2026 Texas Country Music Industry Awards Nominations Open Until Feb 28
Nominations are open for the 2026 Texas Country Music Industry Awards! The Industry Awards are to honor and recognize those who work so hard alongside the artists to create, manage, and promote their music.
TCMA Members and other verifiable Texas Country Music Industry Stakeholders may place nominations.
The 2026 Texas Country Music Industry Awards is set to take place on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Rhinestone Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards, followed by a concert by TCMA Member Clay Hollis.
2026 TCMA Songwriter Contest Open For Entries!
The 2026 TCMA Songwriter Contest is now OPEN FOR ENTRIES in Country and Christian Country music categories! Winners in each category are invited to perform on the main stage at the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards on November 8, 2026, at Billy Bob's Texas in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards and all top 10 finalists will be recognized. Enter Early!
Songs are reviewed on an as-received basis. All entries submitted must be the contestant's original works. Songs are judged on creativity, lyrics, melody, arrangement, originality, and overall technique. Visit www.texascountrymusicassociation.org/2026songwriter
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TCMA Member Feature:
Laura Linda’s Country Comeback: A Return to Her Texas Roots​
Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, Laura Linda is a proud South Texas girl now based in Dallas - but no matter where life takes her, Texas has always been home.
Her journey into music began at 21 when she entered a country music contest on a whim. After performing “Fancy” by Reba McEntire, which is one of her biggest inspirations, she called her dad, overwhelmed with excitement, to tell him she had made the Top 3 finalists. That moment solidified what she already felt in her heart: music was her calling.
She soon formed her first band, Laura Linda and Texas Gold Rush, carving out her place in the Texas country scene. While many artists feel pressure to move to Nashville, Laura never considered leaving. South Texas was in her roots and her heart. She knew it might mean working harder, but she was determined to build her career where she felt she truly belonged.
After several years in the country scene, Laura made a bold shift and formed a Tejano band, a move that brought tremendous success and became a defining chapter of her artistry. Her ability to move between genres showcased her versatility and deep cultural connection to Texas music.
In 2000, Laura stepped away from the Tejano industry to begin a new journey, one centered on service. She became a drill team director for elementary students in Dallas and spent 14 years working within the school district. During that time, she impacted thousands of children.
“I touched the lives of a lot of kids who needed inspiration and a role model,” she shares.
Eli Howard
“Grocery Bill”
Eli Howard’s second radio release, Grocery Bill, is a hard-hitting Red Dirt country anthem built for Texas country radio and working-class listeners. Driven by pounding drums, gritty guitar, and a no-nonsense groove, the song captures the daily grind of responsibility and sacrifice with lines like “Be the hand that turns the wrench” and “dirty boots and bloody hands.”
The chorus hits home with “It’s a hell of a time we’re living in… workin’ hard to pay the grocery bill,” delivering a hook that’s relatable, memorable, and built for repeat spins. Produced in Oklahoma by Sam Neifeh, Grocery Bill balances raw edge with radio-ready polish, speaking straight to real life, real work, and real pressure in true Red Dirt fashion.
Kin Faux
“Hey Senorita”
Based in San Antonio, Texas, Kin Faux is a nationally touring band that fuses the vibrant spirit of Red Dirt with rich vocal harmonies and instrumental brilliance. The band’s name reflects their core philosophy: "Kin" for family and "Faux" for the idea that family is chosen, creating a community where all are welcome.
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Their new release, "Hey Senorita", was written by Jim Beavers ("Watching Airplanes" Gary Allen, "Parachute" Chris Stapleton, "Drink a Beer" Luke Bryan and many more). It is a song about a man enchanted by the elusive feminine mystique of a dark-eyed, raven-haired love interest. Was she a dream, a vision, an apparition, or the consequence of a tequila-soaked heart shattered into pieces and set ablaze? Maybe all four… or something more?
Dave Christen
”One of those nights”
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This special Release is included in a Live Performance recorded in North Texas and is an example of the expansive Texas influence Christen draws from. With Don Maracle on Guitar, John McCormick on Bass, and Mike Camerata on Drums, this blues exploration is the type of song that can only truly be captured live.
“One of Those Nights” finds Dave Christen leaning fully into his blues roots, delivering a reflective, late-night track built on feel, restraint, and honest storytelling. Grounded in a warm blues groove, the song captures those familiar hours when memory and emotion rise to the surface, carried by Christen’s understated vocal and lived-in lyricism. ​
Imagine being behind the wheel of a baby blue ‘79 Ford truck with super swampers and a nasty small block under the hood. You’re headed down the ‘ol dirt road to go see Papa. At the cattle guard, you make a left turn and head towards the bottoms, knowing better after a good rain. You hit all the mud holes and have that small block wound tighter than Hank Jr is coming out of the radio. You end up locking in the hubs and had to hit the big mud hole at the gate wide open to get through it. When you’re pulling up the hill to Papa’s house, you start laughing cause he’s already outside waiting from all the ruckus you stirred up. That’s a sneak peek into how Matt Damon grew up.
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Matt grew up in the small town of Ola, Arkansas. His father, William Damon is a welder and mechanic by trade. His mother, Tania, is a teacher and basketball coach. He has one brother Clay that is a couple of years younger than him. Clay always had way more talent than Matt did though.
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TCMA Member Feature:
Meet Matt Damon
TCMA Member Amberlynn Browning and Her Band, Amberlynn and her Texas Highwaymen, are keeping Honky-Tonk Alive!
Amberlynn Browning and Her Band, Amberlynn and the Texas Highwaymen, Are Keeping Honky-Tonk Alive Born and raised in Texas, Amberlynn Browning’s music is steeped in history, family, and a deep respect for the country greats who came before her. With her third studio album, Honky Tonky Fever, set to release this spring, Browning is stepping confidently into a new chapter of her career while staying firmly rooted in the traditional sound that defines her artistry.
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With six generations of Texas history behind her, Texas isn’t just a place for Browning — it’s part of her identity. That deep connection to land, heritage, and tradition is unmistakable in her music.
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This Week's Texas Country Music Chart
The Texas Country Music Chart is the only Texas-based, digitally-monitored airplay chart for Texas Country Music and is a service of the Texas Country Music Association.
