NASHVILLE (AP) — Songwriter Dean Dillon penned hits for George Strait, George Jones, Kenny Chesney and more in his prolific career in Nashville and several of those artists honored him as the newest BMI Icon at Tuesday's BMI Country Awards.

Dillon has written more than 50 songs for Strait. The beloved singer paid homage with a medley of his Dillon-penned hits, including "The Chair," ''Marina Del Ray," and "Here For A Good Time." Chesney, Luke Bryan and Lee Ann Womack also performed some of Dillon's songs at the annual event put on by Broadcast Music, Inc., a music rights management company.

Rodney Clawson was named songwriter of the year for helping to write six of the year's most performed country songs, including by Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Young country artist Hunter Hayes took home the song of the year award for his smash hit, "Wanted," which was co-written with Troy Verges.