The Country Radio Hall of Fame ceremony is always a powerful reminder of why our format is completely unmatched in broadcasting and often the envy of other formats. Notably, it is not just an industry dinner. Instead, it is an intergenerational family reunion packed with genuine laughter, emotional acceptance speeches, and surprise video cameos on screen. Major country artists thank the programmers who built their careers during these touching moments.
Before a single award was handed out, the room paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Bill Cody, a 2008 inductee. His legendary presence at WSM set the standard for our business. Finding a new host would be no small task, but my former West Coast colleague Heather Froglear did a masterful job as MC. She brought warmth, dignity, and perfect energy to the evening — all in a stunning pink dress!
Honoring a Legend: Lon Helton
The night kicked off by recognizing Lon Helton with the 2026 CRB President’s Award. Lon has spent over four decades making country radio smarter, stronger, and more honest. Through Country Aircheck and Country Countdown USA, his dedication has been unmatched. He advocates for our format, asks the tough questions, and welcomes the next generation of broadcasters.
Roots at KSON and Beyond
For me personally, celebrating this class hit close to home. Specifically, it started with Rick Jackson. Rick was the General Manager at KSON who hired me as Program Director. Over those years, Rick and his wife Gina became dear family friends. I learned a massive amount from Rick, and I place him squarely at the top of the heap — the best GM I have ever worked with. From launching KYGO to building a syndicated classic country powerhouse reaching over 160 stations, Rick represents the absolute best of station leadership. Furthermore, Rick was always one of my biggest cheerleaders, so there was no way I’d miss celebrating his induction.
The KSON connections ran deep all night. John Marks, who programmed KSON before heading to SiriusXM and later Spotify, was rightfully inducted. His remarkable 51 year career spanned terrestrial, satellite, and streaming platforms. Taking over at KSON after John left meant filling big shoes, but his legacy of innovation set a high bar.
Additionally, Chris Carr is someone I got to know well during my time with KSON. Chris is a killer talent and a six-time CMA winner. Equally important, he is a good human whose work raising millions for St. Jude and local military families embodies what local radio is all about.
Storytellers, Humor, and Leaders
What made the acceptance speeches stand out this year was the incredible balance of humor and raw storytelling. Phil Hunt, who worked closely with one of my most treasured mentors, Rusty Walker, delivered a masterclass. His unique storytelling ability should literally be bottled for our industry. Storytelling remains our ultimate weapon on the air.
Michael J had the room in stitches sharing career mishaps. Subsequently, he reminded everyone that radio’s true impact comes from caring, not perfection. His work raising over $30 million for St. Jude speaks volumes. Bruce Logan was honored for over three decades of risk-taking programming leadership. Moreover, he dedicated a quarter century to the CRS agenda committee across multiple major markets.
Rounding out this legendary class is Marci Brown from Audacy. Marci and I worked together as Regional Vice Presidents at Audacy. Seeing her become the youngest inductee in Hall of Fame history was proof of her passion and accomplishments. She rose to the occasion with relentless work ethic and passion. Demonstrably, community-first leadership always yields long-term success. Marci also rose to a challenge set by her peers and friends at her table — I learned about it after the ceremony. I couldn’t contain my laughter. She’ll need to be the one to share it with you.
The Future Remains Bright
Every single one of these eight honorees proves that country radio is alive and well. Furthermore, it is deeply human. When you look at the sheer level of talent, heart, humor, and mentorship in this class, optimism about our medium’s future is impossible to resist. Congratulations to the class of 2026. You make our industry proud.
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As the Executive Director of Programming & Operations for Pamal Broadcasting, Kevin Callahan oversees 25 stations across five markets, including the company’s four Country brands. An award-winning brand specialist, Kevin is a passionate advocate for talent development, dedicated to mentoring personalities and restoring our medium to its most vibrant, high-impact form. His career is highlighted by 12 years as Audacy’s West Coast Regional VP of Programming for the Country format, where he managed premier brands across major markets including San Diego, Seattle, Phoenix, Riverside and more. Today, Kevin balances his corporate leadership with his role as President of Sonic Maple Media, serving as a fractional executive advisor to broadcast leadership and fractional programmer and talent coach to broadcasters nationwide. He can be reached at kevin@pamal.com