CRS/Country Aircheck Awards and Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award
Also Set for Presentation
(Nashville, Tennessee — March 5, 2026) — Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has announced that Lauren Alaina will take the stage at the New Faces of Country Music® Show onFriday, March 20, to reveal the final ACM Radio Award winners for National On-Air Personality of the Year – Daily and National On-Air Personality of the Year – Weekly, marking one of the evening’s most anticipated moments.
In partnership with the Academy of Country Music, the New Faces program will feature the presentation of these two national honors, completing the full slate of ACM Radio Awards announced across CRS 2026. Earlier in the week at CRS Honors, the winners for Station of the Year and On-Air Personality of the Year will be revealed.
Additionally, the CRS/Country Aircheck Awards will be presented, honoring innovation, leadership, and outstanding contributions to the country radio format.
The evening will also include the presentation of the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award, recognizing exceptional philanthropic leadership within the country radio community. The 2026 honoree will be introduced by 2023 recipient and CRB Board member Brent Michaels.
Long regarded as one of the most influential stages in the format, the New Faces of Country Music® Show will feature performances from this year’s class of emerging artists: Kelsey Hart, Ella Langley, Chase Matthew, John Morgan, Meghan Patrick, and Josh Ross.
Award-winning broadcaster and nationally recognized country radio personality Elaina Smith will return as host. Known for “Backstage Country,” “Nights with Elaina,” and her Breaking Thru with Elaina podcast, Smith brings a deep connection to both the artists and the country radio community.
Co-partnered by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the New Faces of Country Music® Show continues its longstanding tradition of supporting St. Jude’s lifesaving mission.
For more than five decades, the New Faces of Country Music® Show has served as a defining career milestone for many of the format’s most successful artists and remains a must-attend event for radio programmers, label executives, and industry tastemakers.
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, and those interested in attending are strongly encouraged to purchase soon as the event is expected to sell out. Tickets are $110 and are sold separately from CRS registration. 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.
