From staff reports
The Texas Country Music Association has released its 2026 Industry Awards voting ballot, highlighting finalists across a wide range of categories recognizing professionals throughout the Texas country and Red Dirt music industry.
Finalists were selected from nominations submitted between Dec. 15, 2025 and Feb. 28, 2026. Voting is open to TCMA members and verified industry stakeholders through April 30, 2026, with winners to be announced July 23 at Rhinestone Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Below is the full list of finalists by category:
Artist Manager of the Year
Natalie Roberson (Tristan Roberson)
Jimmy Collins (Brooke Graham)
Len Snow (Multiple Artists)
Cynthia Garcia (Multiple Artists)
Randy Lenard (Tasman Sharp)
Musician of the Year
Hayden Baker
Rico Gonzales (Kin Faux)
Scotty Alexander
Bubba Bellin (Josh Weathers)
John Laufenberg (Randall King)
Tour Manager of the Year
Brian Kinzie (Cody Canada and the Departed)
Austin Salazar (William Clark Green)
Mike Poole (Josh Weathers)
Greg Maldo (David Lewis)
Kayla Bacon (Josh Ward)
Radio Promoter of the Year
Cynthia Garcia
Dillon Steen
Dusty Moats
Greg Sax
Jennifer Redding
Publicist of the Year
Amy Johnson (Top Shelf Talent)
Barry Rogers (Wayne Public Relations)
Candy Hutzell (Pinnacle Media & Entertainment)
Heidi Labensart (McGuckin Public Relations)
Desiree Serna (Publicity & PR by Desiree)
Social Media Manager of the Year
Kimberly Brian (Josh Weathers)
Michelle Watterson (KNES Texas 99)
Brandi Hope (Madam Pearl’s Saloon)
Clair Parada (Gruene Hall)
Recording Studio of the Year
Rosewood Studios (Tyler)
Stormy Cooper Media (Houston)
KSIJ Studio/Mauldin Productions (Gladewater)
Fort Worth Sound (Fort Worth)
Beagle’s Nest Records (New Braunfels)
Record Producer of the Year
Bart Rose (Fort Worth Sound)
Chad Mauldin (Mauldin Productions/KSIJ Studio)
Drew Hall (Rosewood Studios)
Matthew Briggs (Beagle’s Nest Records)
Greg White (SG Studios)
Booking Agent of the Year
Holly Grant (Grant Entertainment)
Brandi Hope (Blue Eyed Texan Booking)
Jennifer Edwards (Third Coast Music Booking)
Michael Kelley (TKOCO)
Dusty Moats (Powerhouse Promotions)
Talent Buyer of the Year (Venue or Festival)
Alexis Wilson (Gruene Hall)
Keli Pearce (7th Planet Entertainment)
Justin Crawford (Spur One Management)
Curtis Goff (Red River Station)
Chris Smith (Rhinestone Saloon)
Live Sound and/or Lighting Engineer of the Year
Jimmy Davidson (Texas Stage)
Dale Simpson (Extreme Sound Production)
Bryce Reed (Hoot’s Hall)
Christian Keep (CK Production Solutions)
Jody Weiderman (Rhinestone Saloon)
Venue Owner or Manager of the Year
Jennifer Murillo (Madam Pearl’s Dancehall and Saloon)
Jenny Latham (Rhinestone Saloon)
Alexis Wilson (Gruene Hall)
Duke Miller (Hoot’s Hall)
Ronnie Schoepf (Schoepf’s BBQ)
Music Video of the Year
“Heartbreak Queen” (Kensie Coppin)
“John Deere Rust” (Colby Lee Swift)
“Gotta Have It” (Josh Weathers)
“I Can’t Fix Everything” (Hayden Baker)
“Put It In Reverse” (Ben McPeak)
Videographer of the Year
Trenton Johnson (613 Media)
Kyle Garrett Tomchesson (KG Media)
Caleb Villa
Chris Romain (Split Window Studios)
Robert Moroni
Photographer of the Year
Becky Stinehour (Candid Images Photography)
Greg Roach (Greg Roach Photography)
Natalie Roberson (Natalie Roberson Photography)
Shawnessy Ransom (Shawnessy Ransom Photography)
Jamie Goode (Jamie Goode Studios)
Graphic Artist of the Year (Album or Single Cover)
Shawnessy Ransom (Weatherboy – Payton Riley)
Cody Covington (Where the Wild Things Are – William Clark Green)
Nikki Heath (Time and Again – Beyond Destiny)
Scott Foley (Taking Off My Halo – Elle Townley)
Bailey Hatton (Fool For You Again – The Hattons)
Radio Program Director of the Year
Buzz Russell (KNES Fairfield)
Kenny Schneebeli (KRXT Rockdale/Taylor)
Rudy Fernandez (KMWX/KKCN/KEAN Abilene)
Michael White (Real Texas Radio)
Shayne Hollinger (KFWR Fort Worth)
Radio Broadcast Team or Individual Personality of the Year
Erin Wilde (KTFW Hank FM Fort Worth)
Tim Shipman (TexasRedHotRadio.com)
Diane Day (KYKX Longview/Tyler)
Big Jim Russell (KLUR Wichita Falls)
Carey Dean and JoJo (KRVF Corsicana)
Charitable Music Event of the Year
Concert for Love (Love Heals Youth – Rebecca Smith Nash)
Texas Ranch Round Up (North Texas Rehab Center – West Texas Boys Ranch)
Harmonies for Heroes (Trig44 Entertainment – Amy Gutzke)
Special Songs for Special Kids (Be An Angel – Denise Fenoglio)
Patriots of Texas Music Fest (Jesse Raub Jr.)
Podcast of the Year
Gotta Love Texas Music (Katherine and Honey Odom)
Texas Toast Podcast (Helen Elshick)
Only Vans (Bri Bagwell)
The Boston Chris Show (Boston Chris)
The Ranch Sitdown (Shayne Hollinger – The Ranch)
Digital or Print Media Outlet of the Year
Stars Over Texas TV (Mike Bilansky)
Pro Country Music (Justin Loretangeli)
Galleywinter (Brad Beheler)
Texas Country Network (Zakk United)
Texas Music Daily (Tami Millspaugh/Greg Sax)
Syndicated Radio Show of the Year
Dance Time in Texas (Mike Bilansky)
Red Dirt Proud (JB Cloud)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Mike “Crowman” Crow)
Ship Show (Tim Shipman)
Sounds Like Texas (Zakk United)
Best Artist/Band Merchandise of the Year
Billie Jo Jones
Blacktop Bloodline
Chaser Crouch
Jesse Raub Jr.
Payton Riley
Artist or Industry Professional Spouse, Partner or Significant Other of the Year
Vanessa Smith (Buzz Russell)
Kady Weathers (Josh Weathers)
Hailey Underwood (Trevor Underwood)
Sarah Sparks (Tanner Sparks)
Shayla Korn (Jeremy Pool)
Texas Country Music Industry Professional of the Year
Robert Gallagher (Billy Bob’s Texas)
Len Snow (Get Joe Records)
Dusty Moats (Powerhouse Promotions)
Bart Rose (Fort Worth Sound)
Tami Millspaugh (Texas Record Chick Promotions)
TCMA Members and verifiable stakeholder can place their votes at: https://texascountrymusicassociation.org/2026industryvoting/
