CMA Touring Awards: Lainey Wilson’s Crew Sweeps, Jim Halsey & Keith Urban Honored
Pictured: (L-R) Tiffany Kerns (CMA Senior Vice President, Industry Relations & Philanthropy), Curt Armstead, Catherine Powell, Ryan Dell, Meg Miller, Allison Noah, Diana “Lemonade” McBride, Talayeh Nasirzadeh,
On Tuesday (June 2), the Country Music Association hosted its annual CMA Touring Awards at The Pinnacle in Nashville. The event, emceed by Keith Urban for the fourth consecutive year, honored the leading professionals in country music touring with awards across 20 different categories.
Alongside industry executives, crews, families and several artists attended the event to support their nominated team members and celebrate the behind-the-scenes professionals who make life on the road possible. Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Carly Pearce and members of The Oak Ridge Boys were among those who joined the celebration.
The biggest winner of the night was Wilson, whose “Whirlwind World Tour” team managed to earn six of the evening’s awards, including Backline Technician, Stage Manager, Front of House Engineer, Tour Video Director, Monitor Engineer and Tour Manager of the Year.
Wilson’s crew also took home the night’s highest honor, Crew of the Year. “I am so proud of my people,” shared Wilson. “I feel like everywhere we go, they leave a good impression. They treat the janitor just like they treat the CEO and that means a whole lot to me. Thank you so much for the sacrifices y’all make all the time.”
Other wins of the night included KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards, who took home the award for Manager of the Year, WME’s Becky Gardenhire as Talent Agent of the Year, OH Creative’s Olivia Hanceri as Publicist of the Year and Luke Combs band member Kurt Ozan, who received Touring Musician of the Year.
The evening also included several special moments celebrating the touring community, including appearances by former hosts Kristian Bush, Kix Brooks and Jon Pardi, as well as a tribute performance from Charlie Worsham honoring those in the industry lost over the past year.
CMA also honored legendary agent and manager Jim Halsey with the Lifetime Touring Achievement Award, recognizing his six decades of work helping bring country music to audiences around the world. Halsey worked alongside artists such as The Oak Ridge Boys, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire and The Judds.
The evening concluded with one final award as CMA CEO Sarah Trahern presented Urban with the CMA Founding President’s Award, recognizing his longtime commitment to the organization and country music.
Full List of 2026 CMA Touring Awards Winners:
Business Manager of the Year: Jen Conger (Flood, Bumstead, McCready and McCarthy)
Coach/Truck Driver of the Year: Caleb Garrett (Luke Bryan)
Venue of the Year: The Pinnacle (Nashville)
Publicist of the Year: Olivia Hanceri (OH Creative)
Lighting Director of the Year: Zac Coren (Morgan Wallen)
Tour Video Director of the Year: Dave Bergfeld (Lainey Wilson)
Tour Videographer/Photographer of the Year: Catherine Powell (Kelsea Ballerini)
Talent Agent of the Year: Becky Gardenhire (WME)
Front of House Engineer of the Year: Ryan Dell (Lainey Wilson)
Monitor Engineer of the Year: Curt Armstead (Lainey Wilson)
Production Manager of the Year: Chad Guy (Morgan Wallen)
Support Services Company of the Year: Clair Global (Nashville)
Backline Technician of the Year: Dalton Ray Brown (Lainey Wilson)
Touring Musician of the Year: Kurt Ozan (Luke Combs)
Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year: Ed Warm (Joe’s Bar)
Manager of the Year: Kerri Edwards (KP Entertainment)
Stage Manager of the Year: Allison Noah (Carly Pearce/Lainey Wilson)
Tour Manager of the Year: Meg Miller (Lainey Wilson)
Unsung Hero of the Year: Diana “Lemonade” McBride (Grand Ole Opry)
Crew of the Year: “Whirlwind World Tour” crew (Lainey Wilson)
