ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® ANNOUNCES 2026-2027 BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® ANNOUNCES 2026-2027 BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS

Nashville, TN (October 28, 2026) – The Academy of Country Music® announced today its officer roles and new Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 term. The officers include Chair Jeff Krones (CAA); President Becky Gardenhire (WME); Vice President Rusty Gaston (Sony Publishing); Treasurer Carmen Romano (FBMM); Sergeant-at-Arms Gayle Holcomb (WME); Parliamentarian Duane Clark (FBMM); and Secretary Haley Montgomery (Academy of Country Music).

For this term, 12 directors-at-large were appointed and 19 directors were elected to the ACM Board of Directors. 

“The Academy of Country Music is proud to bring together leaders from across the industry who share a commitment to advancing Country Music and supporting the artists, songwriters and professionals who make this community so special,” said Andy Schuon, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “As we look ahead to the 2026-2027 term, this Board’s collective experience, passion and perspective will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the Academy’s impact, create new opportunities for our members and celebrate the music and people at the heart of our industry.”

This year qualifying professional categories were elected by the Academy’s membership. In addition to those elected, director-at-large positions have been appointed by the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Vice-President. Directors are elected from each category based on the number of members in that category. Each director serves a staggered two-year term.

Please find the complete board listed below.

NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCLUDE:
Aaron Spalding, Live Nation Entertainment
Adam Weiser, AEG Presents
Andrew McWilliams, Evergreen Artist Group
Benson Curb, Curb | Word Entertainment
Candice Watkins, Capitol Records Nashville
Chappel McCollister, The.Team (formerly Wasserman)
Cyndi Forman, Universal Music Publishing Group
Deana Ivey, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.
George Couri, Triple 8 Management
Jackie Campbell, Results Global
Jeremy Holley, FlyteVu
Jessi Vaughn Stevenson, Perfect Game Creative
Kristie Sloan, The GreenRoom PR
Lee Thomas Miller, Songwriter
Nate Towne, WME
Sally Seitz, Apple Music
Scott Scovill, Moo TV
Tim Foisset, Spotify
Tim Roberts, Audacy

NEWLY APPOINTED DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCLUDE:
Andy Moats, Pinnacle Financial Partners
BJ Hill, Warner Chappell Music, Nashville
Chris Lisle, CLLD
Curt Motley, United Talent Agency
Ed Warm, Joe’s Live
Howie Edelman, Durango Artist Management
Ian Cripps, Atlantic Outpost
Meredith Jones, CAA
Robert Knotts, Lost Highway Records
Rod Phillips, iHeart Country
Shawn McSpadden, Range Media Partners
Storme Warren, TV and Radio Personality

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2026-2027:

OFFICERS
Chair of the Board: Jeff Krones, CAA
President: Becky Gardenhire, WME
Vice President: Rusty Gaston, Sony Publishing
Treasurer: Carmen Romano, FBMM
Parliamentarian: Duane Clark, FBMM
Sergeant-at-Arms: Gayle Holcomb, WME
Secretary: Haley Montgomery, Academy of Country Music

**
AFFILIATED
Chappel McCollister, The.Team (formerly Wasserman)
Deana Ivey, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.
Jackie Campbell, Results Global
Jackie Jones, RIAA
Jeremy Holley, FlyteVu

ARTIST/MUSICIAN/PRODUCER/ENGINEER
Ashley McBryde, Artist
Carly Pearce, Artist
Dave Cohen, Musician
Derek Wells, Spirit Music/Producer/Songwriter
TJ Osborne, Artist

DIGITAL MARKETING/DISTRIBUTION
Sally Seitz, Apple Music
Tim Foisset, Spotify

MANAGER
Enzo DeVincenzo, 377 Management
George Couri, Triple 8 Management
Kerri Edwards, KP Entertainment
Martha Earls, Neon Coast

MEDIA/PUBLIC RELATIONS
Kristie Sloan, The GreenRoom

MUSIC PUBLISHER/PRO
Cyndi Forman, UMPG
Jessi Vaughn Stevenson, Warner/Consultant
Shannan Hatch, SESAC PRO

RADIO
Charlie Cook, Cumulus
Mike Moore, Cumulus
Tim Roberts, Audacy

RECORD COMPANY
Benson Curb, Curb | Word Entertainment
Candice Watkins, Capitol Records Nashville
Jennifer Way, EMPIRE Records
Katie Dean, Leo33
Stephanie Wright, MCA

SONGWRITER
Lee Thomas Miller, Songwriter

TALENT AGENT
Andrew McWilliams, Evergreen
Nate Towne, WME

TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER
Aaron Spalding, Live Nation
Adam Weiser, AEG Presents
Bob Durkin, Southern Entertainment

VENUE
Kevin Ream, Cheatham Street Warehouse
Troy Vollhoffer, Premier Global Production

TOURING
Scott Scovill, Moo TV

DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Amy Bryan-Fosgate, Activated Events
Andy Moats, Pinnacle
Beth Laird, Creative Nation
BJ Hill, Warner Chappell
Brian Wolf, Maverick
Chris Lisle, CLLD, LLC / The Touring Career Workshop
Curt Motley, United Talent Agency
Ed Warm, Joe’s Live
Erika Wollam Nichols, The Bluebird Cafe
Howie Edelman, Durango Artist Management
Ian Cripps, Atlantic Outpost
Jake Basden, Sandbox Entertainment
Jodi Dawes, BMLG
JoJamie Hahr, BBR Music Group
Meghan Kehoe, Sony Music
Meredith Jones, CAA
Patrick Moore, Opry Entertainment
Randi Tolbert, Qprime
Robert Knotts, Lost Highway
Rod Phillips, iHeartMedia
Ryan Beuschel, The Neal Agency
Ryan Redington, Amazon Music
Sara Knabe, Big Loud
Scot Calonge, Richards & Southern
Shannon Sanders, BMI
Shawn McSpadden, Range Media Partners
Storme Warren, TV and Radio Personality
Tom Lord, Redlight Management
Ward Gunther, Whiskey Jam

PAST CHAIRS
Chuck Aly, Country Aircheck
Cris Lacy, Warner Music Nashville
Ebie McFarland, Essential Broadcast Media
Lori Badgett, City National Bank
Randy Bernard, RWB Management

EX OFFICIO PAST CHAIRS
Butch Waugh, Studio2bee
Charlie Cook, Cumulus
Darin Murphy, CAA
Ken Tucker, Wheelhouse Records
Mark Hartley
Paul Barnabee, FBMM
Rod Essig, CAA