Regional Acoustic Artist/Act
- Aaron Crawford
- Casey Freedom
- Cory Peterson
- Dog Bite Harris
- Joel Gibson Jr.
- Mel Dalton — First runner-up
- 🏆 Rusty Jackson — Winner
Northwest Country Music Association
2026 NW-CMA Award Results
Congratulations to our 2026 award winners, first runners-up, and all of this year’s nominees. Thank you to the artists, musicians, media professionals, venues, events, and fans who make Northwest country music thrive.
Celebrated November 5, 2026 • Spokane Live at Spokane Tribe Casino
Explore the nominees’ websites and social pages by selecting their linked names.
Amazing Performances of the Night
The audience’s top five performances, listed alphabetically.
Entertainer of the Year
Artists & Vocalists
Touring/Regional Band
- Cody Bartels
- Copper Mountain Band — First runner-up
- Hell on Heels
- Kelly Hughes Band
- Randy B Loran
- 🏆 The Hankers — Winner
- Tylor & the Train Robbers
Local Acoustic Artist/Act
- Carli Osika
- 🏆 Cassandra Wheeler-Joy — Winner
- Devon Wade
- Lucas Brookbank Brown
- Midnight Juliets — First runner-up
- Payton Rae
- Robert Moss
Local Band
- Jordan Paddock & Them Boys
- 🏆 Prairie Fire Band — Winner
- Steve Starkey Band
- Sverwood
- Tamarack Ridge Band
- Theresa Edwards Band — First runner-up
- Wild Wooly Band
Newcomer
- 🏆 Dexter King Band — Winner
- Eli Howard & The Greater Good
- Jack Conrad
- Kylie Hill
- Natalie Hughes
- Porter Combs — First runner-up
- Rachel Brodhead
Female Vocalist
- Carli Osika
- 🏆 Cassandra Wheeler-Joy — Winner
- Chrissy Summering
- Jacque Jolene — First runner-up
- Mel Dalton — First runner-up
- Payton Rae
- Rachel Brodhead
Male Vocalist
- Aaron Crawford
- Cody Bartels
- Joel Gibson Jr.
- Jordan Paddock
- Keith Niehenke
- Rico Gallarza
- Rusty Jackson — First runner-up
- 🏆 Steve Starkey — Winner
Songs & Videos
Music Video
- Boots — Joel Gibson Jr. — First runner-up
- 🏆 Chameleon — Mel Dalton — Winner
- Still Right Here — Tamarack Trio
- The Joke — Ty Lane
Original Song
Instrumentalists
Lead Guitar
- Anthony Corsaro
- Christopher Sverdsten
- Cody Norman
- Erick Johnson
- Gerry Benson — First runner-up
- Greg Stephens
- Keith Niehenke
- Kent Nelson
- 🏆 Porter Combs — Winner
- Trevor Chambers
Drums
- Barry Barckley
- Brian Migliore
- Erin Stephens
- 🏆 Kevin Olsonberg — Winner
- Mark Mullen — First runner-up
- Rex Johnson
- Rico Gallarza
Bass
- Austin Davis
- Greg Breazeal
- 🏆 Harry Batty — Winner
- Joe Medina
- Keven Franklin
- Lance Mitchell
- Nate Norman
- Rex Romagnolo — First runner-up
- Sam McCrosson
Other Instrumentalist
Media & Entertainment
Radio Personalities
- Aaron Crawford
- Adam and Jen in the Morning
- 🏆 Jamie Patrick — Winner
- Kevin James
- TC — First runner-up
- The Luceman
- Wit McKnight
Radio Stations
- 🏆 93.7 The Mountain — Winner
- 94.9 The Wolf
- 98.9 The Bull
- 99.9 Coyote Country — First runner-up
- 100.7 The Wolf
- 101.5 Hank FM
- K102 Country
Podcasters/Spoken Word
- Chit & Chat
- Chris Eger
- 🏆 Kaden Collins (The KGC Show) — Winner
- Mike Slothower (Narrator)
- Miles & Mountains
- Monday Music with Mel Dalton — First runner-up
- Tee Party Podcast and Tyler Pisani
DJs/Emcees
- Adam Lambert
- DJ Z
- 🏆 Kevin James — Winner
- Matty Parker — First runner-up
- 🏆 Mikayla Ibach — Winner
- Tom Singleton
Dance, Venues & Events
Dance Instructors/Groups
- Brad Eaton
- Buckle & Boot Line Dancing
- Dawn Killough
- Dusty Wexler / Litefeet — First runner-up
- Laura Bird / Freebird
- 🏆 Line Dancing with Sandy — Winner
- Loda M. Bales