FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2024 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 26
Awards at the Biggest Event in Texas Country Music
FORT WORTH, TX (Sunday, November 10, 2024) – For Texas Country Music fans from all over, the Fort Worth Stockyards was the place to be on Sunday, November 10 as the Texas Country Music Association once again presented another spectacular event with the 2024 Texas Country Music Awards at Billy Bob’s Texas. This was the event’s eighth year and sixth year at Billy Bob’s according to Linda Wilson, President, and Founder of TCMA. The event once again proved why the Texas Country Music industry has exploded.
The event included a host of top Texas artists including TCMA Spokesperson Brandon Rhyder hosting the event for the 8th 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 brought the awards ceremony to an epic level and made the event high energy and fun.” Says Linda Wilson. She continues, “This year’s Awards Ceremonies were dedicated to the memory of Erin Wilde’s son Trey Cordie who was tragically killed in an automobile accident just weeks before the Awards.”
The 2024 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, Stockyards Hotel and Cowtown Coliseum, and Presented-by Sponsors the North Texas Chevy Dealers Association and Pendleton Whisky. North Texas Chevy Dealers Association also sponsored the Pre-Show honoring Songwriters and Musicians.
Other sponsors include Shiner Bock & Shiner Spirits, La Pulga Spirits, American Hat Company, American Country Network, Azteca Ranch Music, Broken Arrow Band, CDX Nashville, Chaser Crouch, Cinch Jeans, Cut Beef, Dakota Cabins, Flying C Records, Full Circle Moments LLC, G289 Productions & Entertainment, Get Joe Entertainment, Grant Entertainment, Houston Live, Drew Mitchell Media, Iron Oak Apparel Co., Jaso’s Picassos, KNES Texas 99 Radio, Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Matt Tejeda, Mythic Guitars, NextGen, Nick Zamora Band, Rachel Stacy Music, Cowboys Trailers and Ranches, Rattlesnake Roadhouse, Red Dirt Ventures, Release Rocket Media, Rhinestone Saloon, Sammy Sadler Music, Schoepf’s BBQ, Silver Saddle Saloon, Steel Records, Steve Anthony Music, Texas Blue Courage Co., Texas Country Network, The Rustic, Trio Club-Mingus TX, Valencia Hotel Collection, and Will Carter Band.
Top fan and industry-voted Awards were presented in twenty-six categories related to Texas Country Music and Christian Country Music. The Texas Country Music Awards produced by TCMA Vice President and Executive Producer Monty Dawson. The Texas Country Music Awards presentations were organized for the eighth year by well-known record producer and awards Executive Director Chad Mauldin of Mauldin Productions.
The performances, sound, and staging were produced under the direction of Billy Bobs’ John Zaskoda and his team. Filming by Billy Bob’s Texas, additional filming and post-production provided by Bob Mauldin with 31 West Productions, “We are so grateful for all of the producers, coordinators and staff who worked so hard to pull together this event. Billy Bob’s Texas’ John “JZ” Zaskoda and his team have worked closely and tirelessly with us to bring this annual event to you for the past 6 years and they are the best in the business. We are looking forward to working with everyone again on November 9, 2025, so save the date!” says Executive Producer and TCMA VP Monty Dawson.
The event kicked off with the Red-Carpet interviews at 2:00 pm and was hosted by TCMA Vice President Kris Young, Jim Nash of Shooter-FM, and Helen Elshick with Texas Toast Podcast. Musician and Songwriter of the Year awards took place during the pre-show at 5:00 pm. They included performances by the Will Carter Band, 2024 Christian Songwriter of the Year Aaron Loy, and 2024 Country Songwriter of the Year Ryder Grimes singing their winning songs. TCMA President Linda Wilson along with TCMA Vice President Monty Dawson presented the 2024 Artist Scholarship to Texas Country artist Anthony Price from Texarkana, 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 Texas Country and Christian Country Artist, Curtis Grimes. Bailey Rae sang the National Anthem to an enthusiastic crowd. 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 that work the VIP Desk and Swag Bag Desk under the direction of Kimberly Daniels and Christal Shaffer. These ladies have been with us since we began at Billy Bob’s in 2019 and do a wonderful job greeting everyone.”
Many of the top Award categories included not only the designation and trophy but unique gifts provided by event sponsors including an engraved tumbler from Shiner, and gift certificates from Cinch Jeans and American Hat Company. All finalists received swag bags filled with gift items and certificates from many various artists and industry stakeholders.
Along with the 26 Awards presented at the 2024 Texas Country Music Awards,
TCMA’s prestigious “Trailblazer Award” was presented to Jason Boland for his long-standing career and the unprecedented songwriting and success he has obtained in the Texas and Red Dirt music scene. "TCMA is extremely excited and pleased to have presented Jason with the 2024 Trailblazer Award as part of the Awards Ceremony. He certainly ‘blazed the trail’ for others and he’s very deserving to have received it." says Linda Wilson, President, and Founder of the Texas Country Music Association. Presenting the award was Mike McClure, long time Boland friend and producer.
The Moe Bandy Icon Award was presented to Larry Joe Taylor by Moe Bandy and Bryan White of Red Dirt Ventures for his long-standing status in the industry and producing LJT Fest for 35 years.
The spectacular evening was filled with top talent including The Great Divide, who kicked off the main ceremony. Also performing were Will Carter Band, Ryder Grimes, Brandon Rhyder, Payton Riley and Ty Smith, and the five Emerging Artist finalists – Jordan Nix, Chaser Crouch, Billie Jo Jones, Bubba Westly and Jack Nelson. There was an unforgettable finale performance by Jason Boland and the Stragglers.
The 2024 Texas Country Music Awards were covered by media from all over Texas as well as other states. The Red-Carpet Interviews were live streamed by Texas Toast podcast.
The Award Winners in each of the categories came as a result of nominations and final round voting that took place between April and August of 2024.
The Award categories and the respective winners are:
Entertainer of The Year:
The Great Divide
Male Artist of the Year:
Josh Ward
Female Artist of the Year:
Sarah Hobbs
Country Band of the Year:
Chad Cooke Band
Western Swing or Bluegrass Artist or Band of the Year
Jake Hooker & The Outsiders
Tejano Artist or Band of the Year
Sunny Sauceda
Roots/Alternative Artist of the Year:
Two Tons of Steel
Young Artist (18 & Under):
Payton Riley
Emerging Artist:
Billy Jo Jones
Country Album of The Year:
“Kolton Moore” (self-titled), Kolton Moore
Country Single of the Year:
“Had Me At Goodbye,” Will Carter Band
Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year:
95.9 KFWR The Ranch Fort Worth
Broadcast Personality of The Year:
Shayne Hollinger – 95.9 FM KFWR The Ranch - Fort Worth
Internet Radio Station of the Year:
Texas Red Hot Radio
Live Music Venue of the Year:
Gruene Hall – New Braunfels
Christian Country Artist of the Year:
Curtis Grimes
Bassist of the Year:
Andrew Carrell
Fiddler of the Year:
Brady Black
Guitarist of the Year:
Dallas McGilberry
Keyboard/Pianist of the Year:
Todd Stewart
Steel Guitarist of the Year:
Wyatt Wilson
Drummer of the Year:
Avery Castro
TCMA Artist Scholarship
Anthony Price
Trailblazer Award:
Jason Boland
Country Songwriter of the Year:
Ryder Grimes for “In My Boots”
Christian Country Songwriter of the Year:
Aaron Loy, Michelle Henegar & Jim Hawkins for ”Pew For You”
TCMA’s 2024 Artist’s Scholarship was presented to Texas artist singer/songwriter Anthony Price of Texarkana, Texas. The Artist’s Scholarship will pay to have one single recorded, engineered, mixed, and mastered at Chad Mauldin at Mauldin Productions; one single recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered at Flying J Records, Nashville; 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’s mission, as the only trade organization for the Texas Country Music industry, is to promote and enhance the Texas Country Music industry, its artists, songwriters, musicians, venues, media, and businesses behind the scenes to make it all happen. “We’re already planning the 2025 Texas Country Music Awards for November 9, 2025, at Billy Bob’s, but FIRST, we will be presenting the Texas Country Music “Industry Awards” in June of 2025.” says TCMA Executive Vice President Richard Wilson. He mentions a few successful projects already live such as the Texas Country Music Chart, Texas Country Network online and on ROKU, AppleTV and FireTV, Texas Country Music Television online, Texas Country Music Magazine online, American Airplay and more. There are many more plans and projects that TCMA will put in place in 2025 and future years, all to enhance the industry and support everyone involved.
Linda Wilson says, “More than anything we would like to thank our TCMA Members and Sponsors because without you, we could not do what we do to make TCMA an effective trade organization for the Texas Country Music industry.” When asked what her favorite part of the evening was, she replied, “The comradery and family reunion atmosphere is always the best – and the finale of course!”
More information about the Texas Country Music Association, its purpose, plans, membership, and goals are available on www.texascountrymusic.org.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Linda Wilson, President
Texas Country Music Association
tcma@texascountrymusicassociation.org