CRS Honors to Reveal Hall of Fame, ACM Radio Winners

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 2:45pm CT

CRS 26

Country Radio Seminar will unveil the Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and select ACM Radio Award winners during CRS Honors on Wednesday, March 18 at 2pm.

In partnership with the Academy of Country Music, the ceremony will feature the live announcement of ACM Radio Award winners for Station of the Year and On-Air Personality of the Year in Small, Medium, Large and Major markets. The category finalists were previously revealed by the ACM, with winners set to be presented on stage. Parker McCollum is scheduled to assist in unveiling the honorees.

Additional ACM Radio Award winners will be announced during the New Faces of Country Music Show, with further details to be released.

A cornerstone of CRS, the annual Honors event brings together country radio and music industry professionals to recognize excellence in broadcasting, celebrate influential contributors to the format and spotlight emerging leaders.

The ceremony will open with a performance of the National Anthem by Frank Ray (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville/Broken Bow Records). HARDY (Big Loud Records) will deliver a special In Memoriam segment honoring members of the country radio community who have made lasting contributions.

CRS Honors will also recognize the 2026 CRS Scholarship recipients through the Rusty Walker Scholarship, named for the late programmer, consultant, CRS board member and Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee Rusty Walker. The scholarship provides three rising radio professionals the opportunity to attend CRS and further develop their careers. 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 will be awarded 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). The scholarship honors the late 2018 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee Lisa McKay, who mentored female programmers during her tenure at WQDR in Raleigh.

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 recognize Jessica Chenoweth (KSON) as the 2025 mentee and announce the launch of the 2026 program.

The Whitney Allen "Hot Mic" Scholarship, which recognizes emerging female on-air talent, will be presented to Monica McGlochlin (99.9 KONY Country).

CRS Honors will be hosted by CRB Board President Kurt Johnson, with opening remarks from CRB Executive Director RJ Curtis.