Carter Family Fold Announces Ellen A. Stroud
as New Executive Director
Longtime Music Champion Joins Fold as 2027 Bristol Sessions 100th Anniversary Approaches
HILTONS, Va. — The Carter Family Fold is proud to announce the appointment of Ellen A. Stroud as its new Executive Director, effective July 16, 2026. Stroud succeeds Rita Forrester, who has led the organization with unwavering dedication since the passing of her mother, Fold founder Janette Carter, in 2006.
Stroud brings more than thirty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, grant management, government relations, and music programming to the role, along with a lifelong personal connection to the Carter Family Fold and the music it preserves.
“Ellen Stroud is exactly the kind of leader the Carter Family Fold needs as we look toward our next chapter,” said Dr. Joe Smiddy, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “She brings serious organizational experience, deep roots in this region, and a genuine love for this music and this legacy. We are confident she will serve this institution and this community with the commitment it deserves.”
“Passing the torch of the Carter Family Fold is one of the most meaningful things I will ever do,” said outgoing Executive Director Rita Forrester. “Ellen has the heart for this place and the skills to carry it forward. I look forward to seeing everything she will build — and I will be cheering her on every step of the way.”
“The Carter Family Fold is one of Virginia’s most treasured cultural assets, preserving the music and stories that have shaped our Commonwealth and influenced generations around the world,” said Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Ellen brings an exceptional combination of nonprofit leadership, strategic vision, and a deep appreciation for the Fold’s remarkable legacy. We congratulate her on this new role and look forward to continuing our partnership as the Fold enters this exciting new chapter.”
“This is a historic time at The Carter Family Fold as Rita passes the keys of her family’s legacy to Ellen, congratulations and welcome,” said Joshua M. Wilson, County Administrator Scott County, VA. “The Carter Family Fold is not only the premier music venue in the region, but also a living landmark celebrating the people, heritage, and history that makes Scott County great. As we come upon 100 years of The Carter Family and their historic mark on the world, I am excited to see what Ellen has in store for the future.”
“This milestone marks an important chapter in the Carter Family Fold’s history of preserving and promoting Appalachian music,” said Tyler Hughes, Executive Director of The Crooked Road. “We are excited to welcome Ellen to The Crooked Road family and can’t wait to see what exciting plans she has for the Fold!”
Stroud is the Founder and CEO of Good Strings Entertainment, LLC, a Jonesborough, Tennessee-based music booking and marketing agency specializing in Bluegrass and Americana artists. She has represented Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, who opened and will close the current season of the Carter Family Fold, Lorraine Jordan and her bands Carolina Road and Country Grass, and songwriter Bobby Starnes. She has served as a regional promoter for Bluegrass in the Blue Ridge Festival in Kingsport, Tennessee, and attends live bluegrass and roots music events weekly throughout the Appalachian region.
Before founding Good Strings Entertainment, Stroud served as Interim Project Director for North Carolina’s State Opioid Response grant, overseeing $146 million in federal programming across treatment, recovery, and harm reduction. Earlier in her career she dedicated nearly a decade to the fight against food insecurity, advocating on Capitol Hill for national nutrition programs and serving families in Northeast Tennessee. She is also the founder of ESI Strategies, a government relations and consulting firm she has led since 2001. Stroud also served as Press Secretary and Director of Special Projects for a Member of Congress from Virginia.
Stroud holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from East Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Roanoke College. She is a graduate of Leadership Kingsport through the Kingsport Chamber. She is a licensed professional counselor and a recipient of the Tri-Cities Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award.
Stroud’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Fold. The 100th anniversary of the Bristol Sessions, the 1927 recordings that gave birth to commercial country music and launched the Carter Family into history, will be celebrated in 2027, bringing national and international attention to the region and to the Carter Family’s unparalleled legacy. “The Carter Family Fold has long been a place where music brings people together and Appalachian traditions are celebrated and preserved. The legacy that A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter built and that Janette Carter and Rita Forrester have faithfully preserved needs to continue and to grow,” said Ellen A. Stroud. “I look forward to building on the Carter Family Fold’s rich history, welcoming new audiences, and working with our community to ensure the Fold continues to inspire and connect people for generations to come.” Her connection to the Fold goes back to childhood. She first stood at the Fold as a young girl, watching Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash perform. That memory never left her.
About the Carter Family Fold
The Carter Family Memorial Music Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and performance of traditional old-time country and folk music. Located in Hiltons, Virginia at the foot of Clinch Mountain in Poor Valley, the ancestral home of the Carter Family, the Fold presents a concert every Saturday evening from March through November. The Fold is the premier anchor stop of The Crooked Road, Virginia’s 330-mile heritage music trail, and welcomes visitors from around the world. The executive director’s position is supported by the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission and the Anne and Gene Worrell Foundation.
Media Contact
Ellen A. Stroud, Executive Director
The Carter Family Fold
TheCarterFold@gmail.com (276) 594-0676 carterfamilyfold.org