CMA of Texas Presents Rusty Gear Bluegrass Album Of The Year Award

KGCS-Television Performance At Missouri Southern State University

HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES, October 23, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Americana singer-songwriter and recording artist Rusty Gear received the CMA of Texas bluegrass album of the year award at the association’s annual awards gala. Mary Minter, CEO, CMA of Texas comments, “The CMA of Texas is very honored to include Rusty Gear in our artist/musician community, as he received the 2027 very first bluegrass award for his outstanding album, “Music City Drifters.” Every single song on the album is a stand-alone example of excellent storytelling in song, featuring equally excellent vocals and instrumentation.” “Music City Drifters” is comprised of eight songs, five originals and three all time favorites.

Recorded in Nashville Rusty’s producer, Brad Hill, assembled an all star band including Jason Roller (Alabama and Grand Ole Opry) on guitars and fiddle, Justin Moses (Ricky Skaggs and Sierra Hull) on banjo and mandolin, Nashville veteran Scotty Sanders on dobro and Evan Winsor (Josh Turner) on upright bass. Award winning Americana artist and frequent collaborator Hannah Bethel is featured on two songs on the release. The songs on the album add to Rusty’s American Way of Life Collection with biographical storytelling, reflective ballads and just plain fun, all in a catchy bluegrass style.

Rusty shares, “We had a great time at the CMA of Texas award event. The artists and fans attending couldn’t have been nicer and we are grateful to the CMA of Texas and Mary Minter for recognizing our record.” Additionally in the news immediately after the CMA of Texas event Rusty and his traveling team flew into Joplin Missouri and were guests at Missouri Southern State University’s KGCS-TV. There the team both performed and interviewed on the station’s Behind The Bands Show, a thirty minute combination interview and performance television show. Rusty shares, “It was fun performing and being interviewed at KGCS TV and seeing the students do such a nice job building a TV show.” To learn more:  Rusty Gear | country music

About –
Rusty Gear is an award winning independent Americana singer-songwriter and Nashville recording artist who has released an extensive collection of Americana, country and blues music. Rusty’s primary focus has always been the song writing, where he tries to tell authentic stories of life in America and deliver rocking numbers that will energize his live performances. He has released 15 albums/ EPs of original music featuring top Nashville session players and members of the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and guest appearances by fabulous female vocalists, including Bekka Bramlett, Hannah Bethel, Calamity Jane, Camille Rae, Elle Rose, Evelyn Rubio and Lisa Kaine. Rusty’s songs have received radio play around the world and charted on the Billboard Country Breakout Chart, the Americana Music Association Chart, Roots Music in Country, Blues and Americana and on the Hotdisc Top 40 in Europe. His 2026 album Music City Drifters charted #1 for eight weeks on the Roots Music Country Album Chart and was named Bluegrass Album of the Year by the CMA of Texas. The single All the Ties reached #1 in both Country and Americana. Rusty’s 2024 single, Lonely Roads featuring Evelyn Rubio, was named Duet of the Year by the CMA of Texas. His latest EP, Blues From Muscle Shoals to Nashville, is off to a promising start with coverage from influential blues radio stations and influencers. Rusty’s songs have been streamed over 6 million times on Spotify.

John McNerney
John in Houston PR LLC

Rusty Gear’s “Ranch Water”

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