FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES

FINALISTS FOR THE 2026 TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
Voting Opens July 1, Tickets On Sale July 8

28 Highly Honored Texas Country Music Awards To Be Presented November 8

At the World’s Largest Honky Tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas in the Historic

Fort Worth Stockyards

FORT WORTH, TX (June 29, 2026) -- The Texas Country Music Association announced today the Top 5 Finalists in 25 of the 28 categories for the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards as a result of nominations that were placed between May 1 and June 15, 2026. The 2026 TCMA Songwriter Contest's top 10 Finalists in the Country and Christian Country categories will be announced by September 15.

Final Round Voting begins July 1 and ends August 15 at midnight on the TCMA website at www.texascountrymusic.org. The winners will be announced at the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards which will take place on Sunday, November 9^th in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards at the World’s Largest Honky Tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas. Many top industry professionals and artists will be on hand to announce the winners and present the Awards to the recipients, along with thousands of industry stakeholders and fans.

TCMA celebrates the 10^th year for the Texas Country Music Awards with title sponsors Stockyards Heritage Development Co., Hotel Drover, Stockyards Hotel, Hyatt Place, Mule Alley, and Stockyards Station.  The event is brought to you by Rhinestone Saloon and is a production of the Texas Country Music Association. The local Fort Worth area media sponsor for 2026 is 95.9 KFWR The Ranch.

The Awards ceremony will be hosted once again by TCMA Spokesperson and Texas Country Artist, Brandon Rhyder, who will also perform at the event. Co-hosting the Awards ceremony is Erin Wilde, an on-air personality with KTFW 92.1 Hank FM. 

Headlining the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards is popular Texas Country Artist Wynn Williams and his band.  There will also be performances by Brandon Rhyder, Kylie Frey, Phil Hamilton, Kristen Kelly, Tristan Roberson, Hayden Baker, Darrin Morris, and others to be announced as schedules are confirmed. In addition, each of the 5 finalists in the Emerging Artist of the Year Award category will be invited to perform.

“Texas is so blessed to have such unique and 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 are presented by the Texas Country Music Association, which is the only trade organization and primary advocate for the Texas Country Music Industry.  The Texas Country Music Awards have been recognized as the only one of its kind by the State of Texas and is recognized as the most highly honored awards program in the Texas Country Music industry.  The Texas Country Music Association is by far the largest and most influential, and energizing organization for Texas Country Music. “We work daily and diligently on behalf of everyone in the industry through the many established ongoing programs we’ve developed for the good of our members and the industry as a whole.  We have more on the horizon and are always working on the next project. The Texas Country Music Awards is a blast – like a huge annual family reunion, and you do not want to miss it!” says Wilson.

Tickets to the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards go on sale on July 8 at www.billybobstexas.comor 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 a milestone, but this year is very special since it is our 10^th year for the Texas Country Music Awards.  Every year we wonder how we’ll top it, but somehow, we do thanks to all the industry support and our TCMA Members, Ambassadors, Volunteers, and Sponsors. Everyone I’ve talked to is excited to get together again on November 8 to celebrate the 10-year milestone.”

In addition to the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards on November 8^th, Stockyards Heritage Development hosts TCMA’s “Texas Country Music Weekend” in the Stockyards beginning Friday, November 6 with the Texas Country Showcase acoustic performances from 1:00pm to 5:00pm, followed by a free concert with Cowtown favorite, the Monty Dawson Band.  Saturday, November 7^th the Stockyards and TCMA present the Texas Country Music Showdown from 11:00am until 6:00pm. The Showdown is an 8-band event with performers competing for cash prizes offered by Stockyards Heritage, who also provide the judges. After the Showdown will be a Free Country Concert with super-talented Texas Country artist, the Scotty Alexander Band.

The official TCMA Pre-Party will also be held on November 7^th at Rhinestone Saloon after the Scotty Alexander concert with headliner Los Rangerz and opener Trey Gonzalez.   Also on Saturday, November 7 at 2pm, Payton Riley will host “Boot Scootin’ Music Showcase supporting young and emerging artists and songwriters.

On Sunday, November 8^th at Noon, there will be Free Christian Country Sunday concert with multi-year Christian Country Artist of the Year Curtis Grimes, along with 2026 Christian Country Artist of the Year, Aaron Loy. 

All Texas Country Music Weekend Events will take place on the main stage at the Stockyards Exchange building and are FREE to the public with the exception of the Texas Country Music Awards show on Sunday, November 8th, which begins at 2:00pm when Billy Bob’s opens the VIP and main entrances.  Tickets can be purchased at www.billybobstexas.com.  In 2023, 2024 and 2025, Texas Country Music Weekend drew right at 150,000 visitors to the Stockyards and an even greater number is expected for 2026.

On November 8^th, Red Carpet interviews will begin as soon as the doors open at Billy Bob’s and will once again be hosted by TCMA Vice President Kris Young and Texas Toast Podcast and Texas Toast Radio owner and host Helen Elshick.

The Texas Country Music Awards Executive Producer is TCMA Vice President Monty Dawson, along with Executive Producer from Billy Bob’s, John Zaskoda.  The Awards’ Executive Director for the 10^th year is record producer Chad Mauldin.   VP Monty Dawson says, “There’s no better team to put this event together for us than JZ and his production crew at Billy Bob’s.  They are truly top notch and the best in the business.”

TCMA Ambassador and Special Event Host, Brad Bowman, will be on hand once again to host the Awards’ Pre-Show at 5:00pm.  Brad will present the Musician and Songwriter Awards and introduce the Country and Christian Country Songwriter winners for a performance, as well as a full band performance by Kristen Kelly.  The official Awards Ceremony will begin at 6:00 pm with an opening welcome, and an opening prayer by Country Music Promoter and Talent buyer, Charlie Diggs.  The National Anthem will be led by Texas Artist Christian Walker, and the announcement of the 2026 Texas Country Music Showdown winners will also be announced.

Sponsoring the “2026 Texas Country Music Awards Winners Circle” is Hoot’s Hall.  Interviews will be conducted by popular broadcast personality on 100.3 The Bull, Zakk United, who is also President of Content and Programming for Texas Country Network.

The official TCMA Awards “after-party,” sponsored by Stockyards Heritage and its entities, will move this year and a location will be announced soon.

There are still several prime sponsorship opportunities available at https://texascountrymusicassociation.org/2026sponsor  and Souvenir Program Advertising information can be found at https://texascountrymusicassociation.org/2026souvenirprogram or by emailing us at tcma@texascountrymusicassociation.org or barry@texascountrymusic.org.

The 2026 Texas Country Music Awards will be covered by media from all over Texas and filmed for future broadcast on Texas Country Network and its ROKU, FireTV, and Apple TV channels.  Several radio stations and podcasts will also be on hand to do artist interviews and highlight the festivities.

The 2026 Texas Country Music Award Categories and the Top 5 Finalists are (in no particular order):

 

Entertainer Of The Year:

AARON WATSON

JOSH WARD

JOSH WEATHERS

WILLIAM BECKMAN

WILLIAM CLARK GREEN

Female Artist of the Year:

BILLIE JO

KENSIE COPPIN

KYLIE FREY

PAYTON HOWIE

SHELBY STONE

Male Artist of the Year:

DAVID LEWIS

HAYDEN BAKER

HAYDEN HADDOCK

TRISTAN ROBERSON

WYNN WILLIAMS

Band of the Year:

BOTTOMLAND

GHOSTS OF HILL COUNTY

KIN FAUX

TILLURIDE

WILL CARTER BAND

 

Emerging Artist of the Year:

ADYSEN MALEK

COLE STEPHENS

HAYDON WIGINTON

LANE BRICKER

TYLER TILLMAN

 

Americana Artist or Band of the Year

JAMES COOK

JORDAN NIX

MAX STALLING

PHIL HAMILTON

WEST TEXAS EXILES

 

Alternative Artist or Band of the Year (Country Blues, Country Rock, Outlaw & Other)

BRAYDEN STEWART

CREED FISHER

CONNER STEPHENS

MIDNIGHT RIVER CHOIR

MICAH EDWARDS

 

Western Swing Artist or Band Western Swing Artist or Band of the Year:

BILLY MATA & THE TEXAS TRADITION

JAKE HOOKER & THE OUTSIDERS

LANDON DODD & THE DANCEHALL DRIFTERS

PAT MATULA & THE LONE STAR PLAYBOYS

THE BROKEN SPOKES

 

Tejano Artist or Band of the Year:

JOHNNY Y LOS TEXAS PLOWBOYS

LAURA LINDA

SUNNY SAUCEDA

TEJAS BROTHERS

TEX MEX HIPPIES

 

Young Artist (18 & Under):

ALLIE RAE

ANTHONY PRICE

COLTON RYAN

PAYTON RILEY

TASMAN SHARP

 

Country Album Of The Year (2025-2026):

ALIVE AND WELL (HAYDEN BAKER)

BARSTOOL SERMONS (DAVID LEWIS)

NEON NEVER FADES (JOSH WEATHERS)

ONE NIGHT IN DALLAS (TRISTAN ROBERSON

SAME OL’ COWBOY, DIFFERENT RODEO (JOSH WARD)

 

Country Single of the Year (2025-2026):

ALL THE THINGS COWBOYS DO (TYLER TILLMAN)

HEY SENIORITA (KIN FAUX)

I CAN’T GET OVER YOU (TRISTAN ROBERSON)

LAST COWBOY STANDING (DAVID ADAM BYRNES)

LETTING YOU GO (HAYDEN BAKER)

 

Christian Country Artist of the Year:

AARON LOY

CURTIS GRIMES

JUNIOR GORDON

NIKKI HEATH

TIONA CAMPBELL

 

Live Music Venue of the Year:

GRUENE HALL (Gruene)

HOOT’S HALL (Burleson)

RHINESTONE SALOON (Fort Worth)

RICKS ON THE SQUARE (Tyler)

THE KENNEY STORE (KENNEY)

 

Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year:

KABT 101.7 FM The Patriot (Abilene)

KFWR 95.9 FM THE RANCH (Fort Worth)

KKMJ 95.5 FM TEXAS COUNTRY (Austin)

KNES 99.1 FM TEXAS 99 (Fairfield)

KRXT 98.5 FM (Rockdale/Taylor)

 

Broadcast Personality Of The Year:

BUZZ RUSSELL – KNES 99.1 FM TEXAS 99 (Fairfield)

CAREY DEAN – KRVF 106.9 FM THE RANCH (Corsicana)

ERIC RAINES – KKMJ 95.5 FM TEXAS COUNTRY (Austin)

KENNY SCHNEEBELI – KRXT 98.5 FM (Rockdale/Taylor)

SHAYNE HOLLINGER – KFWR 95.9 THE RANCH (Fort Worth)

 

Internet Radio Station of the Year:

IRCOUNTRY.COM

KOKEFM.COM

REALTEXASRADIO.COM

TEXREDMUSIC.COM

TRUETEXASRADIO.COM

 

Guitarist of the Year:

ALEX WHITE (Wynn Williams)

CARLOS GUTIERREZ (Tristan Roberson)

HAYDEN BAKER (Hayden Baker)

DILLAN DOSTAL (Will Carter Band)

SIMON HERNANDEZ (Braxton Keith)

 

Drummer of the Year (tie in this category created 6 Finalists)

BJ LUZA (Hayden Haddock)

EMILY LEUSCHNER (David Lewis)

MATT CHILDERS (Ghosts of Hill County)

REESE FOSTER (Hayden Baker)

ZACH GORDON (Scotty Alexander)

ZACHARY DEMERS (Tristan Roberson)

 

Bassist of the Year:

KALE MURRAY (Payton Riley)

JASON WENDT (Bri Bagwell)

SETH RAMIREZ (Josh Ward/Randall King)

CHRIS GONZALES (Kin Faux)

BEN HUSSEY (Shelby Stone)

 

Fiddler of the Year:

BRYSON DAVIS (The Damn Quails)

EMILY ANSLOVER (Kin Faux)

JESS MEADOR (Jake Hooker & The Outsiders)

LUKE MOODY (Luke Moody)

SHAWN DEMUTH (Lane Bricker)

 

Steel Guitarist of the Year (tie in this category created 6 Finalists):

BURTON LEE (Calamity Janes/Other)

JACK PHILLIPS (Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition)

MIKE SIMMS (Hayden Haddock)

MIKEY MCBRIDE (Tanner Sparks)

MILO DEERING (Various/Studio)

WYATT WILSON (Braxton Keith)

 

Keyboard/Pianist of the Year:

ART GUILLERMO (Sunny Sauceda)

IAN REICHMAN (Isaac Jacob)

JOE WALKER (William Clark Green)

SAM POWELL (William Beckman)

SHANE HALL (Billie Jo)

 

2026 TCMA Trailblazer Award
Aaron Watson

 

2026 TCMA Moe Bandy Icon Award

Robert Gallagher

 

To place your Votes for the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards beginning July 1, go to www.texascountrymusic.organd click on the voting link. Voters do not need to be a member of the Texas Country Music Association to vote; however, TCMA Members’ votes are doubled.

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 who touch the industry and make it all happen. “We have already implemented many huge projects, including the only Texas-based digitally monitored airplay chart, the Texas Country Music Chart at www.texascountrymusicchart.com, along with Texas Country Music Magazine’s digital version at www.texascountrymusicmagazine.com, and Texas Country Network online and ROKU, FireTV and AppleTV Channels at www.texascountrynetwork.com.  TCMA has also developed the most effective radio distribution service available – American Airplay at www.americanairplay.com.  We have many more projects on the horizon for 2027 that will be announced as they are developed,” says Linda Wilson.

 

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

Sponsorships and Souvenir Program advertising opportunities for the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards are available at www.texascountrymusic.org.  TCMA Members receive special promotions, advance notice of everything TCMA many other benefits and advantages throughout the year.

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NOTE TO MEDIA:  There are a limited number of media credentials available and TCMA Members are given the first option. You must apply for credentials each year using the Media Credentials request form. To apply for media or photography credentials go to https://texascountrymusicassociation.org/2026awardsmedia.  The deadline is October 1,  2026.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Linda Wilson, President

Texas Country Music Association

903-472-8008

tcma@texascountrymusicassociation.org