Kelsey Hart, John Morgan, Meghan Patrick, Ella Langley, Josh Ross & Chase Matthew. Photo: Courtesy of CRS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
To close out this year\u2019s Country Radio Seminar (CRS), six breakout artists took to the New Faces of Country Music showcase stage on Friday (March 20).<\/p>\n
Since its inception in 1970, the showcase has been a pivotal launching pad for country hitmakers. Participating acts have achieved significant country radio success during the qualification period\u2014from Nov. 1, 2024 to Oct. 31, 2025.<\/p>\n
Hosted by Elaina Smith<\/strong>, this year, Kelsey Hart, Ella Langley, Chase Matthew, John Morgan, Meghan Patrick<\/strong> and Josh Ross<\/strong> graced the stage.<\/p>\n Chase Matthew. Photo: Courtesy of CRS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Matthew was the first artist to perform. He took the stage after a heartfelt video that highlighted his roots as a Nashville native, included appearances from his parents and thanked the radio executives in the room who helped him fall in love with music and rise to the top of the charts.<\/p>\n He kicked off his high-energy set with his first top five single at radio, \u201cLove You Again.\u201d He moved into his current single, \u201cHoldin\u2019 It Down,\u201d before surprising the audience with Lauren Alaina<\/strong> for \u201cAll My Exes.\u201d He finished his set with his first No. 1 track, \u201cDarlin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelsey Hart. Photo: Courtesy of CRS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Hart followed, stepping onstage after a sizzle reel that played on the idea of \u201cnew faces,\u201d tracing how his move from Kentucky into a town full of them and life on the road surrounded by them turned strangers into friends, fans and family.<\/p>\n He opened his set with \u201cPut It On The Map,\u201d setting the tone early. He kept the momentum going with \u201cFireworks\u201d before closing things out with his viral hit \u201cLife With You.\u201d<\/p>\n Meghan Patrick. Photo: Courtesy of CRS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Patrick\u2019s intro video showed her band getting warmed up backstage, with appearances from her husband, fellow country artist Mitchell Tenpenny.<\/p>\n The room lit up with synchronized LED wristbands as she took the stage, kicking things off with a dynamic medley of Led Zeppelin covers. The room lit up golden as Patrick moved into her breakout track \u201cGolden Child.\u201d She ended her performance with a nod to Tenpenny as she introduced \u201cSafe Place To Break.\u201d<\/p>\n John Morgan. Photo: Courtesy of CRS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Morgan brought a touch of humor with a playful intro video featuring frequent collaborator Jason Aldean as his \u201cUber driver,\u201d leaning into the joke with a quick cameo that had the room laughing.<\/p>\n He made his way to the stage with \u201cWay Out Would\u201d and \u201cOne More Sunset.\u201d He shared his current single, \u201cKid Myself,\u201d before ending his performance with his first chart-topper, \u201cFriends Like That.\u201d<\/p>\n Josh Ross. Photo: Courtesy of CRS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ross followed, stepping onstage after a sizzle reel that showcased his achievements, from CCMA Awards to chart-topping hits.<\/p>\n He opened his set with \u201cHate How You Look\u201d before delivering the vulnerable \u201cScared Of Getting Sober.\u201d After \u201cNamin\u2019 Names,\u201d he closed out his set with his No. 1 hit, \u201cSingle Again.\u201d<\/p>\n Ella Langley. Photo: Courtesy of CRS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The crowd gathered around the stage as Langley began her set to close out the evening.<\/p>\n She opened with \u201cDandelion\u201d followed by the recent fan-favorite \u201cBe Her.\u201d She delivered her most recent track \u201cLoving Life Again,\u201d which she released on Friday as the last track ahead of her sophomore album<\/a>, which is due April 10.<\/p>\n She ended the night with a crowd sing-along of the newly minted No. 1 track, \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n Following her set, Langley shared a parody of her recently viral \u201cBe Her\u201d music video featuring appearances from various industry personalities and executives.<\/p>\n CRS will return to Nashville March 17-19, 2027.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/musicrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260320_210732_CRS2026_KS-2-scaled.jpg\")
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