Rita Cossette, Holly Gleason and Jensen Sussman
NY Times No. 1 best-selling author Holly Gleason recently celebrated six awards from the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, including top honors for Diversity in the Music/Performing Arts/Arts Industry for Print for “Shaboozey’s Evolution,” as well as second place for Independent Journalist of the Year.
Gleason also earned Second Places for Obituary/Appreciation, Film Personalities (Print/Online), Commentary Analysis/Trend (Print), and Music/Performing Arts Feature Under 1000 Words (Print), in addition to Third Place for Best Arts or Entertainment Limited Series Podcast for “The Boar’s Nest: Sue Brewer & the Birth of Outlaw Country.” Gleason’s stories were placed in a myriad of outlets including the New York Times, PASTE, POLLSTAR, HITS and her own website.
The honors come as the book HEART LIFE MUSIC, co-authored with Kenny Chesney, spends its fifth week on The New York Times best seller lists. Returning to the top five after a No. 1 debut, it is No. 4 Nonfiction, Hardcover and No. 5 Nonfiction, Hardcover and E-Book.
“I am both amazed and proud of my partner in this book,” Chesney says of her journalism awards. “She works to tell stories she believes are important; she digs in to make sure she gets what matters and not just what’s obvious. How much she cares about getting to the story’s heart is clear in the work.”
“Of all the awards, being recognized for diversity coming from country in what is a very fast, all the biggest magazines and newspapers across the nation, makes me very proud,” adds Gleason. “Shaboozey’s story is powerful, and country music is better for what he creates. Here’s to Nashville being recognized like this in a year with really powerful, political, cultural and sociological entries.”
Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.