From New Orleans to Nashville: How the CMA Foundation and The Roots of Music Champion Equity at CMA Fest

June 16, 2025

Written By Katerine Gerasimenko, with additional reporting.

The Roots of Music marching band from New Orleans performs with country artist Ashley McBryde on stage at CMA Fest 2025 in Nissan Stadium.

For a group of students from the Roots of Music program in New Orleans, performing at CMA Fest in Nashville last weekend marked several firsts: first plane ride, first time outside Louisiana and first national performance opportunity. Over the four-day festival, its students performed on national stages as part of the Country Music Association (CMA) Foundation’s effort to highlight youth involvement in music and bring visibility to programs that provide equitable access to arts education.

The collaboration is more than just a performance; it’s a powerful demonstration of a shared mission to empower youth through music, address educational inequities, and preserve a vital cultural heritage.

The Roots of Music: More Than a Marching Band

The Roots of Music is a nonprofit based in New Orleans that offers students ages 9 to 14 free music instruction, academic tutoring, meals, and transportation. Founded in 2007 by Derrick Tabb, a Grammy-winning snare drummer for the Rebirth Brass Band, the program was created to fill the void in music education left after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city's school systems. Tabb’s vision was to keep children off the streets during the most dangerous hours of the day and provide them with a safe haven built on mentorship and the rich musical traditions of New Orleans.

The program serves youth from low-income households and provides comprehensive, year-round support five days a week, delivering over 2,500 hours of music education and academic tutoring annually. This holistic approach addresses critical needs beyond music, tackling challenges like food insecurity and transportation that can be significant barriers to participation.

A Mission of Equity: The CMA Foundation's Vision

The CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, has supported the Roots of Music program since 2017. The foundation’s mission is to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in high-quality music education by investing in programs across the United States.

Tiffany Kerns, the foundation’s executive director, said the organization looks for programs that remove access barriers to music education. The foundation’s relationship with The Roots of Music began after its leaders witnessed a rehearsal and noted the rigor and discipline required of the students, which includes marching while playing instruments and developing breath control through consistent practice.

“At Roots, they aren’t just teaching music — they’re developing the next generation of leaders,” Kerns said.

This partnership is crucial, as millions of students nationwide, a disproportionate number of whom are Black or Hispanic and from low-income families, lack access to music and arts education. The CMA Foundation uses a data-informed strategy to guide its investments, ensuring that funding addresses genuine needs rather than assumptions. “We are firm believers that no dollar is wasted when you are addressing actual needs,” Kerns has stated.

The Big Stage: A Milestone at CMA Fest 2025

The performance at CMA Fest represented a milestone for the participating students. The Marching Crusaders performed for fans outside Nissan Stadium and later joined country artist Ashley McBryde on the main stage for a show-stopping collaboration of “Boogie Wonderland. The group also made history as the first student marching band to perform inside Nissan Stadium during the festival.

For many of the 60 students who traveled to Nashville, the experience was transformative. Jaron “Bear” Williams, a former student and the current band director at The Roots of Music, captured the significance of the moment.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for our students to shine on a national level,” said Williams. “We're so grateful for the CMA Foundation's support and for the chance to show the world just how amazing our kids are.”

A Festival with a Purpose

CMA Fest is also the CMA Foundation’s largest fundraiser. In a tradition unique to the festival, artists donate their time and talent so that a portion of the proceeds can support the foundation's work. This year’s event raised $3 million through ticket sales, merchandise, and vendor donations to support music education programs like Roots of Music.

To further amplify the story, the foundation is producing a mini-documentary series, set to release in the fall, that will explore the experiences of the Roots of Music students and the broader impact of music education. The project aims to raise continued awareness around access and equity in arts education.

The festival is a testament to the country music community's commitment to giving back, turning four days of celebration into a powerful engine for social impact and educational change.