Co-owner and CEO, Creative Nation

After rising through the ranks at BMI, Baird started Creative Nation in 2011 with husband Luke Laird as her star client… and you couldn’t really say he’s been eclipsed in that regard, with writing cuts with nearly every major artist in country (Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood), 20 No. 1 hits and breakout success as a producer with Kacey Musgraves. But just as big a story lately is the company’s work with Lori McKenna, who was already on a roll as a country songwriter when she signed with CN in 2015 but was thinking of slowing down her career as an Americana/folk artist. Laird convinced McKenna she could do it all — and her 2016 album with producer Dave Cobb brought the singer new attention and three Grammy nominations. McKenna’s participation in the “A Star is Born” writing rooms with Lady Gaga means CN has its name on two of that soundtrack’s more popular tunes, “Always Remember Us This Way” and “I’ll Never Love Again.” One of country’s most promising freshmen, Kassi Ashton, is among the roster’s new lights.