NASHVILLE— The CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, is partnering with reigning CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson and reigning New Artist of the Year Zach Top to extend the impact of their 2025 CMA Awards achievements into music education. The CMA Foundation will make $10,000 investments in music education initiatives connected to each artist, helping provide students with the resources and opportunities they need to learn, grow and thrive through music.
These investments build on Wilson and Top’s achievements while giving each artist an opportunity to help create meaningful impact for the next generation of music makers, transforming moments celebrated on the CMA Awards stage into opportunities for students to experience the power of music.
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. The organization creates opportunities for youth to explore their creativity, develop their musical skills and gain hands-on experience in music production. Wilson’s Heart Like a Truck Fund will contribute an additional $5,000 to the organization.
For Top, the CMA Foundation will support Taylor’s Camp, the youth music education program of the Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival in Washington State. A longtime participant in the festival’s bluegrass community, Top was both a student and later an instructor at Taylor’s Camp, which gives children the opportunity to learn foundational music skills from professional musicians and perform on the festival’s main stage.
“Music has the power to change lives, and our artists have a unique ability to inspire the next generation,” says Michelle Kirk, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “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. These investments are a meaningful way to celebrate their achievements while supporting the teachers and students who are building the future of music.”
“Lainey embodies the spirit and will of perseverance matched with innate talent,” says Phil Gilley, CEO and co-founder, Notes for Notes. “Her journey is an inspiration to every young artist that walks into our studios in Nashville and beyond, from those who may be exploring music for the first time to those chasing the dream. We are so honored and grateful that Lainey and the CMA Foundation have selected Notes for Notes. This is an investment that can unlock a future for the next player, songwriter, producer, manager, music teacher or even Entertainer of the Year. Thank you for your support.”
“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,” says Top. “There’s something pretty special about being able to pass along what somebody once passed along to you. I’m really proud that this investment can help more kids experience that, find something they love and keep this music going.”
“Zach has been part of our festival family since very early in his music career. He came up through Taylor’s Camp as a participant, having such a positive and lasting impact on so many of the young musicians who came through it, and later returned to headline our main stage,” says Will McSeveney, Board Member, Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival. “That he still wants to give back to this camp, no matter how far his career has taken him, means more to us than we can say. We take enormous pride in Taylor’s Camp, and thanks to Zach and the CMA Foundation, it can continue giving young musicians the opportunity and resources to learn, grow, and make music alongside friends.”
Since its inception in 2011, the CMA Foundation, alongside the music industry, has worked to strengthen music education, equipping hundreds of teachers and thousands of students with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. Through funding, professional development and innovative programs, the CMA Foundation invests in educators and students to help create lasting opportunities through music education.
About the CMA Foundation
The CMA Foundation transforms lives through the power of music education. Established by the Country Music Association in 2011 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) invests in high-quality programs that ensure all students have access to music. In partnership with the music industry and like-minded nonprofits, the CMA Foundation directs research-informed funding where it makes the greatest impact—empowering music teachers through professional development, providing resources for classrooms and programs, and creating life-changing opportunities for students. For more information about the CMA Foundation, visit CMAfoundation.org.
