The 13th Annual CMAOntario Awards, presented by Cowbell Brewing Co., lit up The Music Hall in Hamilton on Sunday, June 1—and what a night it was for Owen Riegling, who walked away with a whopping five awards!
The evening was also a heartfelt send-off for Jason McCoy, who hosted the show for the final time after 12 memorable years. To honour his incredible contributions to Ontario’s country music scene, the CMAOntario introduced a brand new accolade: The Real McCoy Award, presented by Slaight Music. This award recognizes someone who embodies compassion, integrity, and a deep love for the music—and it’s only fitting that McCoy was the first to receive it.
RELATED: Listen to our conversation with Jason McCoy when he joined us on our podcast …
As part of the tribute, the Slaight Family Foundation is donating $5,000 to a charity of Jason’s choice. The show ended on a high note with a surprise tribute performance by Tim Hicks and Clayton Bellamy, followed by McCoy himself joining them on stage for his hit “I Feel a Sin Comin’ On.”
The night also featured stellar performances by some of Ontario’s brightest country talents, including Andrew Hyatt, Sacha, Nate Haller, Robyn Ottolini, Mackenzie Leigh Meyer, Amanda & James, Alexa Goldie, Mitch Jean, and the always-smooth Western Swing Authority.
The Winners for the 13th Annual CMAOntario Awards are:
The list of nominees and winners are below. The winners are in bold.
SINGLE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Pure Country
Blinding Lights (Country Version): Tebey
Finding Firsts: Andrew Hyatt
Hey Mom I Made It: Sacha
Moonshines: Owen Riegling
Never Have I Ever: Elyse Saunders
Race To The Bottom: Nate Haller
ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR sponsored by Country 106.7
Break Up Rules: Paige Rutledge
Bruce County: Owen Riegling
Golden Child: Meghan Patrick
Growing up to Do: Robyn Ottolini
L Is For: Andrew Hyatt
Pathways: Julian Taylor
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Chrystal Oudijk, Douglas Romanow, Nicole Rayy: Guilty
Elyse Saunders, Jason Blaine: Never Have I Ever
Karli June, Deric Ruttan: Still Make Cowgirls
Owen Riegling, Daryl Scott, Jesse Slack: Moonshines
Tebey, G. Palmer, S. Walker, D. Dupelle: Hangover at My Place
Tim Hicks, Deric Ruttan, Monty Criswell: Quits
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by IBEW Local 353
Dayna Reid
Elyse Saunders
Jessie T
Karli June
Robyn Ottolini
Sacha
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by IBEW Local 353
Andrew Hyatt
Brian John Harwood
Nate Haller
Owen Riegling
Ryan Langdon
Tim Hicks
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR sponsored by CHAW Country 103
Amanda and James
New Moon Junction
River Town Saints
Rosewood Ave
The Redhill Valleys
The Western Swing Authority
RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
Adam Newcomb: Sacha, Elyse Saunders, Riley Taylor
Deric Ruttan: Karli June – Still Make Cowgirls
Douglas Romanow: Nicole Rayy – Guilty
Matthew Koebel: Jessie T, Paige Rutledge, Jessica Sole
Shawn Moore: Spencer Burns, Bradley Hale, Brothers Wilde, Tim Albertson
The Agenda: Angelica Appelman, David Madras, Kasey Nugent, Patrick James Clark, Peter Peres
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Callie McCullough
Emily Clair
Julian Taylor
Mackenzie Leigh Meyer
The Redhill Valleys
The Western Swing Authority
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by C to C Music Insider
Alexa Goldie
Dayna Reid
Olivia Mae Graham
Paige Rutledge
Spencer Burns
Sully Burrows
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR sponsored by Jim Dunlop Productions
Blinding Lights (Country Version): Tebey
Finding Firsts: Andrew Hyatt
Guilty: Nicole Rayy
Moonshines: Owen Riegling
Never Have I Ever: Elyse Saunders
Still Make Cowgirls: Karli June
INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR sponsored by Manrkē
AJ Astle, Roadhouse Productions
Christine Wiley & Christine Stevens, C to C Music Insider
Dave Woods, In the Country
Elliott Deseure & Nick Marinac, Adaptive Media
Samantha Pickard, Strut Entertainment
Sam Davs, Cosmic Alchemy Designs
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR sponsored by Cithara Guitars
Adrian Juras (Karli June and Ryan Langdon)
Jeff Brown (Kelsi Mayne, Washboard Union, Jason Blaine)
Joey DePaiva (Mackenzie Leigh Meyer, Spencer Burns, Nicole Rayy)
Jordan Honsinger (Tebey)
Mackenzie Leigh Meyer (Robyn Ottolini)
Ryan Cassar (Elyse Saunders, Kelsi Mayne, Paige Rutledge)
ARTISTE OU GROUPE FRANCOPHONE DE L’ANNÉE
FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Kristine St-Pierre
Les Rats D’Swompe
Mitch Jean
Reney Ray
Sugar Crush
Vincent Bishop
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET) sponsored by Fielding Estate Winery
Country 104 (CKDK-FM, London)
Country 106.7 (CIKZ-FM, Kitchener)
KX94.7 (CHKX-FM, Hamilton)
KX96 (CJKX-FM, Ajax)
Pure Country 93 (CJBX-FM, London)
Pure Country 94 (CKKL-FM, Ottawa)
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET) sponsored by Lucknow’s Music in the Fields
Cool 100.1 (CHCQ-FM, Belleville)
Country 104.3 (CJQM-FM, Sault Ste. Marie)
Country 105 (CKTG-FM, Thunder Bay)
Country 92.9 (CFCO-FM, Chatham)
HOT COUNTRY 88.5 (CKDX-FM, Newmarket)
Hot Country 93.9 (CFWC-FM, Brantford)
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)
Country 103 (CHAW-FM, Little Current)
Country 89 (CKYY-FM, Welland)
Country 93 (CKYC-FM, Owen Sound)
K Country 93.7 (CKOU-FM, Georgina)
Pure Country 106 (CICX-FM, Orillia)
The Ranch 100.1 (CHLP-FM, Listowel)
FANS’ CHOICE sponsored by Tourism Hamilton
Josh Ross
Owen Riegling
Sacha
Steven Lee Olsen
Tebey
The Reklaws
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.
