Sarah Trahern
Sarah Trahern Retiring as CEO of the Country Music Association
She will sign off at the end of 2026
Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association (CMA), has announced she will retire at the end of 2026.
Immediate plans:
Trahern will remain in the role until year’s end while a successor is sought.
Backstory:
Trahern has overseen the CMA since 2014.
She has also led the CMA Foundation, the nonprofit arm which has invested more than $30 million in the field of music education.
Prior she held senior roles at C-SPAN and the Nashville Network, as well as serving as the General Manager of Great American Country.
In 2024 she received the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award.
What they said:
Sarah Trahern: “Leading the Country Music Association has been the privilege of my career. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together in service of this industry and its people, and deeply grateful for the community that makes country music what it is.”
Jay Williams, Co-Head and Partner, WME, and CMA Board Chairman: “While we will deeply miss Sarah’s leadership, we are excited to carry forward the legacy she has established. Sarah leaves behind an indelible mark on both the Country Music Association and the broader industry. Her influence has shaped not only CMA but the future of country music itself.”
Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association (CMA), has announced she will retire at the end of 2026.
Immediate plans:
Trahern will remain in the role until year’s end while a successor is sought.
Backstory:
Trahern has overseen the CMA since 2014.
She has also led the CMA Foundation, the nonprofit arm which has invested more than $30 million in the field of music education.
Prior she held senior roles at C-SPAN and the Nashville Network, as well as serving as the General Manager of Great American Country.
In 2024 she received the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award.
What they said:
Sarah Trahern: “Leading the Country Music Association has been the privilege of my career. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together in service of this industry and its people, and deeply grateful for the community that makes country music what it is.”
Jay Williams, Co-Head and Partner, WME, and CMA Board Chairman: “While we will deeply miss Sarah’s leadership, we are excited to carry forward the legacy she has established. Sarah leaves behind an indelible mark on both the Country Music Association and the broader industry. Her influence has shaped not only CMA but the future of country music itself.”
Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association (CMA), has announced she will retire at the end of 2026.
Immediate plans:
Trahern will remain in the role until year’s end while a successor is sought.
Backstory:
Trahern has overseen the CMA since 2014.
She has also led the CMA Foundation, the nonprofit arm which has invested more than $30 million in the field of music education.
Prior she held senior roles at C-SPAN and the Nashville Network, as well as serving as the General Manager of Great American Country.
In 2024 she received the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award.
What they said:
Sarah Trahern: “Leading the Country Music Association has been the privilege of my career. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together in service of this industry and its people, and deeply grateful for the community that makes country music what it is.”
Jay Williams, Co-Head and Partner, WME, and CMA Board Chairman: “While we will deeply miss Sarah’s leadership, we are excited to carry forward the legacy she has established. Sarah leaves behind an indelible mark on both the Country Music Association and the broader industry. Her influence has shaped not only CMA but the future of country music itself.”
Sarah Trahern
Country Music Association
CMA Foundation
Jay Williams
WME
Nashville Network
Great American Country
C-SPAN
Executive Leadership Changes
Industry Personnel Changes
Succession Planning
Non-Profit Leadership
Industry Leadership Loss
Executive Departure
Executive Leadership
Industry Association Leadership
Music Education
United States
Nashville, US
👋 Disclosures & Transparency Block
This story was written with information from Music Row.
We covered it because it’s news of a high-profile executive retiring.
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