Reigning two-time ACM and NMPA Awards Songwriter of the Year Jessie Jo Dillon is a top creative force in today’s songwriting community. Dillon is a perennial GRAMMY® Awards nominee including back-to-back nominations for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical, in 2024 and 2025, as well as four prior nominations for Best Country Song.
Known for her evocative lyrics and hit sensibilities, Dillon has written chart toppers recorded by some of the biggest names in Country Music including Morgan Wallen (“Lies Lies Lies”), Jelly Roll (“Halfway To Hell”), Tyler Hubbard (“Back Then Right Now”), Old Dominion (“Memory Lane”), Keith Urban (“Messed Up As Me”), Maren Morris (“Rich”) and Cole Swindell (“Break Up In The End”), among others.
Among Dillon’s biggest hits is the global crossover “10,000” Hours” (Dan + Shay feat. Justin Bieber), which spent 21 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart after dominating Billboard’s three other Country charts (Airplay, Streaming and Digital sales) in the same week. The RIAA-certified 5X PLATINUM smash has also amassed over 1 billion streams and earned multiple ACM, CMA, Billboard and American Music Awards nominations.
2025 Country radio singles penned by Dillon include #1 hits “Am I Okay?” (Megan Moroney) and “Happen To Me” (Russell Dickerson) along with “Friday Night Heartbreaker” (Jon Pardi), “Wish You Well” (Vincent Mason) and “Baggage” (Kelsea Ballerini). She has also penned songs for George Strait, Post Malone, HARDY, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Nate Smith, Brothers Osborne and Darius Rucker, to name but a few.
Dillon’s numerous accolades also include earning a 2025 CMA Triple Play Award for penning three No. 1’s in twelve months, MusicRow’s 2025 Female Songwriter of the Year Award, the 2025 Yellow Rose of Inspiration by the Song Suffragettes, Billboard’s 2024 Rising Songwriter of the Year, Variety’s 2025 Power of Women in Nashville honor and NSAI Song of the Year for “Break Up In The End” in 2019. Dillon has also been recognized for her contributions to the Country Music landscape with inclusion in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s 2024 installment of American Currents: State of the Music exhibit. She will also vie for Song of the Year with Moroney’s “Am I Okay?” at the 59th Annual CMA Awards airing live November 19 on ABC, marking her first-ever nomination.
In April of 2025, Dillon was appointed to the position of Song Buddy by MCA, Music Corporation of America, by President and CEO Mike Harris and Chief Creative Officer, Dave Cobb. The bespoke position reflects a recognition of Dillon’s ability to develop and support artists and her commitment to connecting songwriters deeper with the creative ecosystem. In August 2025, Dillon launched Gatsby Records as Founder & President, a new imprint under MCA, kicking off with Carter Faith’s highly-anticipated debut album Cherry Valley (out 10/3) as the label’s first release.
