What happened to Ben Vaughn? Chris Stapleton dedicates Male artist of the year award to late friend

Ben Vaughn, who had done very well in his role as the President and CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville and had also in the past been a president at EMI Music Publishing, ended his life by shooting himself in the head at his house on the 30th of January, 2025, when he was only 49 years old.

His official death certificate stated that his death took place at 9:54 a.m. at his Nashville residence. The main reason was the “gunshot wound to the head,” while the “self-shot” method was noted under the manner. Vaughn’s suicide was on the heels of a divorce that had been agreed upon between him and his wife, Kim Vaughn, and was waiting to be confirmed by the court, a marriage that had only lasted three months.

It’s possible that Ben was in an emotionally fragile state due to the separation and his long-standing personal problems, and that these, combined with the feelings of loneliness, could have been the main reason for his untimely actions.

During the 60th ACM Awards on May 8, 2025, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, Stapleton delivered an eloquent speech to the crowd. Us Weekly reported that while accepting the award, Stapleton paid tribute, saying,

“I’m thinking a lot about my friend Ben Vaughn who we lost this year, so I’m gonna send this one out to Ben.”

In addition to his praise, Stapleton also thanked his wife, Morgane, his kids, and his whole crew, remarking,

“So many guys in this category that are so deserving… I’m happy just to be hanging out in the room still.”

---

A sudden death amid personal struggles

Ben Vaughn’s death was a great loss for the music publishing business in Nashville. While the details surrounding his death remain private, the praise he received from different quarters of the industry showed his lasting impact as an advocate of artists and songwriters.

Vaughn was an executive at Warner Chappell, but he also helped some of the greatest songwriters in country music. His wife’s professional bond with Stapleton certainly added another level of depth to her award and was special to those who were there, as well as viewers at home.

---

A legacy etched in country music

Public records reveal that Ben Vaughn initiated a divorce proceeding from Kimberly Vaughn on the 17th of January, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason after a marriage of less than three months. They had gotten married in October 2024 and broken up soon after.

Their divorce agreement, which had been arranged on the 24th of January—six days prior to Vaughn's death—gave Kimberly a $280,000 lump sum and instructed her to leave the country house in Nashville. As per the legal document, the couple had no property or liabilities in common, thereby putting the assumption that the split was at least to some extent mutually agreed, i.e., legally safe.

Kimberly Vaughn released a statement to In Touch, after his death, stating:

"Ben and I loved each other very much. As Christians, neither of us wanted to divorce. He and I were both distraught about it. We continued to try everything we could to save our marriage all the way through this week. Our entire family is devastated about our loss. Ben was an incredibly loving, devoted father, husband and son. We had many joyful times together and that is what I choose to remember about him."

Even with the divorce still not officially over in the eyes of a judge, the mix of the legal and personal burden, along with the sorrow of losing his first wife, might have been among the factors that caused Vaughn to feel that way in his last days.

---

Vaughn’s impact behind the scenes

The passing of Ben Vaughn dealt a severe blow to Nashville, as well as the entire music industry at large. Being in the top management of Warner Chappell Music Nashville, he was highly respected for his ability to sustain talent and advocate for songwriters. That period from 2012 up to 2017 formally marked Vaughn's involvement with Warner Chappell. He has substantially contributed to the career peaks of dozens of artists, and hence, he was respected for being extremely creative and collaborative.

Vaughn, co-head of Warner Chappell, together with Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall, jointly delivered a statement which amounted to the recognition of Vaughn as “an exceptional human being who made indelible marks in the world of music.” Stapleton's performance at the ACMs not only celebrates Vaughn's personal and professional qualities, but also outlines the depth of Vaughn's respect in the artist community.

Vaughn’s fame is also for being a caring father and husband; his wife, Carlee Vaughn, passed away in 2022 after a battle with cancer that lasted for 15 years. In addition to this, He has taught, led, and cared for many, so his love and compassion will be greatly missed.