Storytelling in Music: Country music continues to captivate audiences by telling stories of love, hardship, and everyday life. Plans are underway for the 2026 Sociable City Summit to feature a session on Songwriting, Storytelling, and Sociability. The goal is to highlight how songs function as stories and why sharing experiences through narrative resonates universally.
Music Education & Pathways: The Country Music Association plays a dual role: connecting the business with creators while its foundation invests in music education. This work helps guide musicians from their first steps to professional success, ensuring the next generation of talent has opportunities to grow.
Universal Appeal of Country Music: Country music’s strength lies in its authenticity and relatability. It connects across generations and life stages, offering truth and shared human experience. Education plays a key role in fostering appreciation for diverse genres and sustaining this connection.
Industry Growth & Artist Support: Events like CMA Fest and the CMA Awards showcase country music’s broad appeal while growing the business. Independent venues remain vital for nurturing talent, and mental health challenges across the industry demand attention. Balancing business growth with artists’ well-being is essential.
Mental Health in the Music Ecosystem: Mental health challenges affect not only artists but also the teams supporting them. Investments such as a $3M mental health center at Belmont University, along with partnerships across the industry, aim to provide accessible resources. Supporting the entire ecosystem ensures sustainability, while Nashville’s diverse and culturally integrated music scene continues to define it as a true “music city.”
As Senior Vice President of Industry Relations & Philanthropy at the Country Music Association and Executive Director of the CMA Foundation Tiffany Kerns oversees the strategic direction and management of all CMA’s membership events, initiatives and programming. By developing and enhancing new, robust and innovative membership strategies, Kerns ensures that professional development pathways exist that align with the needs of both the member base and the future of the industry. Offering world class programming focused on mental health and wellness, diversity, equity and inclusion, research, leadership and financial security, Kerns amplifies the voices of each facet of the music business and equips all members to operate confidently and successfully within the industry. She is also responsible for the growth, development and execution of the nonprofit’s charitable investments by creating intentional partnerships and implementing an impact-driven grant process. With a steadfast focus on improving the philanthropic model of giving, Kerns has led the charge in enriching music education programs across the United States, working to ensure every child has access to a high-quality music education and every music educator is provided the resources they need to create a thriving program.
She was named a Billboard Country Power Player in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and received the CMA Chairman’s Award in 2021. She was a 2018 Women in Music City Award recipient and led the CMA Foundation to receiving the 2017 National Stand for Music Award supporting music education advocacy.
