MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Six students in Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Media and Entertainment had a chance of a lifetime as they attended the 58th annual CMA Awards in downtown Nashville with Department of Recording Industry professor Odie Blackmon all thanks for an alumna who worked to “make it happen.”

The plan to attend this year’s Country Music Association Awards was a conversation a year in the making and began in 2023 after the association’s CEO Sarah Trahan invited Blackmon and some students to attend a backstage panel for last year’s show.

“The CMA has a long history of supporting students, teachers and education,” said Blackmon, who teaches commercial songwriting and still collaborates with multiple artists on penning their tunes.

Fast-forward to this year’s show, and Blackmon’s former student Devin Ford, who now works for the Country Music Association overseeing social media, reached out to him via social media and said she wanted to get tickets for some MTSU students.

“It’s so important to provide students with opportunities like this since it offers valuable exposure to the music industry and helps guide them in their career paths,” Ford said.

Senior commercial songwriting student and fall graduate Carter Elliott was among the six students who attended this year’s award show held Nov. 20 in downtown Nashville. He said it was an experience like no other.

“Attending the CMA Awards was daunting, yet thrilling,” Elliott said. “The only events I had seen in the Bridgestone Arena before this were concerts, so observing the layout of the stages and watching all the different performances unfold on such a large scale made for one impressive show.”

Elliott said the performances were all great, but one stood out.

“My favorite part of the CMA Awards was most definitely Ashley McBryde’s version of ‘Help Me Make It Through the Night,’ sung in tribute to Kris Kristofferson. Her voice was perfect for the song, and her rendition was simultaneously haunting and sincere,” he said.

Kristofferson, the superstar country singer-songwriter and actor, passed away in late September at age 88.

The other Department of Recording Industry students who attended the awards show with Blackmon include Martha Huertas, from Dacula, Georgia; Ryan Harrington, from Marietta, Georgia; Thalia Richards, from Clarksville, Tennessee; and Jasmine Morgan, from Joshua, Texas.

Blackmon said they were chosen to attend based on students who work hard, have diverse backgrounds, and enjoy country music.

Three MTSU alumni and former students, Jason Hall (mixing), Mitchell Tenpenny (new artist) and Hilary Scott of Lady A (musical group), were nominated for awards at this year’s CMA Awards, though they did not take home any trophies.

Ford graduated from MTSU in 2016 with a degree in mass communications focusing on music business and public relations.

Ford said if she could offer advice to students about to embark on their careers in the music business it would be to “be kind to yourself; give yourself grace and be patient. It’s completely normal not to land your dream job right after graduation and that’s OK.”

“Explore different roles within the industry — you never know where you’ll find your true passion. I originally wanted to work in publishing, but now I manage an entire genre of fans. Networking is also key! Reach out to people in the industry, schedule lunches or coffees, and build those relationships. Trust me, they will pay off in the long run,” she said.

— DeAnn Hays (deann.hays@mtsu.edu)