SiriusXM Canada in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), announced that Hailey Benedict has been named the 2023 winner of SiriusXM’s Top of the Country competition.
The finalists this year were: Hailey Benedict, Teigen Gayse and Noah Derksen.
After a fierce competition at the Music Hall in Hamilton during Country Music Week at the CCMAs, the winner was ultimately decided. After watching the performances from all the artists, it was a near impossible decision to make.
While watching the performances, it was clear that each of these artists deserved to be on that stage and deserved to win that prize.
We Had A Chat With Hailey About The Whole Experience Before Her Big Win
When Hailey’s name was announced, the crowd erupted.
She came on stage visibly in shock with tears rolling down her face … she just won $25,000 and the title of the SiriusXM Top of the Country champion.
The night was capped off with a full show from The Reklaws
We Also Spoke With Teigen Gayse and Noah Derksen About The Top Of The Country Competition
Meet The 8 Original Top Of The Country Semi-Finalists
The 2023 semi-finalists for the SiriusXM Top of the Country are:
- Hailey Benedict (St. Albert, Alberta)
- Noah Derksen (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Teigen Gayse (Kelowna, B.C.)
- Amanda Jordan (Smith Falls, Ontario)
- Mark Ledlin (Vancouver, B.C.)
- The Prairie States (Edmonton, Alberta)
- Dayna Reid (Elmvale, Ontario)
- Lydia Sutherland (Montréal, Québec)
“As a champion of Canadian artists, the Top of the Country competition is a highlight for us at SiriusXM Canada, as it helps spotlight new talent and provides unparalleled support and development opportunities,” said Michelle Mearns, VP, Programming & Operations, SiriusXM Canada. “Now in our fifth year, we’ve seen how the program helps to propel careers and it’s exciting to watch previous winners like SACHA and Tyler Joe Miller achieve such success.”
We Talked To SACHA About Her Experience In This Competition Last Year
The finalists will head to Nashville for industry mentorship opportunities and a performance spot at the 2023 CMA Fest. They’ll close out the summer with a festival performance at Lasso Montréal in August, followed by the Top of the Country Finale at Country Music Week in September where the winner will be crowned.
What’s Up For Grabs?
In addition to the $25,000 grand prize, SiriusXM is awarding both runners-up $10,000 and all will receive a SOCAN songwriting camp experience in Nashville following the competition. The Finale will air live on SiriusXM’s new Top of the Country Radio (ch. 171).
“The Canadian Country Music Association is proud to continue cultivating the immense talent the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition brings forward each year,” shares Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “This program is one of the many ways that the CCMA champions and elevates Canadian artists and we’re thrilled to see this new batch of semi-finalists shine and embrace this exciting opportunity.”
As the Canadian country music industry continues to grow, the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition provides an opportunity for new talent to shine and build their careers. The competition supports the development and recognition of Canadian talent, further solidifying the country’s place in the global music industry.
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.
