CMA Honors Brad Paisley, Donates To Music Education
CMA Presents International Artist Achievement Trophy To Brad Paisley
Backstage during CMA Music Festival’s closing night (June 14), Keith Urban and CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern presented Brad Paisley with the CMA International Artist Achievement Award.
“Brad is such a tremendous ambassador for country music around the world,” said Trahern. “His undeniable talent, wit, and charm transcend borders and speak to the heart of the format—in any language.”
Paisley said, “I think country music works as one of the best ambassador type things you can do in an art form. When you send art forms of music overseas, it’s obviously something people flip out over and love, but I don’t know if it reflects real life like our format does. Any time you see people in Sweden loving country songs and what they say and buying into what we are as artists, they’re seeing the real America I think.” He added with a chuckle, “In that sense we have an obligation as a format to try and get this everywhere we can so they don’t think we all wear spandex.”
Formerly the International Touring Artist Award, the CMA International Artist Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a U.S.-based artist who contributes to the awareness and development of country music outside the United States.
Since being the recipient of this award in 2011, Paisley has remained dedicated to including the international marketplace in his schedule. In 2014, he headlined the C2C Festival in London and Dublin, as well as recorded the special Brad Paisley & Friends for BBC Radio 2 before going on to headline shows in Norway and Sweden.
Brad Paisley receives the CMA International Artist Achievement Award backstage at the CMA Music Festival during a press conference at the Nightly Concert Sunday at LP Field. (L-R) Keith Urban, CMA Foundation National Ambassador; Paisley; and Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. Photo: Hunter Berry / CMA
CMA Foundation Presents Grant To The Quest Center During Charlie Worsham’s Fan Club Party
In celebration of the generosity of country artists and the fans who support CMA Music Festival, the CMA Foundation presented The Quest Center for Art & Community Development a $10,000 grant yesterday (June 14) during Charlie Worsham’s fan club party in Nashville.
Worsham is a longtime supporter of The Quest Center, a music education and resource center located in Dickson, Tenn., a largely rural community with limited access to music programs. The Center makes music education accessible to all members of the community, including individuals with special needs. The CMA Foundation is funding afterschool and out-of-school instructional classes and music discovery workshops in partnership with the Dickson County Board of Education and The Arc Dickson County.
The “Music Education Matters” grant brings CMA’s total contributions to local and national music education programs since 2006 to more than $11 million.
“If it weren’t for our artists, who all perform for free during CMA Music Festival, and the thousands of fans who support the event each year, these donations would not be possible,” said Ron Samuels, Chairman of the CMA Foundation Board of Directors. “The CMA Foundation donates to causes that are important to our community, but every dollar is given on behalf of the artists and fans that support Music Fest.”
(L-R) Mark Noel, AMP Entertainment; Ron Samuels, CMA Foundation Board Chairman; Charlie Worsham; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Mark Lutz, Co-founder and CEO The Quest Center for Art & Community Development; and Tiffany Kerns, CMA Community Outreach Manager. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
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