The breakout Rodney Atkins hit, “If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows),” took the evening’s top award. Songwriters Sam and Annie Tate, who penned the song with Dave Berg, shared the songwriter of the year award. Also honored were Kenny Chesney’s hit “Anything but Mine,” Faith Hill’s “Mississippi Girl” and “What’s a Guy Got to Do,” written and recorded by Joe Nichols.