Songwriter Morgane Hayes was honored Friday (Dec. 1) by BMI, the performing rights organization, for her part in composing Carrie Underwood's recent No. 1 hit, "Don't Forget To Remember Me." The celebration was held at BMI's Nashville headquarters. Underwood, who was on tour and unable to attend the party, sent Hayes a message of congratulation from Salt Lake City. BMI executive Jody Williams praised Hayes both as a songwriter and as a vocalist, calling her "the best pure country singer in town." He noted that her parents and other relatives were among the celebrants. "You know that line [in the song] that says, 'Tell Me-ma that I miss her'?" he asked. "Well, Me-ma's in the house.'" The song's other writers, Kelley Lovelace and Ashley Gorley, are members of ASCAP, a competing performing rights society.