The Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was unveiled today during CRS Honors at CRS 2026, with Hall of Fame inductees Mike Moore (Class of 2024) and Trish Biondo (Class of 2023) revealing this year’s honorees.

Honorees in the On-Air Personality category include Chris Carr, Michael J and Rick Jackson, and the Radio category includes Marci Braun, Phil Hunt, Bruce Logan and John Marks.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of those individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the country format.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner will be held August 3 at the Virgin Hotel Nashville. Ticket details will be released at a later date.

Carr has spent nearly three decades in country radio, including 24 years in the Minneapolis market across two tenures at iHeartMedia’s KEEY (K102). Between those runs, he spent six years at Hubbard’s WUBE/Cincinnati. He is a six-time CMA Personality of the Year (2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2025) and a three-time ACM Personality of the Year (2010, 2012, 2015). He has twice been named Twin Cities Personality of the Year and is a two-time Marconi Award nominee. Through his work with the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Radiothon, Carr has helped raise more than $25 million, earning St. Jude’s “Leading the Way” Award in 2025.

J has hosted afternoon drive on WPOC/Baltimore, and beginning in 2007, he simultaneously hosted middays on WMZQ/Washington, D.C., commuting daily between the two markets. His career includes time at WWW/Detroit, along with experience in CHR, AC, and AOR formats, and roles as Music Director and Program Director. His charitable work includes raising millions for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Cancer Society, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

With more than 50 years in country radio, Jackson’s career spans on-air, programming, and executive leadership roles. He began in the mid-1970s in Denver at KERE and KLAL before helping launch KYGO/Denver in 1980, where he hosted mornings and later served as Music Director and Program Director. In 1986, Jackson launched the syndicated Rick Jackson’s Country Classics, which he continues to host today. He also served as General Manager of KSON/San Diego from 2009–2016. His honors include Favorite Denver Radio Personality (1985), Radio Ink’s Large Market General Manager of the Year (2002), and a Marconi Award for Large Market Station of the Year (KSON, 2012).

Braun serves as Regional Brand Manager for Audacy, overseeing KMNB/Minneapolis and WUSN/Chicago, where she has worked since 2004. She began her career with Midwest Communications in Green Bay and later worked at WDEZ/Wausau before joining WUSN as Music Director and on-air personality, rising to her current leadership role in 2020. Under her leadership, WUSN has helped raise more than $25 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and she has served for more than a decade on the St. Jude Radio Advisory Board. Her honors include multiple Radio & Records Music Director of the Year awards, CRS/Country Aircheck Music Director of the Year (2010–2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020), CRS/Country Aircheck Program Director of the Year (2022, 2024), inclusion on Radio Ink’s Top Country PD list (2021–2025), and Barrett Media’s Country Programmer of the Year (2024). Braun is also a frequent speaker at the CRS Women’s Mentoring Breakfast.

Hunt’s 50-year career has spanned on-air, programming, corporate leadership and consulting. His roles have included Program Director at KSSN/Little Rock, Senior Vice President of Client Services at Rusty Walker Programming, Executive Vice President/Country Brand Manager for Clear Channel, and founder of Hunt Media. As a consultant, Hunt has guided stations including WUSN/Chicago, KASE/Austin, KTST/Oklahoma City, and KAJA/San Antonio, among many others.

Logan is currently serving his second tenure as Vice President of Programming for Audacy/Houston, with direct oversight of KILT-FM. Over more than three decades, he has delivered ratings success and market turnarounds in small, medium, and major markets. Logan previously spent 17 years as Regional Vice President for iHeartMedia’s Carolina markets, overseeing WESC, WKKT, WTQR, and WKSF. Additional leadership roles include Operations Manager at WIRK/West Palm Beach and programming positions in Savannah and Louisville. He has been named to Radio Ink’s Top Country PD list for 17 years and has guided multiple stations and air talents to CMA and ACM nominations, awards, and Hall of Fame recognition. Logan has also served on the CRS Agenda Committee for 15 of the past 25 years.

Marks is a 51-year radio veteran whose influence spans terrestrial, satellite, and digital platforms. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Country Programming for Spotify, following his role as Head of Country Programming for SiriusXM, where he oversaw more than 20 channels. His terrestrial programming success includes leadership roles at KSON/San Diego, KKAT/Salt Lake City, KWNR and KFMS/Las Vegas, KRPM/Seattle, KSSN/Little Rock, and WSAI/Cincinnati. Marks has served on the CMA Board of Directors and the ACM Board and received the CMA Jo Walker-Meador International Award and the British Country Music Association’s International Services to the Industry Award in 2018. He has also been deeply involved in country radio’s partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Belles has slated her “Songs & Stories Tour,” which kicks off May 1 in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Johnny Gates and Averie Bielski will join as support on select dates.

The 19-date run will make stops in New York City, Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Seattle, Portland and more. The set will be a stripped-down performance, with Belles spotlighting the stories behind the songs.

“This tour is really about the stories behind the music, the real moments and people that inspired them,” says Belles. “I’m so excited to play my new song ‘Son of Jolene’ live. I love getting to meet the fans in person who I’ve been sharing this journey with online. There’s just something special about the moments we create together that you can’t replicate on social media, only in a room full of live music and that kind of magic. I’ve also just finished writing my debut album, coming out this fall, so I’ll be playing a lot of brand new music too.”

Tickets are on sale now.

Belles will release her new single, “Son Of Jolene,” a collaboration with Dolly Parton, on April 17. Her debut album is slated for released later this year.

“Songs & Stories Tour” Dates:
5/1 – Bell Buckle, TN – Bell Buckle Hall $
5/9 – New York, NY – The Bitter End
6/11 – Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge $
6/13 – Kansas City, KS – Green Guitar Folk House
6/19 – Dunn, NC – Bird’s Nest Listening Room $
6/20 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic #
6/27 – Sweetwater, TX – House Concert Series
7/25 – Des Moines, IA – xBk Live $
7/31 – Murfreesboro, TN – Hop Springs $
8/1 – Chattanooga, TN – Songbirds Listening Room $
8/6 – New Braunfels, TX – Gruene Hall
8/7 – Austin, TX – Cactus Cafe $
8/13 – Phoenix, AZ – Last Exit Live $
8/14 – Las Vegas, NV – Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
8/18 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern $
8/19 – Lake Orion, MI – 20 Front Street
8/22 – Lansing, MI – The Green Door $
8/26 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern $
8/27 – Portland, OR – The Showdown $

# special guest Averie Bielski
$ special guest Johnny Gates

Stephen Wilson Jr. has slated the second leg of his “Gary The Torch Tour,” which kicked off earlier this month.

The new run of dates includes stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Nashville, as well as stops across the EU/UK in London, Paris, Copenhagen, Oslo and more.

Pre-sale signup for US the EU/UK tour is available now, with general on-sale beginning this Friday (March 20) at 10 a.m. local time.

Wilson Jr. recently released the official video for tour name sake “Gary,” directed by Tim Cofield, with an appearance from award-winning actor Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13) in the video. Wilson Jr. is slated for various festival appearances throughout the year as well, including CMA Fest, Railbird, MN Country Club Festival and more.

“Gary The Torch Tour” Dates:
3/18 – Boston, MA – Citizens House of Blues
3/21 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
3/22 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
3/25 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
3/28 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
4/11 – Bossier City, LA – The Paradise Theater at Margaritaville Bossier City
4/15 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
4/17 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
4/18 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
4/22 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha
4/24 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
4/25 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
7/17 – Spokane, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest
7/24 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome by Rutter Mills
7/25 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion
8/7 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
8/8 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
9/6 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
9/18 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
9/19 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Grand Lodge (Concerts in the Grove)
9/22 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
9/24 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
9/29 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
10/15 – Belfast, UK – SSE Arena
10/19 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow
10/22 – London, UK – O2 Academy Brixton
10/23 – Bristol, UK – The Prospect Building
10/25 – Manchester, UK – O2 Victoria Warehouse
10/27 – Paris, FR – Le Trianon
10/29 – Zurich, CH – Volkshaus
10/30 – Cologne, DE – Theater am Tanzbrunnen
11/1 – Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg (Ronda)
11/3 – Copenhagen, DK – VEGA
11/4 – Stockholm, SE – Fållan
11/5 – Oslo, NO – Sentrum Scene
11/21 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company
12/2 – Pittsburgh, PA – Citizens Live at The Wylie
12/9 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
12/11 – Nashville, TN – The Truth

Country For A Cause will return to 3rd & Lindsley on June 3 benefitting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

This year, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, John Berry, Allie Colleen, Linda Davis, Hannah Dasher, Ty Herndon, Jake Hoot, Dani-elle Kleha, The Kody Norris Show, The Malpass Brothers, Neal McCoy, Makenzie Phipps, Mark Wills and more will join hosts T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang, along with Devon O’Day.

Presented by Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms, tickets are on sale now.

“We are beyond excited to host Country For A Cause once again. It’s truly incredible to see the lineup this year, our most varied yet. We’re bringing together legendary artists, rising stars, and you never know who may stop in. This is going to be an unforgettable show,” share Sheppard and Lang.

“It’s almost time for another incredible Country For A Cause Concert, the ‘unofficial’ kickoff to CMA Fest,” adds Sherri Forrest, President of Country For A Cause. “The buzz is already building, and VIP tickets have sold out in under five minutes in past years, so fans will want to be ready. We have an amazing lineup planned, and we’re so thankful for the support of Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms, along with our artists, volunteers, and fans who help us raise thousands of dollars each year for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.”

“How lucky we are to have the support of Country For A Cause in our Nashville community,” says Meredith “Mamie” Shepherd, Senior Program Manager for Seacrest Studios at Monroe Carell. “T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang have been incredible champions of the patients and families seeking treatment and care at Monroe Carell. Thank you to the incredible team that unselfishly puts on such a special night each year! We are most grateful for the talent, generosity, and love on display for this event. It’s a reminder of how healing music can be.”

Austin Snell is gearing up for the release of his fourth EP Colors on May 1 via River House Artists / Warner Records Nashville. A new preview track from the project, the vulnerable confessional “Have It All,” is due out this Friday (March 20).

The emotional, seven-song collection was co-written entirely by Snell, with each track touching bruised territory as he navigates his most vulnerable, unguarded project yet. From the opener “Daddy’s Eyes,” a quietly defiant meditation on family and fidelity, to mental health ruminator “Everything But Okay;” and the prismatic title track “Colors,” Snell’s inner world is on full display—the good, the bad, and the beautifully broken. Writers contributing to the new EP include Tucker Beathard, Laura Veltz, Jimmy Robbins, Dallas Wilson, Jake Mitchell and more.

“Colors is the start of a new era for me,” Snell shares. “I’ve grown a lot as a person the past few years. I’ve spent a lot of time working—working on relationships, working on some trauma, and most importantly, working on myself. This project is a reflection of that. This EP sounds a lot different from previous music, but I’ve never been more proud of my work. I hope y’all enjoy.”

Last week, Snell returned to his roots with a cover of Southern rock classic “Simple Man” on labelmate Gavin Adcock’s tribute album, Country Never Dies, alongside fellow rising artists Hudson Westbrook, Jake Worthington, Ashley Cooke, Braxton Keith and more. He’s set to launch his headline “Home Sweet Hell Tour” April 10 in Las Vegas.

Colors EP Track List:
1. “Daddy’s Eyes” (Austin Snell, Dallas Wilson, Tucker Beathard)*
2. “Everything But Okay” (Austin Snell, Jaxson Free, Logan Maggio)*
3. “Circles” (Austin Snell, Andrew Baylis, Austin Nivarel, Michael Whitworth)^
4. “My Favorite Scar” (Austin Snell, Laura Veltz, Jimmy Robbins)*
5. “You Being You” (Austin Snell, Conor Matthew, James Maddocks)*
6. “Have It All” (Austin Snell, Larry Fleet, Jake Mitchell)*
7. “Colors” (Austin Snell, Lalo Guzman, Johnny Clawson)*

* produced by Logan Maggio
^ produced by Andrew Baylis