Luke Bryan was named the NSAI Songwriter-Artist of the Year during Monday night’s (October 23rd) Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Gala at the Music City Center. The Georgia native was celebrated with his first such NSAI award for songs including “Fast,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” and “Move,” three of six hits to reach the top of the country chart from his Kill the Lights album.

“To win the NSAI Artist-Writer of the Year Award is, I mean it’s the top echelon of awards, in my opinion. It’s a huge honor,” says Luke. “Early in my songwriting endeavors, for ‘Good Directions’ I won Top 10 Songs I’d Wished I’d Have Written. And now years into my career and having never won one since then, I understand it’s such an important award. It’s an important night, and it’s a special night for me and a huge honor.”

Luke also performed Vern Gosdin’s 1988 chart-topper “Set ‘Em Up Joe” in tribute to the late country legend who was one of five inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Luke is sitting inside the Top 10 on the country charts with “Light It Up,” the first release from his brand-new album, What Makes You Country, available December 8th.

In the meantime, you can catch the CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee (he’s won the CMA Entertainer Award twice) on the road with his Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day Tour. The trek makes stops Wednesday (October 25th) in San Diego, followed by Phoenix on Thursday (October 26th) and San Bernadino on Friday (October 27th).