Toby Keith, Merle Haggard Big Winners At BMI Awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Toby Keith proves he's as good as he once was.<br/><br/>The Oklahoma music star's song "As Good As I Once Was," won country song of the year at the BMI Music Awards, handed

Sunday, November 5th 2006, 6:21 pm

By: News On 6

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Toby Keith proves he's as good as he once was.

The Oklahoma music star's song "As Good As I Once Was," won country song of the year at the BMI Music Awards, handed out by the performing rights organization Broadcast Music Incorporated Saturday.

Keith also shared BMI's songwriter of the year prize with Vicky McGehee and Ed Hill. Each had writing credits on three of the organization's top 50 most-performed songs of the past year.

Keith's three songs on the list were "As Good As I Once Was," "Big Blue Note" and "Honkytonk U."

The singer called the BMI event his favorite awards show.

With the win, Keith has three BMI songwriter of the year awards.

Besides Keith's honors, BMI presented its Icon award to Merle Haggard, whose hits include "Okie from Muskogee."