AceShowbiz - The Academy of Country Music continues its tradition of celebrating excellence in country music broadcasting by revealing the nominees for the radio categories at the upcoming 61st ACM Awards.

This year, several radio stations have distinguished themselves with multiple nominations. Notably, KFRG-KM from Riverside, California leads with three nods. Other stations earning two nominations each include KILT-FM in Houston, KSCS-FM in Dallas, WBEE-FM in Rochester, New York, WCKK-FM in Walnut Grove, Mississippi, and WUBE-FM in Cincinnati.

The winners of these prestigious radio awards will be announced during the Country Radio Seminar, scheduled for March 18-20. This event precedes the main ACM Awards ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

In addition to the radio nominees, the full list of ACM Awards nominations, along with details about the event’s host, performers, and presenters, will be disclosed in the coming weeks. For now, the spotlight remains on the radio industry’s top talents and stations.

Among the individual categories, the National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year category features a competitive lineup: B-Dub from “B-Dub Radio,” Cody Alan of “Highway Mornings with Cody Alan,” Katie Neal from “Katie & Company,” the duo Rob Stone and Holly Hutton of “The Rob + Holly Show,” and Steve Harmon hosting the “Steve Harmon Show.”

The National Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year nominees include B-Dub again for “B-Dub Radio Saturday Night,” Big D, Bubba, and Shaffer from “Honky Tonkin’ with Big D & Bubba,” Heather Froglear with “90’s Country with Heather,” Kelleigh Bannen on “Today’s Country Radio,” and Ryan Fox hosting “American Country Countdown with Ryan Fox.”

In the On-Air Personality of the Year (Major Market) category, nominees are Angie Ward of WUBL-FM in Atlanta; the team Chris Carr, Sam Sansevere, and Dubs from KEEY-FM in Minneapolis; The Coop Show of WKIS-FM in Miami; Erik Scott Smith and Jenny Lee as “Erik & Jenny” from KCYY-FM in San Antonio; the duo Frito and Katy from KILT-FM in Houston; Niko + Cheyenne of KMLE-FM in Phoenix; and Rachel Ryan from KSCS-FM in Dallas.

The On-Air Personality of the Year (Large Market) category nominees are led by Heather Froglear from KFRG-FM in Riverside, California. Also nominated are Jesse Tack, Anna Marie, and Jake Thomson of WUBE-FM in Cincinnati; Kelli Green and Anthony Donatelli from KFRG-FM; “Mad Dawg” Strattman of WQDR-FM in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Maria D’Antonio from WDSY-FM in Pittsburgh.

In the Medium Market On-Air Personality of the Year category, nominees include Billy Kidd, TJ Sharp, and Hope Breen of “The Bee Morning Coffee Club” at WBEE-FM in Rochester, New York; Doc and Chewy Medek from “The Doc Show with Chewy” at WGGY-FM in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Julie K and DJ Thee Trucker from “Julie and DJ in the Morning” at WPCV-FM in Lakeland, Florida; Mo & StyckMan of WUSY-FM in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Steve Lundy and Gina Melton from “Steve & Gina in the Morning” at KXKT-FM in Omaha, Nebraska; and Tug Cowart of WCKN-FM in Charleston, South Carolina.

For the Small Market On-Air Personality of the Year, the nominees are Ben Butler and Arnie Andrews from “Ben & Arnie” on WCOW-FM in Sparta, Wisconsin; Brian “B-MO” Montgomery of “B-MO in the MO’rning” at WCKK-FM in Walnut Grove, Mississippi; Dan Austin from WQHK-FM in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Dr. Shane and Tess of “The Dr. Shane and Tess Show” at WPAP-FM in Panama City, Florida; and Eddie Foxx and Amanda Foxx from “The Eddie Foxx Show” at WKSF-FM in Asheville, North Carolina.

The awards also honor entire radio stations across different market sizes. In the Major Market Radio Station of the Year category, nominees include KILT-FM in Houston, KSCS-FM in Dallas, KSON-FM in San Diego, WPOC-FM in Baltimore, Maryland, and WXTU-FM in Philadelphia.

For Large Market Radio Station of the Year, the nominees are KFRG-FM in Riverside, California; WLHK-FM in Indianapolis; WMIL-FM in Milwaukee; WSIX-FM in Nashville, Tennessee; and WUBE-FM in Cincinnati.

The Medium Market Radio Station of the Year category features KUZZ-FM in Bakersfield, California; WBEE-FM in Rochester, New York; WHKO-FM in Dayton, Ohio; WLFP-FM in Memphis, Tennessee; and WQMX-FM in Akron, Ohio.

Finally, the Small Market Radio Station of the Year nominees include KCLR-FM in Columbia, Missouri; KFGE-FM in Lincoln, Nebraska; WCKK-FM in Walnut Grove, Mississippi; WXFL-FM in Florence, Alabama; WYCT-FM in Pensacola, Florida; and WYOT-FM in Rochelle, Illinois.

The announcement of these nominees highlights the continued importance and influence of radio broadcasting within the country music industry. Fans and industry insiders alike eagerly await the Country Radio Seminar in March, where the winners will be revealed ahead of the grand celebration at the ACM Awards in Las Vegas this May.