To feature National Anthem performance by Frank Ray and a special
In Memoriam segment by HARDY
(Nashville, Tennessee — March 3, 2026) — Country Radio Seminar (CRS) has announced that the Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and select ACM Radio Award winners will be revealed during CRS Honors, taking place Wednesday, March 18 at 2:00 p.m.
In partnership with the Academy of Country Music, CRS Honors will host the live announcement of the ACM Radio Award winners for Station of the Year and On-Air Personality of the Year across all market sizes — Small, Medium, Large, and Major. The news follows the ACM’s reveal of this year’s radio finalists, with the category winners to be presented on stage during the ceremony. Parker McCollum will join to help unveil the honorees.
The remaining ACM Radio Award winners will be announced during the New Faces of Country Music® Show, with additional details on those presentations to be shared in the coming days.
A cornerstone event of CRS, the annual ceremony brings together the country radio and music communities to celebrate excellence in broadcasting, honor the format’s most influential contributors, and recognize the next generation of leaders.
CRS Honors will open with a performance of the National Anthem by Frank Ray (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville/Broken Bow Records) and will feature a special In Memoriam segment performed by HARDY (Big Loud Records), paying tribute to members of the country radio community who have left a lasting impact.
This year’s CRS Honors will also spotlight the next generation of leaders through the 2026 CRS Scholarship recipients. Named in honor of legendary programmer, consultant, CRS board member, and Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee Rusty Walker, the Rusty Walker Scholarship provides three rising radio professionals the opportunity to attend CRS and continue Walker’s legacy of mentorship and leadership within the format. The 2026 recipients are Presleigh Bearden (KHKN-FM & KMXF-FM, iHeartMedia Little Rock), Karly Duggan (WIVK), and Erin Merimonti (WKDF).
The Lisa McKay Women in Radio Scholarship, honoring the late 2018 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee who mentored countless female programmers during her tenure at WQDR/Raleigh, will be presented to Ella Martinez (Radio New Braunfels/KNBT/KGNB), Dixie Roberts (Digio Strategies on 95.5 WTVY), and Aston Williams (WDWG, 98.5 The Big Dawg).
Trophies for the Rusty Walker and Lisa McKay scholarship recipients were provided by Crystal Legacy Moments.
CRS and Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) will continue their partnership on the Mentoring & Inspiring Women in Country Radio Scholarship, a program designed to foster leadership development and career growth for women in the format. MIW Board Member Lo Sessions will honor Jessica Chenoweth (KSON) as the 2025 mentee and announce the launch of the 2026 program.
The Whitney Allen “Hot Mic” Scholarship, created to recognize emerging female on-air talent making an impact in their stations and communities, will be presented to Monica McGlochlin (99.9 KONY Country).
CRS Honors will once again be hosted by CRB Board President Kurt Johnson, with opening remarks from CRB Executive Director RJ Curtis.
Online registration for CRS 2026 has closed. On-site registration will be available in Nashville at the current rate of $799 through the start of the event. A limited number of New Faces of Country Music® tickets remain available for $110 and are sold separately. Special rates will also continue to be offered, including a $199 student rate for currently enrolled students and $349 day passes (limit two per person), which provide full access to all programming, sessions, panels, speakers, networking events, and luncheons for a single day. Members of WMBA, IBA, and SOLID may also take advantage of a dedicated $450 industry organization rate.
For more information, visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com and follow CRS on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also call 615-327-4487 for additional information.
About Country Radio Seminar: Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is an annual convention meticulously designed to facilitate knowledge exchange and foster the exchange of business practices within the country music industry. With a specific focus on matters relevant to country radio, CRS serves as a vital platform for industry professionals to thrive and contribute. The dates for CRS 2026 are March 18–20.
About Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.®: Established in 1969, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc ® is a 501 © 3 non-profit organization that serves as a unifying force, connecting radio broadcasters worldwide with the dynamic country music industry. Our mission is to ensure its vitality and foster growth within the industry.
About The Academy of Country Music: Founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) has grown over the past 60 years into a leading association for the country music industry. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and boasting record-high membership of more than 5,000 worldwide, the Academy serves as a powerhouse advocate for country fans, artists, and all facets of the business, as well as a supporter of philanthropic work through charitable partner ACM LIFTING LIVES, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music and providing aid in times of need, with a focus on health initiatives. 2025 was a landmark year for the Academy, with the success of the 60th ACM Awards, hosted by entertainment icon Reba McEntire, which returned to the Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters in Texas for a third consecutive year and streamed live to a global audience on Prime Video. The Academy also remains relentlessly committed to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in country music, from the boardroom to the stage, and proudly presents ACM Level Up, a two-year professional development and enrichment curriculum for rising leaders, among other initiatives. For more information, visit ACMcountry.com or ACMLiftingLives.org.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the United States, and it won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude onFacebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram,LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
