CRS 2026 Honors to Reveal Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and ACM Radio Award Winners

(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.