Country Radio Seminar has tapped Ella Langley and Jo Dee Messina as the featured artists for “The Conversation,” a keynote session scheduled for Thursday, March 19 at 2:30 PM.
Now in its third year, “The Conversation” pairs artists from different career stages for an unscripted dialogue. Previous installments featured Trisha Yearwood with Lainey Wilson and Eric Church with Jelly Roll. It’s become a signature element of the CRS schedule.
Ella Langley‘s rise has been marked by four CMA Awards and five ACM Awards. She’s also the first female artist in history to simultaneously top the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts.
Messina brings a catalog that includes nine number-one hits and 16 Top 40 songs. Her work has drawn nominations and recognition from the ACM, CMA, AMA, Billboard, and the Grammys. Artists from Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley to Cole Swindell, Sierra Ferrell, and Nikki Lane have all pointed to her influence on their careers.
The format puts Langley and Messina in a direct exchange, with each artist posing questions to the other. Attendees won’t hear a moderated interview — they’ll get a fly-on-the-wall look at two artists in conversation.
CRS 2026 runs March 18–20 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. On-site registration is available at $799. Day passes are $349, a student rate is $199, and a limited number of New Faces of Country Music tickets remain at $110.
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