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Little Big Town on The ‘Indelible Mark’ Ben Vaughn Left on the Band

Little Big Town on the first-ever Ben Vaughn Song Champion Award, Billboard's new recognition to honor the late executive and songwriters' advocate.

Vaughn took a hands-on approach in helping the group find outside songs for its fifth album, 2012’s Tornado, which included “Pontoon,” LBT’s first platinum single. It marked the first time the quartet, which also includes Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook, worked with noted songwriters Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean. Vaughn frequently sent the band members songs from writers they hadn’t previously worked with, including “Next to You,” which opens LBT’s 2020 Grammy Award-nominated album, Nightfall.

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