Lula Naff

Lula Clay Naff (March 1, 1875 – March 4, 1960) was an American theatre manager and the first woman general manager of the Ryman Auditorium. Naff is notable for her contribution to the business and music scene in Nashville, Tennessee at a time where women were scarcely represented in business management positions of and unable to vote.

Biography Lula Clay was born in Fall Branch, Tennessee on March 1, 1875. Her father was a circuit court clerk and hotel operator. At age 12, she moved with her family to nearby Johnson City. When Naff was 25, her husband died. After his death, she adopted a daughter. She went to business school and learned to be a stenographer and secretary to support her daughter.

In 1913, the talent agency Naff was working with went out of business. Without a job, Naff asked the board of directors at the Ryman Auditorium if she could book the venue for her own events. The board agreed, and Naff began to book talent for the venue.

In 1920, Naff was hired as the general manager of the Ryman Auditorium, after the company changed leadership. Despite these difficulties, Naff managed the venue to success, retiring from her role as general manager of the Ryman on September 1, 1955, when she was 80-years-old.

Legacy Academics have cited Naff's role and contribution to the growth of country music through her leadership at the Ryman, programming and network of musical artists. In 2015, the Ryman Auditorium opened Cafe Lula, in Naff's honor as part of a $14million refurbishment project. In 2017, Naff was named to the Music City Walk of Fame for her contributions to Nashville's music scene. That year, she was posthumously honored with the Lula Naff Ryman Trailblazer Award by the Nashville Business Journal.