Nebraska Country Music Foundation names 2026 Hall of Fame inductees

The Nebraska Country Music Foundation will honor Bart Allmand, Jeff Bower and the Emmett Bower Band, and TR Anderson and Borderline at its Hall of Fame banquet on Nov. 14 in Kearney. The event also marks a leadership transition as the foundation pushes to preserve Nebraska’s country music past while backing new artists.

Why it matters: - The Nebraska Country Music Foundation is spotlighting three acts with deep Nebraska roots and national reach, reinforcing the state’s role in country music history. - The Nov. 14 banquet in Kearney also serves as a pivot point for the foundation’s next chapter under new leadership. - The organization says its renewed mission includes honoring legacy artists and supporting emerging songwriters, performers and independent recording acts.

What happened: - The Nebraska Country Music Foundation announced its 2026 Hall of Fame inductees: Bart Allmand, Jeff Bower and the Emmett Bower Band, and TR Anderson and Borderline. - The Hall of Fame banquet is set for Nov. 14, 2026, at Legacy On The Bricks in Kearney, Nebraska. - The foundation was established in 1980 and has spent more than four decades preserving Nebraska country music history.

The details: - Bart Allmand, from Holdrege, moved to Nashville in 1987 and built a career in record promotion and artist development with RCA, Monument Records and Big Loud Mountain. - Allmand helped promote artists including the Dixie Chicks, Clint Black, Alabama, Martina McBride and Florida Georgia Line. - Allmand moved into songwriting in 2003, and his first demo, “You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl,” became a Top 5 hit for Brooks & Dunn. - Allmand later earned his first Billboard No. 1 with Steve Holy’s “Brand New Girlfriend.” - Jeff Bower formed the Emmett Bower Band in Lincoln in 2010. - The band blends traditional country, rock and small-town Nebraska storytelling. - The group plays nearly 100 shows a year and has shared stages with Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett, Whiskey Myers and Sammy Kershaw. - The Emmett Bower Band launched its own label, It’s A Party Records, and has released four studio albums. - The band’s songs include “Main Attraction,” “Never Let It Go,” “Chasin’ the Sun” and “Emmett and Darlene.” - TR Anderson and Kevin McKenney founded Borderline in 2000 after starting out in an old wooden shed. - Borderline got an early show at the American Legion in Wood River after an unexpected visitor heard the band play. - The band performs 80 to 130 shows a year across the Midwest. - Borderline has shared stages with Confederate Railroad, The Kentucky Headhunters, Casey Donahew and Gavin Adcock. - The band’s lineup now includes TR Anderson, his wife Cassie, son Braxton, longtime guitarist Andy Martin and Noah Eggleston. - Borderline travels across seven states in a converted semi-truck tour rig. - The foundation installed a new board of directors in April 2026. - The 2026 board includes Luke Mills as president, Heath Smallcomb as vice president, Summer Martinez as treasurer, Jennifer Mills as secretary, Adam Smith, Hunter Arterburn, DJ Bridwell and James Royle.

Between the lines: - The inductees reflect three different lanes of Nebraska country music: Nashville songwriting, independent touring and long-running Midwest honky-tonk performance. - The foundation’s leadership change signals an effort to pair historical recognition with a broader push to cultivate younger talent. - The emphasis on roots, touring and independence suggests Nebraska country music is being framed as a culture built outside the Nashville center of gravity.

What’s next: - The foundation said additional banquet details, venue information and ticket announcements will be released later. - The Nov. 14 banquet will formally honor the three 2026 Hall of Fame inductees. - The foundation plans to continue recognizing established names while supporting the next generation of Nebraska musicians.

The bottom line: - Nebraska Country Music Foundation is using its 2026 Hall of Fame class to honor its past and define a more ambitious future for the state’s country music scene.