OUR STORY
Founded in 2016, the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards were originally designed to showcase the best country music talent in Colorado and Wyoming. However, the first year went so well that other states wanted to be able to show how amazing their country music talent was also, so in 2017, Utah, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas were added to the RMCMAs. In 2018 New Mexico would join the party, and in 2019 we saw the addition of two new states, Montana and North Dakota.
The show itself is much like you'd see on one of the big country music award shows on TV. It features performances from some of the regions best, celebrity presenters, laughter, and of course, the presentation of awards to the years best.
PAST WINNERS
GARY MCMAHAN
Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement Award, 2022
SCOOTER BROWN
Hadley Barrett Person of the Year, 2022
CHANCEY WILLIAMS
Entertainer of the Year, 2022
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NED LEDOUX
Male Vocalist of the Year, 2022
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CLARE DUNN
Female Vocalist of the Year, 2022
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"3RD STREET," CHANCEY WILLIAMS
Album of the Year, 2022
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"LONG HAUL," IAN MUNSICK
Song of the Year, 2022
CHANCEY WILLIAMS FOR "THE SAINT"
Songwriter of the Year, 2022
BROOKE LATKA
Musician of the Year, 2022
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WHISKEY BARON
Venue of the Year, 2022
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FRANK RAY
New Artist of the Year, 2022
CODY COZZ
Fan Army Award, 2022
CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS
Event/Festival of the Year, 2022
MARK SISSEL
Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement, 2021
DIERKS BENTLEY
Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement Award, 2020
STU HASKELL
Hadley Barrett Person of the Year, 2020
CLARE DUNN
Entertainer of the Year, 2020
LUCAS HOGE
Male Vocalist of the Year, 2020
STEPHANIE QUAYLE
Female Vocalist of the Year, 2020
"NEXT IN LINE," NED LEDOUX
Album of the Year, 2020
"WYOMING WIND," CHANCEY WILLIAMS
Song of the Year, 2020
CORB LUND & NED LEDOUX FOR "DANCE WITH YOUR SPURS ON"
Songwriter of the Year, 2020
CAITLYN OCHSNER
New Artist of the Year, 2020
BROOKE LATKA
Musician of the Year, 2020
NEBRASKALAND DAYS
Event/Festival of the Year, 2020
WAREHOUSE25SIXTY-FIVE
Venue of the Year, 2020
SCOOTER BROWN BAND
Fan Army Award, 2020
MAC MCANALLY
Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement Award, 2019
BRIAN GARY
Hadley Barrett Person of the Year Award, 2019
NED LEDOUX
Entertainer of the Year, 2019
SAGEBRUSH, NED LEDOUX
Album of the Year, 2019
HORSES ARE FASTER, IAN MUNSICK
Song of the Year, 2019
SCOTT BROWN (SCOOTER BROWN BAND)
Male Vocalist of the Year, 2019
LEXI LARSEN
Female Vocalist of the Year, 2019
LANCE AND LEA
New Artist of the Year, 2019
CHRISTOPHER THOMAS
Songwriter of the Year, 2019
KW TURNBOW (DRUMMER, NED LEDOUX)
Musician of the Year, 2019
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GREELEY STAMPEDE
Event of the Year, 2019
DEADWOOD MOUNTAIN GRAND
Venue of the Year, 2019
JAMES LEE BAND
Fan Army Winner, 2019
DOUG KERSHAW
Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018
SHAWN PATRICK
Hadley Barrett Person of the Year, 2018
CHANCEY WILLIAMS AND THE YOUNGER BROTHERS BAND
Entertainer of the Year, 2018
RODEO COLD BEER, CHANCEY WILLIAMS AND THE YOUNGER BROTHERS BAND
Album of the Year, 2018
FEELIN’ GOOD, JARED DANIELS
Song of the Year, 2018
NED LEDOUX
Male Vocalist of the Year, 2018
KELLI JONES (BELLES AND WHISTLES)
Female Vocalist of the Year, 2018
CHRISTOPHER THOMAS
New Artist of the Year, 2018
RYAN CHRYS
Songwriter of the Year, 2018
JOE PARR (TIM ZACH & WHISKEY BENT)
Musician of the Year, 2018
CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS
Venue/Event of the Year, 2018
AUSTIN WAHLERT
Fan Army Winner, 2018
CHRIS LEDOUX
Chris LeDoux Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017
SEAN CURTIS BAND
Entertainer of the Year, 2017
KIND OF LIKE WYOMING, SEAN CURTIS BAND
Album of the Year, 2017
DOWN WITH THAT, CHANCEY WILLIAMS AND THE YOUNGER BROTHERS BAND
Song of the Year, 2017
KORY BRUNSON
Male Vocalist of the Year, 2017
CLARE DUNN
Female Vocalist of the Year, 2017
BRYAN THOMAS
New Artist of the Year, 2017
AUSTIN WAHLERT
Songwriter of the Year, 2017
TIM ELLIOT, SEAN CURTIS BAND
Musician of the Year, 2017
2022 NOMINEES
Musician of the Year
Dusty Rider (Banjo, The Railsplitters)
Lance Kotara (Guitar, Lance & Lea)
Josh Kidney (Guitar, Dylan Bloom)
Jesse Lee (Bass, Jesse Cornett and Randy Burghardt)
Duncan Britt (Keys, Tyler Walker, DJ Bridwell, Luke Mills, Kayla Ruby)
Brooke Latka (Fiddle, Chancey Williams)
Anthony Michalek (Guitar, Kenny Feidler and the Cowboy Killers)
Songwriter of the Year
Chancey Williams for “The Saint”
Christopher Charles Romero for “Broken Son”
Austin Wahlert, for "Jesus and Babies”
McKenzie JaLynn for “Maybe God Just Knew”
Luke Mills for “Answers on the Wind”
Savannah Keyes for “Superman”
Joshua Olsen and D.J. Bridwell for “Sinner and a Saint”
Venue of the Year
Outlaw Saloon, Cheyenne, WY
Warehouse 25Sixty-Five, Grand Junction, CO
Joe’s Honky-Tonk, Kearney, NE
The Whiskey Baron, Colorado Springs, CO
Whiskey Dicks, Las Cruces, NM
Deadwood Mountain Grand, Deadwood, SD
The Hat, Manhattan, KS
New Artist of the Year
Ryan Charles
Clayton Smalley
Cody Cozz
Tyler Halverson
Caitlin Quisenberry
Frank Ray
Tommy O’Keeffe
Event/Festival of the Year
ND Country Fest – New Salem, ND
Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, WY
NEBRASKAland Days – North Platte, NE
Greeley Stampede – Greeley, CO
Headwaters Country Jam - Cardwell, MT
Country Stampede - Topeka, KS
Country Fan Fest - Tooele, UT
Male Vocalist of the Year
Ned LeDoux
Tim Montana
Ian Munsick
Chancey Williams
Spencer Crandall
Lucas Hoge
Logan Mize
Female Vocalist of the Year
Bri Bagwell
Ingrid Andress
Clare Dunn
Stephanie Quayle
Sarahbeth Taite
Kayla Ruby
Savanna Chestnut
Song of the Year
"Wild Frontier” - Stephanie Quayle
"The Mountain” - Ned LeDoux
"Something Waylon Would Sing” - Scooter Brown Band
"Long Haul” - Ian Munsick
"Holding Out for a Cowboy” - Clare Dunn
“My Person” - Spencer Crandall
"Long Way” - Sarahbeth Taite
Album of the Year
Coyote Cry – Ian Munsick
3rd Street - Chancey Williams
Long Shots - Tim Montana
All Hat, No Cowboy – Belles
Hearts Deluge – Ryan Chrys
Wilderness- Spencer Crandall
Washakie Wind - Tris Munsick and the Innocents
Entertainer of the Year
Clare Dunn
Ned LeDoux
Chancey Williams
Scooter Brown Band
Tim Montana
Spencer Crandall
Ian Munsick
RULES
Who is eligible for the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards?
Any band or artist based or having spent a significant amount of time in any of the nine state region, which includes; Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Utah, and New Mexico. All nominations are based on performance and products that have happened and/or been released within the 18 months prior to the date of the awards show date.
How are Rocky Mountain Country Music Award nominees chosen?
Nominees are selected by both a survey sent to all bands, artists, presenters from previous year’s Rocky Mountain Country Music Award shows, and by weighted votes from radio programmers, music executives, artists, publicists, songwriters, musicians, touring professionals and other industry professionals from all around the seven state region.
How are Rocky Mountain Country Music Award winners chosen?
Similar to the Oscars, the Grammy's, and the CMA Awards, the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards are voted on by panel of radio programmers, music executives, artists, publicists, songwriters, musicians, touring professionals and other industry professionals from all around the region. The results are calculated and sealed to be seen by no one outside of the panel until revealed at the show.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
This Award is for the band or artist displaying the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field. Voter should give consideration not only to recorded performance, but also to the live performance, staging, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image.
SONG OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
This Award is for individual tracks only. This category will include both digital releases as well as physical releases. Track is eligible if released as an individual single, on an EP, or on a full length album. Track must meet date eligibility rules.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
This Award is for any full length album or EP as a whole unit. The album should be judged on all aspects including, but not limited to, artist’s performance, musical background, engineering, packaging, design, art, layout and liner notes. Album must meet date eligibility rules. Awarded to artist and producer of album.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
This Award is given to any female solo artist or the individual female who fronts a band, group, or duo. The Award is based on recorded performance, live performance, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image.
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
This Award is given to any male solo artist or the individual male who fronts a band, group, or duo. The Award is based on recorded performance, live performance, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image.
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
This Award is for a musician known primarily as an instrumental performer. In order to qualify, a musician must have played on at least one album, song, or with a band/artist that meets the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards eligibility requirements.
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
This Award is to the artist, band, or duo, who is known primarily as a country artist, who has for the first time demonstrated the most significant creative growth and development within the following categories; music released, live performance, professionalism and/or media recognition related to the launch of their career. Any artist who has previously won a Rocky Mountain Country Music Award, or who has twice been a final nominee for the New Artist of the Year Award is ineligible for nomination.
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
This Award is to the individual or group of individuals who have displayed the best songwriting (both lyrically and musically) ability in the eligibility period. This award is based on their work featured on one single that has been released by a band or artist that meets the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards eligibility requirements. **Note; A writer outside of the Rocky Mountain region can win this award if the song was recorded by an artist who meets eligibility requirements.
VENUE OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
Any venue known primarily for their support of country music within the seven state region is eligible for this Award. Nominations should be based on overall consumer experience, support of Rocky Mountain Country Music artists, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image within the eligibility period.
EVENT OF THE YEAR CRITERIA
Any event or festival known primarily for their support of country music within the seven state region is eligible for this Award. Nominations should be based on overall consumer experience, support of Rocky Mountain Country Music artists, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image within the eligibility period.
FAN ARMY AWARD CRITERIA
This award does not have nominees, but instead is open to all bands and artists that meet the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards eligibility requirements. The Award is based solely on fan votes on an online platform determined and setup by iHeartMedia. Each fan will be allowed to vote once per day during a two week period leading up to the show date that will be determined and revealed at a later date. The winner will be the band or artist that receives the most online votes, and will be revealed at the show.
HADLEY BARRETT PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award does not have nominees. It is given to the person in the region who, in the eligibility period, best displayed the characteristics of the late rodeo announcer Hadley Barrett. Those characteristics include, but are not limited to; charity work, humanitarianism, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Rocky Mountain Country Music image.
CHRIS LEDOUX LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD
This award does not have nominees. It is given to the person in the region who over the course of their career has contributed musically, and enriched the lives of country music fans and those involved in the music industry in the region, to the fullest extent.
