BIOGRAPHY
BARBARA "MOTHER" HUBBARD
Since 1968, Barbara “Mother” Hubbard has been a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. When she started her career she was one of two women in the United States managing an arena. Mother Hubbard put Las Cruces on the map convincing the top names of music that the City was a perfect routing stop along some of the major concert corridors.
She started her beloved ACTS program which has played a major role in the lives of so many people in the industry today. Jeff Dunham and Sinbad are performers who came from the ACTS program. The tour manager of the rock band Phish, the tour accountant for Michael Bublé, and set designer for Aerosmith’s recent Las Vegas show and Jennifer Lopez's world tour are all proud proteges of Mother Hubbard.
On July 12th Barbara Hubbard will turn 95 years old. But retirement is clearly not an option. In late July, she will be the promoter of 3 Journey concerts: one in Lubbock, Texas; one at the Pan Am Center in Las Cruces, and one at the Fairgrounds in Albuquerque. On October 19, 2022, we will be celebrating 95 years of a woman dedicated to her family, community, and students.
Although she retired as General Manager of the Pan Am Center in 1996, Mother Hubbard keeps going and going. Through her ACTS scholarship fund, she has raised and given over $750,000 in scholarship funds for NMSU students. Scholarships for students in music, theater, and the hotel and tourism field. Her goal is to reach $1 million.
Over the last three years, Ms. Hubbard has initiated a Venue Management class as part of the Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management Program at NMSU. She has brought in speakers that include the General Manager of the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys; VP of VIP Services for the Miami Dolphins, Tour Manager for Jay-Z and Fleetwood Mac, A Broadway Musical Celebrity, and many others. Mother Hubbard never thinks small. She has drafted a full curriculum in venue management and believes an NMSU Venue Management program can become the pipeline for the major Agencies and Venues.
Barbara is also leading a charge to bring a first-class amphitheater to the Las Cruces area. She has recruited the support of George Strait as Honorary Chairperson for this effort. Barbara and Mr. Strait have a longstanding history as she has booked Mr. Strait at the PanAM 17 times.