CRS 2026 Announces Ella Langley and Jo Dee Messina for “The Conversation”

(Nashville, Tenn. — March 4, 2026) — Country Radio Seminar (CRS) has announced that Ella Langley and Jo Dee Messina will take center stage for a keynote session, "The Conversation," on Thursday, March 19 at 2:30 p.m. The intimate, peer-to-peer exchange will feature the two artists sharing their respective journeys to success.

Now in its third year, "The Conversation" has become a signature CRS series, pairing artists from different career stages for a candid, unscripted dialogue. Previous installments have featured Trisha Yearwood with Lainey Wilson and Eric Church with Jelly Roll, establishing the session as a standout moment of the seminar. The session is sponsored by SPARC Media Hub.

Known for her authenticity and sharp songwriting, Langley’s rapid career ascent has been marked by major milestones, including four CMA Awards, five ACM Awards, and becoming the first female artist in history to simultaneously top the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

Messina is known for her powerful vocals and extensive catalog including nine number-one hits, 16 Top 40 songs, and awards and nominations from the ACM, CMA, AMA, Billboard, and the Grammys. Messina has become a North Star in the music world, carving a path for artists and inspiring the younger generation from Langley and Lainey Wilson to Cole Swindell’s ode to “Heads Carolina, Tails California," and Sierra Ferrell and Nikki Lane’s cover of “Lesson in Leavin,’” she’s not just a country icon — her influence spreads across multiple generations and genres.

Designed as a true one-to-one conversation, the session will feature Langley and Messina posing questions to one another, offering attendees a rare, fly-on-the-wall experience and candid insights from artists who have shaped, and are shaping, the next chapter of country music.

CRS 2026 will take place March 18–20 at the Omni Nashville Hotel and will feature three days of educational programming, networking opportunities, and marquee events, including the New Faces of Country Music® Show, CRS Honors, label luncheons, the Digital Music Summit (DMS), and more.