CRS 2026 New Faces of Country Music® Show to Highlight Rising Artists and Industry Achievements
(Nashville, Tennessee — March 5, 2026) — Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has announced that Lauren Alaina will take the stage at the New Faces of Country Music® Show on Friday, March 20, to reveal the final ACM Radio Award winners for National On-Air Personality of the Year – Daily and National On-Air Personality of the Year – Weekly, marking one of the evening’s most anticipated moments.
In partnership with the Academy of Country Music, the New Faces program will feature the presentation of these two national honors, completing the full slate of ACM Radio Awards announced across CRS 2026. Earlier in the week at CRS Honors, the winners for Station of the Year and On-Air Personality of the Year will be revealed.
Additionally, the CRS/Country Aircheck Awards will be presented, honoring innovation, leadership, and outstanding contributions to the country radio format.
The evening will also include the presentation of the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award, recognizing exceptional philanthropic leadership within the country radio community. The 2026 honoree will be introduced by 2023 recipient and CRB Board member Brent Michaels.
Long regarded as one of the most influential stages in the format, the New Faces of Country Music® Show will feature performances from this year’s class of emerging artists: Kelsey Hart, Ella Langley, Chase Matthew, John Morgan, Meghan Patrick, and Josh Ross.
Award-winning broadcaster and nationally recognized country radio personality Elaina Smith will return as host. Known for “Backstage Country,” “Nights with Elaina,” and her podcast, Smith brings a deep connection to both the artists and the country radio community.
Co-partnered by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the New Faces of Country Music® Show continues its longstanding tradition of supporting St. Jude’s lifesaving mission.
For more than five decades, the New Faces of Country Music® Show has served as a defining career milestone for many of the format’s most successful artists and remains a must-attend event for radio programmers, label executives, and industry tastemakers.
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, and those interested in attending are strongly encouraged to purchase soon as the event is expected to sell out. Tickets are $110 and are sold separately from CRS registration.
Tags: CRS 2026, New Faces of Country Music, Lauren Alaina, ACM Radio Awards, country music, country radio, emerging artists, Kelsey Hart, Ella Langley, Chase Matthew, John Morgan, Meghan Patrick, Josh Ross
