BMI Honors Willie Nelson

Country music star Willie Nelson acknowledge's audience applause at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. Nelson received BMI's icon award and several of his friends showed up to help him celebrate.

Emmylou Harris, left, and Kris Kristofferson perform a duet during a tribute to Willie Nelson at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. Kristofferson called Nelson a profoundly original song writer in a class with Stephen Foster.

Musicians Vince Gill and his wife, Amy Grant, arrive together at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. BMI, or Broadcast Music Inc., gives the icon honor to artists who have had a "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers."

Musician Michelle Branch arrives at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. During the show, a standing ovation was given in memory of Porter Wagoner, who died of lung cancer last month.

Country singer Sarah Buxton arrives at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. BMI, which represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music, gave Willie Nelson its icon award.

Singer Carrie Underwood arrives at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. Toby Keith, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Kris Kristofferson and Emmylou Harris paid musical tribute to Nelson during the show.

Musicians Willie Nelson, left, and Jeffrey Steele pose together at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 6, 2007. Nelson received the BMI Icon award. Steele, who wrote five of this year's most performed country songs, won his second country songwriter of the year title. His song "What Hurts the Most" earned song of the year honors.

Singer Dwight Yoakam arrives at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.

Keith Urban performs Willie Nelson's "You Were Always on My Mind," during a tribute to Nelson at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 6, 2007. He said Nelson showed him "the importance of finding other songs and making them you're own."

Musicians Tim McGraw and his wife Faith Hill arrive at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.

Toby Keith, left, performs with Willie Nelson during a tribute to Nelson at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. Nelson recieved the icon award. Previous winners include Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, Loretta Lynn, the Bee Gees, Isaac Hayes, Ray Davies, James Brown and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Musician Willie Nelson talks to a reporter as he arrives at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. Nelson was given the 2007 BMI Icon awardfor a career that spanned four decades.

Singer Taylor Swift arrives at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.

Singer Sara Evans arrives at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.

Singer Martina McBride arrives at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.

Singer Sheryl Crow arrives at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.

Country music star Willie Nelson, second from left, is joined by other performers as he is honored at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. From left are Keith Urban, Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Toby Keith and Josh Turner.

Willie Nelson is shown on a screen behind Keith Urban as Urban performs during a tribute to Nelson at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 6, 2007. Nelson is widely credited with helping influence the new traditionalist and alternative country movements of the '80s and '90s.