Inside the Plans to Celebrate the CMA Awards at 60: ‘We Have to Meet Fans Where They Are’
Longtime Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern will step down from her role in December, following the Lainey Wilson-hosted ceremony on Nov. 18.
The Country Music Association (CMA) is celebrating its 60th anniversary on November 18, marking the impact of a pivotal decision made in 1958 when country radio stations began turning towards rock music following Elvis Presley's success. According to Sarah Trahern, the CMA's CEO since 2014, the association was formed during a DJ conference in Miami when leaders came together to protect their business interests.
The CMA started with just 20 people on the board and 200 members, which has since grown to 8,000 members and a 75-person board. Trahern emphasizes the importance of leaders working together for the collective good of the association, a principle that remains core to the CMA today. Having recently stepped down, Trahern will be succeeded by Brittany Schaffer in July.
Despite Trahern's departure, she remains optimistic about the 60th-anniversary edition of the CMA Awards, which will feature a record-breaking year for country music, led by Ella Langley's nine nominations. Taylor Swift, who is nominated for single of the year, has expressed her desire to return to the show for the first time since 2016.
Trahern notes that as the CEO, she oversees the CMA Fest, the charitable CMA Foundation, and the overall business operations of the association. She highlights her leadership during three distinct phases of the CMA: the pre-COVID era, the COVID era, and the recent efforts to "bring the fun back."
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