[Updated]: Fan Clubhouse CEO Sharon Eaves Passes

Sharon Eaves

Sharon Eaves, CEO of Fan Clubhouse, died unexpectedly on Sept. 25, in Nashville. She worked with the fan clubs of numerous artists including Gary Allan, Brad Paisley, Scotty McCreery, Jerrod Niemann, Phil Vassar, Montgomery Gentry, Clay Walker, Lonestar, Bryan White, and many others.

Members of the industry are mourning the loss as they remember her kind and generous spirit, her infectious smile, and her selfless charitable endeavors.

She was a very active supporter of Country Cares for St. Jude for more than 15 years. In 2001, she co-founded the Country Fans Care for St. Jude Kids program with Keith Urban.

Eaves founded her company in 1990 to bridge the gap between the artist and the fans. Fan Clubhouse offers a wide variety of services such as website development/management, online ticketing and pre-sale campaigns, individual online marketing promotions & social media management, merchandise management and fulfillment, online fan clubs and more. Eaves was also President of R&J Records.

She is survived by husband Tom Harding and son Cameron Harding.

Arrangements are pending.

Scotty McCreery released this statement about his friend and fan club president:

“I am stunned and saddened at the sudden passing of my friend and fan club president, Sharon Eaves. It has been a true pleasure to have worked with her for more than three years, and she was a vital part of my team. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all those who knew and loved her. In recent weeks, Sharon organized a team of ‘Southern Belles’ to participate in tomorrow’s St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer in Nashville. The team has raised more than $3,500 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital thus far. I know every single person on that team will be dedicating their walk to Sharon tomorrow. She was a tireless supporter of St. Jude, as well as all the artists she has worked with through the years. Thank you Sharon for your belief in me. You will be deeply missed by the McCreery family and team.”

Brad Paisley expressed condolences about his team member via twitter:

Brad and the entire Paisley family, friends, fans and team are devastated by the loss of our friend and team member Sharon Eaves who passed away this morning. Sharon was at her beloved St Jude Childrens Hospital for a board meeting when she had a heart attack. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful. Our hearts are heavy. Please pray for her family and friends. Further details will be forthcoming. -TeamBP

Bryan White posted his remarks via Facebook regarding her passing:

I’ve been trying to process the weekend with a heavy heart and much perplexity so forgive me for my delay. It’s been difficult… My dear friend and manager Sharon Eaves passed away unexpectedly Friday morning. I am still in shock. It doesn’t seem possible.

Sharon has been one of my closest friends for over 20 years. Sharon has manned my fan club ship since day one. She has been my manager for at least a decade. Sharon was my biggest supporter within the music industry. I always told people she was my “music biz” mom and the “Angel in my corner.” Sharon believed in me always. She was a mama bear when it came to looking out for me. We spent almost everyday on the phone and we always told each other “I love you” before we hung up. We spent countless hours together in rental cars. Now those were some of my favorite memories. We always laughed. I loved making her laugh because she was always so serious. It was always secretly my plan; What can I say to break her out biz mode?

She was the ‘Idiom Queen.’ I knew in every meeting we had together she would work one in. Like this one, which was my favorite: She’d say, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” I’d always laugh and make her break that one down because I never quite understood it. I have to be spoon fed. The other one I loved, and this one I had no trouble with was, “It beats a sharp stick in the eye!” I especially loved that one. She was an amazing soul. Always out for everybody else’s best interest. She gave of herself to no end. I think she took care of everyone else but herself. Her wings always got in the way.

All week we had been in conversation through conference calls and emails putting together my first tour in the Philippines. She was so excited at what is happening there and how we are finally going. We had a great conversation Thursday night. Once again, we went in and out of laughing and being serious. She was so excited that they have fallen in love with one of my songs (God Gave Me You). We hung up. That was the last time I would speak to my sweet friend. It’s still not reality. Life is a little like riding a roller coaster backwards. You feel it but you can’t see what’s up ahead. I will honor her in everything I do. I’ll never forget Sharon. I know she’s riding on the clouds and now God is taking care of Her and she’s not worrying about everybody down here. But heaven will be a little more in order because Sharon’s taking care of everybody up there. Until I see you again. I will painfully miss you. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Your son, Bryan

Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude, released the following statement:

Sharon was a passionate and dedicated long-time volunteer for St. Jude. She served as a Country Cares for St. Jude Kids advisory board member and made innumerable contributions that benefited the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We send our deepest condolences to her loved ones. – Rick Shadyac

A celebration of life for Fan Clubhouse CEO Sharon Eaves has been set for Oct. 14 at City Winery in Nashville, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.