CMA hands out touring honors; Chesney associates win four

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 – The Country Music Association presented industry honors at the 2022 CMA Touring Awards Tuesday in Nashville. People associated with Kenny Chesney's tour took home four awards, while Luke Combs captured three.

Hosted by Keith Urban, the evening marked the grand return of the CMA Touring Awards, having been postponed for two years due to the pandemic.

John Huie, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Music Nashville Co-Head, was also honored with the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given to an individual who has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of touring throughout the years. It honors an individual that has proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on Country Music fans and the industry alike, and whose presence will have a long-term positive impact on Country Music and CMA for generations to come.

Winners were:
Business Manager of the Year - Stephanie Mundy Self (Farris, Self & Moore, LLC)

Coach/Truck Driver of the Year - John Stalder (Kenny Chesney)

Front House Engineer of the Year - Robert Scovill (Kenny Chesney)

Lighting Director of the Year - Chris Reade (Dierks Bentley)

Manager of the Year - Chris Kappy (Make Wake Artists)

Tour Manager of the Year - David Farmer (Kenny Chesney)

Monitor Engineer of the Year - Michael Zuehsow (Luke Combs)

Production Manager of the Year- Jerry Slone (Luke Combs)

Publicist of the Year - Ebie McFarland (Essential Broadcast Media)

Talent Agent of the Year - Austin Neal (The Neal Agency)

Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year - Brian O'Connell (Live Nation Nashville)

Tour Videographer/Photographer of the Year - Jill Trunnell (Kenny Chesney)

Tour Video Director of the Year - Tyler Hutcheson (Luke Combs)

Venue of the Year - Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)