Get Your Kix: The CMA has launched the inaugural KixStart Artist Scholarship, a year-long program named after former CMA Board Chairman and longtime board member Kix Brooks, who drove the creation of the board's Artist Relations Committe in 2006. "The KixStart Artist Scholarship program was developed by 2017 CMA Board Artist Relations Committee Chair, Marion Kraft and Vice Chair, Mary Hilliard Harrington, both visionary artist managers, as a means to provide one-of-a-kind mentorship to artists within our Country community," says CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. Adds Brooks, "When Mary Hilliard and Marion suggested we do something to better aid those artists that could use a 'kick start' to help them over that tipping point, we all knew it was a good idea. I suppose calling it KixStart was a little tip of the hat to me. I'm honored, but I'm not taking any credit for this one!" Submissions open Friday (6/1) here.