MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Middle Tennessee State University College of Media and Entertainment has added three more accomplished alumni to its ever-growing “Wall of Fame.”

The college’s Wall of Fame recognizes outstanding alumni and community leaders who have made significant professional contributions to the industry or Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Media and Entertainment. 

This year’s honorees Michael Hardy, known professionally as HARDY, Trish McGee and Wes Edwards were inducted in the 23rd annual Wall of Fame ceremony at the James Union Building in April. 

“They all serve as an inspiration to our students and demonstrate that achieving your goals is possible after graduating from MTSU,” said College of Media and Entertainment Dean Beverly Keel. 

“While at first glance they might appear to be different from one another, they each have defined success on their terms and built careers of talent, integrity and creativity. They have built an impressive body of work at a young age and are raising the standards of excellence for those around them. They are building quite a legacy, and we are honored to celebrate them with this induction.”

About Hardy

Hardy graduated in 2013 with a commercial songwriting degree from the college’s Recording Industry Department. He recently returned to his alma mater to deliver the spring commencement speech on May 4 inside MTSU’s Murphy Center.

Watch his commencement speech below. 

HARDY is a five-time Academy of Country Music Award winner and two-time Country Music Association Award winner. He also has three CMA Triple Play awards, was named the 2022 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, and is a three-time AIMP Songwriter of the Year. HARDY has written 15 No. 1 singles, including his two-time platinum chart-topper “ONE BEER” featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, and the platinum Dierks Bentley + BRELAND collaboration “Beers On Me.” 

He has previously toured with Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell and others. 

About Trish McGee

McGee is a 1990 graduate with a degree in mass communication with an emphasis in the recording industry. She is currently vice president of public relations for the Bohan Agency in Nashville. McGee has more than 30 years of experience in the tourism and entertainment industries, including the tourism, theme parks, not-for-profit and hospitality industries. 

Currently, she provides public relations representation for the Department of Tourist Development in Pigeon Forge, one of the Southeast’s most popular vacation destinations.

During her career, she has contributed to successful campaigns for brands such as the Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Lucas Theater for the Arts, Opryland, Dollywood and Imagination Library.

About Wes Edwards 

Edwards, a 2001 graduate with a degree in mass communication with a concentration in radio and television, has directed more than 150 music videos and commercials for household names like Amazon and Pepsi. 

He’s won two Country Music Association awards, two Academy of Country Music awards and a Gospel Music Association Video of the Year award. Edwards also has two videos in Billboard’s Best 100 Videos of the Decade (all genres) 2010–2019. 

A self-taught after-effects artist, his portfolio ranges from hyper-stylized to a grittier documentary aesthetic. In 2019, he co-founded Strange Arcade, a production company where he serves as executive producer with his partner Angie Lorenz. 

In 2022, Edwards directed American Anthems, a six-part music documentary series for PBS that celebrated unsung heroes with original songs by top artists. The show earned four Emmy nominations, including one for directing.

About the Wall of Fame and the College of Media and Entertainment

Since 2000, more than 100 alums have been inducted into the College of Media and Entertainment’s “Wall of Fame.” To see a complete list of inductees, visit https://w1.mtsu.edu/media-wall-of-fame/.

The College of Media and Entertainment offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Animation, Journalism, Media and Entertainment, and Recording Industry; a Master of Fine Arts in Recording Arts Technologies; and a Master of Science in Media and Communication.

The college also houses the Center for Innovation in Media, the Center for Popular Music, the Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies and WMOT-FM, a 100,000-watt public radio station.

—   DeAnn Hays (deann.hays@mtsu.edu)