CMHOFM Honors Sally Williams During 16th Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum

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Pictured (L–R, back row): Angela Stefano Zimmer, Lorianne Crook, Sarah Trahern, Sally Williams, Nancy Shapiro, Michael Gray and Jaime Scruggs; (L–R, front row) Denise Stiff, Kay West, Bebe Evans and Kay Clary. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honored industry executive Sally Williams during its 16th annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum on Wednesday (Aug. 7).

Since 2007, the forum has recognized music industry leaders who continue the legacy of Scruggs, a businesswoman known for setting new professional standards in artist management. During an in-depth interview with the museum’s Angela Stefano Zimmer, Williams discussed her more than 30 years in music and entertainment working with established talent.

She is currently President of Nashville Music & Business Strategy for Live Nation Entertainment and co-manager of Grammy-winning band Old Crow Medicine Show. Williams first began promoting concerts while attending the University of Missouri-Columbia. Prior to joining Live Nation, she spent nearly two decades with Ryman Hospitality Properties/Gaylord Entertainment. After serving as General Manager of the Ryman Auditorium, Williams became Opry Entertainment Group’s Senior Vice President of Programming & Artist Relations as well as the Grand Ole Opry’s first female General Manager in 2017.

She has received numerous accolades from the ACM, International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA), Nashville Business Journal and Pollstar, and was inducted into the SOURCE Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2019, Williams was presented with the Frances Preston Outstanding Music Industry Achievement Award by the T. J. Martell Foundation and has continued to work with multiple business, civic and charitable organizations—assuming the roles of CMA Board of Directors Chair, Leadership Music President and Opry Trust Fund President.

The forum was filmed and will be available to stream on the museum’s website later this year.

Liza Anderson
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