CMA Honors Vince Gill, Megan Barry, Butch Spyridon, Kitty Moon Emery

Pictured (L-R): Butch Spyridon, CEO, Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. (CMA Chairman’s Award); CMA Foundation Board Chairman Joe Galante; CMA Board President Bill Simmons; CMA Board Chairman Sally Williams, SVP of Programming and Artist Relations for Opry Entertainment; Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (Chairman’s Award); Vince Gill (CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award); Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO; Pat Emery (accepting the CMA Joe Talbot Award on behalf of late wife Kitty Moon Emery); and Damon Whiteside, CMA CMO. [CLICK TO ENLARGE]

Eighteen-time CMA Awards-winning artist and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill was honored with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp President/Chief Executive Officer Butch Spyridon received the CMA Chairman’s Award, and beloved Nashville business leader and former CMA Board Chairman and President Kitty Moon Emery was posthumously honored with the Joe Talbot Award.

“Vince Gill defines the word humanitarian, and we’re thrilled to present him with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, which has only been awarded twice before,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “Mayor Barry and Butch Spyridon have been invaluable partners in Nashville through their support of CMA Fest and country music in general. And Kitty Moon Emery was a true trailblazer whose contributions to country music and the City of Nashville will be remembered and appreciated for many years to come.”

Pictured (L-R): Spyridon, Mayor Barry, CMA Chairman Sally Williams, and CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA

“Both Megan and Butch have been dream collaborators, effortlessly working with Sarah and everyone at CMA to create an environment where we all win,” said CMA Board Chairman Sally Williams as she presented the CMA Chairman’s Award to the city leaders. “Their commitment to Country Music and specifically to CMA Fest is unwavering. In 2017, we drew record-breaking crowds for Fest. We’re all grateful for their continued partnership and support of country music.”

In a heartfelt speech, Emery’s devoted husband Pat Emery accepted the award in her honor and shared, “Kitty would tell me to tell you she loved you. She loved the CMA more than anything I think she ever did in her life.”

In addition, Trahern presented mementos to Williams, CMA Board President Bill Simmons, and CMA Foundation Chairman Joe Galante.

Vince Gill accepts the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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