Connie Bradley, a former senior vice president and head of ASCAP Nashville, died on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at her home in Fort Myers, Florida. She was 75 years old. Bradley was a pioneer and a mentor in the country music industry, who helped shape the careers of many legendary songwriters and artists. Her cause of death has not been disclosed by her family or representatives.
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A Long and Successful Career at ASCAP
Bradley joined ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, in 1976, and rose to the position of senior vice president and Nashville head. She led the ASCAP Nashville office until 2010, when she stepped back to take the role of strategic advisor.
During her 34 years with ASCAP, Bradley signed and supported the careers of Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Rodney Crowell, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, John Rich, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Chris Young, and many more. She was also instrumental in expanding ASCAP’s presence and influence in Nashville, as well as fostering collaborations and partnerships with other music industry organizations.
Bradley was honored many times for her legacy and contributions to the music industry. She received the Nashville Symphony’s Harmony Award in 2006, the SOURCE Hall of Fame induction in 2012, and the Country Music Association’s Irving Waugh Award of Excellence in 2018. The main conference room at ASCAP’s Nashville office was named the Connie Bradley Board Room in 2010.
A Trailblazer for Women in the Music Business
Bradley was born Connie Darnell in Fayetteville, Tennessee, on October 1, 1945. She grew up in Shelbyville, Tennessee, studied at Middle Tennessee State University, and worked at News Channel 5 and in the mortgage industry before starting her career in the music industry. She spent time at Famous Music/Dot Records, the Bill Hudson & Associates public relations firm, and RCA Records before joining ASCAP.
Bradley was among a handful of pioneering women in the Nashville music industry, along with Jo Walker-Meador, Donna Hilley, Frances Preston, and others. She was a role model and a leader for many aspiring female executives and creatives in the country music scene. She also served on the CMA Board of Directors from 1983 to 2012, having been elected both president and chairperson.
A Beloved Member of the Bradley Family
Bradley was married to renowned music executive Jerry Bradley, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 2019. Jerry Bradley is the son of the late Owen Bradley, a legendary producer and record label executive, and the brother of the late Harold Bradley, a famed guitarist and session musician. Connie Bradley was a beloved member of the Bradley family, who are considered one of the most influential families in the history of country music.
Bradley is survived by her husband Jerry, her step-children Leigh Jankiv and Clay Bradley, who is an executive at BMI, and her extended family and friends. Plans for memorial services have not been announced at this time.
A Loss for the Country Music Community
Bradley’s death has been met with sadness and tributes from the country music community, who have expressed their gratitude and admiration for her work and personality. Many have shared their memories and stories of working with Bradley, and how she impacted their lives and careers.
Paul Williams, ASCAP chairman and president, and songwriter, said in a statement: “As head of ASCAP’s Nashville office for more than three decades, Connie Bradley was a mentor to so many of country music’s greatest songwriters and an indelible part of ASCAP’s history. She was a maverick leader in country music with an enormous heart who passionately advocated for the songwriters she loved so much. ASCAP and country music lost an iconic leader today. Our hearts go out to her family and the large community of songwriters who loved her.”
Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO, said in a statement: “I am so saddened to hear the news of Connie’s passing. She was one of the many trailblazers, along with Frances Preston and Jo Walker Meador, for women in the Nashville music business. Her passion for artists, songs and the Country Music industry as a whole paved the way for so many. Personally, I will miss her class, her stories and her humor. I am heartbroken for Jerry, and offer my deepest condolences to him and their family during this time.”
Connie Bradley Cause of Death: How the Nashville Music Trailblazer Passed Away is a tribute to the life and legacy of Connie Bradley, who was a key figure in the country music industry for more than three decades. She will be remembered and missed by many who knew and worked with her.
