CRS 2026 New Faces Show Delivers Breakout Moments From Ella Langley, Chase Matthew & More

Country Radio Seminar (CRS) officially returned to Nashville this week, once again bringing together the voices that help shape country music, from radio programmers and label executives to artists, media, and beyond. Held March 18–20 at the Omni Nashville Hotel, the annual event served as the center of fresh conversations, new connections and a look at where the format is headed next with the artists who are leading the charge.

Keeping with a tradition more than 50 years in the making, the three-day event concluded with its most anticipated moment, the New Faces of Country Music Show. This annual showcase puts a mix of rising artists on stage in front of the those who have already played a role in their journey, and who can help push it even further.

If five decades of history has proven anything, it’s that this stage has a way of predicting country music’s next biggest stars. Last year welcomed a standout 2025 class, including Drew Baldridge, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Zach Top, and Warren Zeiders. Before them came artists like Jelly Roll, Parker McCollum, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, Luke Combs, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, and Brooks & Dunn, all of whom were named New Faces of Country Music over the years.

Presented in partnership with the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the 2026 showcase highlighted six artists, instead of the usual five acts, spotlighting Chase Matthew, Kelsey Hart, Meghan Patrick, John Morgan, Josh Ross, and Ella Langley. Each of these artists earned their spot through votes from the country music industry, reflecting their strong momentum, growing fanbases, and impactful songs released during the qualification period leading into CRS 2026.

This year’s performers certainly did the genre proud, showcasing exactly why they deserve this moment in the spotlight, and proving they’re only getting started.

Chase Matthew

The night kicked off on a high note as Chase Matthew took the stage with a palpable energy. Before the curtain rose, he leaned into the show’s long-standing tradition of playing an intro video, offering a more personal and heartfelt look at his journey. He featured kind messages from his parents, revisited his old place of work at a ATV mechanic shop and even shared clever marketing tactics from his early days. Plus, he highlighted some of his career milestones and gave a nod to Country Now for being there since the very start.

From the moment the Tennessee native made his entrance, it was clear that all the years of hard work and grinding is paying off. He opened with his major label debut single, “Love You Again,” which gained significant popularity after going viral on TikTok and later went on to hit the Billboard Hot 100 and reach the Top 20 on country charts in 2023. From there, he unleashed his signature grit and energy on his current single, “Holdin’ It Down,” before creating one of the night’s standout moments when he introduced surprise guest Lauren Alaina for their hit duet, “All My Exes.”

Matthew wrapped his set with his first No. 1 hit, the Gold-certified “Darlin’,” taking the energy into the crowd and dancing with CRS attendees before returning to the stage and ending with a sincere message of gratitude to country radio.

“I can tell y’all I’ve snuck in this building enough times for CRS to know that the Lord is real because he put me on the stage this time and I didn’t have to sneak in. So thank you, Warner Nashville. Thank you, Country Radio. Thank you, CRS for having us. And thank you to all my awesome team members. You know who you are. Thank you for this band…I believe this opportunity is just as important as my Opry debut, my Ryman debut,” he shared.

Kelsey Hart

Next up was Curb Records artist, Kelsey Hart, a Kentucky native that is making his mark on Music City one song at a time. He also took the sentimental, heartfelt route for his introduction video, making sure to highlight the leap of faith he took with moving away from his home, the people who have helped him get here, and the impact his music has made on his fans.

Hart is no stranger to CRS, as he explained on stage while recalling his first time at the seminar a few years back when he “didn’t know a soul.” Fast forward to 2026, he said attending this year’s event felt more like “a family reunion.” A big part of his dream has always been to play on the CRS stage and on Friday, March 20, he made sure to take full advantage of the opportunity with a setlist of songs that truly showcased the power of his artistry.

The rising star launched with “Put It on A Map”, followed by an powerful rendition of “Fireworks” before stirring up heartfelt emotions with his viral debut single, “Life With You.” Before performing the song, Hart took a moment to explain the deep sentiment behind it, noting it was his and his wife’s first dance at their wedding—and just a few months later, it opened more doors than he ever imagined. He also shared how much being on this stage meant to him.

“I just want to say, y’all, I moved to town in 2016 to chase this dream and I was extremely green, didn’t have a clue what I was doing or what I needed to do,” he admitted. “And here we are 10 years later and getting that chance. And I mean, it truly means the world to me, guys, for y’all taking the chance on my music, taking the chance on me as a person. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Meghan Patrick

The entire room lit up (literally) when Meghan Patrick took the stage. Making a bold entrance with a harmonica in hand, she took an unexpected route and opened her set with a medley of Led Zeppelin covers that immediately had the crowd leaning in. Paired with glowing wristbands throughout the audience, the moment matched the electricity radiating from the stage.

Once she shifted to her own music, the Canadian singer/songwriter paused to reflect on the long road that led her to this moment. An important step on that journey is her first Top 16 at country radio, “Golden Child.” She admitted it felt “crazy” to be named a member of the New Face class after years of hard work, and credited timing, perseverance, and the radio community for finally bringing her to this stage.

“I am just beyond honored and humbled to be here as one of the new faces of 2026, which seems kind of crazy to say because I don’t feel like a new face because I’ve been doing this a long time, but God’s timing is always right on time,” she shared. “And this next song I think is proof of that. I want to thank every radio person in this room right now for believing in me, for giving me a chance this year, change my life with this song and for giving me a chance to come play your shows and play for your listeners. It means the world to me, not just to get this song all the way up to 16, but for it to be a song that means so much to me and has a message that’s close to my heart.”

Dressed in a gold fringe ensemble, Patrick traded off showcasing her guitar skills and commanding the stage with a tambourine in hand. As her set came to a close, she turned the spotlight to her personal life, revealing she would be performing “Safe Place To Break,” a song inspired by her love for her husband, Mitchell Tenpenny.

John Morgan

The packed room got a dose of comic relief when John Morgan took his turn. He introduced himself with a hilarious video that showed him walking through his label’s office, where every employee had fully committed to replicating his signature look. The bit continued as he hopped into a car on the way to CRS, driven by none other than country music superstar, Jason Aldean.

Moments later, Morgan walked through the doors and straight onto the stage, seamlessly launching into his opening song, “Way Out Would,” off his latest album, Carolina Blue. From there, he kept the show engaging and brought even more heartfelt moments throughout his set. He followed up with his mom’s favorite track, “One More Sunset,” and then got the audience involved with a sing-along to his current radio hit, “Kid Myself.” His laid-back confidence and natural stage presence made it clear he was right at home in that moment.

The BBR Music Group/BMG artist ended on a high note, celebrating his first-ever No. 1 as an artist with “Friends Like That.” Over the years, Morgan has written plenty of songs for other artists, but this night was his chance to have all the focus on him and the talent he brings to the genre. Taking a second to soak it all in, he thanked country radio for changing his life and helping the song rise to the top.

He told the room, “So honored to be here tonight. Thank you guys for having us. I can’t wait to play you this next one….I got to say a big thank you to all my country radio fan for taking this song all the way to number one. This is my very first number one as an artist, so thank you so much for all your support, every one of you guys. I love you. Thank you for changing my life with us.”

Josh Ross

After John Morgan, it was time for the night’s second Canadian singer/songwriter, Josh Ross, to take the stage…and it’s safe to say he made every moment count. Ross instantly commanded the room with a quiet confidence, moving effortlessly across the stage and letting his voice do most of the talking.

Each song felt intentional, showcasing both his grit and vulnerability, while proving he more than earned his place among this year’s New Faces class. His set pulled completely from his debut album Later Tonight, including his current U.S. chart-climbing single, “Hate How You Look” and “Namin’ Names,” giving the crowd a full picture of the stories that have been resonating with fans.

The crowd then got a vulnerable look into Ross’ story and struggles he’s faced through “Scared of Getting Sober.” Upon introducing the track, he opened up about the personal battles behind it, admitting it was one he almost didn’t play, but ultimately chose because it best represents who he is as both an artist and a person.

“I think if there’s something that shows off me as a character and the battles that I go through, it’s this next song. I have the greatest job in the world sometimes. It gets super hard. This song has spoken to a lot of people so far on the road,” he noted.

Ross couldn’t leave the stage before performing “Single Again,” which made the Waterdown, Ontario-native the first Canadian male in nearly 30 years to top the U.S. Country Airplay chart and added to his string of multiple No. 1s in Canada. By the end of his set, Ross had delivered a performance that left no doubt that his momentum is only continuing to build.

He concluded, “Thank you for giving a kid from Ontario, Canada the opportunity to have a number one as a male in almost 30 years from Canada…And the one thing I promise you is I’m here to stay. I’m freaking grateful and I won’t let you down. I want to be here in 20, 30 years still standing on this stage playing for you guys, hanging out and representing the market that brought me to life. So thank you so much.”

Ella Langley

The show came to a close with Ella Langley, who brought a final surge of excitement to an already standout lineup. It was hard to ignore the shift in the room the moment she stepped out from behind the curtain, dressed in a red and black fringe ensemble and carrying a confidence and joy that felt contagious. The industry-only audience pushed their way closer to the stage, feeding off her energy as she moved through her set with a smile that never faded.

In a unique twist, she saved her intro video for the end of the performance, reworking her previously released “Be Her” music video to include the voices behind country radio, a thoughtful nod to the people who have had a hand in her rise. Instead, she got right to the music, starting with the title track to her upcoming album, Dandelion.

Throughout the set, she showcased both powerhouse deliveries and vulnerable storytelling with songs like “Dandelion” and her current fan-favorite that naturally evoked a sing-along, “Be Her.” Langley then paused to open up about the personal story behind the “Loving Life Again” and encouraged listeners to give themselves grace and take a step back when needed, explaining that the track came from a moment when she needed that most.

“I’m a very happy girl these days…I have had a big dream my whole entire life. I have literally wanted to do exactly what I’m doing in front of you here tonight since I’ve ever wanted to do anything. This job gets crazy, this world gets crazy. No matter what you’re doing, I think life sometimes can get really heavy and we put out some fun songs to this record, some heartbreak songs, but this song was really important to me and the last one before the whole record comes out,” she explained honestly. “If it wasn’t for this song or this moment in my life, I don’t think I would have gotten the rest of this record finished.”

Ella Langley left the audience on a high with one of her biggest and most talked-about songs, the historic “Choosin’ Texas,” marking the perfect ending to not only her set but the night as a whole.

After seeing the 2025 New Faces of Country Music Show, it’s impossible not to feel excited for what’s ahead. These artists are not just the next wave of the genre, they’re the ones who will continue to define the sound for years to come.

Before the curtain closed on the end of the three-day event, an announcement was made that all the excitement will be back at Nashville’s Omni Hotel from March 17-19, 2026.