Yoakam receives honor

"I haven't gotten a lot of awards, but one thing I did have was great support from country radio," said Yoakam in giving his thanks.

Yoakam recalled his fascination with country radio from a young age. "Radio was and is magic to my ears," he said. "Thank you for being that voice in my ear. And thank you for honoring me tonight."

Yoakam's latest release "Second Hand Heart" came out in April.

The CRB Artist Career Achievement Award is presented to an individual artist or act that, through their creativity, vision, performance or leadership has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of country music and radio, according to a CRB statement.

"Dwight Yoakam's career achievements are too numerous to list here, but perhaps most impressive is that he accomplished every one of them by never wavering; never flinching from his musical vision and belief system," said Country Radio Seminar Hall of Fame Chairman, RJ Curtis. "He re-popularized hillbilly or honky tonk music in a time when the format was arguably in a pop cycle and in the doldrums. His ongoing commitment to deliver a daring, bold sound to country radio makes Dwight Yoakam an easy selection as 2015 Artist Career Achievement Recipient."

Jeff Walker, head of the AristoMedia Group received the President' Award, which is given to a person who has made a "significant contribution to the marketing, production, growth and development" of the Country Radio Seminar.