Toby Keith Golf Classic Raises $1.35 Million, SOLID and Leadership Music Clean Nashville, Opry Adds New Artist-Relations Manager
The country music community marked a busy June with a series of events that combined philanthropy, environmental stewardship, and talent‑management moves. The 22nd Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic, the SOLID Backstage Auction during CMA Fest, a joint Litter Walk by Leadership Music and SOLID, and a new hire at Opry Entertainment Group all took place in the first half of the month.
The Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic was held June 12‑13 at Riverwind Casino and Keith’s Belmar Golf Club in Henderson, Texas. The event, themed around the 250th anniversary of American independence, drew a field of amateur and professional golfers. The tournament’s live auction, hosted by radio and TV personality Shawn Parr and philanthropist Jim West, raised more than $1.35 million for The Toby Keith Foundation. Proceeds support the foundation’s work with OK Kids Korral, a program that provides educational and health services to children in Oklahoma.
In Nashville, SOLID’s annual Backstage Auction ran June 4‑7 inside Music City Center’s Fan Fair X during CMA Fest 2026. The silent auction, SOLID’s largest fundraiser, generated over $27,000 for the CMA Foundation. Items included guitars signed by country artists Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley. Proceeds fund SOLID’s year‑round programming, which includes educational panels, networking events, mentorship initiatives, scholarship opportunities, and community service projects aimed at developing the next generation of music‑industry professionals.
On June 26, Leadership Music and SOLID organized the inaugural Music Row Litter Walk, a community beautification effort that targeted Nashville’s historic Music Row district. Fifteen volunteer teams—each pairing a Leadership Music member with a SOLID member—fanned out across the neighborhood and surrounding streets. Despite high temperatures and humidity, participants collected 30 large bags of trash by the end of the morning, visibly improving the appearance of the area.
The Opry Entertainment Group announced the addition of Senior Manager of Artist Relations Stacey Cato to its Artist Relations team. Cato brings more than 25 years of experience in music, television, and digital media. Prior to joining the Opry, he served as Director of Music & Talent for Paramount/ViacomCBS, where he oversaw artist and label relations for programming on CMT and other platforms. In his new role, Cato will report to Director of Artist Relations Jenn Tressler and work alongside Manager of Artist Relations Lexi Lampkin.
These events illustrate the breadth of activity within the country‑music ecosystem. The golf classic demonstrates how celebrity‑led sporting events can generate significant charitable revenue. SOLID’s auction shows the continued importance of live‑event fundraising for industry‑wide development programs. The Litter Walk highlights a growing trend of artists and music‑industry groups engaging in local environmental stewardship. Finally, the Opry’s hiring move signals ongoing investment in professional artist‑relations infrastructure.
All four initiatives were completed in June 2026, and their outcomes—financial, environmental, and organizational—will likely influence future programming and partnership strategies across the country‑music community.
