Naomi Taylor has been crowned the 2023 Mississippi Songwriter of the Year.
Taylor was one of 15 finalists for the award to perform Saturday night at the historic Ellis Theater in downtown Philadelphia.
The Pearl native earned the title with the performance of her song “Roots.”
“The music and songwriting talent in Mississippi is second to none,” Boswell Media General Manager Melissa Boswell Townsend said. “We look forward to showcasing that talent for years to come here at the Ellis Theater and Marty Stuart’s Congress of Congress Music.”
Taylor joins Zechariah Lloyd, Brandon Green, and most notably Chapel Hart as the latest songwriters to receive the statewide honor.
As the 2023 Mississippi Songwriter of the Year, Taylor will travel to Muscle Shoals, Ala. for a Q&A session with various accomplished songwriters and producers. She will receive a $1,000 allowance for a recording session and a two-night stay at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa.
In addition, Taylor will have a music video shot and produced by the Mississippi State University’s Department of Communications.