Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Tucker Wetmore & More Honored at Billboard’s 2026 Country Power Players Event
Categoria: Musica
The Red Clay Strays and The Neal Agency's Austin Neal were also recognized during the ceremony.
Por Billboard | 04/06/2026
On Wednesday (June 3), Billboard honored this year’s Country Power Players honorees during a ceremony held at The Eye Rooftop at Category 10 in downtown Nashville, celebrating many of the genre’s top artists and music executives. Billboard co-chief content officers Leila Cobo and Jason Lipshutz ushered in the evening by recognizing the current and enduring power of country music. “It is an artform that is constantly expanding … new superstars, new smashes, setting new records, innovating while valuing longstanding traditions,” Lipshutz said. “ Billboard ‘s charts tell us that country is enormous right now, but everybody on this rooftop knows that country music is, was and always will be timeless.” Melinda Newman, Billboard ’s executive editor of West Coast/country hosted the ceremony, and joined in celebrating the executives highlighted on Billboard ‘s Country Power Players list and the artists being honored. She also praised executive and artist honorees for the “unprecedented success that country music is experiencing as it continues to surge both domestically and internationally because of your efforts.” Billboard Country Power Players cover artist Green was honored with the Hitmaker award. “His music is pure country,” Clint Black said when presenting Green with the recognition, later adding, “I’m impressed with his songwriting.” Green, a four-time Country Airplay topper, noted that the honor meant a lot to him as an artist who is the sole writer behind some of his hits, such as “Worst Way” and “Don’t Mind If I Do” — and it was fitting that Black, who is also known for writing the bulk of his own hits, presented the award to Green. “For me, this kind of recognition is a pat on the back that gives me the confidence to go out and write more songs and play more shows,” Green said, acknowledging many of the members of his team. He also dedicated the award to his late “granddaddy Buford” who “loved country music.” “I had a lot of great role models growing up,” said Green, who recalled his grandmother Lola Jean recently attending one of his sold-out shows in Atlanta. “She said, ‘Man, I just wish Buford could see this.’ It’s moments like this that make me very certain he’s sittin’ in a recliner somewhere watching down on this.” HARDY presented the Rising Star award to Tucker Wetmore, who has been piling up hits including “Brunette” and “3, 2, 1” and taking his engaging live shows to fans around the world this year. “One thing I do know about him is he works extremely hard and what comes from hard work is success, and hopefully what comes from success is being recognized for that,” HARDY said. “I know for a fact that this guy has been working his ass off … he’s a really good guy … you’v