been nominated for Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music as well as for GRAMMY Best Country Song. She has written six multi-platinum #1 singles and has had songs recorded by Thomas Rhett, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Russell Dickerson, Lady A, Kelsea Ballerini, Tyler Hubbard, Lauren Alaina & Lainey Wilson, Zach Williams, NEEDTOBREATHE, Carrie Underwood, and many more.
About Ben Williams
Bay Area born and Pegram, Tennessee influenced, Ben Williams is a Multi-Platinum Songwriter, CMA and ACM Nominated Song of The Year songwriter, People’s Choice Country Awards Song of The Year, Musicrow’s Breakout Songwriter of The Year, AIMP’s “Rising Songwriter of the Year”, and Two Time NSAI’s “Ten Songs I’ve Wish I’ve Written.” Ben’s most recent cuts include latest country radio single duet “You Had To Be There” (Megan Moroney/Kenny Chesney) and current country radio single “6 Months Later” (Megan Moroney) “Never You” (Dierks Bentley/Miranda Lambert) “Turnin’ Dirt” (Riley Green) “When It Was” (Bailey Zimmerman” “RIAA Certified Platinum Single “Narcissist”, “Make It Look Easy” “Mr. Predicatble” “Lose You Again ft. Parmalee” (Avery Anna), “Song For My Son” (Walker Hayes/Kane Brown) Ben has currently written 22 Songs for Megan Moroney including RIAA Cerfitifed Gold Single “Indifferent”RIAA Certified Platinum single “I’m Not Pretty” and “Tennessee Orange” — RIAA Certified 4x Platinum #1 Hit Single at Country Radio. Ben’s songs have also been recorded by the likes of Drew Baldridge, Chris Lane, Parmalee, Mackenzie Carpenter, Logan Crosby etc.
About Drew Baldridge
Drew Baldridge is a Nashville-based independent country artist who built his career on honest songs, relentless hustle, and a deep connection with fans. His breakout single, “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” became a viral sensation and made country music history as the first self-released debut to hit No. 1 on country radio. It went on to become the highest-charting self-funded song ever on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and earned RIAA GOLD certification after surpassing a billion streams and impressions across platforms.
Grounded in his small-town roots and driven by a love for storytelling, Drew has carved out a path that’s entirely his own. Known for his Real Life Countrysound, he followed up with “Tough People,” a song that climbed into the Top 10 on country radio and resonated deeply with listeners navigating life’s challenges.
Over the years, Drew has toured extensively across the U.S., sharing stages with some of the genre’s biggest names—Cody Johnson, Bailey Zimmerman, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Eric Church. As a songwriter signed to Sony Music Publishing, he’s written over 500 songs, with several recorded by artists like LOCASH, Chase Matthew, and Zimmerman.
