The Academy Of Western Artists

The Academy Of Western Artists Together, we all work to bring more visibility to the amazing variety (and talent) of Contemporary Western Artists. The AWA is a non-profit group.

Official page of the Academy of Western Artists, recognizing professionals and enthusiasts in
*Western/Cowboy Music, Poetry and Storytelling
*Western Swing Music
*Western Country Music
*Cowboy Arts and Literature
*Chuck Wagons
*Western Culture Industry The Academy of Western Artists (AWA), founded in 1996 by a very small group, has grown to include both dedicated members and supporters of the Cow

boy way of Life. These deeply talented artists constantly strive to make their art better, as well as share their craft with new artisans, stretching the boundaries to new levels. The Academy of Western Artists' "Will Rogers' Cowboy Awards" came about in 1996, when western publisher Bobby Newton decided there needed to be some kind of recognition for the performers and artisans who were taking the contemporary Cowboy and Western art movement to new and exciting heights. The first awards were held in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn North in Fort Worth, Texas with a capacity crowd on hand. Since then it has progressed to be one of the highest awards in recognition of the Western Arts in the world. There have been almost 500 winners in the many categories recognized by the AWA. Each year, some categories are added and some are deleted to meet the ever changing scene of the Western Contemporary Arts. Has the AWA had an impact on the state of Western Arts? Definitely Yes, the AWA, along with many other groups have moved Western Arts to much higher levels, which can be seen in the price of current makers’ products, and through the increased numbers of individuals involved in the field. It is a growth industry and will continue to do so for future generations. The American Cowboy is the only World Hero, and the product of the USA. He is known world wide and the AWA wants to use that image to insure that the Cowboy lives forever.

Lori Beth Brooke, an accordionist, yodeler, singer, and songwriter from Austin, was a finalist for Western/Cowboy Song (...
12/12/2025

Lori Beth Brooke, an accordionist, yodeler, singer, and songwriter from Austin, was a finalist for Western/Cowboy Song ("Call of Hualapai," written with Devon Dawson); Western Swing Song ("Hot Flash Baby"); and Western Country Song ("The Roots Go Deep"). She attended the Academy's Dec. 2 award show at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth.

12/12/2025

Carin Mari, a finalist for Western Country Female Vocalist, was interviewed at the Academy's Dec. 2 awards show at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth. She is a guitarist/singer/songwriter and the lead guitar player in Michael Martin Murphey’s Rio Grande Band. Video by Arik Surita.

12/05/2025

The red carpet was busy at the Academy's two awards shows on Dec. 2! Thanks to for video production.

Academy member Johnny Angel and his wife Lin Du Plooy enjoyed the Academy of Western Artists award show in the Fort Wort...
12/05/2025

Academy member Johnny Angel and his wife Lin Du Plooy enjoyed the Academy of Western Artists award show in the Fort Worth Stockyards on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Johnny is usually found heading up his New Orleans-based Western Swing band, Johnny Angel and Helldorado. Photo by Becky Stinehour ().

Western musician and author Jim Jones of New Mexico attended the Dec. 2 Academy of Western Artists evening awards show ...
12/05/2025

Western musician and author Jim Jones of New Mexico attended the Dec. 2 Academy of Western Artists evening awards show as a finalist for two awards: Western/Cowboy Album (Storyteller: Tales from the West) and Western/Cowboy Music Video ("Cowboy Heart"). Photo by Becky Stinehour ().

Ashley Westcott of Arizona was a finalist for Western Country Female Vocalist, and sang at both awards shows. Shown with...
12/05/2025

Ashley Westcott of Arizona was a finalist for Western Country Female Vocalist, and sang at both awards shows. Shown with husband Caspur Westcott. Finalists from 14 states attended the Dec. 2 awards ceremonies in Fort Worth. Photo by Becky Stinehour ().

Joel Alden White of Amarillo, Texas was a finalist for Western/Cowboy Music Video for his video, "Quit When It Hurts," a...
12/05/2025

Joel Alden White of Amarillo, Texas was a finalist for Western/Cowboy Music Video for his video, "Quit When It Hurts," and attended the Dec. 2 Academy of Western Artists awards ceremony in Fort Worth. Missing from this photo: the lovely Kelly White. Photo by Becky Stinehour ().

Pictured: Deanna Dickinson McCall, Academy Manager; Bob Saul, President; and Red Steagall, Lifetime Achievement Award re...
12/04/2025

Pictured: Deanna Dickinson McCall, Academy Manager; Bob Saul, President; and Red Steagall, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

FORT WORTH, TX - Winners of 18 awards from the Academy of Western Artists for outstanding 2024 work were announced on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 at two awards ceremonies in Fort Worth. Held at Billy Bob's 81 Club in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, the ceremonies included performances from a number of finalists, both vocalists and poets.

The evening ceremony also included a presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Red Steagall for his many years of work as a songwriter, singer, poet, TV and radio personality, film actor, event producer, and more.

Awards for Poets, Authors, Artists, Artisans, and Chuckwagons (1 PM)

2024 Chuckwagon
Bobby Burleson
Burleson Chuckwagon, Weatherford, Texas

2024 Western Short Nonfiction
Natalie Bright
"Trying to Save the Texas Panhandle"
published in RANGE magazine

2024 Silversmith
Gregg L. Clark
Hide Town Silver, Mobeetie, Texas

2024 Cowboy Poem
Betty Lynne McCarthy
"The Couldnt's"

2024 Cowboy Poetry Book
Betty Lynne McCarthy
Etchings

2024 Male Cowboy Poet
Kye Rieff

2024 Female Cowboy Poet
Teresa Burleson

Awards for Musicians & Lifetime Achievement (7 PM)

2024 Western Swing Song
Micki Fuhrman & Douglas Green
"Swing on By"

2024 Western Country Song
Jessie Veeder
"Hard on Things"

2024 Western Country Single
Larry Cann
"Only A Cowgirl"

2024 Western Country Album
Jessie Veeder
Yellow Roses
production: Bill Warner, LuckySky Music, Nashville, Tennessee

2024 Western Country Female Vocalist
Micki Fuhrman

2024 Western/Cowboy Song
Matt Robertson
"The Letter"

2024 Western/Cowboy Single
John Lowell
"Snow on the Wineglass"

2024 Western/Cowboy Album
Matt Robertson
Arizona
production: Tom Frear and Casey Shelden, Cottonwood Studios, Rapid City, South Dakota

2024 Western/Cowboy Music Video
Jessie Veeder
"Red Barns and People Get Old"

2024 Western/Cowboy Female Vocalist
Kristyn Harris

2024 Western/Cowboy Male Vocalist
Matt Robertson

Lifetime Achievement
Red Steagall

Photos by Becky Stinehour ().

The stars were out last night in the Fort Worth Stockyards, honoring Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Red Steagall. ...
12/04/2025

The stars were out last night in the Fort Worth Stockyards, honoring Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Red Steagall. Pictured: Red Steagall, Michael Martin Murphey, Carin Mari, and Larry Wells. Photos by Becky Stinehour ().

Our 1 PM awards show yesterday recognized poets, authors, artists, artisans, and chuckwagons, and included award present...
12/04/2025

Our 1 PM awards show yesterday recognized poets, authors, artists, artisans, and chuckwagons, and included award presentations, songs, and poems. Pictured: Micki Fuhrman, Kristyn Harris, Mark Munzert, and Miska Paget. Photos by Becky Stinehour (),

Yesterday, we presented 18 awards for outstanding 2024 work, and a Lifetime Achievement Award to the talented and gracio...
12/03/2025

Yesterday, we presented 18 awards for outstanding 2024 work, and a Lifetime Achievement Award to the talented and gracious Red Steagall. Here's the program. Thanks to for hosting us in the Fort Worth Stockyards!

05/06/2025

Founded in 1996 by Bobby Newton, the Academy of Western Artists began by giving the Will Rogers Cowboy Award in cowboy poetry and music, then expanded to Western swing and Western country (classic country) music, and cowboy artists and artisans (saddles, leather, spurs, bits, silver, and rawhide braiding) plus chuckwagons. In 2003 the Will Rogers Medallion Awards were added for Western and cowboy literature. For 29 years AWA was primarily an awards show for Western culture.

I took the helm of the Academy of Western Artists in August of 2024 with the mission of expanding support for all the musicians, storytellers, artists, artisans, and authors in the historic culture of the American West and the iconic cowboy. Awards will still be given because recognition for excellence is key. But support through services for the creativity and craft of heritage is vital.

I need you to be an active member and voice your needs. Let me hear from you. Go to our website and message me.

Address

Ardmore, OK
76102

Telephone

+15802218793

Website

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