It was a festival of firsts: Billy Currington's first No. 1 single (from his first gold album) and Jason Matthews and Marty Dodson's first No. 1 song. The star and the songwriters took center stage in Nashville Tuesday (Jan. 31) as music industry supporters packed ASCAP's spacious reception hall to applaud the chart success of "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right."

Reflecting on how the song came about, Dodson told the crowd that while he and Matthews had written the song within an hour and a half, it was more rooted in personal associations than in time. "It didn't come from [that] hour and a half," he explained. "It came from all the people in this room."

Said Matthews, "I really feel like we were tapping into God."

"Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right" is from Doin' Somethin' Right, Currington's second album for Mercury Records. It was certified gold in January.

Currington spoke briefly to reporters before the party started. "[This song] means everything," he told them. "This is the spot you dream of." Asked if having a No. 1 song meant "job security" at his record label, he replied, "Job security? Is there such a thing in the music business?"

He acknowledged his high-profile pairing with Shania Twain in "Party for Two" had boosted his career but didn't go into detail about his work with her.

Another sign of his moving up in the music world, Currington said, was being picked to open shows this year on Brad Paisley's Time Well Wasted tour with Sara Evans. He said he hasn't had much chance so far to mingle with the two headliners. As for the prospect of eventually co-writing with Paisley, Currington said, "I've thought about it, but I don't know that he has."

In addition to the Paisley tour, Currington said he was moving ahead with plans to do a fraternity tour of colleges in the Southeastern Conference. "College folks are fun," he observed. "They're lively and wild." Between his chores as an opening act and his solo appearances, Currington estimated he will do around 300 shows this year.

Although he conceded that much has been made in the press about his "sexiness," Currington said he didn't think it has diverted attention from his music.

After all the awards had been presented, Currington told the music industry folk surrounding him, "Thank you for this town. I've been here 14 years, and I really love this place."