NACMAI Country Music Week
New Country · Traditional Country · Bluegrass · Traditional Gospel · New Gospel
2026 Competition — March 24–28, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Our 29th annual Country Music Week welcomed 131 competitors across 214 entries from 13 states and provinces. The official winners are listed below — congratulations to every competitor who took the stage.
2026 Competition Winners — Official Results
Youth Division · Ages 3–6
New Country Female Vocalist
- New Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Morgan Chandler (CA)
- Most Promising — Abilene Walkley (OK)
Youth Division · Ages 7–12
Dance
- Dance of the Year — Delilah Reeves (IN)
- Most Promising — Addison Laye (AL)
New Country Female Vocalist
- New Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Aveya Huculak (ON)
- Most Promising — Johanna Burlinson (CA)
- Horizon — Skylar Steinell (CA)
- Rising Star (Tied) — Avery Sutton (AL)
- Future Star — Delilah Reeves (IN)
New Country Instrumentalist
- New Country Instrumentalist of the Year — Waylon Cash MacMillan (CA)
New Country Male Vocalist
- New Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Waylon Cash MacMillan (CA)
New Gospel Female Vocalist
- New Gospel Female Vocalist of the Year — Rosalie Cole (AL)
- Most Promising (Tied) — Brylee Smither (KY)
- Most Promising (Tied) — Melodie Adams (TN)
Traditional Country Female Vocalist
- Traditional Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Adelee Reeves (IN)
- Most Promising — Olivia Morales (CA)
Traditional Country Male Vocalist
- Traditional Country Male Vocalist of the Year — C.J. Cunha (TN)
Traditional Country Vocal Duo
- Traditional Country Vocal Duo of the Year — Adelee and Delilah Reeves (IN)
- Most Promising — Mackenzie and Trinity Watts (IN)
Traditional Gospel Female Vocalist
- Traditional Gospel Female Vocalist of the Year — Gianna Lawrence (CA)
Youth Division · Ages 13–16
Bluegrass Male Vocalist
- Bluegrass Male Vocalist of the Year — William Gray (SC)
Bluegrass Male Instrumentalist
- Bluegrass Male Instrumentalist of the Year — William Gray (SC)
New Country Female Vocalist
- New Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Sophie Taylor (NC)
New Country Male Vocalist
- New Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Amrek Wilson (OK)
New Gospel Female Vocalist
- New Gospel Female Vocalist of the Year — Anabel Burton (CA)
New Gospel Male Vocalist
- New Gospel Male Vocalist of the Year — Brennan Wilson (KY)
Traditional Country Female Vocalist
- Traditional Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Jadelynn Odom (IN)
- Most Promising — Madelyn Sawyers (IN)
- Horizon — Bella Brookshire (AL)
- Rising Star — Madison Rae McCoy (CA)
Traditional Country Male Vocalist
- Traditional Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Landon Haren (TN)
Traditional Gospel Instrumentalist
- Traditional Gospel Instrumentalist of the Year — William Reed Elliotte (OH)
- Most Promising — Adrianna Ramsay (OK)
Traditional Gospel Male Vocalist
- Traditional Gospel Male Vocalist of the Year — William Reed Elliotte (OH)
Youth Division · Ages 17–20
Bluegrass Female Vocalist
- Bluegrass Female Vocalist of the Year — Gracelynn Sanborn (CA)
New Country Female Vocalist
- New Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Adilynn Ruth Cloud (OK)
- Most Promising — Mya Kate (ON)
- Horizon — Cameron Marie Kiggins (CA)
- Rising Star — Lori Alumbaugh (IN)
Traditional Country Female Vocalist
- Traditional Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Mikayla Sanborn (CA)
- Most Promising — Kayley Webster (AL)
- Horizon — Kira Ramsay (OK)
Traditional Country Instrumentalist
- Traditional Country Instrumentalist of the Year — Will Finley Smith (IN)
- Most Promising — Hannah Kohl (CA)
Traditional Country Male Vocalist
- Traditional Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Will Finley Smith (IN)
- Most Promising — Gage Ford (IN)
- Horizon — Turner Bates (ON)
Adult Division · Ages 21+
Bluegrass Female Vocalist
- Bluegrass Female Vocalist of the Year — Cortney Darling (OH)
- Most Promising — Sophie Debusk (IN)
- Horizon — Madison Chumley (TN)
Bluegrass Instrumentalist
- Bluegrass Instrumentalist of the Year — Preston Spake (SC)
Bluegrass Male Vocalist
- Bluegrass Male Vocalist of the Year — Preston Spake (SC)
New Country Female Vocalist
- New Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Kelli Rae Coughlin (CA)
- Most Promising — Sarah Stephens (OH)
- Horizon (Tied) — Adrianna Fine (MO)
- Horizon (Tied) — Allison Arms (OK)
- Rising Star — Annalea Witenbarger (IN)
New Country Male Vocalist
- New Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Reggie Stacy (TN)
- Most Promising — Brian Whetnall (OH)
- Horizon — Ronnie Wade (TN)
New Country Vocal Duo
- New Country Vocal Duo of the Year — Lori Lynn and Shayne Henry (IN)
New Gospel Female Vocalist
- New Gospel Female Vocalist of the Year — Nichole Ruby (IN)
- Most Promising — Bobbi Berracah (IN)
- Horizon — Tina Hanscome (IL)
- Rising Star — Ali Nichole Browning (IL)
New Gospel Instrumentalist
- New Gospel Instrumentalist of the Year — William Gaines (OK)
New Gospel Male Vocalist
- New Gospel Male Vocalist of the Year — John Hopkins (OH)
- Most Promising — Brent Kendall (KY)
- Horizon — Michael Savage (OK)
- Rising Star — Joseph Letendre (IN)
New Gospel Vocal Duo
- New Gospel Vocal Duo of the Year — Rose Rock Rebels (OK)
- Most Promising — The Box Crushers (Michael Savage and William Gaines) (OK)
Traditional Country Band
- Traditional Country Band of the Year — Misty Mountain Band (SC)
- Most Promising — The Wildwoods Band (ME)
- Horizon — The Michael Harding Band (IN)
- Rising Star — The Ronnie Call Band (NC)
Traditional Country Female Vocalist
- Traditional Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Mikell Smith (MO)
- Most Promising — Tennessee Rindal (ON)
- Horizon — Marrisa Barrela (SC)
- Rising Star — Meaghan Martin (ME)
Traditional Country Male Vocalist
- Traditional Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Canaan Covington (KY)
- Most Promising — Stevin Marsh (IN)
- Horizon — Brian Walters (IN)
- Rising Star — Cameron Byers (SC)
Traditional Country Vocal Duo
- Traditional Country Vocal Duo of the Year — The Wildwoods Duo (ME)
Traditional Country Vocal Group
- Traditional Country Vocal Group of the Year — The Wildwoods Band (ME)
Traditional Gospel Female Vocalist
- Traditional Gospel Female Vocalist of the Year — Stacey Ramsay (OK)
- Most Promising — Keira Brumley (IN)
- Horizon — Tara Whitlock (OK)
Traditional Gospel Male Vocalist
- Traditional Gospel Male Vocalist of the Year — Ethan Eicher (IN)
- Most Promising — Wayland Fultz (TN)
Adult Division · Ages 50+
Bluegrass Band
- Bluegrass Band of the Year — The Carolina Connection (SC)
Bluegrass Female Vocalist
- Bluegrass Female Vocalist of the Year — Betty Natske (SC)
- Most Promising — Michelle McNair (OK)
Bluegrass Male Vocalist
- Bluegrass Male Vocalist of the Year — Robert Harmon (IN)
Bluegrass Vocal Duo
- Bluegrass Vocal Duo of the Year — Preston Spake and Betty Natske (SC)
New Country Band
- New Country Band of the Year — Soldiers Pride (IN)
New Country Vocalist
- New Country Vocalist of the Year — Josh Corwin (IN)
New Country Female Vocalist
- New Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Linda Lea Watson (OK)
- Most Promising — Sandra Shock (KY)
- Horizon — Cathy Repass (OK)
- Rising Star — Lori Lynn (IN)
New Country Male Vocalist
- New Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Ray Ligon (KY)
- Most Promising — Rex Anderson (IN)
- Horizon — Kevin Parish (IN)
New Country Vocal Duo
- New Country Vocal Duo of the Year — Hot Country (KY)
New Gospel Female Vocalist
- New Gospel Female Vocalist of the Year — Janine Hunt (OK)
- Most Promising — Neesee Hurst (IL)
- Horizon — Cathy Moats (IN)
New Gospel Instrumentalist
- New Gospel Instrumentalist of the Year — James Bonner (IN)
New Gospel Male Vocalist
- New Gospel Male Vocalist of the Year — James Bonner (IN)
New Gospel Vocal Group
- New Gospel Vocal Group of the Year — Berkley Springs Trio (IN)
Traditional Country Female Vocalist
- Traditional Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Gale Jenkins (MO)
- Most Promising (Tied) — Angie Toomey (SC)
- Most Promising (Tied) — Dee Dee Guthrie (IN)
- Horizon — Deborah Watts (IN)
Traditional Country Instrumentalist
- Traditional Country Instrumentalist of the Year — Peggy Inks (IN)
- Most Promising — Jeffery Hamm (ME)
Traditional Country Male Vocalist
- Traditional Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Brian Doss (IN)
- Most Promising — Jeffery Hamm (ME)
- Horizon — William Howard Elliotte (OH)
- Rising Star — Clyde Manning (OK)
Traditional Country Vocal Duo
- Traditional Country Vocal Duo of the Year — Brian Doss and Dee Dee Guthrie (IN)
- Most Promising — Blended Hemp (Johnny Long and Julie Messer) (NC)
- Horizon — Joey Garland and Gale Jenkins (MO)
- Rising Star — Duane Sharp and Judy Fultz (TN)
Traditional Gospel Female Vocalist
- Traditional Gospel Female Vocalist of the Year (Tied) — Brenda Morgan (IN)
- Traditional Gospel Female Vocalist of the Year (Tied) — Cherylyn Tiller (OK)
- Horizon — Christine Scott (IN)
Traditional Gospel Instrumentalist
- Traditional Gospel Instrumentalist of the Year — Clyde Scott (IN)
Traditional Gospel Male Vocalist
- Traditional Gospel Male Vocalist of the Year — Avery Watkins (KY)
- Most Promising — Paul Williams (IN)
- Horizon — Ricky Julian (TN)
Traditional Gospel Vocal Duo
- Traditional Gospel Vocal Duo of the Year — Clyde and Christine Scott (IN)
Mixed Age — Youth
New Country Vocal Duo
- New Country Vocal Duo of the Year — The Kohls (Sadie and Hannah Kohl) (CA)
New Gospel Vocal Group
- New Gospel Vocal Group of the Year — Sisters 3 (MO)
Traditional Country Vocal Duo
- Traditional Country Vocal Duo of the Year — Braden Joyce and C.J. Cunha (TN)
Mixed Age — Adult
Bluegrass Vocal Duo
- Bluegrass Vocal Duo of the Year — Huntley and Gray (SC)
Traditional Country Vocal Duo
- Traditional Country Vocal Duo of the Year — The Cordells (TN)
Youth Division · Ages 3–6
New Country Female Entertainer
- New Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Morgan Chandler (CA)
- Most Promising — Abilene Walkley (OK)
Youth Division · Ages 7–12
New Country Female Entertainer
- New Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Aveya Huculak (ON)
- Most Promising — Avery Sutton (AL)
- Horizon — Victoria Dixon (CA)
- Rising Star (Tied) — Johanna Burlinson (CA)
- Future Star — Maggie King (OK)
- Future Star — Skylar Steinell (CA)
New Country Male Entertainer
- New Country Male Entertainer of the Year — Waylon Cash MacMillan (CA)
New Gospel Female Entertainer
- New Gospel Female Entertainer of the Year — Rosalie Cole (AL)
Traditional Country Female Entertainer
- Traditional Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Mackenzie Watts (IN)
- Most Promising — Adelee Reeves (IN)
- Horizon — Trinity Watts (IN)
- Rising Star — Olivia Morales (CA)
Traditional Gospel Female Entertainer
- Traditional Gospel Female Entertainer of the Year — Gianna Lawrence (CA)
Youth Division · Ages 13–16
Bluegrass Male Entertainer
- Bluegrass Male Entertainer of the Year — William Gray (SC)
New Country Female Entertainer
- New Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Sophie Taylor (NC)
New Country Male Entertainer
- New Country Male Entertainer of the Year — Amrek Wilson (OK)
- Most Promising — Braden Joyce (TN)
New Gospel Female Entertainer
- New Gospel Female Entertainer of the Year — Anabel Burton (CA)
Traditional Country Female Entertainer
- Traditional Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Madison Rae McCoy (CA)
- Most Promising — Madelyn Sawyers (IN)
Traditional Country Male Entertainer
- Traditional Country Male Entertainer of the Year — Landon Haren (TN)
Traditional Gospel Male Entertainer
- Traditional Gospel Male Entertainer of the Year — William Reed Elliotte (OH)
Youth Division · Ages 17–20
Bluegrass Female Entertainer
- Bluegrass Female Entertainer of the Year — Gracelynn Sanborn (CA)
New Country Female Entertainer
- New Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Mya Kate (ON)
- Most Promising — Cameron Marie Kiggins (CA)
- Horizon — Lori Alumbaugh (IN)
- Rising Star — Adilynn Ruth Cloud (OK)
- Future Star — Addilyn Fortner (IN)
New Country Male Entertainer
- New Country Male Entertainer of the Year — Aidan Cocchina (IN)
New Gospel Female Entertainer
- New Gospel Female Entertainer of the Year — Emma Wilson (KY)
Traditional Country Female Entertainer
- Traditional Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Mikayla Sanborn (CA)
- Most Promising — Kira Ramsay (OK)
Traditional Country Male Entertainer
- Traditional Country Male Entertainer of the Year — Turner Bates (ON)
- Most Promising — Will Finley Smith (IN)
Adult Division · Ages 21+
Bluegrass Female Entertainer
- Bluegrass Female Entertainer of the Year — Sophie Debusk (IN)
Bluegrass Male Entertainer
- Bluegrass Male Entertainer of the Year — Preston Spake (SC)
New Country Female Entertainer
- New Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Allison Arms (OK)
- Most Promising — Sarah Stephens (OH)
- Horizon — Alishia Waterbury (MO)
- Rising Star — Annalea Witenbarger (IN)
New Country Male Entertainer
- New Country Male Entertainer of the Year — Reggie Stacy (TN)
- Most Promising — Brian Whetnall (OH)
- Horizon — Ronnie Wade (TN)
- Rising Star — Trevor Johnson (ME)
New Gospel Female Entertainer
- New Gospel Female Entertainer of the Year — Sarah Kitchell (OK)
- Most Promising — Margarita Smith (TN)
- Horizon — Isabel Burton (CA)
- Rising Star — Bobbi Berracah (IN)
New Gospel Male Entertainer
- New Gospel Male Entertainer of the Year — Joseph Letendre (IN)
- Most Promising — John Hopkins (OH)
Traditional Country Female Entertainer
- Traditional Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Tennessee Rindal (ON)
- Most Promising — Meaghan Martin (ME)
- Horizon — Wendy Clem (TN)
- Rising Star — Mikell Smith (MO)
Traditional Country Male Entertainer
- Traditional Country Male Entertainer of the Year — Curtis Bauer (MO)
- Most Promising — Stevin Marsh (IN)
- Horizon — Canaan Covington (KY)
- Rising Star — Brian Walters (IN)
Traditional Gospel Female Entertainer
- Traditional Gospel Female Entertainer of the Year — Stacey Ramsay (OK)
- Most Promising — Keira Brumley (IN)
Traditional Gospel Male Entertainer
- Traditional Gospel Male Entertainer of the Year — Ethan Eicher (IN)
- Most Promising — Wayland Fultz (TN)
Adult Division · Ages 50+
Bluegrass Female Entertainer
- Bluegrass Female Entertainer of the Year — Betty Natske (SC)
- Most Promising — Michelle McNair (OK)
Bluegrass Male Entertainer
- Bluegrass Male Entertainer of the Year — Robert Harmon (IN)
New Country Female Entertainer
- New Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Linda Lea Watson (OK)
- Most Promising — Sandra Shock (KY)
- Horizon — Cathy Repass (OK)
- Rising Star — Lori Lynn (IN)
New Country Male Entertainer
- New Country Male Entertainer of the Year (Tied) — Rodney Watts (IN)
- New Country Male Entertainer of the Year (Tied) — Ray Ligon (KY)
- Most Promising — Kevin Parish (IN)
New Gospel Female Entertainer
- New Gospel Female Entertainer of the Year — Janine Hunt (OK)
New Gospel Male Entertainer
- New Gospel Male Entertainer of the Year — James Bonner (IN)
Traditional Country Female Entertainer
- Traditional Country Female Entertainer of the Year — Marilyon Cleveland (TN)
- Most Promising — Angie Toomey (SC)
- Horizon — Dee Dee Guthrie (IN)
- Rising Star — Alice Diane Moore (TN)
Traditional Country Male Entertainer
- Traditional Country Male Entertainer of the Year — Brian Doss (IN)
- Most Promising — Matt Cordell (TN)
- Horizon — Clyde Manning (OK)
- Rising Star (Tied) — Trent James (TN)
- Rising Star (Tied) — William Howard Elliotte (OH)
Traditional Gospel Female Entertainer
- Traditional Gospel Female Entertainer of the Year — Brenda Morgan (IN)
- Most Promising — Cherylyn Tiller (OK)
Traditional Gospel Male Entertainer
- Traditional Gospel Male Entertainer of the Year — Avery Watkins (KY)
- Most Promising — Paul Williams (IN)