Wayland Holyfield

Songwriter - "Could I Have This Dance," "You're My Best Friend"

Wayland Holyfield, an award-winning songwriter, has long been an advocate for songwriters' and composers' rights. He is currently serving his 15th year as an elected member of the ASCAP Board of Directors. He is past president of the Nashville Songwriters Association International as well as past chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation Board. Wayland is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, an ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year award, and a Grammy nomination. He has received a total of 37 performing rights organization awards and has written over 40 top 10 hits and 14 # 1 songs. Some of the artists who have recorded Wayland's songs include George Strait, Pete Townshend, Brooks and Dunn, Reba McEntire, Ronan Keating, Patti Page, Randy Travis, Ronnie Milsap, Julio Iglesias, Crystal Gayle, Barbara Mandrell, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charley Pride, Waylon Jennings, and George Jones. Of his many legendary songs, Wayland also wrote "Arkansas You Run Deep In Me," which has been adopted as the official state song of Arkansas.