9 To Strive: The BMI Foundation has renamed and revised its annual Nashville Songwriting Scholarship to The Dolly Parton Songwriters Award and established The Dolly Parton Music Fund to provide or supplement music programs in public schools. The awards can be used as a career grant for study, instrument purchase, recording costs or other professional expenses. Founding endowments include a lead gift from Sony Music Publishing's Rusty Gaston and the proceeds from Luke Combs' recent BMI Parking Lot Party. “I know how personal and important songwriting is to those that have the talent, and to all the others that enjoy those that have it," says Parton. "I have been with BMI since I published my first song as a child, so of course I'm very proud and honored to have a BMI Songwriters Award made in my honor." The program offers $20,000 for up to two of the best original song entries in genres including Americana, bluegrass and country. The inaugural award will be presented in Spring 2023 with applications opening in October.