Erv Woolsey
Erv Woolsey, a former music executive, entrepreneur, and longtime manager for Country Music Hall of Fame member, George Strait, died on March 20, 2024, due to complications from surgery. He was 80.
Erv Woolsey
Erv Woolsey, a former music executive, entrepreneur, and longtime manager for Country Music Hall of Fame member, George Strait, died on March 20, 2024, due to complications from surgery. He was 80.
Erv Woolsey
Erv Woolsey, a former music executive, entrepreneur, and longtime manager for Country Music Hall of Fame member, George Strait, died on March 20, 2024, due to complications from surgery. He was 80.
Born Eugene Ervine Woolsey, the Texas native began his career in the music industry in Decca Records' promotion department. Making his way to Nashville in 1973, he took on the role of Head of Promotions for ABC Records’ Country division. From there, he moved to MCA during the 1980s, working closely with an array of acts, including future Country Music Hall of Famers Barbara Mandrell, Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty, and more, before leaving the records industry in 1984 to manage then up-and-comer George Strait. The pair enjoyed a nearly five decades long partnership that saw Strait become one of the most revered artists in Country Music history. With Woolsey by his side, Strait secured two ACM Entertainer of the Year awards, as well as notched more than 60 No. 1 songs and sold over 105 million albums.
Woolsey's mark on modern Country Music extends beyond just Strait, also managing a number of hitmakers throughout his career, including Dierks Bentley, Ronnie Milsap, Clay Walker, and Lee Ann Womack. More recently, his lengthy management roster also featured Ian Munsick, Kylie Frey, and Leftover Salmon founder Vince Herman, among others.
Fran Boyd
Fran Boyd, a former Executive Director of the ACM and an essential player in shaping and growing the organization from its early years in California in the late-1960s through the start of the millennium, passed away on March 9, 2024. She was 84 years old.
Fran Boyd
At the time of her retirement in 2002, she said, “I continue to be proud of all the Academy of Country Music has accomplished in my time. It has given me great joy to see so many young Country artists rise from newcomers to having great careers. The Academy has helped music fans acknowledge Country Music as the enduring genre it deserves to be.”
The Academy’s signature “hat” trophy was created the same year Fran Boyd joined the Academy, and throughout her tenure, she saw the organization open its first office in Hollywood, CA, refresh its name from the Academy of Country and Western Music to the Academy of Country Music in the early 1970s, and move the awards show to a number of major California venues, including Disneyland, Universal Amphitheatre, and Knott’s Berry Farm.
“Her tireless work and years of dedication to this organization, the Country Music industry and its artists cannot be overstated, and her legacy with the Academy will forever live on,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.
“Fran Boyd played an essential part in the Academy’s history, stretching way back to the earliest days in the 1960s and steering the ship through decades of change, innovation, and growth, all while fostering an incredible passion for Country Music,” said Gayle Holcomb, ACM Board Sergeant-At-Arms and longtime Board member. “Fran will always be remembered as a champion for our industry, its artists, and this organization. On behalf of the ACM Officers and Board of Directors, I send our gratitude, prayers, and condolences to the Boyd family.”
Toby Keith
Toby Keith, a Country Music superstar who wrote many of his biggest hits, passed away on February 5, 2024. He was 62 years old. A 14-time ACM Award recipient, including multiple wins for ACM Top Male Vocalist and ACM Album of the Year, he was named ACM Entertainer of the Year twice, in 2002 and 2003.
Toby Keith
Toby Keith, a Country Music superstar who wrote many of his biggest hits, passed away on February 5, 2024. He was 62 years old. A 14-time ACM Award recipient, including multiple wins for ACM Top Male Vocalist and ACM Album of the Year, he was named ACM Entertainer of the Year twice, in 2002 and 2003. With worldwide sales of more than 40 million albums, he built an exceptional career on well-sung ballads, barroom singalongs, and patriotic anthems, as well as heartfelt songwriting.
Born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma, Toby Keith Covel grew up in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore. As a boy, he discovered live music by listening to the bands at his grandmother’s supper club in Fort Smith, Arkansas. After high school graduation, he worked in the oil fields while playing regional gigs fronting the Easy Money Band. When the oil industry crumbled in the early ‘80s, Keith signed on with the Oklahoma City Drillers semipro football team for two years before deciding to focus on music. Although the major labels in Nashville ignored his demo, a fan of the band who worked as a flight attendant gave a copy to Harold Shedd, a Mercury Records executive who was on her flight. Shedd heard the potential, traveled to Oklahoma for a show, and signed him to Mercury.
With the Dallas Cowboys winning the Super Bowl just weeks before the single’s release date, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” took on a new meaning. By summer of 1993, it spent two weeks at No. 1 and paved the way for a dozen more Top 10 hits on Mercury (and affiliated labels Polygram and A&M). Keith returned to No. 1 with 1994’s “Who’s That Man” and 1997’s “Me Too.” A duet with Sting on “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying” earned an ACM nomination for Vocal Event and reached No. 2 at Country radio.
By signing with DreamWorks Nashville, Keith’s outspoken personality could finally shine through. In 2000, “How Do You Like Me Now?!” lodged itself at No. 1 for five weeks. In addition, he was named 2000 ACM Male Vocalist of the Year and picked up Album of the Year (as an artist and producer) for the project of the same name. More hits rolled in, notably a comical Bobby Braddock composition titled “I Wanna Talk About Me.” That single spent five weeks at No. 1, as did its follow-up, “My List.” Yet, amid a backdrop of the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq War, Keith certainly made the biggest impression with “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” and its audacious threat to “put a boot up your ass, it’s the American way.” Its notoriety helped Keith claim the 2002 ACM Entertainer of the Year award.
Keith’s winning streak raged on. “Who’s Your Daddy?” became his sixth consecutive chart-topping single in 2003. A Willie Nelson duet titled “Beer for My Horses” spent six weeks at No. 1, earned a 2003 Video of the Year award, and inspired a movie that received the ACM Tex Ritter Award. That same year, Keith collected his second ACM Entertainer, Male Vocalist, and Album of the Year trophies, the latter for Shock ‘N Y’All.
Keith continued to offer a steady stream of radio-ready singles and accrued his 20th No. 1 hit, “Made in America,” in 2011. Although he’d released plenty of irreverent songs before, few listeners were prepared for the overwhelming reception of “Red Solo Cup,” a viral party anthem that soon crossed over into the mainstream and claimed the 2011 ACM Video of the Year award. A year later, “Beers Ago” became his 41st Top 10 Country hit.
Marking his 20th ACM Awards appearance in 2018, Keith was joined by Blake Shelton to sing “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” In addition, he appeared in the network specials George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert in 2009 and ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute to the Troops in 2014. The Academy presented Keith with multiple honorary awards throughout his career, including the 2013 ACM Career Achievement Award, the 2016 ACM Poets Award, and the 2020 ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award. Keith was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021. Other distinctions include the 2021 National Medal of Arts and the 2022 BMI Icon Award.
Keith’s many charitable initiatives included 11 USO Tours and nearly 300 USO events, a hometown fundraising concert following a devastating 2013 tornado, and an annual golf tournament to fund the OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home in Oklahoma City for families of children with critical illnesses.
"Toby Keith was a powerhouse singer-songwriter, performer, entrepreneur, and Country Music icon who defined the last several decades of Country Music and influenced a generation of talent,” said ACM CEO Damon Whiteside. “Here at the Academy, we’ve been able to celebrate Toby countless times over the years, including twice as our ACM Entertainer of the Year, along with more than a dozen of other trophies, such as the ACM Poet’s Award for songwriting and the ACM Career Achievement Award. In particular, I’m so glad we were able to honor Toby with the ACM Spirit Award in 2021, presented to a singer-songwriter who continues the legacy of Merle Haggard, one of Toby’s heroes. Additionally, his phenomenal commitment to philanthropy and serving the community throughout his career echoes in the work of ACM Lifting Lives. On behalf of our staff, Board, and membership, we send our love to Toby’s family, friends, and fans of his incredible music. His legacy in Country Music will live on forever.”
Larry Collins
Larry Collins, California Country songwriter and guitarist, passed away on January 5, 2024. He was 79 years old.
Larry Collins
California Country songwriter and guitarist Larry Collins passed away on January 5, 2024. He was 79 years old.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1977, Collins would only remain in the state for a short while. His older sister Lorrie won a talent competition in Tulsa which prompted the entire family to move to L.A. The siblings formed a duo, the Collins Kids, and became regulars on the show Town Hall Party in 1954. Through the show, the duo was able to play alongside legends of the day including Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and more.
Larry went on to pursue a successful solo career. He had several hits under his belt from his days in the duo. But it was writing “Delta Dawn” that would propel his career forward, as well as launch the career of newcomer Tanya Tucker. In 1981, his song “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma” co-written with Sandy Pinkard and recorded by David Frizzell and Shelly West reached No. 1. It was also awarded ACM Song of the Year. His songs were recorded by artists such as Mac Davis, Nancy Sinatra, Lou Rawls, Alex Harvey, Bette Midler and others.
Laura Lynch
Laura Lynch, one of the founding members of Country group, The Chicks, passed away on December 22, 2023. She was 65.
Laura Lynch
Laura Lynch, one of the founding members of Country group, The Chicks, died on December 22, 2023 after a devastating car crash in West Texas. She was 65.
Lynch co-founded the band, then named the Dixie Chicks, in 1989 alongside Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer. Serving as the group's upright bassist and lead singer, Lynch recorded three albums – Thank Heavens for Dale Evans, Little Ol' Cowgirl, and Shouldn't a Told You That – before she departed and was replaced by current lead vocalist Natalie Maines. After leaving The Chicks, Lynch became a public relations officer at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Though much of The Chicks' success in the mainstream came after Lynch's departure in 1995, the band went on to win several ACM Awards in the years following, including Entertainer of the Year (2000), Top Vocal Group (1998-2000), and more, while also becoming one of the most enduring all-female bands in the Country space.
Bill Mayne
Bill Mayne, known as a giant of the industry who devoted his nearly 50 year career to Country radio, passed away on November 28, 2023. He was 72 years old.
Bill Mayne
Bill Mayne devoted his career to Country radio, along with dedicating more than 35 years of service to the Academy of Country Music’s Board of Directors. Mayne studied radio, TV, and film at the University of Houston, and his interest in radio carried him to Austin, Texas, where he worked as a disc jockey and a program director for KNOW. Subsequent stops included KASE in Austin, KSCS/WBAP in Dallas, and KZLA/KLAC in Los Angeles. In 1988, he accepted a position at Warner Bros. Nashville working in promotion, then rose to become Senior Vice President and General Manager of the label. During this time Mayne worked with artists such as Holly Dunn, Faith Hill, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt, and Dwight Yoakam. After that, he held an executive role at 903 Music, the label launched by Neal McCoy, prior to establishing his own firm, Mayne Street Consulting.
In early 2010, Mayne’s company provided consultation to Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc., during a sensitive time for the Country Radio Seminar. Through Mayne’s leadership, CRS experienced a growth in attendance, sponsorship, and engagement. He had been part of the CRB’s Board of Directors when he accepted the role of Executive Director, a position he held from 2011 until his retirement in 2019. That same year, he marked his 50th anniversary of working in the music industry. Mayne has served as Chairman of the Board for the Academy of Country Music as well as ACM Lifting Lives, the Academy’s charitable partner, in addition to every other officer role.
Abe Stoklasa
Abe Stoklasa, talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, passed away on November 17, 2023. He was 36.
Abe Stoklasa
On November 17, 2023, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Abe Stoklasa passed away at the age of 36. A beloved figure in the Nashville songwriting community, his catalog of hits includes Chris Lane’s “Fix,” Michael Ray’s “Get To You,” Lady A’s “Ocean," Ben Rector’s “Brand New” and others for the likes of Tim McGraw, Charlie Worsham, Scotty McCreery, and Blake Shelton.
Hailing from Princeton, Missouri, his love for music spawned early on as he began playing in his father’s band at the age of 6 and joined several local bands throughout his childhood. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Nashville where Stoklasa set his sights on a career in the music industry. He enrolled in Belmont University's Music Business program, graduated in 2009 and became a touring musician for artists like David Nail and Billy Currington.
In 2013, he retired from the road, focusing full-time on his songwriting and garnered several cuts in the years that followed. Stoklasa also heavily contributed to Lady A singer Charles Kelley's 2016 solo album, The Driver, co-writing the song, "Leaving Nashville" and others.
Jim Vienneau
Jim Vienneau, celebrated producer and music industry executive, passed away on November 9, 2023. He was 97.
Jim Vienneau
Celebrated producer and music industry executive Jim Vienneau passed away on November 9, 2023. He was 97.
Born in New York, Vienneau was the nephew of pioneering country producer Frank Walker, who co-founded MGM Records in 1946. Mentored by his uncle, Vienneau began working for the label in 1955, producing hits like Conway Twitty’s “It’s Only Make Believe,” Connie Francis’ “Vacation,” Roy Orbison’s “Ride Away," Mark Dinning’s “Teen Angel," and more. After being transferred to MGM's Nashville office in 1965 to head its Country division, he kept busy producing blockbuster hits for Hank Williams Jr. (“Cajun Baby,” “Pride’s Not Hard to Swallow,” “I’ll Think of Something”), Mel Tillis (“I Ain’t Never,” “Sawmill,” “Memory Maker"), Jeannie C. Riley (“Give Myself a Party”), and several others.
Following a brief stint at 20th Century Records, Vienneau joined Acuff-Rose Publishing where he worked with Lorrie Morgan, Aaron Tippin, and Kenny Chesney. He was named Billboard's Country Producer of the Year in 1972 and continued to serve as a producer up until his retirement in 1988.
Bill Rice
Bill Rice, beloved singer songwriter and member of the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame, passed away on October 28, 2023. He was 84.
Bill Rice
Beloved singer-songwriter Bill Rice passed away on October 28, 2023 at the age of 84. Inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 1994, he penned a long list of hits for Charley Pride, Jerry Lee Lewis, Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, Conway Twitty, and several others across his four-decades-long career.
An Arkansas native, Rice first picked up a guitar at 14 and inked his first recording contract by 18. His first taste of success came in 1960 as icon Elvis Presley recorded Rice’s “Girl Next Door Went A’walking.” After making the move to Nashville and finding a songwriting partner in longtime collaborator Jerry Foster, Rice’s prevalence in the Country space was apparent as he charted hit after hit, including Mel Tillis' “Heaven Everyday,” Lewis’ “Think About It Darlin’,” Pride's “Wonder Could I Live There Anymore,” Johnny Paycheck’s “Someone to Give My Love To,” Hank Williams Jr.'s “I’ll Think Of Something,” and more.
Though he did pursue his own career as an artist and landed a Top 40 hit with 1971’s “Travelin’ Minstrel Man,” most of his success was cemented in his songwriting. He notched 73 ASCAP Awards throughout his career, as well as two Grammy nominations for Jeannie C. Riley's "Back Side of Dallas" and Mickey Gilley's "Here Comes the Hurt Again."
Mike Henderson
Mike Henderson, cofounder of the SteelDrivers, Country songwriter and multi-instrumentalist died September 22, 2023. He was 70 years old.
Mike Henderson
Mike Henderson, cofounder of the SteelDrivers, Country songwriter and multi-instrumentalist died September 22, 2023. He was 70 years old.
Henderson hailed from Independence, Missouri, and it was there that he honed his skills and eventual mastery of guitar, fiddle, mandolin, Dobro, and harmonica.
Upon moving to Nashville, he joined blues-rock group the Kingsnakes. The band would go on to be signed to Curb Records and Henderson signed a publishing deal with EMI. Henderson had cuts by artists including Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, The Chicks, Randy Travis, and Marty Stuart, and he played on records for artists including Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Tim McGraw, Bob Seger, Blake Shelton, and Sting.
Ultimately it was his work with reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Chris Stapleton that would put Henderson on the map. Grammy winning song “Broken Halos,” a Stapleton-Henderson co-write was Stapleton’s first No. 1 on the Country airplay chart. Henderson was also nominated for three Grammys with The SteelDrivers from 2009-2011.
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett, the enduring entertainer who kept audiences singing along to “Margaritaville” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” September 1, 2023. He was 76.
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett, the enduring entertainer who kept audiences singing along to “Margaritaville” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” September 1, 2023. He was 76. Buffett and duet partner Alan Jackson spent eight weeks at No. 1 at country radio with “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” ultimately collecting 2003 ACM trophies for Single and Vocal Event of the Year; the feel-good anthem also landed on the ACM ballot for Song of the Year and Video of the Year.
Born on December 25, 1946, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Buffett was raised in Mobile, Alabama. He earned a degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi and served as a Nashville correspondent for Billboard magazine from 1969 to 1970. Although he’d done some recording in Nashville, he relocated to Key West, Florida, in 1972, and his original songwriting reflected his tropical lifestyle. First recording for Dunhill/ABC (and later ABC), Buffett charted six country singles in the 1970s, with “Margaritaville” rising to No. 13 in 1977. “Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitudes” climbed to No. 24 a few months later.
After moving to the MCA pop roster in the 1980s, he dented the country charts with songs like “If the Phone Doesn’t Ring, It’s Me.” A 1985 compilation titled Songs You Know by Heart sold more than seven million copies. However, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” cemented his stature in the country community. He recorded singles with guests Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, and George Strait (the ACM-nominated “Hey Good Lookin’,” 2004), Martina McBride (“Trip Around the Sun,” 2004), and Zac Brown Band (“Knee Deep,” a triple-platinum No. 1 hit in 2011). Buffett’s 2020 album, Life on the Flip Side, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart.
Robbie Roberston
Robbie Robertson, a Canadian musician and songwriter, and leader of the influential rock group The Band died August 9, 2023. He was 80.
Robbie Roberston
Robbie Robertson, a Canadian musician and songwriter, and leader of the influential rock group The Band died August 9, 2023. He was 80.
Born Jaime Royal Robertson on July 5, 1943, he was one of the last two surviving members of The Band, an influential rock band that mixed folk, gospel and jazz with rhythm and blues and helped forge a distinctly American kind of roots rock sound. Robertson played lead guitar and wrote some of The Band’s best-known songs, including “The Weight,” “Up on Cripple Creek,” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” But it was Robertson's appearance in "The Last Waltz," a 1978 documentary about the group's farewell concert that was directed by Martin Scorsese, that made him a star. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest concert films ever made.
Robertson went on to produce scores and curated songs for Scorsese movies like "Raging Bull," "The Departed," "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "The Irishman." Shortly before he died, Robertson finished his 14th film music project with Scorsese called "Killers of the Flower Moon."
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett, the traditional pop artist and jazz vocalist whose voice epitomized the American Songbook, died on July 21, 2023. He was 96.
Tony Bennett
While the world knew him as Tony Bennett, a name given to him by Bob Hope, he was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926 in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, NY. His recordings – most of them made for Columbia Records, which signed him in 1950 – were characterized by ebullience, immense warmth, vocal clarity and emotional openness. Bennett hit the scene as a suave crooner and quickly established himself as one of radio's most popular hit-makers. He was a showman, with an intimate nightclub sensibility. He went on to make duet recordings with everyone from Stevie Wonder to Lady Gaga, who later became his biggest cheerleader and an ambassador to a legion of new fans. His professional career spanned eight decades, and he garnered a No. 1 album at age 85.
Jerry Bradley
Music executive Jerry Bradley, the son of legendary Owen Bradley, died July 17, 2023. He was 83.
Jerry Bradley
Music executive Jerry Bradley, the son of legendary Owen Bradley, died July 17, 2023. He was 83. A Nashville, Tennessee native, Bradley served two years in the U.S. Army, and soon after began working with his father and watching artists such as Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, and Webb Pierce record in the legendary “Bradley’s Barn” studio.
Bradley began working with Chet Atkins and would eventually go on to serve as the head of RCA Records in Nashville from 1973 to 1982. In this position, Bradley worked with a long list of Country greats including Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton, and Charley Pride. He also played a pivotal role in the career of Elvis Presley, who released a series of CountryMusic songs such as “Moody Blue” and “Way Down.” Following his work on the label side, Bradley was named the head of the Opryland Music Group, where he would stay until his retirement in 2003.
In 1980, Bradley received an ACM Award nomination for “Album of the Year,” serving as a producer on Charley Pride’s album “There’s a Little Bit of Hank in Me.” Bradley was later inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019.
Bobby Osborne
Noted Bluegrass musician and co-founder of the Osborne Brothers, Bobby Osborne died June 27, 2023. He was 91.
Bobby Osborne
Noted Bluegrass musician and co-founder of the Osborne Brothers, Bobby Osborne died June 27, 2023. He was 91. Osborne was born on December 7, 1931, in Hyden, Kentucky and spent a lifetime fascinated by Country Music. In fact, Osborne ultimately dropped out of high school to join his brother Sonny in the hopes that the newly formed Country duo could possibly find their way to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry…and oh how they did.
The Osborne Brothers were eventually inducted into the legendary institution in August of 1964, after building a career on songs such as “Rocky Top,” “Once More” and “The Kind of Woman I Got.” Later in life, as a member of the Osborne Brothers, the mandolin maestro and Purple Heart recipient was inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall of Honor in 1994 and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2002. Osborne also spent much time teaching at the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music.
But thankfully, there was more music to come. Following his brother Sonny’s retirement in 2005, Bobby began working as a solo artist and received much acclaim for his 2017 solo album Original, which received his first solo GRAMMY nomination for Best Bluegrass Album in 2018. He also enjoyed many years out on the road with his band the Rocky Top X-Press.
Gordon Lightfoot
Canadian folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot died on May 1, 2023 at the age of 84.
Gordon Lightfoot
Canadian folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot died on May 1, 2023 at the age of 84. Lightfoot had success in success in folk, folk-rock and Country Music, and will be remembered as one of Canada’s greatest songwriters. Lightfoot’s career got its start when he recorded two singles at RCA in Nashville, both produced by Chet Atkins. The resulting songs,”(Remember Me) I’m the One” and “Negotiations / It’s Too Late, He Wins” went on to be huge hits in Toronto. In 1963, Lightfoot travelled in Europe and hosted BBC TV’s Country and Western Show, returning to Canada in 1964.
As a writer, Lightfoot went on to get cuts with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Chad & Jeremy, George Hamilton IV, the Clancy Brothers and the Johnny Mann Singers. Established recording artists such as Marty Robbins, Leroy Van Dyke, and Judy Collins all achieved chart success with Lightfoot’s material.Throughout his career, Lightfoot was able to have success from his home in Canada without moving to any music mecca, though he often recorded in Nashville at Owen and Jerry Bradley’s Bradley’s Barn during the ’60s.
Claude Gray
Claude Gray, known as “The Tall Texan” and the “Family Bible” singer, died April 28, 2023. He was 91.
Claude Gray
Barbara Ellen Clarkson
Barbara Ellen (Leuallen) Clarkson, 83, formerly of Nashville, TN and more recently of Stuarts Draft passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Barbara Ellen Clarkson
Keith Gattis
Keith Gattis, a beloved singer, songwriter and producer passed away on April 23, 2023. He was 52 years old.
Keith Gattis
Ray Pillow
Ray Pillow, a longtime Grand Ole Opry member, died on March 26, 2023. He was 85.
Ray Pillow
Bob "Norton" Thompson
Bob “Norton” Thompson, the entrepreneur who opened the Nashville rehearsal studio Soundcheck died on March 24, 2023. He was 80.
Bob "Norton" Thompson
Liz Thiels
Liz Thiels, a pioneering public relations executive who represented the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as numerous Country artists in the 1980s and 1990s, died on March 19, 2023. She was 78.
Liz Thiels
Michael Rhodes
Michael Rhodes, a first-call studio musician who won 10 ACM Awards as a bassist, died on March 4, 2023. He was 69.
Michael Rhodes
Kyle Jacobs
Kyle Jacobs, a talented Nashville songwriter and producer and the husband of Kellie Pickler passed away on February 17, 2023.
Kyle Jacobs
Kyle Jacobs, a talented Nashville songwriter and producer and the husband of Kellie Pickler passed away on February 17, 2023. In 2014 Jacobs won an ACM Award as producer of Lee Brice's "I Drive Your Truck." In addition, he was a co-writer on Garth Brooks' single "More Than a Memory," the first song to debut at Number One on Billboard's Country Singles chart in its history.
"These past few days have truly been some of the hardest of my life," Lee Brice, longtime friend of Kyle, said. "At times, I feel lost and buried under this deep sadness. Other times, I sit and remember all the times with Kyle that bring me comfort and make me smile. He was, without a doubt, one of the best people anyone could ever hope to have in their corner…I am eternally grateful for having him in mine. I’ll keep Kellie, his family and everyone who was touched by him close to my heart. I’ll miss you til we meet again..I love you, brother."
Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach, a legendary pop songwriter who also composed two chart-topping Country hits, died on February 8, 2023. He was 94.
Burt Bacharach
Pat Bunch
Pat Bunch, who co-wrote No. 1 hits for Ty Herndon, Faith Hill, and Restless Heart, died on January 30, 2023. She was 83.
Pat Bunch
Peter McCann
Peter McCann, an advocate and songwriter best remembered for “Right Time of the Night,” died on January 26, 2023. He was 74.
Peter McCann
David Crosby
David Crosby, whose love of harmony and talent for songwriting helped usher in the folk-rock sound, died on January 18, 2023. He was 81.
David Crosby
Bruce Gowers
Bruce Gowers, an award-winning director who worked with superstar artists in pop, rock, and Country Music, died on January 15, 2023. He was 82.
Bruce Gowers
Stan Hitchcock
Stan Hitchcock, a television executive who guided the early years of CMT while balancing a career as a host and recording artist, died on January 4, 2023. He was 86.
Stan Hitchcock
Anita Pointer
Anita Pointer, a pop star who twice crossed over to country music, died on December 31, 2022. She was 74.
Anita Pointer
Stephen Allen Davis
Stephen Allen Davis, whose extensive songwriting credits include Jo Dee Messina’s “Stand Beside Me,” died on December 26, 2022. He was 73.
Stephen Allen Davis
Charlie Monk
Charlie Monk, fondly known as the Mayor of MusicRow, died on December 19, 2022. He was 84.
Charlie Monk
Charlie Monk, fondly known as the Mayor of MusicRow, died on December 19, 2022. He was 84. Monk grew up in Geneva, Alabama, equally fascinated with celebrities and radio. After serving in the Army and working as a disc jockey throughout Alabama, he moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 1968 to program one of the earliest full-time country music stations. The following year he co-founded Country Radio Seminar, where he hosted and produced its annual New Faces Show for 40 years. Following seven years at ASCAP, he led CBS Songs, launched a publishing company, and helped revive the fortunes of legacy publisher Acuff-Rose Music. Monk joined SiriusXM as an on-air personality in 2004 and was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2019.
Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper, one of Nashville’s most admired music journalists and historians, died on December 6, 2022. He was 52.
Peter Cooper
Jeff Cook
Jeff Cook, a founding member of the groundbreaking country band Alabama, died on November 7, 2022. He was 73.
Jeff Cook
Jeff Cook, a founding member of the groundbreaking country band Alabama, died on November 7, 2022. He was 73. Born on August 27, 1949, in Fort Payne, Alabama, Cook spent his teen years playing guitar and keyboards in bands and hosting a local radio show. Alabama evolved out of a band named Wildcountry, which Cook formed with Fort Payne musicians Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry while they were still teenagers. By 1980, two of Alabama’s independent singles reached the Top 40 at country radio, prompting an invitation to perform at the CRS New Faces Show and a contract with RCA Records.
Alabama immediately set itself apart in country music as a self-contained band, in contrast to popular vocal groups who used a backing band. With immediate momentum, Alabama claimed five ACM Entertainer of the Year trophies (1981-1985), six ACM Top Vocal Group awards (1980-1985), and three ACM Album of the Year honors. Alabama was named ACM Artist of the Decade for the 1980s. By 1999, the band had charted 50 Top 10 singles for RCA. In addition to vocal support and playing fiddle and guitar in Alabama, Cook co-wrote their enduring holiday classic, “Christmas in Dixie.”
Alabama’s numerous honors include the 2002 ACM Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award and a 2005 induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. After initially retiring from the road in 2003, the group returned to No. 1 at country radio in 2011 as guests on Brad Paisley’s “Old Alabama.”
Jerry Whitehurst
Jerry Whitehurst, the ACM Award-winning musical director of TNN’s Nashville Now, died on October 30, 2022. He was 84.
Jerry Whitehurst
Jerry Whitehurst, the ACM Award-winning musical director of TNN’s Nashville Now, died on October 30, 2022. He was 84. Born in Nashville, Whitehurst was working for a trucking firm when he landed a part-time job as a pianist in the Grand Ole Opry house band. That gig led to occasional session work and playing piano on TV shows such as Hee-Haw and Pop Goes the Country. When Nashville Now debuted on the fledgling cable network TNN in 1983, Whitehurst’s musical versatility became vital to the daily talk show’s enduring success. Known for his pleasant personality and familiar baseball cap, Whitehurst also composed the show’s theme song. The Nashville Now house band won five consecutive ACM Awards (1985–1989) in the Non-Touring Band of the Year category.
Jerry Lee Lewis
The legendary Jerry Lee Lewis was born on September 29, 1935, in Louisiana and would grow up to be a pioneer of rock and roll music.
Jerry Lee Lewis
The legendary Jerry Lee Lewis was born on September 29, 1935, in Louisiana and would grow up to be a pioneer of rock and roll music. Lewis began his recording career in 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis and soon released what would turn into iconic songs such as “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Crazy Arms.” He would also record with musical giants such as Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley as part of the famed “Million Dollar Quartet.”
In the late 1960’s, Lewis expanded his musical repertoire into the Country Music genre via songs such as “Another Place, Another Time,” “To Make Love Sweeter for You” and “Once More with Feeling” while still making some major noise on the pop charts with “Me and Bobby McGee” in 1971 and “Chantilly Lace” in 1972.
Eventually, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member’s life story would be told in the motion picture Great Balls of Fire starring Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder and Alec Baldwin.
On top of his already impressive career stats is the fact that Lewis won an ACM Award in 1975 as Piano Player of the Year, alongside many other nominations throughout the 1970s, highlighted by the ACM Career Achievement Award nomination back in 1977.
Anita Kerr
Anita Kerr, the vocal and instrumental arranger whose musical touch became a cornerstone of the Nashville Sound, died on October 10, 2022. She was 94.
Anita Kerr
Anita Kerr, the vocal and instrumental arranger whose musical touch became a cornerstone of the Nashville Sound, died on October 10, 2022. She was 94. As a child in Memphis, she played pipe organ in church and sang on local radio shows. After moving to Nashville in 1948, her visibility grew with performances on the Grand Ole Opry’s Prince Albert Show, national exposure on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, and recording sessions with Owen Bradley for Decca Records. From 1961 to 1963, she worked with Chet Atkins on hundreds of RCA sessions before pursuing other genres. Her lush arrangements, together with the beautiful blend of the Anita Kerr Singers, brought sophisticated textures and a fresh sound to country music at the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll.
Jody Miller
Jody Miller, one of the most versatile singers of her era, died on October 6, 2022. She was 80.
Jody Miller
Jody Miller, one of the most versatile singers of her era, died on October 6, 2022. She was 80. As a teenager, she nurtured her singing talent in coffee houses in Oklahoma before moving to Los Angeles. Capitol Records signed her as a folk artist in 1962. She charted a pop single, “He Walks Like a Man,” in 1964 and appeared on American Bandstand. The following year, she placed a Top 5 Country crossover hit with the Grammy-winning “Queen of the House.” Miller received1965 and 1968 nominations for ACM Top New Female Vocalist. With Billy Sherrill producing, an Epic Records contract yielded five more Top 10 hits in the early 1970s. She retired from touring in the 1980s but continued to record gospel albums.
Loretta Lynn
Known best as the undisputed Queen of Country Music via number one songs such as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Fist City” and “Don’t Come Home a ‘Drinkin’ (with Lovin’ on Your Mind),” Loretta Lynn has been Country Music’s ultimate storyteller for over fifty years.
Loretta Lynn
Known best as the undisputed Queen of Country Music via number one songs such as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Fist City” and “Don’t Come Home a ‘Drinkin’ (with Lovin’ on Your Mind),” Loretta Lynn has been Country Music’s ultimate storyteller for over fifty years. She blazingly captured some of the pains and tribulations of being a wife and mother in her music and broke down countless barriers for women everywhere, continuing to inspire innumerable artists today.
A member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Lynn’s impact cannot be understated. Alongside worldwide record sales of more than 45 million worldwide and a staggering 51 Top 10 hits, Lynn received a total of 14 ACM Awards throughout her career and is currently the only female to be named ACM Artist of the Decade, as well as the first woman to win the ACM Award for Entertainer of the Year. Most recently, she was honored with the ACM Poet’s Award in 2021.
Joe Chambers
Joe Chambers, founder of the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, died on September 28, 2022. He was 68.
Joe Chambers
Ray Edenton
Ray Edenton, a rhythm guitarist who played on more than 10,000 recording sessions, died on September 21, 2022. He was 95.
Ray Edenton
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John, an internationally recognized entertainer who charted 15 Country singles in the 1970s, died on August 8, 2022. She was 73.
Olivia Newton-John
Ed Hardy
Ed Hardy, the media executive who expanded the reach of Great American Country (GAC) as its president, died on July 31, 2022. He was 73.
Ed Hardy
Ed Hardy, the media executive who expanded the reach of Great American Country (GAC) as its president, died on July 31, 2022. He was 73. Hardy worked at WJW Radio in Cleveland, Ohio, at the start of his career, then broadened his broadcasting footprint across the Pacific Northwest. After selling his radio group to Citadel Radio, he served as president and CEO of Measure Cast and consulted for MediaBlue/Nox. Joining GAC in 2004 after its acquisition by the Scripps Network, Hardy immediately fueled the cable channel’s growth nationally and negotiated a multi-year deal to broadcast the Grand Ole Opry. Following his retirement in 2012, he was recognized with the CMA Chairman’s Award in 2013 and the President’s Award from the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc., in 2014.
Bil Vorndick
Bil VornDick, a producer and champion for Americana, bluegrass and folk artists, died on July 5, 2022. He was 72.
Bil Vorndick
Eddie Edwards Drennan
Eddie Edwards, a 1985 ACM Award recipient for DiscJockey of the Year, died on June 19, 2022. He was 75.
Eddie Edwards Drennan
Eddie Edwards, a 1985 ACM Award recipient for DiscJockey of the Year, died on June 19, 2022. He was 75. Born in San Diego as Ernest Edward Drennan, he spent more than 50 years in the radio industry. His on-air career began in a broadcasting class at San Diego State University, and later, a small station in Barstow, Calif. Under his guidance as program manager at WNOE, the station helped establish New Orleans as a strong market for Country Music. He also hosted a long-running morning show, billed as Crazy Eddie and the Breakfast Flakes. Edwards was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2013. He continued to stay active in the radio industry, most recently working mornings at WUUU in Covington, La.
Al Cooley
Al Cooley, a multifaceted music industry figure whose career spanned across decades, died on June 9, 2022. He was 76.
Al Cooley
Glenn Meadows
Glenn Meadows, one of Nashville’s most prolific recording engineers, died on July 7, 2022. He was 73.
Glenn Meadows
Glenn Meadows, one of Nashville’s most prolific recording engineers, died on July 7, 2022. He was 73. Meadows grew up on Long Island, N.Y., and studied at Georgia Tech. After launching an engineering career at the Sound Pit in Atlanta, he moved to Nashville in 1975. Taking a position at Masterfonics, he positioned himself as a leading mastering engineer. He acquired the company in 1989 and worked with innumerable pop and Country artists, ranging from Merle Haggard, The Judds and George Strait, to Jimmy Buffett, Amy Grant and Steely Dan. In 1995, he opened the Tracking Room, a multimillion dollar recording studio near Music Row. With engineering credits on more than 1,600 albums, Meadows accepted the Audio Engineering Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
Hal Bynum
Hal Bynum, who co-wrote Kenny Rogers’ classic hit “Lucille,” died on June 2, 2022. He was 87.
Hal Bynum
Mickey Gilley
Mickey Gilley, acclaimed singer/songwriter died on May 7, 2022. He was 86.
Mickey Gilley
Mickey Gilley, acclaimed singer/songwriter died on May 7, 2022. He was 86. Gilley, cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, got his start playing the club circuit in Texas, eventually opening his first nightclub in Pasadena, Texas called the Gilley’s Club. And with songs such as “Chains of Love,” “Honky Tonk Memories” and “She’s Pulling Me Back Again” along with some well-known covers he quickly established himself in the Country Music genre. However, in the 1980’s, Gilley found himself implanted in the pop landscape thanks to his cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” a song featured in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy. Throughout his career, Gilley was recognized many times by the ACM, bringing home awards for everything from ACM Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1974 to ACM Entertainer of the Year just two short years later. And in 2005, he was presented with the ACM Triple Crown.
Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd, a former nurse whose talent and tenacity carried her to legendary status in Country Music, died on April 30, 2022. She was 76.
Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd, a former nurse whose talent and tenacity carried her to legendary status in Country Music, died on April 30, 2022. She was 76. With her daughter Wynonna, The Judds won the ACM Award for Top Vocal Duet for seven consecutive years (1984 to 1990). Starting in 1984 with “Mama He’s Crazy,” they secured 14 No. 1 hits at Country radio. One of their many signature hits, “Why Not Me,” collected a 1984 trophy for ACM Song of the Year. Also, the duo cohosted the awards show twice, including the 25th anniversary show in 1990. While working at a hospital in Franklin, Tennessee, Naomi was taking care of producer Brent Maher’s daughter, Dianna, who had been in a car accident. Dianna attended the same high school as Wynonna and recognized Naomi from the duo’s performances on a local morning television show. After Dianna’s discharge, Naomi delivered a homemade demo tape to Maher’s office. Upon finally listening to it, Maher arranged for a live audition at RCA Records, which led to a recording contract. The dynamic between mother and daughter, which could be charming as well as challenging, made the Judds feel intimately familiar to Country fans. Their effortless harmony and acoustic arrangements appealed to traditionalists as well. Following a Hepatitis C diagnosis, Naomi announced her imminent departure from the group in 1990, adding a poignancy to the ballad “Love Can Build a Bridge” (which she co-wrote). In the decades to come, the Judds remained beloved, earning an ACM Pioneer Award in 2012 and an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022.
Thom Bresh
Thom Bresh, a celebrated guitarist and enduring entertainer, died on May 23, 2022. He was 74.
Thom Bresh
Thom Bresh, a celebrated guitarist and enduring entertainer, died on May 23, 2022. He was 74. Born and raised in Southern California, Bresh entered show business early, working as a movie stuntman as a child. He began appearing on local TV shows at age 11 and performed in Hank Penny’s band in Las Vegas at 16. Although he recorded multiple singles in his early 20s, he earned his first hit in 1976. Released on Farr Records, “Home Made Love” reached No. 6. He earned an ACM nomination for Top New Male Vocalist and charted nine Country singles through 1982. The son of Country Music Hall of Fame member Merle Travis, Bresh carried on his father’s famous “Travis-picking” style on records, television, and instructional videos.
Bill Walker
Bill Walker, known for his graceful touch as a composer and arranger, died on May 26, 2022. He was 85.
Bill Walker
Bill Walker, known for his graceful touch as a composer and arranger, died on May 26, 2022. He was 85. Born and raised in Australia and employed by RCA Victor in South Africa, Walker relocated to Nashville in 1964 to work with Jim Reeves. However, the Country legend was killed in a plane crash on the same weekend Walker arrived. Eddy Arnold then helped establish Walker as a notable arranger and composer on lush recordings like 1965’s “Make the World Go Away.” After serving as music director of The Johnny Cash Show, Walker produced Donna Fargo’s “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.,” the 1972 ACM Single of the Year. In the 1990s, Walker lent his orchestral composition talent to TNN’s top-rated The Statler Brothers Show.
Don Howard
Don Howard, a former ACM Board Member who launched his music industry career in Hollywood, died on April 16, 2022. He was 83.
Don Howard
Don Howard, a former ACM Board Member who launched his music industry career in Hollywood, died on April 16, 2022. He was 83. Howard was born in Floyd, Texas, but moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s. His mother, Bea Terry, had already established herself in Country Music circles as a magazine columnist, publicist and radio promoter, among other roles. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Howard developed his own career as a booking agent, manager, and music publisher. He met his wife of 54 years, Marti, at the famed Palomino Club. In 1978, Howard and his family relocated to Sanger, Texas, where he worked in construction and real estate. At the time of his death, he was preparing to publish a memoir entitled Bea and Me.
Francis La Maina
Francis La Maina, the former COO of Dick Clark Productions, died on April 8, 2022. He was 82.
Francis La Maina
Francis La Maina, the former COO of Dick Clark Productions, died on April 8, 2022. He was 82. La Maina also served on the Academy of Country Music Board of Directors. He joined Dick Clark Productions in 1966 as head of the accounting department. By 1972, he became a director of the company and rose to Vice President of Business Affairs in 1973. He was appointed Executive Vice President in 1977 and COO in 1986. For over 25 years, La Maina represented Clark as his business advisor. In addition, La Maina handled business matters related to the company’s programming, including the ACM Awards, American Bandstand, the American Music Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
C.W. McCall
C.W. McCall, credited with co-writing and recording the 1976 truck-driving classic “Convoy,” died on April 1, 2022. He was 93.
C.W. McCall
C.W. McCall, credited with co-writing and recording the 1976 truck-driving classic “Convoy,” died on April 1, 2022. He was 93. “Convoy” arrived at the height of a CB radio craze, spending six weeks atop the Country radio chart and even topping the pop parade. C.W. McCall was actually the alter ego of advertising executive William Fries, who created the trucker character of C.W. McCall for a campaign for Old Home Bread. Fries co-wrote “Convoy” with Chip Davis, who later founded the group Mannheim Steamroller. McCall’s corresponding album on MGM Records, Black Bear Road, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. He showed his sentimental side with the melodramatic 1977 ballad, “Roses for Mama,” then stepped away from the music business the following year.
Jeff Carson
Jeff Carson, a ‘90s Country star who won an ACM Award for his music video of “The Car” died on March 26, 2022. He was 58.
Jeff Carson
Jeff Carson, a ‘90s Country star who won an ACM Award for his music video of “The Car” died on March 26, 2022. He was 58. Born in Oklahoma, Carson gigged around Rogers, Arkansas, and Branson, Missouri, before moving to Nashville. After working as a demo singer, he landed a recording contract with MCG/Curb Records. Carson reached No. 1 with the romantic “Not On Your Love” in 1995. He returned to the Top 10 with “The Car” and “Holdin’ Onto Somethin’.” Carson staged a surprising comeback in 2001 with “Real Life (I Never Was The Same Again).” His 2003 rendition of “I Can Only Imagine” became his 14th charting single. In 2009, he retired from music to work as a police officer in Franklin, Tennessee.
Mary Jane Thomas
Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of Hank Williams Jr., died on March 22, 2022. She was 58.
Mary Jane Thomas
Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of Hank Williams Jr., died on March 22, 2022. She was 58. A Daytona Beach, Florida, native, Thomas met Williams in 1985 while she was a model for Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion. They married in Missoula, Montana, in 1990, and lived in Paris, Tennessee. Williams filed for divorce in 2007, with a press release citing Thomas’ addiction issues. However, they reconciled in 2011 and appeared together at Williams’ 2021 induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The couple’s son, Sam Williams, is a recording artist for Mercury Nashville. Their daughter, Katie Williams-Dunning, was killed in a 2020 car accident. Hank Williams Jr. is a three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year and received the 2008 ACM Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.
Bruce Burch
Bruce Burch, a songwriter whose credits include Reba McEntire’s “Rumor Has It” and “It’s Your Call,” died on March 12, 2022. He was 69.
Bruce Burch
Bruce Burch, a songwriter whose credits include Reba McEntire’s “Rumor Has It” and “It’s Your Call,” died on March 12, 2022. He was 69. A native of Gainesville, Georgia, Burch scored Top 10 hits for T. Graham Brown and Billy Joe Royal in the 1980s. His song “Nobody Calls From Vegas Just to Say Hello” appeared on Vern Gosdin’s ACM-nominated landmark album, 1988’s Chiseled in Stone. Throughout the 1990s, Burch placed album cuts with John Anderson, Faith Hill, George Jones, Collin Raye, and Aaron Tippin. In 1996, he published a book titled Songs That Changed Our Lives. He also worked with multiple universities in Georgia to create music industry courses. Loretta Lynn recorded one of his most-admired songs, “Wine Into Water,” for 2016’s Full Circle.
Bobbie Nelson
Bobbie Nelson, pianist, singer, edler sister of Willie Nelson and member of his band, Willie Nelson and Family, died on March 10, 2022. She was 91.
Bobbie Nelson
Bobbie Nelson, pianist, singer, edler sister of Willie Nelson and member of his band, Willie Nelson and Family, died on March 10, 2022. She was 91.
Bobbie and Willie were raised by their grandparents in Abbot, Texas. Growing up playing music in the church and starting on the honky-tonk scene together as teenagers, the siblings would go on to share stages for decades to come. After her husband was killed in a 1961 car accident, Bobbie took a job demonstrating organs and playing piano in restaurants, lounges and supper clubs. When Willie signed with Atlantic Records, he invited Bobbie to play on a 1973 recording session and join his touring band. In 2021, the siblings issued a children’s book and released a Country gospel album, The Willie Nelson Family.
Carolyn Tate
Carolyn Tate, a key staff member at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for more than 25 years, died on March 3, 2022. She was 64.
Carolyn Tate
Carolyn Tate, a key staff member at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for more than 25 years, died on March 3, 2022. She was 64. A Nashville native, Tate first worked at the Hall from 1986 to 1994 as production and advertising manager, with duties ranging from creative direction to the production of books, magazines, and historical albums. She returned to the Hall in 2002 and served as project manager for the $87.5 million expansion completed in 2014. In the role of Senior Vice President of Museum Services, Tate administered the museum’s collection and supervised the planning, design, and installation of exhibitions. She stepped away from the Hall in 2018 to launch her own company for private celebrity and family archival collections.