The 2018 CCMA Awards are this weekend in Hamilton, Ontario. This is the biggest night in Canadian country music. It’s a chance to recognize and celebrate all the great talented artists in this country. This year’s awards will be featuring a ton of Canadian women, and it’s about time!
The music industry, along with many industries, is traditionally dominated by men. In the last year, however, there has been a bit of a change to that. This year’s CCMA awards seem to mirror that. Women are totally dominating the award show. Canadian country icon – excuse me – global country music icon Shania Twain is hosting the show on Sunday September 9. The female host is just the tip of the iceberg here.
The show will be opened with a tribute to the host by Canadian country artists Jess Moskaluke, Kira Isabella, and Madeline Merlo. Guaranteed, “Man I Feel Like a Woman” will be one of the songs they sing. These three artists were selected by no mistake. They have each made incredible strides in the music industry, making them the only ones worthy to do this.
In 2017, Jess Moskaluke became the first Canadian female country artist to have a song in the Top 5 since 2008. She was also the second Canadian female country artist (just behind Shania) to have a single certified PLATINUM – with “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes”.
Kira Isabella has also had a record-breaking career. Her latest single “Little Girl” became the #1 Most Added Song to country radio. Her debut album Caffeine & Big Dreams debuted at number 1 on the charts in Canada. She’s also supported some of the biggest names in country music on tour including: Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, and Terri Clark.
Madeline Merlo has taken the Canadian industry by storm in the last few years. Her latest single “Neon Love” became her fifth Top 15th single. Since taking home the Rising Star Award in 2015, Merlo has opened for Dean Brody on his Beautiful Freakshow Tour, and taken to the main stage at Canada’s biggest music festivals such as Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Sound of Music Festival, Country Thunder, and Boots and Hearts. With over six million streams on Spotify, Merlo is sure to deliver an incredible performance alongside Moskaluke and Isabella in their tribute to Twain.
The female domination of the awards don’t end with the opening. Other performers include: Jessica Mitchell, Serena Ryder, The Reklaws, Meghan Patrick, Lindsay Ell, and others. It’s going to be so great to see all these talented women share the same stage. There’s also TONS of women nominated for awards – including 3 of the 5 nominees for the Ford Album of the Year category.
Be sure to tune in to CBC Sunday September 9th, 2018 to watch the biggest night in country music unfold. Check your local listings to see what time they go live in your area.
Nominees for the 2018 CCMA Awards
APPLE MUSIC FANS’ CHOICE AWARD
Gord Bamford
Dean Brody
Chad Brownlee
Tim Hicks
High Valley
James Barker Band
Brett Kissel
Jess Moskaluke
Dallas Smith
Shania Twain
FORD ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Country Music Made Me Do It – Meghan Patrick
Past The Past – Jess Moskaluke
The Project – Lindsay Ell
We Were That Song – Brett Kissel
What We’re Made Of – The Washboard Union
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Ell
Madeline Merlo
Jess Moskaluke
Meghan Patrick
Shania Twain
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford
Chad Brownlee
Brett Kissel
Dallas Smith
Bobby Wills
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
High Valley
Hunter Brothers
James Barker Band
The Reklaws
The Washboard Union
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Lovelocks
Jessica Mitchell
Lindi Ortega
The Washboard Union
Donovan Woods
SIRIUSXM RISING STAR
Dan Davidson
Aaron Goodvin
Hunter Brothers
Leaving Thomas
The Reklaws
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Chills – James Barker Band
Country Music Made Me Do It – Meghan Patrick
Drive Me Away – Jess Moskaluke
Lonely Drum – Aaron Goodvin
Side Effects – Dallas Smith
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
The Bad Guy – Meghan Patrick
Drive Me Away – Jess Moskaluke
Hometown Kids – The Reklaws
Sky Stays This Blue – Dallas Smith
We Were That Song – Brett Kissel
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Dean Brody, Matt Rovey
Song: 8th Day (Performed By: Dean Brody)
Dan Isbell, Meghan Patrick, Jeremy Stover
Song: Country Music Made Me Do It (Performed By: Meghan Patrick)
Zach Abend, Corey Crowder, Jess Moskaluke
Song: Drive Me Away (Performed By: Jess Moskaluke)
James Barker, Gavin Slate, Travis Wood
Song: It’s Working (Performed By: James Barker Band)
Skip Black, Aaron Goodvin, Catt Gravitt
Song: Lonely Drum (Performed By: Aaron Goodvin)
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Tenille Arts
Hunter Brothers
Brett Kissel
Leaving Thomas
Nice Horse
In country music, the Front Porch has long been a place of reflection. A place where you can look at the life you have inside that front door. A place where time almost seems to stand still, where you can get away. It’s also a place where you can go to observe the world as it passes by you. To think about your place out there beyond the driveway.
