Everything You Need To Know About CRS Honors
• Country Radio Seminar (CRS) announced that the Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and select ACM Radio Award winners will be revealed during CRS Honors, on Wednesday, March 18 at 2pm.
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. 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.
CRS Honors will open with the National Anthem performed 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).
CRS Honors will also spotlight the next generation of leaders through the 2026 CRS Scholarship recipients — 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/Little Rock), Karly Duggan (WIVK/Knoxville), and Erin Merimonti (WKDF/Nashville).
The Lisa McKay Women in Radio Scholarship, named in honor of 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 (KNBT & KGNB/New Braunfels, TX), Dixie Roberts (WTVY/Dothan, AL), and Aston Williams (WDWG/Rocky Mount, NC).
CRS and Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) will continue their partnership on the Mentoring & Inspiring Women in Country Radio Scholarship. MIW Board Member Lo Sessions will honor Jessica Chenoweth of KSON/San Diego 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/St. George, UT).
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.
