CMT News

Donna Hilley, a prominent figure in Nashville's music publishing community, died Wednesday (June 20) after an extended period of failing health, according to The Tennessean newspaper. She was 65. She joined Tree music publishing in 1973 and was named the company's chief operating officer in 1978. Tree later became part of Sony/ATV publishing conglomerate, with Hilley named Tree's CEO and vice president in 1994. She also served on the boards of the CMA, ASCAP and the Music Publishers Association of the United States. Hilley retired in 2005.