Trending on Billboard Nashville’s music community was emotionally leveled on Jan. 30, 2025, when local Warner Chappell president/CEO Ben Vaughn died . The loss was palpable. Vaughn provided an understanding ear for creators going through hard times, and he was a cheerleader for the songwriters he worked with – including Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Chris Stapleton and Dan + Shay – as well as for executives at other companies with whom he had no financial interest. In the following months, Vaughn’s death certificate confirmed that he had died by suicide; as much as Music City music makers leaned on him, it was devastating to discover that Vaughn hadn’t reached out to his friends and loved ones. In the early going, the circumstances surrounding his passing were avoided publicly, in part out of respect for his children. But even after a memorial and several other commemorations, people needed to process it. Explore See latest videos, charts and news On Dec.…