42nd Annual International Country Music Conference
When
Thursday, 28 May - Saturday, 30 May, 2026
Where
Belmont University, Nashville, TN USA
About the Conference
The International Country Music Conference (ICMC) provides scholars an opportunity to share their work in all aspects of country music. ICMC broadly defines country music to include variants which share common historical and cultural roots ranging from Americana, alt.country, Bluegrass, Cajun, Country Rock, Crossover, and Honky Tonk to the Nashville Sound, New Traditionalist, Old Time Country, and Western Swing. ICMC is truly international with scholars from Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, and the United Kingdom participating. The conference averages around 100 attendees with all presentations in one room, making it a welcoming community for first timers.
Conference Schedule
Awards
Natalie Weiner
Natalie Weiner is the 2025 honoree for the Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism for their work “How Midland’s Drinkin' Problem Became a Texas Standard in English and Spanish.”
Cold War Country by Joseph M. Thompson
The 2025 The Belmont University Curb Music Industry Award for Country Music Book of the Year honoree is: Cold War Country: How Nashville's Music Row and the Pentagon Created the Sound of American Patriotism
The Belmont University Curb Music Industry Award for Country Music Book of the Year honors one book published per calendar year. For books published in 2025, please email internationalcountrymusicconf@gmail.com to get your book in the running for the 2026 award.
The International Country Music Conference requests nominations for the 10th annual Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism. The Chet Flippo Award will be presented Friday, 29 May 2026 during the International Country Music Conference. The honoree will receive $1,000 funded by Dean Beverly Keel of Middle Tennessee State University.
Open to nominations from throughout the world, the Chet Flippo Award will honor a piece of writing on Country Music published during 2025 in a newspaper, magazine, website, or other appropriate channel distinct from academic books, reference works, and academic journals. Nominations will be evaluated by the committee based on the work’s significance of content, clarity of writing, and impact.
Nominations must be received by 30 March 2026 and include the nominee’s name, email contact information, and a link to the work for which the nomination is made. Writers of any employment status may be nominated. Self- nominations are welcome.
Please send nominations to James E. Akenson at jakenson@tntech.edu.