The Academy Remembers

Born in 1937, Sharp was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and moved to Staunton, Virginia, to study at Mary Baldwin University. She then relocated to Nashville in 1963 to become a songwriter, where she signed with Painted Desert Music and then later Combine Music. 

Sharp started her career writing notable hits for Sandy Posey, including “Born a Woman” and “Single Girl,” with many others recorded by the likes of Waylon Jennings and The Lennon Sisters. She then moved into A&R work, first signing with Elektra Records and then Warner, where she was named VP of the label. She signed Randy Travis and Faith Hill and worked with iconic artists including Travis Tritt and Crystal Gayle. 

In 1995, after retiring, Sharp moved back to Virginia to pursue painting.  

Her powerful voice and musical journey were rooted in her father’s church choir in Kansas City. She moved to Music City, where she continued sharing her voice at church and in the Nashville music scene. From Country to soul, she became the only Black woman with an artist residency in Lower Broadway at Justin Timberlake’s Twelve Thirty Club. 

Jackson performed with many artists and racked up accolades including multiple 
Nashville Independent Spirit Award nominations. She also served as musical director for Nashville’s Shakespeare Festival.  

Among her many achievements, Jackson was a devoted mother of four children and a beacon of light in constant determination to pursue her dreams. 

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he attended the University of Missouri with a focus in political science. His career began where he grew up, as he started as a sales representative for Sony Music in 1969. Martinovich moved to many branches around the country and ended up in New York City, where he spent 10 years as the VP of merchandising and then VP of marketing of CBS Records when he made his move to Nashville. 

He was instrumental in promoting stars like Bruce Springsteen, Micheal Jackson, and Pink Floyd as well as Country Music legends including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and George Jones. Later in 1994, he joined Garth Brooks’ team. 

Martinovich joined three others who formed The Consortium, which helped offer consultancy to Broken Bow Records, notably signing Jason Aldean. He served on numerous boards including Record Company Day Committee and RIAA, was a member of the Recording Academy, and was chair of the CMA’s marketing development committee. 

Martinovich, among his many accolades and accomplishments, was a loving father of two — both of whom followed him to pursue careers in the music industry. 

Titta was a lifelong resident of Staten Island, where he earned a degree in music from Wagner College. He began his career as an artist, songwriter, and music teacher. He then worked as VP of A&R at Warner Chappell Music, where he signed artists including Bon Jovi, Trey Songz, Kid Rock, and Fat Joe. He wrote hits like “Cry Me a River” by Justin Timberlake and “Lean Back” by Terror Squad.  

In 2006, Titta started an independent company, Music Publishing and Recordings, and then moved his work in 2013 to ASCAP where he worked the rest of his life advocating for songwriter rights from every genre. 

Owsley Manier, most notably known as one of the co-founders of Nashville nightclub, the Exit/In, and the guitarist in 1960s psychedelic rock band, The Lemonade Charades, passed away on October 1, 2024. He was 77. Alongside co-founder and business partner, Brugh Reynolds, Mainer opened the doors of the storied music venue in 1971 after a stint serving in the U.S.Army. The initial idea for the venue was to be a listening room for rising Nashville songwriters, yet in just a couple of years, it expanded to a 500-person capacity rock club that has since served as a central part of the city’s musical DNA. Welcoming countless acts across its five-decades-long tenure, the Exit/In stage has been graced by The Allman Brothers,Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash,Billy Crystal,Charlie Daniels, Emmylou Harris, Billy Joel, Jerry Lee Lewis,Willie Nelson,John Prine, Linda Ronstadt,Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Hank Williams Jr.,and so many others. Although Manier and Reynolds’ partnership only lasted until 1975, the venue has remained an enduring fixture over the past 53 years, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023

Legendary songwriter, singer, and actor, Kris Kristofferson, passed away on September 29, 2024. He was 88.

Born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, Kris Kristofferson made a career as perhaps one of the greatest songwriters in the history of American music on songs such as “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.”  

"The great thing about being a songwriter is you can hear your baby interpreted by so many people that have creative talents vocally that I don't have,” Kristofferson once quipped during an interview. 

However, Kristofferson’s work as a solo artist was also recognized for signature songs such as “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” and “The Pilgrim, Chapter 33.” But it wasn’t until 1985 that the spotlight shone brightly on him and his vocal talents when he joined with Country Music legends such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash as part of the Country supergroup The Highwaymen. His work as an actor was also worthy of praise, with his presence being felt in roles such as A Star is Born, Blade and Heaven’s Gate. In 2004, Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and in 2013, the Country Music storyteller released his last album of all-new material Feeling Mortal. At the beginning of 2021, the music legend announced his ultimate retirement from the spotlight. 

Ultimately, Kristofferson would be recognized by the Academy of Country Music multiple times throughout his career, including the ACM Poet’s Award in 2013, the ACM Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award in 2005 and ACM Single Record of the Year in 1985 via his work with The Highwaymen. 

Souther grew up in Amarillo, Texas, and moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s. He soon became part of a core group of singers and songwriters that redefined the pop sound of Southern California. Linda Ronstadt’s rendition of Souther’s “Faithless Love” helped her win her first ACM Award for 1974 Most Promising Female Vocalist. In 1980, he and Ronstadt placed “Hearts Against the Wind” on the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, which was named the 1980 ACM Album of the Year. Souther’s compositions for the Eagles include “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” “Heartache Tonight” and “The Sad Café.” Souther’s songwriting also appears on George Strait’s Pure Country, Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles, and Dixie Chicks’ Wide Open Spaces, the 1998 ACM Album of the Year. 

Wheeler developed his career with appearances on the “WWVA Jamboree” radio show, broadcast from his home state of West Virginia, and on television programs such as “Today” and “The Merv Griffin Show.” Pat Boone and the Kingston Trio were among the first artists to record his songs, though he also found brief popularity as a solo act with the 1963 country single, “Ode to the Little Brown Shack Out Back.” Johnny Cash and June Carter released “Jackson” in 1967 and won a Grammy for their recording. Other notable cuts include Elvis Presley’s “It’s Midnight,” a Top 10 Country hit in 1975, and Kenny Rogers’ “Coward of the County,” a nominee for 1979 ACM Single Record of the Year. Wheeler was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. 

Cash was born in Dyess, Arkansas, and found musical inspiration in his older brother, Johnny Cash. Tommy Cash enlisted in the U.S. Army and worked as a D.J. for Armed Forces Radio Network from 1959 to 1961. He struggled to catch on as a recording artist until “Six White Horses,” a 1969 single dedicated to John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. was released. Cash maintained his chart presence with two more Top 10 singles, “Rise and Shine” and “One Song Away.” He later released music on Elektra, Monument, and various smaller labels. His songs were recorded by Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty & and Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, and Faron Young. In later years, he became an avid supporter of the Johnny Cash Museum. 

Gilmer was born in Chicago and raised in Amarillo, Texas. As a performer, he is best known for the 1963 radio smash, “Sugar Shack,” credited to Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs. Before that breakout hit, Gilmer was working as a session vocalist in Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico, where Buddy Holly frequently recorded. When the The Fireballs flamed out, Gilmer moved to Nashville in 1970 and established himself in music publishing at United Artists Music. In the following years, he held executive roles with CBS Songs, EMI, and SBK, and managed the early career of Brad Paisley. In addition, Gilmer held the position of president of the Nashville chapter of The Recording Academy from 1989 to 1991. He graduated from the Leadership Music program in 1992. 

Jennings wrote “Please Remember Me” with Rodney Crowell, who released his version in 1995. McGraw earned a five-week No. 1 hit in 1999 with his soaring rendition. Faith Hill included Jennings’ “Where Are You Christmas?” on her 2000 holiday album. An East Texas native, Jennings landed his first No. 1 country Country hit in 1975 with “Feelins’” by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013. His incredible pop catalog includes Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven,” Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes’ “Up Where We Belong,” Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” Whitney Houston’s “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” Barry Manilow’s “Looks Like We Made It,” and Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love.” 

Mark Moffatt, an early champion for Keith Urban and a leader in the Americana music community, died on September 6, 2024. He was 74.  

Moffatt grew up in a small town in Queensland, Australia, fascinated by the Beatles. After four years of developing his producing skills in a London studio, Moffatt returned to Australia, where he encountered an unknown band called The Saints and recorded their 1976 punk smash, " Stranded." He produced many of Australia’s top rock artists in the 1980s, then moved to Nashville in 1996 after a call from Barry Coburn, an Australian who had established himself on Music Row. Moffatt was tasked with guiding the early career of Keith Urban, who had signed a publishing deal with Coburn's Ten Ten Music Group. Around the same time, Moffatt took an interest in the fledgling Americana Music Association and remained actively involved with the organization throughout his career. 

Wade started playing guitar at a young age and befriended several touring musicians when his band opened their concerts in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. Encouraged by Don Helms and Jerry Rivers, formerly of Hank Williams’ Drifting Cowboys, Wade moved to Nashville at 19 years old and landed a job with Ray Price within two weeks. Wade’s electric tic-tac guitar work on Price’s 1956 hit “Crazy Arms,” complemented by the smooth steel guitar, helped define the style known as the Ray Price shuffle. In 1967, after making ends meet by backing artists on the road, pitching songs for Starday, and playing in the Grand Ole Opry band, Wade focused on studio work. His countless studio credits include Tanya Tucker’s “Delta Dawn” and Reba McEntire’s “Can’t Even Get the Blues.” 

Biddy grew up in Woodstock, Georgia, and started managing a rockabilly artist, The Rock-A-Tones, when he was 18. Biddy later managed singer Ken Springer and moved to Nashville in 1983. He and his business partners launched Copperfield Music Group to support the Chuck Wagon Gang, a popular Southern gospel group that also appealed to Country audiences. Copperfield Music Group’s expansion into publishing proved successful as the company placed a cut on LeAnn Rimes’ 1996 multiplatinum debut album, Blue. In addition, Montgomery Gentry charted a Top 20 hit in 1999 with another song in the company’s catalog, “Daddy Won’t Sell the Farm.” Other artists who recorded songs from the Copperfield Music Group canon include Jeff Carson, Craig Morgan, Kenny Rogers, and Lee Ann Womack.  

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Dave Loggins, passed away on July 10. He was 76. A Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, his most celebrated successes were his 1974 pop hit, “Please Come to Boston,” and the No. 1 country duet, “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do,” alongside Anne Murray. A Tennessee native, Loggins released five studio albums as an artist, garnering modest hits with “You’re Got Me to Hold on To” and “Pieces of April.” The former eventually became a Top 10 country hit for Tanya Tucker, while the latter was a Top 20 pop success for Three Dog Night. Turning his attention to songwriting, Loggins found his stride over the course of five decades, notching 14 No. 1s with Wynonna Judd’s “She Is His Only Need,” The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Every Day,” Alabama’s “Forty Hour Week (For a Living),” Reba McEntire’s “Love Will Find Its Way to You” and Kenny Rogers’ “Morning Desire,” among others. With songs recorded by the likes of Jimmy Buffett, Tammy Wynette, Vince Gill, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams Jr., Willie Nelson, Ray Charles and Johnny Cash, Loggins was awarded 25 ASCAP Awards, as well as named the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year in 1987. Nominated for the ACM Top Vocal Duet in 1984 and the ACM Song of the Year in 1985 for penning Gary Morris’ “I’ll Never Stop Loving You,” he also wrote “Augusta,” which became the longest - running sports theme song in history for the annual Masters Golf Tournament.

Joe Bonsall, the tenor singer in the Oak Ridge Boys and one of Country Music’s most enthusiastic entertainers, passed away from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis on July 9, 2024. He was 76. Bonsall was born on May 18, 1948, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a teenager, he sang with a gospel group called the Faith Four, and befriended Richard Sterban, another gospel singer from the area. Sterban joined the Oaks in 1972, followed by Bonsall a year later. After making a minimal impact on Columbia Records, the group switched to ABC/Dot, where they finally broke out with 1977’s “Y’All Come Back Saloon.” The Oaks received 1978 ACM Awards in the categories of Album (for Y’All Come Back Saloon) and Top Vocal Group. 

Bonsall brought an infectious energy to the quartet, which had deep roots in gospel music yet still appealed to country listeners. Between 1977 and 1991, the Oaks charted 34 Top 10 singles, with 17 of those reaching No. 1 at country radio. They performed one of their most eloquent singles, a rendition of Rodney Crowell’s “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,” on the ACM Awards in 1980, the same year it reached No. 1. 

The Oaks’ visibility soared with 1981’s “Elvira,” a Dallas Frazier composition that had been cut several times before the Oaks turned it into a smash for MCA Records and a pop crossover hit. Their irresistible performance netted a Grammy Award and an ACM Single of the Year trophy. With that momentum, they racked up chart-topping hits like “Fancy Free,” “Bobbie Sue,” “American Made, “Gonna Take a Lot of River,” and “No Matter How High.” Bonsall also recorded “Out Goin’ Cattin’” with Sawyer Brown, with the peppy single rising to No. 11 in 1986. 

In recognition of their exceptional career, the Oak Ridge Boys received the 2007 Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. They were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2011 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Bonsall’s book about the band, On the Road with the Oak Ridge Boys: Forty Years of Untold Stories and Adventures, was published in 2015. 

Beloved music industry veteran Mary Martin passed away on July 4. She was 85. An inductee into the SOURCE Hall of Fame, she was a lauded talent scout, manager and record executive who played a critical role in the careers of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Rodney Crowell, Keith Urban and Vince Gill, among a long list of others. Born in 1939 in Toronto, Canada, Martin’s illustrious career began as an executive assistant to artist manager Albert Grossman, who shepherded the careers of Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Peter, Paul & Mary and more. Starting her own venture in 1966, Martin eventually made her way to the A&R department at Warner Bros., as well as became the VP of RCA Records where she oversaw the careers of acts like Vince Gill, Clint Black, Paul Overstreet, Aaron Tippin, and Lorrie Morgan. After a brief stint as the Executive Director of Earth Communications Office, she served as an A&R consultant for Asylum Records before being tapped as Vice President of Mercury Records until 2002. With a keen eye for burgeoning talent and a fierce belief in artist’s and their craft, Martin was also a Grammy-winning producer, thanks to her work on the star-studded Hank Williams tribute album, Timeless, featuring Dylan, Johnny Cash, Keith Richards, Tom Petty and others.

Beloved studio engineer, record producer and music publisher, Joe Scaife, passed away on June 12. He was 68 years old.

Scaife earned a degree in Music Engineering and Recording from Nashville's Belmont University, getting his first taste of success with K.T. Oslin's 1987 hit, “80’s Ladies.” This led to a long string of recording sessions with some of the genre’s top-tier vocalists, including Montgomery Gentry, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Glen Campbell, Lionel Richie, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Shania Twain and Toby Keith, among others. As a producer, Scaife was one of the creative masterminds behind massive projects like Billy Ray Cyrus' debut record, Some Gave All, which included his breakout hit, "Achy Breaky Heart," as well as Gretchen Wilson's breakthrough Here For The Party, featuring her career-defining "Redneck Woman."

Across his career, Scaife sold more than 80 million records and garnered over two billion streams. With a sprawling list of awards and accolades to his name, he received six nominations as a producer from the ACM. Among them are three nods for Album of the Year (Here for the Party - Gretchen Wilson, 2004; It Won't Be the Last - Billy Ray Cyrus, 1993; Some Gave All - Billy Ray Cyrus, 1992), two Single Record of the Year nominations ("Redneck Woman" - Gretchen Wilson, 2004; "Achy Breaky Heart" - Billy Ray Cyrus, 1992) and one for Video of the Year ("Redneck Woman" - Gretchen Wilson, 2004).

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and National Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Mark James, died on June 8, 2024 at the age of 83.

Penning more than 200 songs throughout his career with several enduring hits sprinkled in, James’ first taste of success came with B.J. Thomas' “The Eyes of a New York Woman,” followed shortly after by “Hooked on a Feeling” and “It’s Only Love.” After writing and releasing his own version of “Suspicious Minds,” which garnered little success, it was later famously recorded by Elvis Presley. It became the superstar’s last No. 1 hit and led to other late-career cuts from James, including “Raised on Rock” and “Moody Blue.” Elsewhere across his career, James wrote “Always on My Mind,” originally performed by Brenda Lee. A decade later Willie Nelson turned it into a country crossover smash, nabbing the Song of the Year and Country Song of the Year at the 1983 Grammy Awards.

With songs recorded by the likes of Dwight Yoakam, B.B. King, Eddy Arnold, Charlie McCoy, The Partridge Family, Ronnie Milsap and more, James' music has also been heard across a wide range of films, including Reservoir Dogs, Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Hawk Down, Kramer Vs Kramer, Honeymoon in Vegas, Breathless, Someone to Watch Over Me, Practical Magic and Frequency.

Erv Woolsey, a former music executive, entrepreneur, and longtime manager for Country Music Hall of Fame member, George Strait, died on March 20, 2024, due to complications from surgery. He was 80.

Born Eugene Ervine Woolsey, the Texas native began his career in the music industry in Decca Records' promotion department. Making his way to Nashville in 1973, he took on the role of Head of Promotions for ABC Records’ Country division. From there, he moved to MCA during the 1980s, working closely with an array of acts, including future Country Music Hall of Famers Barbara Mandrell, Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty, and more, before leaving the records industry in 1984 to manage then up-and-comer George Strait. The pair enjoyed a nearly five decades long partnership that saw Strait become one of the most revered artists in Country Music history. With Woolsey by his side, Strait secured two ACM Entertainer of the Year awards, as well as notched more than 60 No. 1 songs and sold over 105 million albums.

Woolsey's mark on modern Country Music extends beyond just Strait, also managing a number of hitmakers throughout his career, including Dierks Bentley, Ronnie Milsap, Clay Walker, and Lee Ann Womack. More recently, his lengthy management roster also featured Ian Munsick, Kylie Frey, and Leftover Salmon founder Vince Herman, among others.

Fran Boyd, a former Executive Director of the ACM and an essential player in shaping and growing the organization from its early years in California in the late-1960s through the start of the millennium, passed away on March 9, 2024. She was 84 years old.

Fran became the Academy’s first paid employee when she was hired as an executive secretary in 1968 and worked her way through the ranks over the years, overseeing daily operations of the organization, serving as Talent Producer of the ACM Awards, and maintaining oversight of virtually every aspect of the annual awards presentation. In 1995, following the passing of her husband Bill, who himself led the Academy, Fran was named Executive Director.

At the time of her retirement in 2002, she said, “I continue to be proud of all the Academy of Country Music has accomplished in my time. It has given me great joy to see so many young Country artists rise from newcomers to having great careers. The Academy has helped music fans acknowledge Country Music as the enduring genre it deserves to be.” 

The Academy’s signature “hat” trophy was created the same year Fran Boyd joined the Academy, and throughout her tenure, she saw the organization open its first office in Hollywood, CA, refresh its name from the Academy of Country and Western Music to the Academy of Country Music in the early 1970s, and move the awards show to a number of major California venues, including Disneyland, Universal Amphitheatre, and Knott’s Berry Farm.

“Her tireless work and years of dedication to this organization, the Country Music industry and its artists cannot be overstated, and her legacy with the Academy will forever live on,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.

“Fran Boyd played an essential part in the Academy’s history, stretching way back to the earliest days in the 1960s and steering the ship through decades of change, innovation, and growth, all while fostering an incredible passion for Country Music,” said Gayle Holcomb, ACM Board Sergeant-At-Arms and longtime Board member. “Fran will always be remembered as a champion for our industry, its artists, and this organization. On behalf of the ACM Officers and Board of Directors, I send our gratitude, prayers, and condolences to the Boyd family.” 

Toby Keith, a Country Music superstar who wrote many of his biggest hits, passed away on February 5, 2024. He was 62 years old. A 14-time ACM Award recipient, including multiple wins for ACM Top Male Vocalist and ACM Album of the Year, he was named ACM Entertainer of the Year twice, in 2002 and 2003. With worldwide sales of more than 40 million albums, he built an exceptional career on well-sung ballads, barroom singalongs, and patriotic anthems, as well as heartfelt songwriting.

Born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma, Toby Keith Covel grew up in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore. As a boy, he discovered live music by listening to the bands at his grandmother’s supper club in Fort Smith, Arkansas. After high school graduation, he worked in the oil fields while playing regional gigs fronting the Easy Money Band. When the oil industry crumbled in the early ‘80s, Keith signed on with the Oklahoma City Drillers semipro football team for two years before deciding to focus on music. Although the major labels in Nashville ignored his demo, a fan of the band who worked as a flight attendant gave a copy to Harold Shedd, a Mercury Records executive who was on her flight. Shedd heard the potential, traveled to Oklahoma for a show, and signed him to Mercury. 

With the Dallas Cowboys winning the Super Bowl just weeks before the single’s release date, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” took on a new meaning. By summer of 1993, it spent two weeks at No. 1 and paved the way for a dozen more Top 10 hits on Mercury (and affiliated labels Polygram and A&M). Keith returned to No. 1 with 1994’s “Who’s That Man” and 1997’s “Me Too.” A duet with Sting on “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying” earned an ACM nomination for Vocal Event and reached No. 2 at Country radio.

By signing with DreamWorks Nashville, Keith’s outspoken personality could finally shine through. In 2000, “How Do You Like Me Now?!” lodged itself at No. 1 for five weeks. In addition, he was named 2000 ACM Male Vocalist of the Year and picked up Album of the Year (as an artist and producer) for the project of the same name. More hits rolled in, notably a comical Bobby Braddock composition titled “I Wanna Talk About Me.” That single spent five weeks at No. 1, as did its follow-up, “My List.” Yet, amid a backdrop of the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq War, Keith certainly made the biggest impression with “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” and its audacious threat to “put a boot up your ass, it’s the American way.” Its notoriety helped Keith claim the 2002 ACM Entertainer of the Year award. 

Keith’s winning streak raged on. “Who’s Your Daddy?” became his sixth consecutive chart-topping single in 2003. A Willie Nelson duet titled “Beer for My Horses” spent six weeks at No. 1, earned a 2003 Video of the Year award, and inspired a movie that received the ACM Tex Ritter Award. That same year, Keith collected his second ACM Entertainer, Male Vocalist, and Album of the Year trophies, the latter for Shock ‘N Y’All. 

Keith continued to offer a steady stream of radio-ready singles and accrued his 20th No. 1 hit, “Made in America,” in 2011. Although he’d released plenty of irreverent songs before, few listeners were prepared for the overwhelming reception of “Red Solo Cup,” a viral party anthem that soon crossed over into the mainstream and claimed the 2011 ACM Video of the Year award. A year later, “Beers Ago” became his 41st Top 10 Country hit.

Marking his 20th ACM Awards appearance in 2018, Keith was joined by Blake Shelton to sing “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” In addition, he appeared in the network specials George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert in 2009 and ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute to the Troops in 2014. The Academy presented Keith with multiple honorary awards throughout his career, including the 2013 ACM Career Achievement Award, the 2016 ACM Poets Award, and the 2020 ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award. Keith was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021. Other distinctions include the 2021 National Medal of Arts and the 2022 BMI Icon Award.

Keith’s many charitable initiatives included 11 USO Tours and nearly 300 USO events, a hometown fundraising concert following a devastating 2013 tornado, and an annual golf tournament to fund the OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home in Oklahoma City for families of children with critical illnesses.

"Toby Keith was a powerhouse singer-songwriter, performer, entrepreneur, and Country Music icon who defined the last several decades of Country Music and influenced a generation of talent,” said ACM CEO Damon Whiteside. “Here at the Academy, we’ve been able to celebrate Toby countless times over the years, including twice as our ACM Entertainer of the Year, along with more than a dozen of other trophies, such as the ACM Poet’s Award for songwriting and the ACM Career Achievement Award. In particular, I’m so glad we were able to honor Toby with the ACM Spirit Award in 2021, presented to a singer-songwriter who continues the legacy of Merle Haggard, one of Toby’s heroes. Additionally, his phenomenal commitment to philanthropy and serving the community throughout his career echoes in the work of ACM Lifting Lives. On behalf of our staff, Board, and membership, we send our love to Toby’s family, friends, and fans of his incredible music. His legacy in Country Music will live on forever.”

Singer and songwriter Margo Smith passed away on January 23, 2024. She was 84. 

Born Bette Lou Miller in Dayton, Ohio, in 1939, she took on the stage name Margo Smith and left her career as a teacher to chase her musical dreams. It was in her 30s that she decided to pursue being a singer and songwriter, leading her to Nashville, where she recorded her solo-written songs.  

She exploded onto the scene in the late 1970s with hits such as “Love’s Explosion,” “Take My Breath Away,” and “My Weakness,” all of which she co-wrote. It was her song “Still a Woman,” released in 1979, that cemented her success in the commercial market. 

Smith had several iterations of her career, and one of those was as “The Tennessee Yodeler.” In 1983, she released The Best of the Tennessee Yodeler and continued releasing TV Market albums. In the mid-1990s, she partnered with her daughter, Holly, forming the duo Margo Smith and Holly. They released several Country-Christian hits and even earned the Christian Country Music Award for Vocal Duo of the Year in 1994. 

Throughout her career, Smith released 18 albums and charted 27 singles. 

Music industry veteran, producer, and songwriter Don Koch passed away on January 15, 2024. He was 62. 

Koch was born in San Jose, California, where his parents were missionaries. His education would eventually lead him to Belmont University in Nashville, where he earned a degree in sound engineering. Living in Music City also inspired Koch to begin songwriting. In 1986, he signed his first publishing deal with Benson Record Company. It was through Benson Records that he’d meet Jay DeMarcus and help his then band “East to West” get their first record deal. 

Koch made his mark in the Christian music scene as a songwriter. Throughout his career, he wrote 38 No. 1 hits and would go on to earn six GMA Dove Awards for hits such as “In Christ Alone,” “Jesus Saves,” and “Land of Mercy,” among many others. 

In 2018, Koch and his longtime friend, Jay DeMarcus, launched Red Street Records, where he was instrumental as a publisher, producer, and songwriter. Additionally, Koch was an integral part of launching Red Street Record’s Christian label division. 

California Country songwriter and guitarist Larry Collins passed away on January 5, 2024. He was 79 years old.  

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1977, Collins would only remain in the state for a short while. His older sister Lorrie won a talent competition in Tulsa which prompted the entire family to move to L.A. The siblings formed a duo, the Collins Kids, and became regulars on the show Town Hall Party in 1954. Through the show, the duo was able to play alongside legends of the day including Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and more.  

Larry went on to pursue a successful solo career. He had several hits under his belt from his days in the duo. But it was writing “Delta Dawn” that would propel his career forward, as well as launch the career of newcomer Tanya Tucker. In 1981, his song “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma” co-written with Sandy Pinkard and recorded by David Frizzell and Shelly West reached No. 1. It was also awarded ACM Song of the Year. His songs were recorded by artists such as Mac Davis, Nancy Sinatra, Lou Rawls, Alex Harvey, Bette Midler and others.