Bro. Danny Irvin of Ackerman proudly played and sang his original song Saturday night before a crowd gathered outdoors at the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (The Max) in Meridian. His song, “This Wrinkled Hand in Mine,” had captured the 2022 Mississippi Songwriter of the Year People’s Choice Award through online voting before the event.
“I am truly honored to receive the People’s Choice Award. This was a once in a lifetime event for me. I never thought I’d be selected as a top 15 finalist, so to be named the People’s Choice selection was really shocking. I was speechless,” said Irvin. “Thanks to all who voted for me.”
The Mississippi Songwriter of the Year is an annual competition created to highlight songwriters in the state. As People’s Choice winner, Irvin receives a new guitar.
A longtime pastor of Ackerman Baptist Church, Irvin entered the contest on a whim after hearing a television commercial, and the song was produced at the church after a live performance.
“The song is about an elderly lady with many health problems in the congregation of my first church, and she inspired the first two verses. However, the last verse is about my late mother and me,” Irvin said.
For almost 30 years, Irvin has been in the ministry, and he has coupled music with much of that journey. He is a Mississippi native of Marks who earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and both a master’s degree and a doctorate from Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, Georgia.
Irvin is in his 19th year as pastor of Ackerman Baptist Church. He earlier pastured at Blythe Creek Baptist Church near Mathiston and Immanuel Baptist Church in Greenwood, first as a youth minister and later as pastor.
To listen to Irvin or learn more about the Mississippi Songwriter of the Year competition and additional winners, visit www.mssongwriteroftheyear.com.
