The following information was provided by the Texas Regional Radio & Music Association.
ARLINGTON — The 16th Annual Texas Regional Radio & Music Awards were held March 23, 2026, at Texas Live!, recognizing the hard work and dedication of the Texas country/Red Dirt music genre, along with the radio stations and personalities who support the artists.
Festivities began March 22 with the annual Future Faces Show at PBR Bar at Texas Live!, where emerging artists competed for a chance to perform on the TRRMA stage. A live audience vote selected Adysen Malek as the winner. Other performers included America Allen, Roland Whitt, Delaney Ann, Bubba Westly, Sheila Marshall, Caleb Sutton and Austin Dixon.
Monday night’s main event featured the largest media room attendance in TRRMA history. “Talk Y’all To Me” host Tori Kruse participated in her first year with TRRMA, conducting interviews and producing social media content.
For the first time, TRRMA introduced a remote stage, featuring performances by Katie Beth Mihm and Aaron Loy. The addition fulfilled a long-standing goal of founder Dave Smith.
This year’s Living Legend Awards were presented to Radney Foster and Paul Overstreet. The Humanitarian Award went to Josh and Kady Weathers for their work through the Love Like You Mean It foundation, including a virtual concert that raised more than $600,000 for Hill Country flood relief.
Aaron Watson was named Entertainer of the Year. Kylie Frey earned Female Vocalist of the Year honors, while Josh Weathers was named Male Vocalist of the Year.
Organizers said more than 70,000 votes were cast for this year’s awards.
2026 Texas Regional Radio & Music Awards winners
- Entertainer of the Year — Aaron Watson
- Male Vocalist of the Year — Josh Weathers
- Female Vocalist of the Year — Kylie Frey
- Group/Band of the Year — Randy Rogers Band
- Vocal Duo of the Year — Kylie Frey & Randall King
- New Male Vocalist of the Year — Tristan Roberson
- New Female Vocalist of the Year — Sandee June
- New Vocal Duo/Event of the Year — Texas High Road
- New Group/Band of the Year — Ghosts of Hill County
- Single of the Year — “Nothin But Texas,” Wade Bowen
- Album of the Year — Whiskey, Lies & Alibies, William Beckmann
- Brandon Jenkins Memorial Songwriters Award — “Last Cowboy Standing,” David Adam Byrnes
- Music Video of the Year — “Is This Thing Workin’,” Randy Rogers Band/Parker McCollum
- Record Producer of the Year — AJ Vallejo
- Recording Studio of the Year — Fort Worth Sound, Fort Worth
- Venue/Nightclub of the Year — Gruene Hall, New Braunfels
- Festival of the Year — Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival, Stephenville
Radio station of the year
- Super Market — KFWR 95.9 The Ranch, Fort Worth
- Large Market — KMWX 92.5 The Ranch, Abilene
- Medium Market — KZAH 99.1, Kerrville
- Small Market — KTTX 106.1, Brenham
- Out of Region — KERP 96.3, Dodge City, Kansas
- Internet — RedDirtTexasCountry.com
On-air personality of the year
- Super Market — Shayne Hollinger, KFWR, Fort Worth
- Large Market — Rudy Fernandez, KMWX, Abilene
- Medium Market — Justin McClure, KZAH, Kerrville
- Small Market — Buzz Russell, KNES, Fairfield
- Out of Region — Joshua Roesener, KERP, Dodge City, Kansas
- Internet — Robert Miguel, Uvalde Radio
- T3R Humanitarian Award — Josh & Kady Weathers
