Leading Schools Of The Country Power Players
THE MOST FREQUENTLY CITED ALMA MATERS OF THE 2021 CLASS OF HONOREES
Belmont University Nashville
Enrollment: 8,428
California State University, Northridge Northridge, Calif.
Enrollment: 39,179
Georgetown University Washington, D.C.
Enrollment: 19,593
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Enrollment: 21,721
Tennessee State University
Nashville
Enrollment: 8,081
University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Enrollment: 38,100
University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Ark.
Enrollment: 27,559
University of Kentucky Lexington, Ky.
Enrollment: 29,402
University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn.
Enrollment: 29,460
Vanderbilt University Nashville
Enrollment: 13,131
Enrollments source: U.S. News & World Reports
Support initiative, which has committed $3 million to multiple nonprofits, including Music Health Alliance and Porter’s Call. When the pandemic forced the cancellation of CMA Fest 2020, Trahern and executive producer Robert Deaton created ABC special CMA Best of Fest. In June, the CMA extended its relationship with ABC for the CMA Awards and other programming through 2026.
Damon Whiteside
CEO, ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC
Lyndsay Cruz
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACM LIFTING LIVES
The Academy of Country Music held two ACM Awards shows in seven months after the 2020 edition was delayed by the pandemic from April to September and then the 2021 event was held on schedule in April. Whiteside, 48, hails both shows as “groundbreaking due to the format of being at several of Nashville’s most iconic music venues for the first time in our history” and airing primarily live performances. Meanwhile, Cruz oversaw the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund, which raised and distributed $3.65 million to those in need in the country music industry.
ARTIST I MOST WANT TO SEE LIVE WHEN TOURING RETURNS “Eric Church. After his past two performances at the ACM Awards, I can’t wait to see him in a large venue packed with fans.”