Sarah Trahern To Receive Music Biz’s 2026 Presidential Award

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Sarah Trahern. Photo: John Russell/CMA

Sarah Trahern will receive this year’s Music Biz Presidential Award.

The award will be presented to Trahern at the 5th annual Bizzy Awards Dinner, happening Wednesday, May 13 during Music Biz 2026 at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.

Trahern took the helm of CMA in 2014 and is set to retire at the end of this year. Under her leadership, CMA has continued to evolve its membership initiatives and industry programs to meet the changing needs of the country music community. Her tenure has included expanded investments and coordinated industry support in response to COVID-19, natural disasters and ongoing mental health challenges. Trahern has also reinforced CMA’s commitment to music education through the organization’s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation, where she serves as President. Prior to CMA, Trahern worked for C-SPAN, The Nashville Network (TNN), and Great American Country (GAC) and her own Sterling Television.

“Sarah’s leadership throughout the last decade plus has been inspirational and transformative for the Country music industry, the Nashville community, and everyone whose lives have been touched by Country artists,” shares Music Biz President Portia Sabin. “As she ends her chapter of service to the music business, we at Music Biz are thrilled to honor her for all that she is and all that she’s accomplished!”

Music Biz 2026 will take place May 11-14 at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly. Find more information about the event here.

Lauryn Sink
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