FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Texas Country Music Association Announces

2026 TCMA Songwriter Contest Winners

Country and Christian Country TCMA Songwriters of the Year Announced

CARTHAGE, TX,  (September 24, 2026) -- The Texas Country Music Association announced today that the 2026 TCMA Songwriter Contest’s Final Round Judges have named the overall winners in both the Country and Christian Country categories.

The 2026 Songwriter of the Year in the Country category is Aaron Loy for “Take It Easy Cowgirl”.  The 2026 Songwriter of the Year in the Christian Country category is Dave Carroll for “You Were Here”.   Each songwriter will have the opportunity to perform their song on stage at Billy Bob’s Texas on November 8^th as part of the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards ceremonies.

The 2026 TCMA Country Songwriter Contest Winner, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Place, and Honorable Mentions are:

Winner – Aaron Loy for “Take It Easy Cowgirl”

1^st Runner Up – Charlie McCabe for “Two Steppin’”

2^nd Runner Up – Will Carter, Blake “Bino” Denbina, Jacob Lee, Bobby Tapia, Dillan Dostal for “Tracks Run Through My Heart”

3^rd Runner Up – J Michael Harter for “Love Me Like The Rodeo”

4^th Runner Up – Will Townsley for “Little Cowboy”

Honorable Mention – Dave Carroll for “Last First Time”

Honorable Mention – Tristan Roberson, Steven Dean for “The Good Side Of This Goodbye”

Honorable Mention –Trey Calloway, Aaron Loy, Jim Hawkins for “She Misses Being Mrs”

Honorable Mention – Logan Gray for “Better As A Memory”

Honorable Mention – Ron Barrett for “Love At First Drink”

 

The 2026 TCMA Christian Country Songwriter Contest 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Place, and Honorable Mentions are:

Winner – Dave Carroll for “You Were Here”

1^st Runner Up – Tristan Roberson, Chris Rafetto, Lauren McLamb for “It’s Been A While”

2^nd Runner Up – Aaron Loy, Jim Hawkins, Scott Barrier for “A Cowboy’s Prayer”

3^rd Runner Up – J Michael Harter, Megan Connor for “Between Me And God”

4^th Runner Up -  Aaron Loy, Jim Hawkins for “Grandpa And Jesus”

Honorable Mention – Dave Edwards for “A Little More Like Jesus”

Honorable Mention –Steven Dowd for “Final Resting Place”

Honorable Mention – Camryn Cunningham, Stormy Cunningham, Jesse Reeves for “God’s House”

Honorable Mention – Camryn Cunningham for “My Sacrifice”

Honorable Mention – Michael Dohm for “Church Steps”

Each runner-up and Honorable Mention’s name will be called out during the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards’ pre-show, and they will be able to pick up their award from the hostess side-stage or have it mailed to them if they are unable to attend.

According to TCMA President Linda Wilson, there were 422 total songs submitted in both categories, and all entries were original works. Preliminary and Final Round Judges scored each song on creativity, lyrics, melody, arrangement, originality, and overall technique. The Final Round Judges' scores averaged, determining the Winner, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Place, and Honorable Mentions in each category.

“All of the songs were so awesome, and so many great songwriters are members of the Texas Country Music Association.   It was very hard, and they all deserve recognition.  It is our job as the only Trade Organization for the Texas Country Music industry to support and encourage each and every one of them, and work on their behalf to help them as much as possible,” says Linda Wilson.

TCMA Executive Vice President, Richard Wilson, says, “The annual songwriter contest is evidence that songwriters pour their hearts into their music. It was especially difficult this year for preliminary round judges to choose only 10 in each format and then final round judges score those 10 in each format to determine the winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions.  It was very close.”

The 2027 TCMA Songwriter Contest details will be announced at a later date.  Tickets are on sale now to the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards at www.billybobstexas.com. For more information about the Texas Country Music Association and the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards, visit www.texascountrymusic.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT (For media use only – do not print):

Linda Wilson, President

Texas Country Music Association, Inc.

903-472-8008

tcma@texascountrymusicassociation.org