FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES

FINALISTS FOR THE 2021 TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
Tickets Go On Sale July 2 at 10am

25 Texas Country Music Awards To Be Presented November 14, 2021

At Billy Bob’s Texas in the Fort Worth Stockyards

FORT WORTH, TX (June 26, 2021) -- The Texas Country Music Association announced today the Top 5 Finalists in 23 of the 25 categories for the 2021 Texas Country Music Awards as a result of nominations that were made between May 1 and June 15, 2021.  The 2021 TCMA Songwriter Contest top 10 Finalists in each the Country and Christian Country categories will be announced in late July.

Final Round Voting will begin July 1 and end August 15 on the TCMA website at www.texascountrymusic.org.  The winners will be announced at the 2021 Texas Country Music Awards which will take place on Sunday, November 14 in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards at the World’s Largest Honky Tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas.  Many industry professionals and artists will be on hand to announce the winners and present the Awards to the recipients.

The 2021 Texas Country Music Awards is brought to you by title sponsor The Hotel Drover in the Fort Worth Stockyards, a fabulous destination resort on Mule Alley, along with Stockyards Heritage, and is presented by Texas Country Music Association.  Local Fort Worth area media sponsor for 2021 is 95.9 KFWR The Ranch.

The Awards ceremony will be hosted by TCMA Spokesperson and Texas Country Artist, Brandon Rhyder, who will also perform at the event.  Co-hosting the Awards ceremony is Malone Ranger, on-air personality with 95.9 FM The Ranch.

There will be performances by not only Brandon Rhyder but also Curtis Grimes, Sundance Head and several others to be announced later.  Texas Country artist Aaron Watson will headline the Awards ceremony and perform the finale.

In addition to the 25 Awards presented at the 2021 Texas Country Music Awards, the Texas Country Music Association’s  prestigious “Trailblazer Award” will be presented.  A recipient has not yet been chosen but will be announced later.

“Texas is so blessed to have such spectacular talent,” says Linda Wilson, President and Founder of the Texas Country Music Association. “There were literally thousands of nominees – each one gifted and unique -- and we at TCMA are very honored to be able to work on ALL their behalf on an ongoing basis.”

The Texas Country Music Awards has been recognized as the only one of its kind by the State of Texas, and the Texas Country Music Association is by far the largest and most influential and energizing Awards and Association in Texas.  “We work daily and diligently on behalf of everyone in the industry through the many established  ongoing and future programs we’ve developed and have more on the horizon.  The Texas Country Music Awards is a blast – like a huge family reunion, and you do not want to miss it!  After a long and grueling spring with this pandemic, we’re all going to be ready for one big party come November 14^th!” says Wilson.

Tickets to the 2021 Texas Country Music Awards will go on sale on July 2 at 10am www.billybobstexas.com or through a link on www.texascountrymusic.org.  TCMA Executive Vice President, Richard Wilson states, “The Texas Country Music Awards gets bigger and better every year.  Last year’s Awards at Billy Bob’s was off the chain even though we all suffered through a pandemic. We’re just glad that the artists are back to performing and everyone involved in this industry is working again.  Everyone I’ve talked to is profoundly grateful and so excited to get together on November 14.”

In addition to the 2021 Texas Country Music Awards on November 14^th, Stockyards Heritage hosts “Texas Country Music Weekend” in the Stockyards beginning Friday November 12 with Texas Country Music Showcase acoustic performances from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.  Saturday November 13 will be the Texas Country Music Showdown from 11:00am until 6:00pm.  The Showdown is a 10-band event with performers competing for cash prizes offered by Stockyards Heritage, who also chooses the judges.  After the Showdown will be a Free Country Concert with top Texas artist Will Carter.  On Sunday November 14^th there will be a free Christian Country Concert with Curtis Grimes and others at high noon.  All Texas Country Music Weekend Events will take place on the big stage at the Stockyards Exchange building.  Texas Country Music Awards festivities begins at 2:00pm with Billy Bob’s opening their doors to ticket holders.

Red Carpet Interviews begin at 3:00pm the day of the Awards with Red Carpet host Jim Nash and his co-host Jenn Ford.  The doors open to the public at Billy Bob’s at 2:00pm followed by the Red Carpet interviews at 3:00pm. At 4:30pm there will be an Awards Pre-Show with the Darrin Morris Band kicking off the entire evening.  Pre-Show Host Erick Fayard and Co-Host Deanna Wheeler will be on hand again to present the Songwriter and Musician Awards.   The official Awards Ceremony will begin at 6:00pm.

The official TCMA Awards “after-party”, sponsored by Hotel Drover and Lucchese Bootmaker, will be held at the luxurious Hotel Drover in the Fort Worth Stockyards in Mule Alley, and many artists will song swap to end the night.  Other 2021 Texas Country Music Awards sponsors include CForce Water, The Rustic, Arnold Custom Builders, Ginger Roots Boutique, Rebecca Creek and Texas Ranger Whiskeys, Love and War in Texas, Will Carter and Cavenders.  There are still several prime sponsorship opportunities available at texascountrymusicassociation.org/2021sponsor, and Souvenir Program Advertising information can be found at texascountrymusicassociation.org/2021souvenirprogram.

The 2021 Texas Country Music Awards will be covered by media from all over Texas and filmed for future broadcast on the Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV as well as all of the TCMA affiliated broadcast and social outlets. Several radio stations will also live broadcast the ceremony and highlight the festivities.

The finalists and their award categories are:

Entertainer Of The Year:

Chad Cooke Band

Aaron Watson

Kin Faux

Randall King

Kylie Frey

Female Artist of the Year:

Bri Bagwell

Ariel Hutchins

Morgan Ashley

Kylie Frey

Holly Tucker

Male Artist of the Year:

Darrin Morris

Will Carter

Aaron Watson
David Adam Byrnes

Scotty Alexander

Country Band of the Year:

Micky & The Motorcars

Kin Faux

The Wilder Blue

Mike & The Moonpies

Chad Cooke Band

Roots/Alternative Artist or Band of the Year

Teague Brothers

Creed Fisher

Flatland Cavalry

Jamie Lin Wilson
Shaker Hymns

Emerging Artist:

Triston Marez

Zach Neil

Graycie York

Clay Hollis

Cody Hibbard

Western Swing Artist or Band:

Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition

Jake Hooker & The Outsiders

Jeff Woolsey & The Dance Hall Kings

Monte Good & The Honky Tonk Heroes

Bobby Flores & The Yellow Rose Band

Country Album Of The Year:

American Soul – Aaron Watson

Hold My Beer Volume II -Wade Bowen & Randy Rogers

Leanna – Randall King

Neon Town – David Adam Byrnes

Honky Tonk in Heaven – Kin Faux

Country Single of the Year:

Fingers and Thumbs – Teague Brothers

Queen For A Night – Casey Donahew

Silverado Saturday Night – Aaron Watson

I Will – Darrin Morris

Honky Tonk in Heaven – Kin Faux

Christian Country Artist of the Year:

Jason Allen
Crystal Yates

Michael Knight

Justin Todd Herod

Curtis Grimes

Christian Country Single Of The Year:

Take Down A Giant – Pamela Mary

When Prayers Go Up – Jason Allen

What I Already Know – Scotty Alexander & Bryan White

Black Sheep Met The Lamb – Justin Todd Herod

Let Your Light Shine Through – Levi Coby

Young Artist (18 & Under):

Blair Kudelka

Jack Barksdale

Graycie York

Mary Clare

Bailey Rae

Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year:

99.3/98.5 KOKE FM– Austin

103.7 The Buck KAXA FM – Kerrville

93.1 The Mighty KSTV FM – Stephenville

92.9 Shooter KRMX FM – Waco

100.9 The Maverick KVMK – College Station

Broadcast Personality Of The Year:

Carey Dean & Keith James – 106.9 The Ranch KRVF FM - Corsicana

Justin McClure – 103.7 The Buck KAXA FM – Kerrville

DJ Mike – Dance Time In Texas Syndicated

Buddy Logan – Radio Texas Live Syndicated

Buzz Russell – 99.1 Texas KNES - FM Fairfield

Internet Radio Station of the Year:

UvaldeRadio.net (Robert Miguel, Program Director/Owner)

TexasRedHotRadio.com (Judith Merck, Program Director/Owner)

TroubadourCountryRadio.com (Jim Alvarado, Owner)

PureCountry100.com (Kenny Schneebeli, Owner)

Made In Texas Radio (Pat Fant and Cruze, Owners)

Live Music Venue of the Year:

Schroeder Hall - Goliad

Freiheit Country Store – New Braunfels

The Rustic – Houston/Dallas/San Antonio

Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth

Dosey Doe – The Woodlands

Bassist of the Year:

Blake Watson

Boone Griffin

Steve Cargill

Andrew Carrell

Jason Wendt

Drummer of the Year:

Dan Currier

Nate Coon

Casey Korkmas

Justin Cogneato

Mike Neyra

Fiddler of the Year:

Rico Gonzalez

Ben McPherson

Milo Deering

Rachel Stacey

Damien Green

Guitarist of the Year:

Scotty Alexander

Justin Todd Herod

Paul Eason

Ryan Wilcox

David Cacy

Keyboard/Pianist of the Year:

Travis Bishop

Ian Clark

Sam Jones

Allen Huff

Vernon Emshoff

Steel Guitarist of the Year:

Haystack Novak

Milo Deering
Sam Fields

Zachary Moulton

Bob Ogle

The Trailblazer Award, Country Songwriter Finalists and Christian Country Songwriter Finalists will be announced at a later date.

To place your Votes for the 2021 Texas Country Music Awards beginning July 1, go to www.texascountrymusicassociation.org/2021vote.  Voters do not need to be a member of the Texas Country Music Association; however, TCMA Members’ votes are doubled. 

Top of Form

The Texas Country Music Association’s mission is to promote and enhance the Texas Country Music industry, its artists, musicians, songwriters, venues, media, businesses, and all those behind the scenes to make it all happen.  “We have already implemented many huge projects and have more big plans for the future that will certainly help the Texas Country Music industry and all involved in it.” says Linda Wilson, who also mentioned that TCMA just opened up their own venue – the TCMA Event Center in Carthage.

More information about the TCMA, its purpose, plans, membership, and goals as well as

Sponsorships and Souvenir Program advertising opportunities available for the 2021 Texas Country Music Awards is available at www.texascountrymusic.org.  TCMA Members receive advance notice of everything TCMA, ticket and hotel discounts and many other perks and advantages throughout the year.

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NOTE TO MEDIA:  To apply for media or photography credentials for the 2021 Texas Country Music Awards, go to http://www.texascountrymusicassociation.org/2021mediacredentials.  Note:  There are a limited number of media credentials available and TCMA Members are given first option.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Linda Wilson, President

Texas Country Music Association

tcma@texascountrymusicassociation.org