Sarah Trahern to Retire as Country Music Association CEO at End of 2026
Sarah Trahern, the CEO of the Country Music Association, will retire at the end of 2026, she announced Wednesday. She will continue to lead the CMA through the end of the year while the search for a successor gets underway.
Trahern has led the organization since 2014. The CMA is responsible for two of the signature events in country music, the CMA Awards telecast in November and CMA Fest in June.
“Leading the Country Music Association has been the privilege of my career,” said Trahern in a statement. “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. After much reflection, I’ve made the decision to retire and embrace this next chapter of life – one that allows me to remain connected to this industry in ways that continue to inspire me, while also creating space for the people and moments that matter most to me, including time with my husband, Wayne, getting outdoors, and simple nights at home with our dog, Riley.”
Before taking the reins of the CMA 12 years ago, Trahern held senior roles at C-SPAN and the Nashville Network and served as general manager of Great American Country.
“While we will deeply miss Sarah’s leadership, we are excited to carry forward the legacy she has established,” said Jay Williams, CMA board chairman. “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.”
Trahern has also served as president of the organization’s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation, which has devoted more than $30 million to music education.
According to the announcement, the CMA’s board has formed a search committee and retained the search firm Buffkin Baker to oversee the process. Additional details regarding the search will be announced in February, the CMA said.
Trahern has led the organization since 2014. The CMA is responsible for two of the signature events in country music, the CMA Awards telecast in November and CMA Fest in June.
“Leading the Country Music Association has been the privilege of my career,” said Trahern in a statement. “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. After much reflection, I’ve made the decision to retire and embrace this next chapter of life – one that allows me to remain connected to this industry in ways that continue to inspire me, while also creating space for the people and moments that matter most to me, including time with my husband, Wayne, getting outdoors, and simple nights at home with our dog, Riley.”
Before taking the reins of the CMA 12 years ago, Trahern held senior roles at C-SPAN and the Nashville Network and served as general manager of Great American Country.
“While we will deeply miss Sarah’s leadership, we are excited to carry forward the legacy she has established,” said Jay Williams, CMA board chairman. “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.”
Trahern has also served as president of the organization’s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation, which has devoted more than $30 million to music education.
According to the announcement, the CMA’s board has formed a search committee and retained the search firm Buffkin Baker to oversee the process. Additional details regarding the search will be announced in February, the CMA said.