Taylor Swift Makes History:Youngest BMI Songwriter of the Year

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) Taylor Swift has won numerous accolades in her young career, but being named BMI's country songwriter of the year at age 20 was a feat that even the iconic Johnny Cash wasn't able to pull off. He was 24 when it happened to him.

On Tuesday night at the BMI Awards, Swift made country music history by becoming the youngest person to win the award at age 20.

PICTURES: Stars with Fragrances
PICTURES: Taylor Swift

The pop sensation also won country song of the year with co-writer Liz Rose for "You Belong With Me." She's the first songwriter to win that award three years in a row.

"It's been a really emotional week for me," Swift told the crowd on the eve of Nashville's big Country Music Awards ceremony.

Her new album, "Speak Now," had the biggest opening of any record since 2005. But she also attended the funeral of a close friend on Monday.

"He was 21, and I used to play my songs for him first," Swift said.

Swift took the title of youngest winner of songwriter of the year from Bill Anderson, who earned the honor in 1960 at 23. Johnny Cash was next, with a win in 1956 at 24. Earlier this year, Swift became the youngest winner of the performing rights organization's pop song of the year award.

Swift won the songwriter award based on her own recordings of "Fifteen," "White Horse," "You Belong With Me" and "Best Days Of Your Life," recorded by Kellie Pickler.

Country songwriter of the year is one of the few awards the pop star had yet to win. She's the Country Music Association's reigning entertainer of the year and could win female vocalist of the year for the second straight time during the CMA awards show Wednesday night.