The performance rights organization BMI paid tribute Wednesday (June 4) to the three composers of "I Saw God Today," George Strait's latest -- and 56th -- No. 1 single. "It may be the most loved song of the year," said BMI vice president Jody Williams before handing out awards to songwriters Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby and Rodney Clawson. Making his presentations at BMI's Nashville headquarters, Williams also noted that the song's success is a victory for independent music publishers since none of the three writers is affiliated with a major publishing company. As is BMI's tradition, Williams gave Criswell and Kirby each an acoustic guitar to honor their achieving their first No. 1. "I Saw God" was Clawson's third chart-topping single after achieving similar success with Big & Rich's "Lost in This Moment" and Jason Aldean's "Why." With "I Saw God Today," Strait has now scored more No. 1's than any other artist in any musical genre.