Recent Awards For Excellence Winners and Nominees

Recent Awards For Excellence Winners and Nominees

Each year we recognize individuals, duos and groups for the talents in promoting and preserving western music and poetry.

2024 Songwriting Contest Award


1st Place: "Heartbreak Moon"
Written by Tecia McKenna, Micki Fuhrman, Mary Kaye Holt & Merna Lewis

2nd Place: "I'll Rope the Blue Moon"
Written by Jim Jones & Betty Lynne McCarthy

3rd Place: "Half Broke Cavvy of the ZX Range"
Written by Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiatt

Tom Hiatt Tecia McKenna Micki Fuhrman Merna Lewis Mary Kaye Holt Jim Jones Darrell Arnold

2024 Western Album of the Year


Award Sponsored by the Salado Cowboy Poetry Gathering
"Snow on the Wineglass"
John Lowell

John Lowell

2024 Bill Wiley Award


Phil Willig

2024 Hall of Fame Inductees


Janet McBride & Gary McMahan

Gary McMahan Janet McBride

2024 Entertainer of the Year


Award Sponsored by Marvin & Theresa O'Dell
Kristyn Harris

Kristyn Harris

2024 Male Performer of the Year


Award Sponsored by Marvin & Theresa O'Dell
Syd Masters

Syd Masters

2024 Female Performer of the Year


Award Sponsored by Marvin & Theresa O'Dell
Patty Clayton

Patty Clayton

2024 Songwriter of the Year


Award Sponsored by Mark Munzert & Kathleen Kelley
John Lowell

John Lowell

2024 Working Cowboy Song of the Year


Award Sponsored by Janice Brooks
"Drivin' This Herd to the Rail"
written by J. Michael Mullins

J. Michael Mullins

2024 Song of the Year


Award Sponsored by The Russellers
"Ian and Charlie"
Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiat

Darrell Arnold Tom Hiatt

2024 Duo or Group of the Year


Award Sponsored by Diana Raven & Ernie Martinez
3 Trails West

Roger Eilts Jim Winters Leo Eilts

2024 Western Swing Album of the Year


Award Sponsored by Bonnie Rutherford
"Gotta Move"
Hot Texas Swing Band

Alex Dormont

2024 Instrumentalist of the Year


Award Sposnored by Michael & Judy Muldawer
Hailey Sandoz

Hailey Sandoz

2024 Radio DJ / Radio Program of the Year


Award Sponsored by Chuck & Cindy Learn
Keepers of the West
Doug Figgs & T. Reese Janca

Doug Figgs Reese Janca

2024 Male Poet of the Year


Award Sponsored by Marvin & Theresa O'Dell
Mark Munzert

Mark Munzert

2024 Female Poet of the Year


Award Sponsored by Marvin & Theresa O'Dell
Miska Paget

Miska Paget

2024 Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year


Award Sponsored by Tom & Carla Swearingen
"Real Hands & Treasured Friends"
Miska Paget

Miska Paget

2024 Cowboy Poetry Book of the Year


Award Sponsored by Tom & Carla Swearingen
"Into the West"
Poppa Mac & Doug Monson

Geoff Mackay

2024 Liz Masterson Crescendo Award


Award Sponsored by IWMA Columbia Chapter
Bodhi Linde

Bodhi Linde

2024 Curly Musgrave Silver Buckle Award


Award Sponsored by the Musgrave Family
Marsha Short

2024 Pioneer Trail


Jim Buchanan
 

2024 Team Penning Contest


"It's a Crazy Thing"
Tom Swearingen & Randy Palmer

Tom Swearingen Randy Palmer

2024 Harmony Award


Award Sponsored by Michael & Judy Muldawer
Miss Devon & The Outlaw

Jessie D. Robertson Devon Dawson

2024 Poetry Contest


Award Sponsored by IWMA Western Wordsmiths Chapter
Floyd Beard

Floyd Beard

2023


2023 Songwriting Contest Award


Traditional Category: New Someday - Tecia McKenna
Second Place: Old Pard - John Lowell

Gospel Category: What If There's a Heaven - Aspen Black
Second Place: Cleanin' Out My Stable - Devon Dawson, Teresa Burleson, Belinda Gail

Teresa Burleson Tecia McKenna John Lowell Devon Dawson Belinda Gail Aspen Black

2023 Team Penning Co-write Songwriting Contest Award


Floyd Beard Doug Figgs

2023 Western Album of the Year


Roll On, Cowboys

Andy Hedges

2023 Cowboy Swing Album of the Year


Arizona Stars

Rusted Spurs West
 

2023 Bill Wiley Award


Jane Leche

2023 Entertainer of the Year


Doug Figgs

2023 Male Performer of the Year


Jon Chandler

2023 Female Performer of the Year


Kristyn Harris

2023 Songwriter of the Year


R. J. Vandygriff

2023 Working Cowboy Song of the Year


Never Cuss the Rain

Lyrics by Darrell Arnold
Music by Tom Hiatt

Tom Hiatt

2023 Song of the Year


Cowboy “Til I Die

Ed Meyer

2023 Duo or Group of the Year


The Cowboy Way

Doug Figgs Jim Jones Mariam Funke

2023 Instrumentalist of the Year


Hailey Sandoz

2023 Radio DJ / Radio Program of the Year


Circuit Rider Roundup

Jill Kirkham Allen Kirkham

2023 Male Poet of the Year


Floyd Beard

2023 Female Poet of the Year


Valerie Beard

2023 Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year


No Better Life

Valerie Beard

2023 Cowboy Poetry Book of the Year


Windmills on the Prairie

Yvonne Hollenbeck

2023 Liz Masterson Crescendo Award


Phoebe White Jack George

2023 Curly Musgrave Silver Buckle Award


Ernie Martinez

2023 Pioneer Trail


Baxter Black

2023 Poetry Contest


Floyd Beard

2023 Entertainer of the Year Nominees


Jon Chandler Randy Huston Kristyn Harris Joni Harms Doug Figgs

2023 Male Performer of the Year Nominees


Kerry Grombacher Syd Masters Jon Chandler Jim Jones Doug Figgs

2023 Female Performer of the Year Nominees


Aspen Black Carol Markstrom Kristyn Harris Mary Kaye Holt Patty Clayton

2023 Working Cowboy Song of the Year Nominees


Barbwire & The Rail - written by Ed Meyer
Last of the Four Sixes Cowboys - written by Allan Chapman & Joel White
Never Cuss the Rain - written by Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiatt
Once I Was a Cowboy - written by Joel White
Way of the Cowboy - written by Randy Huston

Tom Hiatt Allan Chapman Ed Meyer Joel Alden White Randy Huston

2023 Song of the Year Nominees


Cowboy 'Til I Die - written & performed by Ed Meyer
Ian & Charlie - written by Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiatt & performed by Tom Hiatt
My Wild Norwegian Rose - written by Scott Lambertsen & performed by The Fall River Boys
Never Cuss the Rain - written by Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiatt & performed by Tom Hiatt
The Shelter of the Wildwood - written by Doug Green & performed by Riders In The Sky

Tom Hiatt Ed Meyer Doug Green

2023 Duo or Group of the Year Nominees


Allen & Jill
The Cowboy Way
Kacey & Jenna Thunborg
Miss Devon & The Outlaw
Notable Exceptions

Kacey Thunborg Jill Kirkham Miss Devon & The Outlaw Allen Kirkham Jenna Thunborg

2023 Traditional Album of the Year Nominees


Bunchgrass - Wylie & The Wild West
Roll On, Cowboys - Andy Hedges
Throw a Saddle on a Star - Riders In The Sky
Times Like These - Randy Huston
We Were Cowboys - R.J. Vandygriff

Riders In The Sky Randy Huston R. J. Vandygriff Andy Hedges

2023 Instrumentalist of the Year Nominees


Hailey Sandoz Ernie Martinez Scott Tonelson Merna Lewis Mariam Funke

2023 Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year Nominees


Between The Sun and The Moon – Teresa Burleson
The Girl in the Yellow-Checked Dress – Duane Nelson
No Better Life - Valerie Beard
Proven Up Wise – Rik “Yonder” Goodell
Upon My Horse’s Back – Chris Mortensen
Wisdom in the Wind – Sherl Cederburg

Duane Lee Nelson Rik Yonder Goodell Sherl Cederburg Teresa Burleson Valerie Beard Chris Mortensen

2023 Liz Masterson Crescendo Award Nominees


Phoebe White Jack George Colt Blankman Caroline Grace Wiseman Bodhi Linde

2022


2022 Team Penning Co-write Songwriting Contest Award


Landscapes of the West

Tom Swearingen Joni Harms

2022 Bill Wiley Award


John Seger

2022 Entertainer of the Year


Kristyn Harris

2022 Male Performer of the Year


Randy Huston

2022 Female Performer of the Year


Kristyn Harris

2022 Songwriter of the Year


Randy Huston

2022 Working Cowboy Song of the Year


Angus MacKenzie

John Lowell

2022 Song of the Year


Welcome to Wickenburg

Dan McCorison Les Buffham

2022 Duo or Group of the Year


The Cowboy Way

Mariam Funke Doug Figgs Jim Jones

2022 Traditional Album of the Year


Yellow Horse

Doug Figgs

2022 Instrumentalist of the Year


Mariam Funke

2022 Radio DJ / Radio Program of the Year


Bus of Real Country

Janice Brooks

2022 Male Poet of the Year


Tom Swearingen

2022 Female Poet of the Year


Valerie Beard

2022 Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year


The Best Horses in Heaven, They Have No Tails

Miska Paget

2022 Cowboy Poetry Book of the Year


Deep Tracks

Marleen Bussma

2022 Liz Masterson Crescendo Award


Venessa Carpenter

2022 President's Award


Theresa O'Dell

2022 Pioneer Trail


Gary Holt

2022 Cowboy/Western Swing Album of the Year


Yearnin’

Jim Winters

2022 Harmony Award


Miss Devon & The Outlaw

2022 Yodeling Award


Janet McBride Best of the Best

Jeneve Rose Mitchell Phoebe White

2022 Poetry Contest


The Encounter

Jennifer Epps

2022 Male Performer of the Year Nominees


Randy Huston Jon Chandler Jim Jones Doug Figgs

2022 Female Performer of the Year Nominees


Almeda Bradshaw Kristyn Harris Mary Kaye Holt Micki Fuhrman Patty Clayton

2022 Songwriter of the Year Nominees


John Lowell Micki Fuhrman Patty Clayton Randy Huston Jim Jones

2022 Working Cowboy Song of the Year Nominees


Angus MacKenzie - John Lowell
Get 'em Running - Ryan Fritz
The Lonesome Western Trail - Jim Schulz & John Lowell
Riding Out to Meet the Day - Dan McCorison & Les Buffham
Way of the Cowboy - Randy Huston

Dan McCorison Randy Huston John Lowell Les Buffham

2022 Song of the Year Nominees


Welcome to Wickenburg - Dan McCorison & Les Buffham
You Oughta See Wyoming - Micki Fuhrman
Ride the River - Jim Jones & Andi Renfree
The Hands That Held the Child - Randy Huston & Duke Sundt
Way of the Cowboy - Randy Huston

Micki Fuhrman Les Buffham Jim Jones Dan McCorison Andi Renfree Randy Huston

2022 Duo or Group of the Year Nominees


3 Trails West
Allen & Jill
The Cowboy Way
Notable Exceptions
Kacey & Jenna Thunborg

2022 Traditional Album of the Year Nominees


Between a Horse and Me - Almeda Bradshaw
The Real West - Patty Clayton
She's Leaving Cheyenne - John Lowell
Westbound - Micki Fuhrman
Yellow Horse - Doug Figgs

Almeda Bradshaw Doug Figgs Micki Fuhrman Patty Clayton John Lowell

2022 Instrumentalist of the Year Nominees


Hailey Sandoz Ernie Martinez Mariam Funke Scott Tonelson Leah Sawyer

2022 Male Poet of the Year Nominees


Dennis Russell Floyd Beard Mark Munzert Terry Nash Tom Swearingen

2022 Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year Nominees


The Best Horses in Heaven, They Have No Tails - Miska Paget
Between the Sun and Moon - Teresa Burleson
No Better Life - Valerie Beard
Wisdom in the Wind - Sherl Cederburg

Valerie Beard Teresa Burleson Sherl Cederburg Miska Paget

2022 Cowboy Poetry Book of the Year Nominees


Circle Back - Kimberly Kaye
Deep Tracks - Marleen Bussma
Buckaroo Poetry - P.W. Conway
When the Stars Sang - Scott Wiswell

Marleen Bussma P.W. Conway Kimberly Kaye

2022 Cowboy/Western Swing Album of the Year Nominees


A Little Bit of Texas - Carlos Washington
Harmony Grits - Ida Red
Yearnin' - Jim Winters

Jim Winters