HONOR SPECIAL WOMEN FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSIC
INDUSTRY
Chuck Chellman (Georgia Twitty’s widower), 2011 Honorees Millie Kirkham, Evelyn Shriver, Roberta Edging and Janice Wendell
Long-time Grand Ole Opry star JEANNIE SEELY hosted this year’s Ninth Annual SOURCE Awards this past Thursday evening, August 25, 2011 at the Noah Liff Opera Center in Nashville. Respected music critic, author and historian ROBERT K. OERMANN was the evening’s guest speaker.
The SOURCE Awards is an annual celebration honoring women in the music industry for their tireless work and contributions to the business. This year’s 2011 SOURCE Awards Honorees were Roberta Edging (Eddy Arnold Enterprises), Millie Kirkham (WSM Radio, Tree Music Publishing, Legendary Background Vocalist), Barbara Orbison (Barbara Orbison Productions, Roy Orbison Music, Pretty Woman Perfume), Evelyn Shriver (Evelyn Shriver Public Relations, Asylum Records, Bandit Records), Janice Wendell (Noble Dury, Erickson Advertising) plus a posthumous recognition for Georgia Twitty Chellman (Gospel Jubilee, Music City Hotline, Veeson Travel, Tennessee T-Cake).
One by one, each honoree was celebrated and presented on stage with plaques. Stories, praise and laughs were shared among the sold-out crowd.
As Nashville-native Millie Kirkham accepted her award, she took a lighthearted tone when sharing about the sacrifices she sometimes needed to make. “I wasn’t home to cook dinner for my family,” she recalled. “Thank goodness, a company called Swanson’s came along. My daughter is living proof that you can survive on frozen TV dinners.”
Janice Wendell’s speech offered meaningful advice, “I hope all of you find something you love to do. Because it won’t feel like working if you do. Enjoy life. It’s short. Do something nice for somebody every day.”
Among those in attendance, past honorees Frances Preston, Jo Walker-Meador, Pat McCoy, Liz Thiels, Celia Froehlig, Sandy Neese, Hope Powell, Ruth White, Carol Phillips and Hazel Smith.
Founded in 1991, SOURCE is a nonprofit organization supporting women executives and professionals who work in all facets of the Nashville music industry. In 2003, the SOURCE Awards were established to pay respect and honor the women who develop and build upon the foundation of the music industry in Nashville.