The 11th Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum spotlights record label executive Cindy Mabe, who's helped shepherd dozens of high-profile country music careers, including those of Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, and Carrie Underwood, at labels including Arista Records, RCA Records, Capitol Records, and UMG Nashville.

Inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Ford Theater, Mabe discusses her foundational experiences and hit-herding career in front of a crowd that includes previous Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum subjects Kay Clary, Bonnie Gardner, Sarah Trahern, Liz Thiels, and Nancy Shapiro.

Over her decades in the music industry, Mabe has earned a reputation for an artist-friendly approach designed to buttress performers' unique attributes and artistry, and a forward-thinking embrace of new distribution channels. Successes have included Eric Church’s "Mr. Misunderstood," Hillary Scott’s "Love Remains," Chris Stapleton’s "Traveller," and George Strait’s "Cold Beer Conversation."

Mabe's in-depth Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum conversation traces back to her foundational years—being the only girl on her little league team, interning for a tobacco company—and moves into her early music-industry path, which led from a Fan Fair visit to moving to Music City, studying at Belmont University, and interning at Arista and RCA Records.

Mabe offers insight into her experiences working with some of country music's biggest stars, including Underwood and Paisley, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, and Sam Hunt, and the individualized approach taken with each of those artists' albums and careers. Topics include helping Luke Bryan nurture his unique culture and devoted fanbase, taking risks with Chris Stapleton (including Stapleton and Justin Timberlake's head-turning CMA Awards duet in 2015), embracing digital streaming with Sam Hunt, and setting a dedicated goal of getting Country Music Hall of Fame member George Strait his sixtieth #1 by his sixtieth birthday.

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Find out more about the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's public programs: https://countrymusichalloffame.org/plan-your-visit/exhibits-activities/public-programs/

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