Melinda Newman is the Executive Editor of Billboard, overseeing coverage from the West Coast and Nashville. A Vanderbilt University graduate, she has spent more than 25 years reporting on culture and entertainment.

Her career began in Nashville and has included writing for prestigious outlets such as The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Variety, and Forbes. Melinda is a 2020 CMA Media Achievement Award recipient and the 2024 She Rocks Award honoree.

In 2022, her profile on Dolly Parton earned her second place for Celebrity Features by the LA Press Club’s National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. Throughout her career, she has reported from countries like Mali, Lebanon, and Poland, but nothing excites her more than being in the front row at a Bruce Springsteen concert.

Melinda splits her time between Los Angeles and Nashville, continuing to shape and elevate entertainment journalism on a global scale.