The results are in! Wide Open Country is proud to reveal the winners of the 2026 Song Contest, including this year's Grand Prize Winner and the First and Second Place honorees across each category.
Videos by Wide Open Country
This year brought an incredible collection of songs from talented writers and artists. We're excited to recognize the entries that rose to the top and celebrate the people behind them. A huge thank you to everyone who submitted a song and helped make this year's contest so special.
Don't forget to enter Session One of the Wide Open Country Song Sessions before entries close! This is your chance to win cash, editorial coverage and more! Click here or the button below to enter now.
GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
"Bloodstream" By Maura Streppa, Jesse Dozzi and Sadie Campbell
ALT COUNTRY 1ST PLACE WINNER:
"Hang Your Weary Heart On Me" By Road Pony
ALT COUNTRY 2ND PLACE WINNER:
"Living's a Loan" By Matt Wolf
BLUEGRASS 1ST PLACE WINNER:
"Roll On, Rose" By Weary Ramblers, Kathryn Severing Fox and Chad Elliott
BLUEGRASS 2ND PLACE WINNER:
"Hard Luck Man" By J.M. Clifford
HIP-HOP COUNTRY 1ST PLACE WINNER:
"Wish I Didn't" By Spencer Burns
HIP-HOP COUNTRY 2ND PLACE WINNER:
"Lie To Me" By The Olson Bros Band, Luke Olson, Isaac Olson and Aaron Patrick
MODERN COUNTRY 1ST PLACE WINNER:
"Reasons" By Mary Sarah, Nate Kenyon and Abbey Rowe
MODERN COUNTRY 2ND PLACE WINNER:
"Country See Country Do" By Paige King Johnson, Pete Sallis and Todd Pachey
TRADITIONAL COUNTRY 1ST PLACE WINNER:
"Pays To Be Poor" By Hannah Franklin and Thorne Wiggs
TRADITIONAL COUNTRY 2ND PLACE WINNER:
"Toodaloo" By Ruby Lily, Devan Reed Yanik and Jennifer Stone Yanik
