The local music community has two big reasons to celebrate as hometown artists Payton Howie and Payton Riley have both been named finalists in the 2026 Texas Country Music Association (TCMA) Awards.
Payton Howie has been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, while Payton Riley has earned a finalist spot in the Young Artist of the Year category. In addition, Riley’s bassist, Kale Murray, has been recognized as a finalist for Bassist of the Year.
Blazing her own trail in country music, Payton Howie has quickly become one of the genre’s most exciting rising stars. With more than 4 million career streams and a social media following of over 150,000 fans, Howie continues to captivate audiences with her powerful vocals, fearless stage presence, and authentic storytelling. She has shared the stage with some of country music’s biggest names, including Parker McCollum, Lainey Wilson, Ashley McBryde, Garth Brooks, Gretchen Wilson, Lukas Nelson, Corey Kent, Tracy Lawrence, Aaron Watson, Trisha Yearwood, and Warren Zeiders. Her single “Ramblin’ Woman” reached No. 5 on the Ireland Country iTunes Download Chart, and she has earned Female Vocalist of the Year nominations from both the Texas Regional Radio Awards and the Texas Country Music Association…