FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2025 TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Another Spectacular Event in the Fort Worth Stockyards at Billy Bob’s Texas

TCMA Energizes the Texas Country Music Industry Once Again with Live Performances and 28 Awards at the Biggest Event in Texas Country Music

FORT WORTH, TX (Sunday, November 9, 2025) – For Texas Country Music fans from across the region, the Fort Worth Stockyards was the place to be on Sunday, November 9, as the Texas Country Music Association hosted the spectacular 2025 Texas Country Music Awards at Billy Bob’s Texas. According to TCMA President and Founder Linda Wilson, this marked the event’s ninth year overall and its seventh year at Billy Bob’s in the Stockyards. Once again, the evening showcased why the Texas Country Music industry has flourished and continues to expand.

The event included a host of top Texas artists, including TCMA Spokesperson Brandon Rhyder, hosting the event for the 9th year in a row. Co-hosting with Brandon was popular on-air radio personality Erin Wilde with 92.1 Hank FM Fort Worth. “The Brandon-Erin team is outstanding. They always bring the awards ceremony to an epic level and make the event high energy and fun.” Says Linda Wilson.  She continues, “The Texas Country Music Awards always include a special tribute to Veterans and First Responders.  This year, Josh Weathers delivered a special tribute honoring the victims of the Hill Country flooding where he and his wife raise a half million dollars and supplied fully stocked campers to some of the victims and performed his version of “I Will Always Love You”, to a standing ovation.  Aaron Loy paid tribute to Charlie Kirk with a heartfelt, moving performance of his song, “Man I Never Met.”

The 2025 Texas Country Music Awards was brought to you once again by Title Sponsor, Stockyards Heritage Development Co., and its entities, The Hotel Drover, Mule Alley, Stockyards Station, Hyatt Place, and Stockyards Hotel, and Presented-By Sponsors, Waxahachie Autoplex Group, who have multiple auto dealerships. Waxahachie Autoplex Group also sponsored the Pre-Show honoring Songwriters and Musicians.

Other sponsors include Pendleton Whisky, Shiner Bock & Shiner Spirits, Rhinestone Saloon, Hoot’s Hall, Specialist Roofing, Texas RV Worx, American Hat Company, Texas Motor Speedway, Binzebo Lifestyle, Azteca Ranch Music, Steve Anthony Music, Chaser Crouch Music, Cinch Jeans, Cut Beef, Grand Prairie Feed and Garden, Roland Whitt Music, Flying C Records, Bomber Energy Drinks, G289 Productions & Entertainment, Get Joe Records, Grant Entertainment, Iron Oak Apparel, KNES Texas 99 Radio,  NextGen Trades, Red Dirt Ventures, Sammy Sadler Music, Schoepf’s BBQ, Texas Country Network, The Rustic, and Tori Kruse.

The top fan-voted awards were presented across twenty-eight categories celebrating both Texas Country Music and Christian Country Music. The Texas Country Music Awards were once again produced by TCMA Vice President and Executive Producer Monty Dawson, with award presentations expertly organized for the ninth consecutive year by acclaimed record producer and Executive Director Chad Mauldin of Mauldin Productions.

The performances, sound, and staging were produced by John Zaskoda and his team at Billy Bob’s Texas, while filming and post-production were handled by Trenton Johnson of 613 Media. The Awards ceremony will be broadcast once editing is complete.

“We are extremely grateful to all the producers, coordinators, volunteers, and staff who dedicate so much effort each year to make this event possible. John ‘JZ’ Zaskoda and his team at Billy Bob’s Texas have worked closely and tirelessly with us for the past seven years to bring this annual event to life, and they truly are the best in the business. We’re excited to collaborate with everyone again in 2026 for the 10th Anniversary of the Texas Country Music Awards!” said Executive Producer and TCMA Vice President Monty Dawson.

The event kicked off with the Red-Carpet interviews at 2:00 pm and was hosted by TCMA Vice President Kris Young, well-known radio broadcast personality Jim Nash, and Helen Elshick with Texas Toast Podcast. The Musician and Songwriter of the Year awards took place during the Pre-Show, hosted by TCMA Ambassador Brad Bowman, at 5:00 pm. The Pre-Show included performances by the Pug Johnson Band, 2025 Christian Songwriter of the Year Tyson Leamon, and 2025 Country Songwriter of the Year Curtis Grimes singing their winning songs. TCMA President Linda Wilson, along with TCMA Vice President Monty Dawson, presented the 2025 Artist Scholarship to Texas Country artist Dylan Edwards from Fort Worth, Texas.

The main Awards ceremony began at 6:00 pm with greetings from TCMA Founders, President and Executive Vice President Linda and Richard Wilson, and the opening prayer was led by TCMA Vice President Kris Young.  Jenn Ford sang the National Anthem to an enthusiastic crowd and also presented a salute to Veterans. Managing the trophies and directing participants on stage were Jada Young and Abigail Young.

“There were many volunteers and TCMA Members to help put this amazing event together, and we could not have done it without each and every one,” says Linda Wilson. “I’d like to give a special thanks to the hostesses who work the VIP Desk and Swag Bag Desk under the direction of Sandy Luxton and Christal Shaffer.  These ladies have been with us for a very long time and do a wonderful job greeting the attendees.”

Many of the top Award categories included not only the designation and trophy but also unique gifts provided by event sponsors, including tickets to Texas Motor Speedway, along with gift certificates from Cinch Jeans and American Hat Company. All Finalists received swag bags filled with gift items and certificates from various artists and industry stakeholders.

In addition to the 28 awards presented at the 2025 Texas Country Music Awards, TCMA honored Kevin Fowler with its prestigious “Trailblazer Award” in recognition of his long-standing career and remarkable achievements in performing, songwriting, and success within the Texas Country Music scene. “TCMA is thrilled to present Kevin with the 2025 Trailblazer Award as part of the Awards Ceremony. He truly ‘blazed the trail’ for others and is more than deserving of this honor,” says Linda Wilson.

The Moe Bandy Icon Award was presented to Robert Earl Keen in recognition of his enduring impact on the industry as a singer-songwriter. Although Robert was unable to attend due to a personal conflict, his video acceptance was shared during the ceremony. According to Linda Wilson, Robert was selected to receive the coveted Icon Award unanimously by the board and ambassadors of the Texas Country Music Association.

The spectacular evening was filled with top talent, including Billie Jo Jones, who kicked off the main ceremony. Also performing were Josh Weathers, Brandon Rhyder, Aaron Loy, Scotty Alexander, Hayden Baker, and Emerging Artist finalists – Copperhead Jones, Caleb Young, Tristan Roberson, and Colby Swift. There was an unforgettable finale performance by Kevin Fowler and his band.

Media from across Texas and beyond covered the 2025 Texas Country Music Awards. Red carpet interviews, filmed by Kyle Garrett Tomchesson and the Texas Toast Podcast, will be available for fans to watch soon.

Winners in each category were selected based on fan nominations and final-round voting conducted between April and August 2025, with results verified by the TCMA Voting Committee.

The Award categories and the respective winners are:

Entertainer of The Year:

Josh Weathers

Male Artist of the Year:

Grant Gilbert

Female Artist of the Year:

Kylie Frey

Country Band of the Year:

Huser Brothers

Western Swing or Bluegrass Artist or Band of the Year

Billy  Mata and Texas Tradition

Tejano Artist or Band of the Year

Ram Herrera

Americana Artist of the Year:

Lowdown Drifters

Alternative Artist of the Year

Creed Fisher

Young Artist (18 & Under):

Elle Townley

Emerging Artist:

Tristan Roberson

Country Album of The Year:

“Real Simple Country,” Jesse Raub Jr.

Country Single of the Year:

“Texas In Me,” Kensie Coppin

Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year:

98.5 FM KRXT, Rockdale/Taylor

Broadcast Personality of The Year:

Buzz Russell, KNES 99.1 FM Texas 99, Fairfield

Internet Radio Station of the Year:

TexasBoundRadio.com

Live Music Venue of the Year:

Rhinestone Saloon, Fort Worth

Christian Country Artist of the Year:

Aaron Loy

Bassist of the Year:

Michael Moad

Fiddler of the Year:

Rico Gonzales

Guitarist of the Year:

Hayden Baker

Keyboard/Pianist of the Year:

Todd Stewart

Steel Guitarist of the Year:

Tommy Detamore

Drummer of the Year:

Justin Cogneato

TCMA Artist Scholarship

Dillon Edwards

Trailblazer Award

Kevin Fowler

Moe Bandy Icon Award

Robert Earl Keen

Country Songwriter of the Year:

Curtis Grimes & Bobby Evans for “What I’m Here For”

Christian Country Songwriter of the Year: 

Tyson Leamon for “Who I Am”

TCMA’s 2025 Artist’s Scholarship was presented to Texas artist, singer/songwriter Dylan Edwards of Fort Worth. The Artist’s Scholarship will pay to have one single recorded, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Chad Mauldin at Mauldin Productions; one single distribution by Courtney Ritter at American Airplay; and radio promotion on one single by Cynthia Garcia at G289 Productions & Entertainment.

The Texas Country Music Association (TCMA), the only trade organization dedicated to the Texas Country Music industry, is committed to advocating for, promoting, and strengthening every aspect of the industry — including artists, songwriters, musicians, venues, media, and the many businesses working behind the scenes to make it all happen.

“We’re already planning the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards for early November at Billy Bob’s, but first, we’ll be presenting the Texas Country Music Industry Awards in the summer of 2025,” says TCMA Executive Vice President Richard Wilson.  He also highlighted several successful ongoing projects, such as the Texas Country Music Chart, the Texas Country Network (available online and on ROKU, Apple TV, and Fire TV), Texas Country Music Television, Texas Country Music Magazine online, and American Airplay. With even more initiatives in development for 2026 and beyond, TCMA remains focused on advancing the Texas Country Music industry and supporting everyone who plays a role in its success.

Linda Wilson expressed her gratitude, saying, “Above all, we want to thank our TCMA Members and Sponsors — because without you, we couldn’t do what we do to keep TCMA the strong and effective trade organization for the Texas Country Music industry.” When asked about her favorite part of the evening, she smiled and said, “It’s always about the camaraderie and that family-reunion atmosphere, seeing the unity and smiling faces throughout our industry — and, of course, the grand finale!”

More information about the Texas Country Music Association, its purpose, plans, membership, and goals is available on www.texascountrymusic.org. 

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Linda Wilson, President

Texas Country Music Association

tcma@texascountrymusicassociation.org