CMA Awards 2026: Dallas–Fort Worth's KSCS Is Country Radio's Major-Market Station of the Year — and Texas Voices Fill the November 18 Stage
Country music's biggest night is a week away, and Dallas–Fort Worth already has a trophy coming. KSCS has been named the CMA Radio Station of the Year for a major market and will be recognized at the pre-telecast ceremony before the 60th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 18 — a show whose performer lineup is stacked with Texas voices, from Cody Johnson and Miranda Lambert to Kacey Musgraves.
DALLAS — The 60th Annual CMA Awards does not air until Wednesday, November 18, but Dallas–Fort Worth's part of the night is already decided. The Country Music Association's 2026 Broadcast Awards name KSCS Dallas-Ft. Worth the Radio Station of the Year in the major-market category — the largest-market honor in country radio, in a field set by Nielsen market size. WQDR Raleigh-Durham took the large-market station honor, KXKT Omaha-Council Bluffs the medium and WKML Fayetteville, North Carolina, the small. Reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Zach Top delivered the news to the honorees.
"Country radio is an important part of our ecosystem, and we're delighted to celebrate the people who show up for their listeners and communities every day," CMA incoming CEO Brittany Schaffer said. The broadcast winners — including national personality honors for The Highway Hot 30 Countdown with Buzz Brainard and for Big D & Bubba — will be recognized at the Pre-Telecast Ceremony on awards night, ahead of the live telecast from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+, streaming next day on Hulu.
The show itself, hosted by Lainey Wilson for a third consecutive year, carries a heavy Texas accent. The first performer round announced November 5 includes Cody Johnson — up for four awards, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Single and Music Video of the Year — Miranda Lambert, who earns seven nominations this year including two for Single of the Year, and Kacey Musgraves, alongside Tim McGraw, The Red Clay Strays, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore and Ella Langley, who tops the entire nominee list with nine, plus a special tribute to Dolly Parton. A second round, announced November 10, adds Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Megan Moroney, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr.
The night's lifetime honor also lands close to Texas ears: Brooks & Dunn will receive the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award — named for Texas's own Willie Nelson — with Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Halestorm, HARDY and Marcus King performing together in their tribute. With 'cma awards 2026' trending nationally a week out, the Metroplex's stake is simple and earned: when country radio's biggest market trophy is handed over in Nashville, it is coming home to a Dallas–Fort Worth station.
