The 22nd Annual USA Songwriting Competition has announced its winners. Priscilla Renea Hairston of Los Angeles has won the Overall Grand Prize and First Prize in the pop category with her song “Family Tree” along with songwriters Boots Ottstad and Ben Burgess. Her winning song “Family Tree” is a touching mid-tempo song based on a true story of Renea’s turbulent early life.
Renea is a singer-songwriter and was signed to Capitol Records in 2009. Her songs have been previously recorded by Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Fifth Harmony, Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Madonna, Selena Gomez and Chris Brown. Renea previously co-wrote the song "Timber," recorded by Pitbull, the song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2013, certified six times Platinum, making it the biggest hit she has co-written so far in her career.
She wrote the recent hit song "Love So Soft," recorded by Kelly Clarkson, along with other songwriters Maureen "Mozella" McDonald and Jesse Shatkin. The song hit # 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.
The Overall Second Prize went to Folk songwriters Hope Schneir and Justin Schneir of Camarillo, CA with their song "Lay You Down" and the Overall Third Prize went to Aubrey Logan of Bellevue, WA with her song "Pity Party."
Other notable wins include Wouter Kellerman, Mauritz Lotz, Ratshepe Makhene, David Klassen and Steve Marshall of Johannesburg, South Africa, who won the First Prize in the Instrumental category with their song "Soweto Travels." Seb Byford and Naked Six of North Yorkshire, UK, won First Prize in the rock/alternative category with "Heart Brake."
To view the complete list of winners, visit songwriting.net/winners
