The CMA Foundation is partnering with Lainey Wilson and Zach Top to support music education programs connected to each artist. More Entertainment News
The foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, will make $10,000 investments tied to Wilson and Top in recognition of their 2025 CMA Awards achievements. Wilson is the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, while Top is the reigning New Artist of the Year.
For Wilson, the CMA Foundation will support Notes for Notes, a nonprofit that provides young people with access to instruments, recording studios, and music education. Wilson’s Heart Like a Truck Fund will also contribute an additional $5,000 to the organization.
“Lainey embodies the spirit and will of perseverance matched with innate talent,” said Phil Gilley, CEO and co-founder of Notes for Notes in a release. “Her journey is an inspiration to every young artist that walks into our studios in Nashville and beyond.”
Top’s $10,000 investment will benefit Taylor’s Camp, a youth music education program associated with the Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival in Washington State. Top has a personal connection to the program, having attended Taylor’s Camp as a student before later returning as an instructor.
“Taylor’s Camp is a special place to me because I got to be on the other side of it — I was a kid learning there, and later I got to come back and teach,” Top said. “There’s something pretty special about being able to pass along what somebody once passed along to you.”
Michelle Kirk, executive director of the CMA Foundation, said the initiative gives both artists an opportunity to turn their CMA Awards recognition into support for the next generation of musicians.
“As we celebrate 15 years of the CMA Foundation, we’re proud to honor Lainey and Zach’s incredible CMA Awards accomplishments by extending their impact into music classrooms and communities across the country,” Kirk said.
Since 2011, the CMA Foundation has supported music education through grants, teacher development and other programs designed to provide students and educators with additional resources and opportunities.
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