Skip to main content Edward Morris Courtesy Morris Public Relations Trending on Billboard Respected Nashville entertainment journalist and author Edward Morris died on Thursday (Sept.

17) at age 90.

Morris is known for his 14-year tenure at Billboard, as well as a 20-year role writing for CMT’s online platform.

Morris also wrote for Hollywood Reporter, TV Guide, Bluegrass Unlimited and The Journal of Country Music.

He was an author of eight books and wrote poetry as well as a theatrical production.

Born on Sept.

21, 1935, Morris grew up in West Virginia.

He served as the editor of the Elkview High School newspaper and went on to enroll at Morris Harvey College (now known as the University of Charleston), where he edited the college paper and studied English literature and poetry.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1958, followed by a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio University.

While at OU, Morris met musical theater performer Norma Chapman.

They wed in 1960 and were married for 61 years.

From Miley to ROSÉ of BLACKPINK, Which New Music Release Is Your Favorite This Week? Vote! Hannah Dailey Morris taught journalism and English at Alice Lloyd College (Kentucky), Bowling Green State University (Ohio), Edinboro State College (Pennsylvania) and Findlay College (Ohio), before serving as an assistant editor at Writer’s Digest.

His work with Billboard began in 1972 when he began writing freelance articles for the publication.

He moved to Nashville in 1980 and joined Billboard‘s staff full-time in 1981.

Morris became Billboard‘s country music editor and chief Nashville columnist, while Norma became a Nashville publicist working with artists including Ralph Stanley and Steve Wariner.

Morris left Billboard in 1995.

Beyond his work for Billboard, Morris wrote for publications including Advertising Age, TV Guide, McCall’s, Hollywood Reporter, Amusement Business, Book Page, The Journal Of Country Music, Mother Earth News, Bluegrass Unlimited, Saturday Evening Post and other national periodicals.

He also wrote liner note essays for albums and box sets by The Judds, Keith Whitley, Eddy Arnold, Guy Clark, Hank Snow, Chet Atkins and others.

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) named Morris as its Print Journalist of the Year in 1993.

In 1999, Morris started a two-decade tenure as a writer for CMT’s online platform, until the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, when he was impacted by layoffs.

In 2002, Morris was honored at Belmont University’s....