Chronicle: Country Music Hall of Famer and former Country Music Association Exec. Dir. Jo Walker-Meador died last night (8/15) following a stroke at age 93 (Breaking News). Walker-Meador was the first paid employee at the CMA, joining in 1958 as Office Manager and rising to Exec. Dir. in 1962. She was the longest-serving employee in that position, retiring in 1991. Under her leadership, CMA launched initiatives including the Country Music Hall of Fame (created in 1961), the CMA Awards (created in 1967 and televised nationally since 1968) and the CMA Music Festival (launched as Fan Fair in 1972). Arrangements are pending.

"Jo was a champion for country music around the world and a groundbreaker for women in the entertainment business," says CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. "On a personal note, I will miss her guidance, humor, and friendship. She was the first meeting I set up before I took this job. She taught me lessons in how to gracefully navigate the Board. She was always diplomatic in her storytelling and she had some great ones to share. Over the last six months she was a little more candid and I always looked forward to our time together. She will be greatly missed by all. My heart is broken."

Read other industry tributes to Walker-Meador here.