CMA Touring Awards: Lainey Wilson’s The Whirlwind World Tour Crew Takes Top Honors

“It takes a village to make things happen out on the road,” two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Keith Urban told the audience that gathered at Nashville venue The Pinnacle during the annual CMA Touring Awards Tuesday (June 2), as Urban served as the host of the event for the fourth consecutive year.

The sentiment was something that the attendees know all too well, as the ceremony feted the top touring professionals in country music who keep artists on the road and playing for their beloved fans. The 2026 ceremony, presented by Strauss, served to recognize and honor country music touring professionals across 20 categories.

Lainey Wilson and her Whirlwind World Tour crew, which includes 35 women, took home the top prize of crew of the year. 

“Congratulations to everybody tonight. I am so proud of my people,” Wilson said. “Y’all are my family. I feel like everywhere we go, they leave a good impression. They treat the janitor just like they treat the CEO and that means a whole lot to me. And thank y’all so much for all the sacrifices y’all made, all the time to run this circus, to pick it up and move it to the next town. I love y’all and congratulations.”

Many members of Wilson’s crew also offered words of thanks, while Wilson’s manager, Mandelyn Monchick, said, “I will reinforce have an incredible crew. They work as a team like nobody I have ever seen.”

Members of Wilson’s touring crew took home the lion’s share of this year’s awards, picking up wins in categories including backline technician, stage manager, front of house engineer, tour video director, monitor engineer of the year and tour manager of the year.

The ceremony is typically held earlier in the year, but was rescheduled for June after ice storms hit Nashville in January.

CMA CEO Sarah Trahern introduced the evening, saying, “We are so thrilled to celebrate you, our touring community, and the people who make country music come alive night after night. It may be a few months later than we originally planned … but as everyone in this room knows more than anyone, sometimes you have to pivot and you make it work. … The one thing that’s never changed is the spirit of the people who make it happen. At CMA, our mission has always been centered around you. We exist to support music industry professionals and strengthen the community that you bring life to every single day.”

Former CMA executive director Ed Benson took the stage to share some of his memories of the early days of the CMA Touring Awards (formerly known as the SRO Awards). Throughout the evening, memories and moments from past awards ceremonies were highlighted.

To further celebrate the 20th ceremony, former CMA Touring Awards hosts Kristian Bush, Kix Brooks and Jon Pardi took to the stage to present winners in several categories.

William Dyer, manager for Wyatt Flores, spoke of the importance of mental health. Later in the evening, former CMA Touring musician of the year winner Charlie Worsham took the stage to honor those in the industry who have passed away over the past year, performing the late Todd Snider’s “Age Like Wine.”

Jim Halsey was honored with the CMA Lifetime Touring Achievement Award. Over the course of six decades working as an agent and/or manager, Halsey has worked with artists including Hank Thompson, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, The Oak Ridge Boys, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Roy Clark, The Judds and Minnie Pearl. Along the way, Halsey spearheaded having his artists perform at illustrious venues including Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and Royal Albert Hall, helping to elevate country music to a global stage. In 1976, Halsey’s longtime management clients The Oak Ridge Boys and Roy Clark headlined the first country music tour in the Soviet Union, which saw them performing 18 sold-out shows in 21 days, with performances broadcast on state television to millions of viewers.

The Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen and William Lee Golden were among those who honored Halsey during the CMA Touring Awards. Halsey was unable to attend, but accepted via video, and watched the show from his home in Tulsa, Okla. Allen noted, “We have all learned so much from him. We respectfully call him ‘godfather.’”

As the evening drew to a close, Trahern surprised Urban with the CMA founding president’s award, which was established in 1963 and named after CMA founding president Connie B. Gay.

“Keith has given so much to the CMA over the years, always with so much generosity and heart,” Trahern said. “He consistently raises his hand and shows up for country music,” noting his ongoing work to support the CMA, including supporting music education initiatives, hosting the CMA Touring Awards and volunteering to play the CMA Fest stadium 12 years in a row.

“I want to thank you for all the years you have given to the CMAs,” Urban told her. “All I can say is this is not anything I expected tonight. I love all of the road crews getting dressed up to the nines … The sacrifices you guys all know, the biggest sacrifice is being away from your families, so having a night that everyone can come and be a part of, this is beautiful.”

See the full list of 2026 CMA Touring Awards winners below:

Crew of the year: “Whirlwind World Tour” Crew (Lainey Wilson)

Business manager of the year: Jen Conger (Flood, Bumstead, McCready and McCarthy)

Publicist of the year: Olivia Hanceri (OH Creative)

Venue of the year: The Pinnacle (Nashville)

Tour videographer/photographer of the year: Catherine Powell (Kelsea Ballerini)

Tour video director of the year: Dave Bergfeld (Lainey Wilson)

Coach/truck driver of the year: Caleb Garrett (Luke Bryan)

Lighting director of the year: Zac Coren (Morgan Wallen)

Talent agent of the year: Becky Gardenhire (WME)

Front of House engineer of the year: Ryan Dell (Lainey Wilson)

Support services company of the year: Clair Global (Nashville, TN)

Monitor engineer of the year: Curt Armstead (Lainey Wilson)

Backline technician of the year:  Dalton Ray Brown (Lainey Wilson)

Touring musician of the year: Kurt Ozan (Luke Combs)

Talent buyer/promoter of the year:  Ed Warm (Joe’s Bar)

Manager of the year: Kerri Edwards (KP Entertainment)

Stage manager of the year: Allison Noah (Carly Pearce/Lainey Wilson)

Production manager of the year: Chad Guy (Morgan Wallen)

Tour manager of the year: Meg Miller (Lainey Wilson)

Unsung hero of the year: Diana “Lemonade” McBride (Grand Ole Opry)