Beloved veteran journalist Vernell Hackett, 77, died in Chicago on August 14, 2026, of cardiac arrest. Hackett collapsed in the Chicago airport en route to Mexico for vacation. Born Vernell Dell Boswank, Hackett was a proud Texan who grew up in the tiny town of Riesel in McLennan County. She graduated from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Her older brother Bubba was a Houston police officer, and Hackett initially planned a career in crime reporting, but her love of music won out, and she became one of the nation’s top entertainment journalists. Following college, she and her husband Ken moved to Buffalo, NY, to be near his family before later relocating to Nashville. As she built her career in Music City, Hackett took a job at Top Billing International, working for legendary booking agent Tandy Rice, who represented Dolly Parton, Jim Ed Brown, Jerry Clower, Porter Wagoner, Jeannie C. Riley, Tom T. Hall, and more. Hackett later worked in the communications department at the Country Music Association. A respected voice in country music Hackett’s skills as a journalist best exemplify her legacy in Nashville. She was a gifted writer, always able to bring her subjects to vivid life in her articles, and her integrity earned her the trust of country music’s most acclaimed artists. Hackett was always gracious with her time and frequently mentored young reporters while serving as editor of Country News, Country Rhythms, and American Songwriter magazines. One of her proudest accomplishments was being a founder of American Songwriter magazine. She shepherded the publication as editor-in-chief for more than a decade, and passionately championed songwriters all her life. Over the course of her career, she freelanced for numerous publications and radio syndicators. Hackett’s resume also includes public relations. In the 1980s, she worked with a struggling rodeo cowboy who was selling cassettes out of his trunk. The first time many heard of Chris LeDoux was because of Hackett. He went on to be a superstar, and Chris and his father Al never forgot the role Hackett played in launching his career. She represented award-winning bluegrass artist Dale Ann Bradley, singer/songwriter Ryan Murphey, western singer/songwriter Joni Harms, Americana duo Jesse & Noah, John McEuen, and cowboy singer/songwriter/rancher Randy Huston. Hackett was also an author. She penned Ghosts, Gangsters and Gamblers of Las Vegas with longtime friends Liz Cavanaugh and Michelle Honick and also wrote a biography of Carrie Underwood. A lifelong commitment to animal welfare Hackett was a noted philanthropist and was particularly passionate about animal rights. She worked tirelessly with animal rescues and was a major supporter of the Robyn’s Nest shelter. Decades ago, when friends threw a birthday party, Hackett told people not to bring gifts but to bring dog food. She gathered her musician friends for some good old-fashioned pickin’ and singin’, and thus an annual tradition was born that saw thousands of pounds of pet food as well as monetary donations go to Robyn’s Nest. Hackett is survived by her nephew Glen Boswank of Nashville and niece Katy Prewitt of Kaufman, Texas. She leaves behind a legacy of love and an excellent body of work that helped elevate many talented artists to prominence. Remembered by friends and artists Artists including Michael Martin Murphey, Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys and David Bellamy of The Bellamy Brothers shared their condolences and happy memories of Hackett. “Vernell Hackett was the kindest, most down-to-earth journalist and human being I’ve ever known. She had a sense of what the common, everyday country music fan is looking for in a story. Vernell went out of her way to support me on my journey to put the “Western” back in “Country”. She really had fun with that! Vernell was a true friend who let nothing stand in the way of what friendship really means- accepting the many imperfections all people have. She was just as concerned about how your family and pets were doing as she was about your latest hit record. She led a life of love and laughter and joy, but when tears came, hers always washed away the sorrow.” said Michael Martin Murphey. Duane Allen said, “Vernell was my close personal friend for decades. Sometimes, we would talk two or three times a week. The last week of her life, she sent a beautiful poem that was suitable to hang on any wall. I look forward to seeing her in Heaven, rejoicing with our many mutual friends, and I can imagine that there will be many of our four-legged friends to keep us company.” “She was always so very kind to us, and we feel privileged to have known her through the years. We send prayers and condolences to her family and loved ones,” shared David Bellamy.
