Nashville, Tenn. — The Nashville Symphony Association and Symphony Ball 2026 co-chairs Haden Cook and Lynn Scarola announced today that the prestigious 2026 Harmony Award, presented by Amazon, will be co-presented to veteran songwriter, performer and producer Mac McAnally and to star-making CAA agent Rod Essig. The pair will be honored at the 42nd annual Symphony Ball on Saturday, December 12, at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
McAnally, the nine-time CMA Musician of the Year and longtime Jimmy Buffett guitarist, will be joined onstage by vocal powerhouse Amy Grant, whose acclaimed new album he produced and who will perform in his honor.
Essig, who has been instrumental in the careers of some of modern music’s most important artists, including Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, and many others, will be joined by a surprise guest to present him with his award.
Presented annually by the Nashville Symphony since 1986, the Harmony Award recognizes individuals who exemplify the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s music community.
“Our 2026 Harmony Award honorees have spent their careers sharing the sound and spirit of Nashville with audiences around the world,” said Symphony Ball co-chairs Haden Cook and Lynn Scarola. “As a member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, a prolific writer of chart-topping hits for other artists, and a stellar solo performer, Mac McAnally has delighted audiences of all ages for decades. Rod Essig, as head of Nashville’s CAA office, has launched and shepherded the careers of some of the most significant artists in country and pop music. Both of them truly embody the spirit of the Harmony Award, and we are honored to celebrate them.
“I am both surprised and honored to be selected for the Harmony Award by the Nashville Symphony,” said Mac McAnally. “As long as I can remember, I’ve heard all kinds of music in my head and wondered whether my head was the only place it belonged. To join the amazing list of past honorees is one more example of life outshining my ‘wildest’ dreams.
“I’m particularly proud to be recognized by the Nashville Symphony because they, like myself, have continually gone out of their way to honor and appreciate all genres of music,” McAnally continued. “I believe music in all its forms has the power to unite us beyond any and all barriers, be they language or geography or politics. I salute the Nashville Symphony. I am living proof that it’s possible to feel honored without necessarily feeling worthy. I pledge to continue to work toward that as a goal.”
Rod Essig said, “Nashville has always been a haven for music of all kinds, and the connection between Music Row and the Schermerhorn is a vital one, as this summer’s amazing Dolly Parton tribute concerts proved. I have worked with so many wonderful artists over the years, and I truly believe some of the finest musicians in the world are right here in the Nashville Symphony. It’s a true honor to receive this award, and I look forward to many more years of helping promote these superb artists, and instrumental excellence in all genres.”
Mark Cantrell, President and CEO of the Nashville Symphony, said, “I’m eagerly anticipating my first Symphony Ball, and I can’t think of a more dynamic duo to honor than Mac McAnally and Rod Essig. The breadth and depth of Nashville’s musical talent, across all forms and genres, is one of the many reasons I was thrilled to join this team and put down roots in Music City. It is a privilege to recognize two individuals who have made such meaningful contributions to Nashville’s music community, and I look forward to celebrating with the Nashville Symphony’s dedicated patrons on December 12.”
The Symphony Ball is Nashville’s premier winter social event and one of the Nashville Symphony’s annual signature fundraisers. Since its inception in 1985, the Ball has raised more than $15 million for the Symphony, sustaining the organization’s mission of inspiring and engaging an evolving and growing community with extraordinary live orchestral music experiences.
Past recipients of the Harmony Award include T Bone Burnett, the Grand Ole Opry, Randy Travis, John Esposito, Kix Brooks, Lady A, Maren Morris, Keb’ Mo’, Kelsea Ballerini, Toby Keith, Steven Tyler, Béla Fleck, Miranda Lambert, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Mike and Linda Curb, Lyle Lovett, Steve Winwood, Vince Gill, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Chet Atkins, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and Marty Stuart.
Patrons packages for the 2026 Symphony Ball are on sale now at nashvillesymphony.org/symphonyball. Tickets for the white-tie gala will go on sale in October.
About the Nashville Symphony
The Nashville Symphony inspires and engages audiences across Middle Tennessee with extraordinary live orchestral music experiences. Founded in 1946, the Symphony is celebrated for its commitment to contemporary American orchestral music, innovative programming across genres, and a prolific recording legacy, earning 14 GRAMMY® Awards and 27 nominations. Today, the Symphony performs in the world-class, acoustically superb Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and reaches nearly 550,000 Middle Tennesseans annually through its free and low-cost education and community programs. Globally, the orchestra connects with almost 13 million listeners worldwide through its recordings, broadcasts, and streaming activities. The Nashville Symphony is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching its community and inspiring the next generation of music lovers. Learn more at nashvillesymphony.org.
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