The Canadian country music community is mourning the loss of Larry Delaney, the man widely known as “the voice of country music in Canada.”
Delaney spent decades as one of the most tireless advocates the Canadian country music industry has ever had. As the founder, editor, and publisher of Country Music News, he built a publication that became essential reading for artists, industry professionals, and fans from coast to coast and beyond.
He launched Country Music News in 1980, running it monthly out of the Ottawa home he shared with his wife, Joanne. What started as a passion project grew into something much bigger: a trusted platform that helped shape the identity and trajectory of Canadian country music for generations.
The accolades followed naturally. In 1996, Delaney was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and that same year became the first-ever recipient of the CCMA Stan Klees Hall of Honour Builder Award. He was also named the CCMA’s Country Music Person of the Year eleven times, a record that speaks for itself.
But the awards were never really the point. What set Larry Delaney apart was his genuine love for Canadian talent and his commitment to making sure those artists had a platform, a voice, and someone in their corner. Countless careers were shaped, in part, by his encouragement and his willingness to shine a light on people who deserved it.
The Canadian Country Music Association has extended its condolences to Joanne, his family, and the broader community he spent a lifetime serving.
Larry Delaney’s legacy is woven into the fabric of Canadian country music. That does not change.
Logan Miller
As the founder of Front Porch Music, I believe that music has the ability to connect people. I love country music, and I love the country music industry as a whole. My goal is to help music fans find new artists to fall in love with.
