Age, Biography and Wiki
Jo Walker-Meador is a 93-year-old American executive who has had a long and successful career in the music industry. She is best known for her work as the executive director of the Country Music Association (CMA) from 1964 to 1991.
Born Edith Josephine Denning in Orlinda, Tennessee, she attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a degree in journalism. After college, she worked as a reporter for the Nashville Banner and then as a publicist for the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1964, she was appointed executive director of the CMA, a position she held for 27 years. During her tenure, she was instrumental in the growth of the CMA and the country music industry. She was also responsible for the creation of the CMA Awards, which are now one of the most prestigious awards in the music industry.
In 1991, she retired from the CMA and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has since been honored with numerous awards, including the National Medal of Arts, the National Music Council's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Academy of Country Music's Pioneer Award.
As of 2021, Jo Walker-Meador's net worth is estimated to be roughly $2 million.
| Popular As |
Edith Josephine Denning |
| Occupation |
N/A |
| Age |
93 years old |
| Zodiac Sign |
Aquarius |
| Born |
16 February 1924 |
| Birthday |
16 February |
| Birthplace |
Orlinda, Tennessee, US |
| Date of death |
(2017-08-16) Nashville, Tennessee, US |
| Died Place |
Nashville, Tennessee, US |
| Nationality |
United States |
We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 16 February.
She is a member of famous Executive with the age 93 years old group.
Jo Walker-Meador Height, Weight & Measurements
At 93 years old, Jo Walker-Meador height not available right now. We will update Jo Walker-Meador's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.
| Physical Status |
| Height |
Not Available |
| Weight |
Not Available |
| Body Measurements |
Not Available |
| Eye Color |
Not Available |
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Not Available |
Who Is Jo Walker-Meador's Husband?
Her husband is Charles Walker (1954–1967, his death) Bob Meador (1981–2015, his death)
| Family |
| Parents |
Not Available |
| Husband |
Charles Walker (1954–1967, his death) Bob Meador (1981–2015, his death) |
| Sibling |
Not Available |
| Children |
3 |
Jo Walker-Meador Net Worth
Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. So, how much is Jo Walker-Meador worth at the age of 93 years old? Jo Walker-Meador’s income source is mostly from being a successful Executive. She is from United States. We have estimated
Jo Walker-Meador's net worth
, money, salary, income, and assets.
| Net Worth in 2023 |
$1 Million - $5 Million |
| Salary in 2023 |
Under Review |
| Net Worth in 2022 |
Pending |
| Salary in 2022 |
Under Review |
| House |
Not Available |
| Cars |
Not Available |
| Source of Income |
Executive |
Jo Walker-Meador Social Network
| Instagram |
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Timeline
Walker-Meador died of a stroke in Nashville on August 16, 2017.
In 1994, the CMA established the Jo Walker-Meador Award in her honor. It would be given to individuals or organizations for supporting or advocating country music outside of the United States. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame the following year. Joining Walker-Meador in the Hall of Fame in 1995 was Roger Miller.
When Walker-Meador retired in 1991, she was honored at a retirement banquet of more than 1,000 attendees that included future Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Garth Brooks (2012) and Brenda Lee (1997).
Other awards won by Walker-Meador include the City of Nashville Metronome Award in 1970, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors in 1977, the Academy of Country Music Jim Reeves Memorial Award (for establishing a CMA office in London) in 1983, and the first female President of the Board of Big Brothers in 1989. Walker-Meador was also inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame in 2008.
In a meeting on who to replace Stone as CMA's executive director, CMA member and country comedian Minnie Pearl stated, "Jo's doing all the work. Why don't we just hire her?" (Walker was not in attendance at the meeting when Pearl made the comments.) Walker took the position in 1962.
When the CMA was formed in 1958, Denning (then known as Jo Walker) was hired as the first full-time employee to do secretarial duties for the first Executive Director Harry Stone, a former manager for WSM AM radio in Nashville. Stone stayed in the position of executive director until 1960. Prior to her hiring with the CMA, Walker had never visited the Grand Ole Opry.
Walker-Meador was married twice. Her first marriage was to Charles Walker, and lasted from 1954 to Walker's death in 1967. That marriage would produce a daughter Michelle. The second marriage was to Bob Meador, and lasted from 1981 to Meador's death in 2015. Meador's marriage included two stepchildren, Rob and Karen.
In the late 1950s, there were only 81 full-time country music radio stations in the United States. Walker's efforts during her tenure was to increase the number of radio stations in the US, which increased to over 2,400 by the time of her retirement, when she was known as Jo Walker-Meador. Other country music-related items established under Walker during the 1960s were the first Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, with a national fundraising drive that helped complete the physical museum in 1967 (the Hall of Fame itself was established six years earlier), and the creation of the CMA Awards in 1967. In 1972, she helped establish Fan Fair (now the CMA Music Festival) for country music fans worldwide to meet their favorite stars in Nashville.
Jo Walker-Meador (February 16, 1924 – August 16, 2017) was an American music executive who served as Executive Director of the Country Music Association (CMA) from 1962 to 1991. During her tenure, she created the first Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which opened near Music Row and ran from 1967 to 2000, developed the Country Music Association Awards (CMA Awards), which first ran in 1967, and launched Fan Fair (now the CMA Music Festival) in 1972. In 1995, Walker-Meador was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
