Ann Edelblute OWNER, THE HQ

Shepherding Carrie Underwood’s career is a multifaceted adventure for longtime manager Edelblute. Underwood completed her The Denim & Rhinestones arena tour through 43 cities, and her Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency runs throughout 2024 at Resorts World Theatre. “Carrie was the first female artist to launch her own year-round broadcast and streaming channel on SiriusXM, Carrie’s Country,” Edelblute says, noting she has since launched two new channels, Carr-dio by Carrie’s Country and Savior Sunday Daily. Among Underwood’s other accomplishments: performing the show opener for NBC’s Sunday Night Football for the 11th consecutive season, stadium dates with Guns N’ Roses and launching an ongoing partnership with Allegiant Air for its Allways Rewards Visa Nonstop Life campaign. COUNTRY MUSIC IN A WORD “Evolving.”

Kerri Edwards FOUNDER, KP ENTERTAINMENT

KP Entertainment’s roster blanketed the country charts in 2023: Luke Bryan enjoyed his 35th top 10 on the Country Airplay chart with “But I Got a Beer in My Hand,” once again hosted the CMA Awards with Peyton Manning and served as an American Idol judge, while Dylan Scott landed his third No. 1 with “Can’t Have Mine.” Cole Swindell took home single and song of the year at the 2023 ACM Awards for his chart-topper “She Had Me at Heads Carolina.” Earlier this year, former American Idol winner Chayce Beckham ruled the ranking as well with “23,” which is only the sixth Country Airplay No. 1 in the last decade that was penned by just one writer.

NASHVILLE CHARITY I SUPPORT “The Brett Boyer Foundation — the work they are doing toward research for congenital heart defects is changing families’ lives.”

Kathleen Flaherty

CO-MANAGER, MORGAN WALLEN; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MORGAN WALLEN FOUNDATION

While Wallen is currently the biggest star in Nashville — with his third Big Loud album, One Thing at a Time, spending a country record-breaking 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — his co-manager Flaherty hails from far outside Music Row. Flaherty paired with Wallen after 20 years spent in Hollywood, following a period in Silicon Valley, which helps her bring much needed outside experience (as well as a different perspective) to Wallen’s superstar career. She is also the creator and executive director of Wallen’s eponymous foundation, which supports youth programs in sports and music; $3 of every concert ticket he sells (he moved 1.5 million in 2023 alone) supports the endeavor.

Mary Harrington

MANAGER, WILD HEART/RED LIGHT MANAGEMENT

Last year, Harrington, who manages Lady A, among other acts, helped launch independent label Leo33, which opened its doors in April. The label quickly signed Zach Top, a talented neo-traditionalist whose “Sounds Like the Radio” single has climbed slowly but surely into the top 40 on the Country Airplay chart. While the music industry is increasingly focused on data-driven research to guide artist signings, Harrington, who also cocreated and co-produces CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, remains wary of flash-in-the-pan successes. “Data has been a real gift to our business, but when not used in moderation, it makes us all very reactionary,” she says. “I worry that we’ve lost the heart and intuition and work ethic that it takes to build long-term artist careers.”

NASHVILLE CHARITY I SUPPORT “I love Music Health Alliance. They are an invaluable resource for our creative and professional communities, especially when it comes to mental health.”

Clint Higham

PRESIDENT, MORRIS HIGHAM MANAGEMENT “While I am proud of so many of our initiatives, the continued ascension of Old Dominion from a van-and-trailer act to a headlining entertainer has been so gratifying,” Higham says, noting it took “collective tenacity” to pull it off. He also points to Kenny Chesney — “an artist of a lifetime” — as a client who keeps reaching milestones, from performing in 180 stadiums to cumulatively grossing over $1.2 billion from touring. “The icing on this tremendous accomplishment has been how engaged his fan base continues to become year over year,” Higham says. “We work hard to ensure he is supported at every pass.” BIGGEST ISSUE The evolution of social media is a hot-button topic for Higham: “I will always stand by my position: The talent must speak for itself — and that is not often qualified through a three-minute filtered post on TikTok.”

Danny Kang Stefan Max MANAGERS, ZACH BRYAN

Zach Bryan still dominates the country music realm. In 2023, he was named Billboard’s Top New Artist following his first Billboard 200 No. 1 with his self-titled album and his first Hot 100 No. 1 with the Kacey Musgraves collaboration “I Remember Everything.” The single landed him his first Grammy for best country duo/group performance earlier this year, and he was also nominated for best country album and best country song. Bryan wrapped up his Burn Burn Burn tour at the end of August, which grossed $43.9 million and sold 475,000 tickets across 32 dates. This year, he returns to the road for The Quittin Time Tour, hitting arenas and stadiums through December.

Chris Kappy

FOUNDER/CHIEF NAVIGATION OFFICER, MAKE WAKE ARTISTS

Jarrod Holley

Sophia Sansone

MANAGING PARTNERS/ARTIST MANAGERS, MAKE WAKE ARTISTS

After previously conquering the United States, Make Wake client Luke Combs visited 16 countries on his 2023 world tour, reportedly playing to 1.3 million ticket buyers as his career goes global. Combs is driving the fastest car at Make Wake (and has the CMA Award for single of the year to prove it), but other acts are making inroads overseas, too, including ACM new female artist of the year Hailey Whitters, “Good Time” singer Niko Moon, newcomer Cooper Alan and rootsy Texas band Flatland Cavalry. Kappy sees a “direct correlation” between the genre’s overall growth and artists’ increasing attention to their worldwide potential.

NASHVILLE CHARITY I SUPPORT “Musicians on Call,” Kappy says. “I love what they do in bringing music into hospitals all over Nashville and beyond. Music is healing, and when an artist is able to sing to someone in a bed and put a smile on their face, there is truly nothing better.”

“Having Beyoncé recognize [Brittney Spencer’s] talent by tapping her for Cowboy Carter is such a statement of where our roster is headed.”

—GREGG NADEL, ELEKTRA ENTERTAINMENT

Morgan Wallen’s third Big Loud album, One Thing at a Time, spent a country record-breaking 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.