Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern was presented with the 2026 Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence from Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business during a ceremony before the University’s annual Best of the Best Showcase.

Established in 2008 in memory of music business program Founder Bob Mulloy, the award annually recognizes an individual who has achieved excellence in the music business and entertainment industries while demonstrating notable service to Belmont University and the Nashville community. Belmont University President Greg Jones presented Trahern with the award during the pre-show reception.

“Her impact on the music industry and growth of the CMA under her leadership is remarkable,” said Jones. “The generations of students aspiring to lead in the music industry, both on stage and behind the scenes, have Sarah to thank for so many past, present and future opportunities.”

“I have watched her impact firsthand and am proud to call her both a mentor and a friend,” shared Brittany Schaffer, Dean of the Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business. “There was not a doubt in my mind who should receive this year’s honor.”

Since taking the helm at CMA in 2014, Trahern has led CMA through a period of significant growth. She oversees the CMA Awards, CMA Fest, CMA Country Christmas, and serves as president of the CMA Foundation, which funds music education initiatives across the country. Her leadership has earned consistent recognition, including Billboard‘s Executive of the Year in 2017 and the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award from the Grand Ole Opry in 2024.

Trahern’s commitment to the people behind the music has been equally defining. Most recently, CMA committed $3 million to Belmont’s Center for Mental Health in Entertainment, a first-of-its-kind initiative addressing mental health research, education and resources across the industry. A member of Belmont’s Board of Trustees, Trahern has brought that same investment to shaping the University’s future.

“To be included among the extraordinary individuals who have received this recognition — people who helped shape the sound and business and spirit of the industry — is both humbling and deeply meaningful,” said Trahern. “What makes this so special is the setting tonight. It is about the next generation. It’s about students stepping into their moment, finding their voice, and beginning to build what the future of music will look like. There’s nothing more energizing and hopeful than being in a room like this.”

Trahern joins a distinguished list of past recipients including Vince Gill, Gordon Kennedy, Doug Howard, Troy Tomlinson, Donna Hilley, Mike Curb and John Zarling, among others.

Spotify and the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) have revealed a year-long partnership, which will help support independent live music across the country.

“Independent venues are the heartbeat of live music,” says Rene Volker, Senior Director, Live Music, Spotify. “They’re where artists take risks, build devoted communities, and where fans discover what they’ll love for the rest of their lives. This partnership with NIVA is about making sure Spotify’s platform, editorial, and product capabilities are working in direct service of that ecosystem. We’re here for the long game.”

“Independent stages are where every artist gets their start and where nearly 200 million fans a year experience the joy of music, comedy, and performance,” adds Stephen Parker, Executive Director, National Independent Venue Association. “NIVA’s Certified Live Independent is a seal that shows the sacrifices and ingenuity that goes into keeping their venue or festival independent. We’re grateful that Spotify is elevating that seal and independent stages on their platform to allow millions of fans to experience the magic of these spaces.”

Below are some of the new initiaives that will launch through the new partnership:

Amplifying independent events: Spotify will highlight independent venues through venue pages and the Live Events feed.

Monthly playlist spotlights: Spotify will launch the Independent Booker Spotlight playlist series this summer. NIVA will select a new independent booking agent each month to create a playlist alongside Spotify’s editorial team.

Recognizing independent venues: NIVA will have Certified Live Independent seal that marks independently owned venues. The seal is intended to elevate the quality and sustainability of independent live performances while safeguarding the authentic, distinctive character that defines these cultural spaces. By featuring this seal on venue pages on Spotify, it will give independent venues platform visibility that matches their impact on the broader ecosystem.

Investing in the future of live music: Spotify will invest in venues that showcase both early growth and long-term community building.

Blue Highway Fest has revealed the first round of artists in the lineup for this year’s event in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, Oct. 8-11.

The 2026 lineup includes Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, The Grascals, and The Cleverlys, with the festival’s namesake and host band Blue Highway anchoring the weekend throughout.

The festival will open Oct. 8 with a songwriters’ night on the downtown 3rd Street stage. With performers to be announced, the event will highlight roots music songwriting, and also pay tribute to Ronnie Bowman, who was set to perform at this year’s festival but tragically passed away on March 22.

“This year we are listening to our fans and getting back to four full days of bluegrass, roots and Americana music with the major focus on bluegrass,” says Wayne Taylor of Blue Highway.

Festival tickets as well as camping and RV parking go on sale today (April 15). Additional performers, as well as daily tickets and schedules, will be announced at a later date.

Gram Parsons will be inducted posthumously into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, specifically in the Early Influence category, honoring his influence on the American music scene with his fusion of country and rock. Parsons passed away at age 26 in 1973.

Born Ingram Cecil Connor III in Winter Haven, Florida, Parsons was an architect of what he called “Cosmic American Music,” a fusion of country, rock, folk, and soul. He first gained recognition with the International Submarine Band before joining The Byrds, where he helped steer the group toward a country-influenced sound on their 1968 album Sweetheart of the Rodeo, widely regarded as a cornerstone of country rock. He later co-founded the Flying Burrito Brothers, whose albums The Gilded Palace of Sin and Burrito Deluxe further established and advanced the genre.

In 1973, Parsons released his debut solo album, GP, featuring Elvis Presley’s TCB Band and introducing his notable collaborator Emmylou Harris. His second album, Grievous Angel, released posthumously, continued this musical legacy and reached the Billboard Top 200.

Despite limited commercial success during his lifetime, Parsons’ influence has proven far-reaching. He was among the first to integrate traditional country elements, such as pedal steel guitar and close harmonies, into a rock framework, bridging two distinct musical traditions.

Emmylou Harris carried forward his musical vision with critical and commercial success, while his work also influenced bands such as the Eagles and Poco. In later decades, his impact extended to artists including Wilco, Son Volt, Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, and Beck, many of whom contributed to the tribute album Return of the Grievous Angel.

There are 18 inductees entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. The main performer class includes Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division / New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.

The remaining 10 honorees are selected by Rock Hall committees and recognized in three special categories: Early Influence, Musical Excellence and the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

Parsons is among those honored in the Early Influence category, alongside Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah and MC Lyte. The Musical Excellence Award will go to Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller and Rick Rubin, while Ed Sullivan will receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

The induction ceremony is set for Nov. 14 in Los Angeles.

ERNEST hosted his third annual ERNvitational yesterday (April 13), raising over $207,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Zach Top, Vince Gill, Tracy Lawrence, HARDY, Glenny Balls and more attended the event, which was held at Old Hickory Country Club. In addition to golfing, the event featured dinner and a live performance from ERNEST and friends.

“I’m proud to play a small part in supporting the work that Second Harvest does serving the community in Middle Tennessee,” ERNEST shares. “I’ve seen firsthand how important it is, especially over the last years, and am grateful that our friends here in town come out every year to support it too.”