Suzanne Lee

A fortunate stroke of serendipity in the early ‘80s set newlywed and new Nashvillian Suzanne Lee on a path she never imagined. A chance interview with a downtown department store personnel director – songwriter Mary Welch Francis – did not result in the retail sales position for which Suzanne was applying. Instead Francis was aware that ASCAP Nashvillle was looking for a receptionist, and she thought in Suzanne she had found the perfect candidate for the PRO. Francis sent her to interview at ASCAP where Suzanne was indeed offered the position.

The Meridian, Mississippi native’s tenure at ASCAP’s front desk was brief. Within three months she became Writer Administrator and just six months later, she became Executive Assistant to Southern Regional Director Connie Bradley. Suzanne eventually became Office Manager for ASCAP Nashville. Bradley retired as SVP of the PRO.

From 2000 – 2010, Suzanne was instrumental in the planning and coordination of the ASCAP Country Music Awards and the ASCAP Christian Music Awards shows under the direction of Bradley. Through the years, she gained a reputation for her decorous way of handling the constant and often last-minute demands of these types of events.

Suzanne retired from ASCAP in June, 2022 as Administrative Manager, where she managed a wide area of responsibilities, from the day-to-day building operations and maintenance of the ASCAP Nashville office to the coordination of all meeting and event space, as well as employee functions and events.

From a young age, her parents taught her the importance of loyalty, working hard, and giving back to the community. Lee is co-director of the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament, the longest-running charity event on Music Row, now in its 35th year, which has raised over $2.4m for United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee. She chaired the SOURCE Hall of Fame Awards in 2018 and 2019 and co-chaired the event from 2013 – 2017.

She is a graduate of Mississippi State University and a proud Chi Omega alumna.