SOURCE Nashville Hall Of Fame Inducts Six More ‘Women Behind The Music’ [Recap]

/by

Pictured (L-R): Cris Lacy, Paige Conners, Carla Wallace, Margie McGahey, Sherry Oakley and Debbie Carroll. Photo: Bev Moser, Moments By Moser

SOURCE Nashville hosted the annual SOURCE Hall of Fame Awards last night (Aug. 25) at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum inside Nashville’s historic Municipal Auditorium, gathering industry insiders, songwriters, artists, producers, family and friends for the beloved event.

Six more “women behind the music” were inducted into the prestigious hall: Debbie Cheek Carroll, Paige Conners, Cris Lacy, Sherry Oakley, Margie McGahey and Carla Wallace. The evening was hosted by Grand Ole Opry star Mandy Barnett and radio/TV personality Kelly Sutton.

After enjoying dinner, attendees were greeted by Sutton, who took a moment to honor Dolly Parton following the news of her death earlier in the day. “I know she has touched every person in this room in some way, whether through her music, you worked with her, produced her or were part of a project. Although we’re sad, her spirit is in this room. She lives on with each and every one of us.”

Founded in 1991 by Shelia Shipley Biddy, Judy Harris and Pat Rolfe, SOURCE is Nashville’s longest-running organization for women in the music industry, dedicated to fostering relationships, education, networking and community service. The SOURCE Awards, created by Kay Smith in 2003, honor the “women behind the music” who have shaped Nashville’s music business.

Carroll was the first inductee to be honored. Her career has included time as a private practice therapist, MusiCares and Onsite Entertainment. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Belmont University Center for Mental Health in Entertainment.

She was honored with some words of praise from Michael McDonald. Carroll shared her gratitude for the people around her who showed her the meaning of integrity and determination, and the people who trusted her with some of their most challenging moments.

“Over the years, I’ve had experiences I never could’ve imagined,” Carroll shared. “Dinners with industry icons, conversations with people I never thought I’d meet, decades of Grammy Awards and MusiCares galas. Those moments were amazing, but they aren’t the ones that meant the most. The moments that I value the most, that changed me, were the ones where people trusted me during some of their most vulnerable times. It’s never been lost on me that there’s something incredibly sacred about being trusted by another human during a hard time. For decades, people in this industry have allowed me that privilege, and it’s been one of my greatest honors.”

Next to be honored was Conners. She impacted the Nashville music industry during her time CBS Records/Sony Music Nashville, Warner Bros. Records Nashville, Paul Worley Productions, Nashville Musicians Association and AFM Local 257.

She was honored with a video message from Paul Worley, who spoke of their long working relationship. Conners shared her appreciation for her family and colleagues who have championed her professional journey at home and in the office.

“I’m so blessed to have worked with so many talented producers and artists,” Conners said. “Their creativity and diversity not only taught me so much, but enriched my mind.”

Warner Records Nashville’s Lacy followed. Al Andrews congratulated her via video. Lacy spoke of her gratitude for the community that has surrounded her through the last few years during a challenging season.

“This award is really for all the friends and strangers who have borne witness to our accomplishments, but also borne witness to our grief,” Lacy shared. “These are the people that make it possible for us to continue to do the work that we love. This world’s kind of a mess right now. It requires the ability to act on and witness the motions that expand and deepen us, rather than those that weaken or diminish us, like ego, violence or scarcity. Every woman in this room innately holds and processes all of these energies on the daily basis. Everyone in this room is uniquely qualified to make a shift that needs to be made. Love and wisdom is power, and that is what the world needs most right now. Thank you all for making it possible for me to do what I love with people that I love.”

McGahey, who has spent time at WSM Radio/Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Association and 101.7 The WORM, was honored next with a video from Bill Anderson.

“[The women in SOURCE] work so hard,” McGahey said. “They are so smart and passionate about what they do. I’m thankful, and it’s a wonderful business we’re in Let’s just keep having fun.”

BMI’s Oakley was the next to be inducted. She began her career at just 17 years old. Patsy Bradley congratulated her via video.

“One of the first things [Frances Preston] taught me when I walked in the door was to treat every songwriter that comes in this door as if they have the next No. 1 hit,” Oakley said. “I want to thank the songwriters, because they gave me a good life.”

Wallace was the final honoree to be inducted. She founded Big Yellow Dog Music in 1998 with Kerry O’Neil. Meghan Trainor congratulated her via video message. Wallace first discovered Trainor at a song camp in Colorado in 2009 and signed her to a publishing deal.

“I’ve been drawn to people who are unique, different and stubbornly themselves,” Wallace said. “That became my life – helping the world catch up to their individuality. To all the girls out there, especially my daughter Ella, find your passion, even if people don’t see the value. Push through and be stubbornly different.”

Lauryn Sink
Latest posts by Lauryn Sink (see all)