HENDERSONVILLE, TN — Singing News is now accepting entries for the 2026 Singing News Songwriters Search, offering non-professional songwriters the opportunity to have their original music recognized, published, and promoted on a national stage.

Open to songwriters who have not had a song appear on the Singing News Top 40 chart and are not currently under an exclusive publishing contract, the annual competition is designed to discover and encourage new voices in Southern Gospel music.

Five winners will be selected, including one Grand Prize winner who will receive a single-song publishing contract with Daywind Music Publishing, along with a prize package that includes mentoring sessions with acclaimed songwriter Dave Clark, a SongSteps songwriting course, a scholarship to the Charles Novell School of Music, and special recognition during the 2027 Singing News Fan Awards at the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

The second-place winner will also receive a one-song publishing deal with Daywind Music Publishing, while three additional runners-up will be recognized in a feature story in Singing News Magazine and on SingingNews.com. All winners will receive a one-year subscription to Singing News.

Past winners of the Songwriters Search have gone on to receive Dove Award recognition, underscoring the impact and credibility of the competition within the Southern Gospel industry.

Entries are now open, with an early bird entry fee of $48 available through August 1, 2026. Standard entry is $68, and all submissions must be postmarked by October 31, 2026.

To enter, songwriters must submit an entry form, lyric sheet, audio recording, and entry fee by mail or online. Full details, rules, and submission instructions are available at SingingNews.com/songwriter.

For additional information, contact Jill Carothers at [email protected].

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