Previews: 2026 ARKANSAS COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS PREDICTIONS at Reynolds Performance Hall in Conway

Predicting the Winners of the 2026 Arkansas Country Music Awards, Monday, June 1, at Reynolds Performance Hall in Conway

The Arkansas Country Music Awards have become one of the state's most anticipated celebrations of independent country music, honoring everyone from rising stars to seasoned veterans who continue to shape the Arkansas music scene. With voting complete and the awards ceremony approaching, it's time for my friends and I to make completely unofficial predictions and seeing how many we get right.

Please welcome my friend Jim Reidmueller from Southern Comfort Band who has graciously agreed to make musically educated guesses for this year's winners. Neither one of us has attended an ACMA show yet, so you can take this however you see fit. The Southern Comfort Band delivers a high-energy mix of fan-favorite classic rock, country, and driving blues that keeps dance floors packed and venues buzzing all night long. The band is made up of newcomers and local legends, bringing dynamic musical and vocal talent to the stage. For more information, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tscbark.

This year's nominees showcase an incredible mix of established favorites, breakout artists, and performers who have spent years building loyal fan bases throughout Arkansas and beyond. Several categories could truly go either way, but here are my predictions.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

 Nominees are Cliff & Susan, David Adam Byrnes, Sylamore Special, Tyler Kinch, and Waylon Wyatt

BWW Theresa's Prediction: Cliff & Susan

Jim's Prediction: Tyler Kinch

This may be the toughest category of the night. David Adam Byrnes continues to be one of Arkansas's most recognizable country artists, while Waylon Wyatt has had a tremendous year and leads the nominee count alongside several other top contenders. However, Cliff & Susan seem to have built remarkable momentum heading into the awards. Their visibility, touring schedule, award nominations, and strong support within the Arkansas music community give them a slight edge.

COUNTRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Nominees are Blane Howard, David Adam Byrnes, Kelsey Lamb, Kish Moody, Ward Davis

BWW Theresa's Prediction: David Adam Byrnes

Jim's Prediction: Blane Howard 

Few Arkansas artists have demonstrated the consistency that David Adam Byrnes has maintained over the years. He continues to release quality music, perform extensively, and remain highly visible throughout the country music community. This feels like a category where experience and sustained excellence could prevail.

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Nominees are Abbey Pierce, Kelsey Lamb, Mallory Everett, Mary Heather Hickman, and Marybeth Byrd

BWW Theresa's Prediction: Kelsey Lamb

Jim's Prediction: Kelsey Lamb 

Kelsey Lamb has emerged as one of the strongest voices in Arkansas country music. Between her nominations and the success of her recent music, she appears poised to take home one of the night's biggest individual honors. Her nomination for Song of the Year only strengthens her case.

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Nominees are Blane Howard, David Adam Byrnes, Ryan Harmon, Tyler Kinch, Waylon Wyatt

BWW Theresa's Prediction: Ryan Harmon

Jim's Prediction: Tyler Kinch

As a former American Idol Contestant and the 2022 ACMA Accoustic Act of the year, Ryan Harmon has the voice that takes you back to old school country days, in the vein of Travis Tritt and other country rock artists. He knows how to tell a story and is confident taking center stage. 

VOCAL DUO / GROUP OF THE YEAR

Nominees are Cliff & Susan, Copper Flats, Midnight South, 7 South, and TRIPPP

BWW Theresa's Prediction: Cliff & Susan

Jim's Prediction: Midnight South

If I am picking Cliff & Susan for Entertainer of the Year, it would be surprising not to predict them here as well. Their harmonies, songwriting, and growing recognition throughout the region make them the favorite in this category. As someone who recently saw them perform at Birdie's Cabaret Theater & Lounge, I can personally attest that their chemistry onstage is undeniable.

AMERICANA ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Nominees are Ashtyn Barbaree, Common Roots, Jesse Welles, Mark Currey, and Waylon Wyatt

BWW Theresa's Prediction: Ashtyn Barbaree

Jim's Prediction: Jesse Welles

I was torn between Ashtyn and Jesse, so since Jim picked Jesse, I'll go with Ashtyn. If I were to go with Jesse, it is because I love his Bob Dylan-esque style of singing, and the song Join ICE made me laugh. Ashtyn, on the other hand, sounds a little like Dolores O'Riordan from the Cranberries. She already captured this award in 2025 and enters the 2026 race with tremendous momentum, making her the artist to beat. Her music embodies everything the Americana category celebrates—a blend of folk, roots, alt-country, and deeply personal storytelling delivered with an unmistakable voice that is both ethereal and authentic.

BLUEGRASS ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Nominees are Arkansauce, Front Porch, Harmony Hollow, Mountain Heirs, and Sylamore Special

BWW Theresa's Prediction: Arkansauce 

Jim's Prediction: Arkansauce

For more than a decade, this Bentonville-based quartet has been one of the most recognizable and hardworking roots bands to come out of Arkansas, building a loyal following through relentless touring, festival appearances, and a sound that blends traditional bluegrass with elements of newgrass, funk, jam-band improvisation, and Americana. What makes Arkansauce stand out is their ability to honor bluegrass traditions while keeping the genre fresh and accessible to newer audiences.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Nominees are:

“Don’t Call Me Darlin’” by Abbey Pierce. Produced by Jeremy Huddleston 

“Echoes from the Open Road” by Kish Moody. Produced by Kish Moody

“Now I Know” by Blane Howard. Produced by Blane Howard and Derek George. 

“Songs & Time” by Kenny Drain. Produced by Jeremy Huddleston.  

“Til the Sun Goes Down” by Waylon Wyatt. Produced by Waylon Wyatt and Tommy Trautwein. 

BWW Theresa's Prediction: ?????

Jim's Prediction: “Now I Know” by Blane Howard. Produced by Blane Howard and Derek George.

I honestly have no clue, so I'm letting Jim have this one!

SONG OF THE YEAR

Nominees are: 

"Dancing with a Cowboy"  Written by Darren Barry.  Performed by Tyler Kinch.

"Human Together"  Written by Lance Carpenter.  Performed by Lance Carpenter featuring Jess Antonette.

"Introduce Myself"  Written and performed by Luke Williams.

"Me Being Me"  Written by Jim Femino, D. Vincent Williams and Vickie McGehee.  Performed by Pamela Hopkins.

"West Virginia"  Written by Cliff Prowse and Susan Prowse.  Performed by Cliff & Susan.

BWW Theresa's Prediction: "West Virginia" Written by Cliff Prowse and Susan Prowse.  Performed by Cliff & Susan.

Jim's Prediction: "Dancing with a Cowboy"  Written by Darren Barry.  Performed by Tyler Kinch.

Have you noticed that I'm a Cliff & Susan fan? To be fair, I haven't had the opportunity to catch a lot of these performers, but I'm super excited to hear everyone perform at the awards show this year!

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Nominees are Barrett Baber, Brittany Moore, Jason Lee Campbell, Lance Carpenter, and Trey Stevens

BWW Theresa's Prediction: Adam Hambrick

Jim's Prediction: Jason Lee Campbell

The songwriting category is always difficult because many voters recognize accomplishments that happen behind the scenes. Adam Hambrick's reputation as a songwriter extends far beyond Arkansas. According to his website, Hambrick "has had songs recorded by many of Nashville's brightest stars including Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Sara Evans, Walker Hayes, Maddie and Tae, Eli Young Band, Lindsay Ell and many more."

Final Thoughts

If I had to make one prediction I feel most confident about, it would be Cliff & Susan having a huge night. They are nominated in multiple marquee categories and seem to have built significant momentum heading into the ceremony. Meanwhile, artists such as Tyler Kinch, Kelsey Lamb, David Adam Byrnes, and Waylon Wyatt could also leave with multiple awards before the evening is over.

Of course, predictions are half the fun. One of the things I love most about the Arkansas Country Music Awards is that every year there are surprises. That's what makes the event so exciting. No matter who wins, the real victory belongs to Arkansas music and the incredible artists who continue to prove that the Natural State produces world-class talent. For tickets to the event (and I'm told it is almost sold out), visit their website at arkansasmusic.org.

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