Cindy Watts Earns CMA Media Achievement Award

Pictured (L-R): Cindy Watts and Chris Young. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA

Cindy Watts of The Tennessean is this year’s recipient of the CMA Media Achievement Award. The Tennessee native was surprised with the distinction shortly before the CMA Awards yesterday (Nov. 4). Chris Young presented her with the trophy.

“I grew up watching the CMAs in Sevierville and remember laying on my stomach on the floor waiting to see who would win,” said Watts. “I never imagined one day I’d win an award from the same organization. It’s completely surreal. For Chris to have worked this into his crazy busy schedule means so much. It truly was the most perfect moment.”

Watts has been covering music in Middle Tennessee for 15 years. She started her career at The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro as a sophomore at MTSU where she was a Recording Industry major. She spent seven years at the DNJ covering music in Middle Tennessee including concerts, music news, and album releases before moving to The Tennessean in 2007.

The CMA Media Achievement Award was established to recognize outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to country music. Print and Internet journalists, columnists, authors, and editors; television writers, producers and bookers; and syndicated radio reporters are eligible to win this award.