CMA Honors the Late Journalist Rineke Van Beek

(L-R): Leo Van Beek, Jack Gerssen, Ruud Kegel and Rineke's mother, Hennie Koert.

The CMA recently bestowed posthumous honors to the family of international journalist Rineke Van Beek with the presentation of the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award.

The presentation took place earlier this week (8/20) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, by CMA Director of International Relations Bobbi Boyce. Van Beek’s husband, Leo Van Beek; mother, Hennie Koert; and close friends Ruud Kegel of Nashville FM, and Jack Gerssen accepted the recognition.

Van Beek, who passed away in 2011 after a brave battle with cancer, worked in the Country music industry in the Netherlands for more than 25 years as the International Director for Country Gazette magazine and Nashville FM. She was known as an ambassador for Country music, frequently visiting Nashville to taking tour groups to the CMA Music Festival and reporting at the CMA Awards, among other events.

“Thank you again for this lovely surprise although it comes with mixed feelings,” said Leo Van Beek. “But we love to hear that Rineke is not forgotten. For Rineke, Nashville was always her second home. She felt that she was a part of the music industry family and for her, everybody was part of her family – the people in the industry, the CMA, the artists, the musicians. She loved everybody.”

The Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media, which contribute to the development of Country music outside the United States.