Vernell Hackett Obituary, Cause of Death – Country Music Journalist and American Songwriter Pioneer Dies at 77

Vernell Hackett, the veteran country music journalist whose career stretched across several decades of Nashville music history, has died at 77.

Hackett died August 14 after suffering cardiac arrest at Chicago’s airport while traveling to Mexico for a vacation. Her death brought an end to a career that began with an interest in crime reporting but eventually led her deep into the country music world, where she became a respected writer, editor, author, publicist and mentor.

For many people in the music business, Hackett was not simply someone who wrote about country music. She was someone who knew the people behind it.

She developed relationships with artists, songwriters, publicists and industry figures over many years, and her reputation was built as much on trust as it was on her writing.

From Riesel, Texas, to Nashville

Hackett was born and raised in Riesel, Texas, a small community that remained part of her personal story even after her career took her far beyond the state.

Her first professional ambition was actually quite different from the career for which she would eventually become known. Hackett had wanted to become a crime reporter, inspired in part by her brother Bubba, who worked as a Houston police officer.

After graduating from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, Hackett and her husband, Ken, moved first to Buffalo, New York, before eventually making their way to Nashville.

That move changed the direction of her life.

In Nashville, Hackett took a position with Top Billing International, working for legendary booking agent Tandy Rice. Rice represented an impressive collection of country performers, including Dolly Parton, Jim Ed Brown, Jerry Clower, Porter Wagoner, Jeannie C. Riley and Tom T. Hall.

It was the beginning of Hackett’s long relationship with the country music industry.

She later worked in the communications department of the Country Music Association and also spent time working in public relations.

Her career eventually expanded to include representation of artists such as Chris LeDoux, Dale Ann Bradley, Ryan Murphey, Joni Harms, Jesse & Noah, John McEuen and Randy Huston.

The Woman Behind American Songwriter

Perhaps Hackett’s most important professional achievement came through American Songwriter, a publication she helped create.

Hackett had previously been editor of Country News. In her own account of the magazine’s history, she recalled being asked what kind of new publication she would want to start.

Her answer was a magazine devoted to songwriting.

The idea came partly from the response to a songwriting column by Even Stevens. Readers were sending in questions about how songs were written, and Hackett recognized an opportunity to give songwriters greater attention.

That idea eventually became American Songwriter.

The magazine launched in 1984, with Merle Haggard on its inaugural cover.

Hackett went on to serve as editor-in-chief and co-owner for two decades, from 1984 through 2004. Her work helped establish the publication as an important place for conversations about songwriting and the people behind the music.

Her writing also appeared in numerous publications over the years. She continued contributing to American Songwriter long after her editorial leadership ended, including articles about artists such as Merle Haggard, Mac Davis, Ringo Starr, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and many others.

A Journalist Who Knew the People Behind the Songs

Hackett’s work was not limited to reporting on releases, charts or industry news.

She was interested in the stories behind the music.

That approach can be seen throughout her writing career. She interviewed major performers and songwriters and wrote about the experiences that shaped their music.

Her work with American Songwriter included a 1984 cover story on Merle Haggard, while later articles explored the careers and creative lives of artists across country, rock, pop and other genres.

Her professional relationships also extended beyond journalism. She worked in public relations and developed close connections with performers and people throughout the Nashville music community.

That combination of journalism experience and personal relationships helped make her a trusted figure in the industry.

Vernell Hackett as an Author

Hackett also took her storytelling beyond magazine journalism.

She co-wrote Ghosts, Gangsters and Gamblers of Las Vegas with longtime friends Liz Cavanaugh and Michelle Honick.

She was also the author of a biography of country superstar Carrie Underwood, adding another dimension to a career that had already encompassed reporting, editing and music-industry public relations.

Her work was ultimately about people — how they came to make music, where their stories began and what happened behind the scenes.

A Love of Animals and Life Outside Journalism

Away from her professional work, Hackett had interests that revealed a more personal side of her life.

She was known for her love of animals and was particularly passionate about animal rescue. She supported rescue organizations and was a major supporter of Robyn’s Nest, a shelter dedicated to helping animals.

A professional profile also described her interests as including music, books, traveling, gardening and mystery or detective stories — interests that fit naturally with the curiosity that characterized so much of her journalism.

Those details offer a fuller picture of the woman beyond her professional title.

She could spend one part of her life interviewing some of the biggest names in music and another caring about animals, books, gardening and the quieter interests of everyday life.

Vernell Hackett Cause of Death

Vernell Hackett died on August 14, 2026, after suffering cardiac arrest at a Chicago airport while traveling to Mexico for vacation. She was 77.

Her death was sudden, particularly because she had been traveling when the medical emergency occurred.

The news prompted an outpouring of affection from people who had known and worked with her throughout her long career.

Among those remembering her was Oak Ridge Boys member Duane Allen, who described Hackett as a close personal friend of many decades and recalled her positivity, love of the Lord, friends and animals. Musician Michael Martin Murphey also remembered her as exceptionally kind and down-to-earth and praised the way she understood what ordinary country music fans wanted from a story.

Those tributes speak to something that professional achievements alone cannot explain: the personal relationships Hackett built over the years.

Vernell Hackett Family

Hackett is survived by her nephew Glen Boswank of Nashville, Tennessee, and niece Katy Prewitt of Kaufman, Texas.

Her family connections also reached back to her Texas roots. Hackett was born Vernell Dell Boswank, and records identify her nephew Glen Boswank as part of the family that survives her.

For those family members, her death marks the loss of not simply a well-known journalist but a relative whose life carried her from a small Texas town into one of the most influential music communities in America.

A Legacy That Lives in the Music Press

There is a particular irony in the death of someone who spent much of her career recording the stories of other people.

Hackett spent decades preserving the voices and experiences of singers, songwriters and musicians. She helped create a publication dedicated to telling the stories behind songs, and she continued writing about music long after her years as an editor-in-chief.

Her own story now becomes part of that history.

The magazine she helped launch in 1984 continues to carry the influence of the idea she had decades ago — that the people who write songs deserve to have their stories told.

That may be one of the clearest ways to understand Hackett’s professional legacy.

She did not simply report on country music. She helped build part of the media infrastructure through which its songwriters and artists were understood.

She also helped younger journalists find their footing, mentoring reporters throughout her career and earning a reputation for generosity toward people coming up behind her.

Remembering Vernell Hackett

Vernell Hackett’s life took a remarkable path.

A young woman from Riesel who once imagined herself becoming a crime reporter eventually found her place in Nashville, where she spent decades writing about music and the people who created it.

She worked with some of country music’s most recognizable names, helped establish American Songwriter, wrote books, worked in public relations, supported animal rescue and remained active as a journalist for many years.

But perhaps her most lasting legacy will be found in the relationships she left behind.

People remember journalists for their stories, but they remember friends for how those friends made them feel.

The tributes following Hackett’s death suggest that she was valued for both.

Her byline will remain attached to decades of music history. Her work will continue to be read. The publication she helped create will continue telling stories about songwriters.

And for the people who knew her personally, there will be memories that no publication can contain.

Vernell Hackett died at 77, but the stories she spent her life telling — and the people she helped along the way — ensure that her name will remain part of the history of country music journalism.

Funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been announced.

Disclaimer: This obituary is based on publicly available information and published tributes available at the time of writing. Funeral arrangements and additional personal details may be updated if the family or an authorized representative releases further information.