Latest news with #CanadianCountryMusicAwards
Global News
10 hours ago
- Business
- Global News
City of Kelowna reaping the economic benefits brought on by the Brier Cup
Kelowna, B.C., is quickly gaining recognition for more than just its scenic landscapes and wineries. Following the success of the 2025 Montana's Brier, the city is proving it has the capacity and appeal to host major national events — and reap the economic rewards that come with them. Earlier this year, the Canadian men's curling championship brought over 89,000 spectators to Kelowna. The event delivered a direct economic impact of $15.2 million and a total impact of $22.7 million, far exceeding expectations. 'On that particular event, we were at the high end of our expectations — and actually a couple hundred thousand dollars beyond that,' said Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy For city leaders and tourism officials, the success of the Brier is about more than just impressive numbers. 'The numbers from the Brier really solidified that Kelowna can host these major events successfully,' said Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna. 'But it's not just about the numbers — it's about the legacy it leaves behind.' Story continues below advertisement That legacy continues to grow, with two more national events on the horizon. The Canadian Country Music Awards are set to take place in September, followed by the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026. Kelowna is aiming to match or surpass the economic performance seen in other host cities. 'When the CCMAs were in Hamilton, the economic impact was $11 million and over 2,000 hotel room nights,' said Ballantyne. 'With Kelowna's destination appeal, we believe we'll match or even exceed that.' The city is also thinking long-term. A new Economic Prosperity Task Force has been launched to build on this momentum and explore other opportunities beyond events. 'It's not just from an event standpoint,' said Dyas. 'The task force is looking at what else we can bring to Kelowna — whether it's industry, manufacturing, or anything that creates lasting economic impact.' As Kelowna continues to attract attention, city leaders are working to ensure it's ready for what's ahead. 'We're considered a small city, and things like infrastructure, venues, and even how many volunteers we can mobilize become important factors in deciding what events we can host in the future,' said Ballantyne.
Calgary Herald
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Former Albertan country star to lead Stampede Grandstand show
Carolyn Dawn Johnson is returning to her Alberta roots as the headliner at this summer's Stampede Grandstand Show. Born in Grande Prairie, Johnson has won 17 Canadian Country Music Awards and toured with stars like Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney. She moved to Nashville in the early 1990s. Article content 'Returning home to perform on the iconic Grandstand Stage is a dream come true,' says headliner Johnson, known for hits like Georgia, Die of a Broken Heart and Complicated. 'The Calgary Stampede is such a special part of my roots, and I can't wait to share this experience with everyone.' Article content Article content The Stampede announced other acts and stunts for its Grandstand show July 4-13, such as: Keith Sayers Freestyle Motocross; Illya Strakhov's bottle balance act, as seen on America's Got Talent, Vladyslav Tsarov – The Man of Steel soaring high above the stage; and a pyrotechnic spectacle by LEGIÓN, The Gauchos of Fire, straight from their Golden Buzzer-winning performance on America's Got Talent. Capping it off is the return of the perennial local favourite, The Young Canadians and nightly fireworks. Article content 'The Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show is a one-of-a-kind experience, blending world-class entertainment with the energy and spirit of Stampede,' says Angela Benson, the creative director and choreographer. 'This year's show features a spectacular mix of performances that you'll never see together again… This show is authentically for Calgary. Forever.' Article content Tickets for the evening show, which include the Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races, the fan-favourite Relay Races, and the 2025 Grandstand Show are available now. Admission to Stampede Park is included with every evening show ticket. For tickets and more information, visit Article content Article content
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Alberta's Carolyn Dawn Johnson to perform at Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show
Carolyn Dawn Johnson will be performing at this year's Grandstand Show at the Calgary Stampede. The Grande Prairie-born artist has won 17 Canadian Country Music Awards. (Supplied)
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tate McRae, Josh Ross lead nominees for country-loving 2025 Junos
Alberta pop sensation Tate McRae and Nashville up-and-comer Josh Ross lead the list of nominees with five apiece for the 2025 Junos, which were released on Tuesday and highlight the rise of both country and Punjabi music in the Canadian mainstream. McRae isn't exactly a newcomer to the Junos field, though she has seen stratospheric success in a relatively short span of time. Since her first nomination in 2021, she's never been left off the board — though she only managed to take home her first statues in 2024. This year, she's vying in many of the top awards to be given out in Vancouver on March 30. Her 2023 album Think Later and its single Exes put her in the running for fan choice, single, artist, album and pop album of the year. She is competing in the album category against a linguistically diverse group of candidates. Roxane Bruneau's Submergé is a French-language release and Sukha's Undisputed is Punjabi, while Elisapie, who won 2024's trophy for contemporary Indigenous artist or group of the year, is nominated for Inuktitut, her album in that same language. McRae's explosive rise is perhaps slightly eclipsed by fellow album of the year nominee Josh Ross. After his first nomination last year — for fan choice — the country star's single (Single Again) and album (Complicated) have him up for all the same categories as McRae, only swapping the "pop" album category for country. Josh Ross wins single of the year during the Canadian Country Music Awards in Edmonton on Sept. 14, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press) It comes after his surprise win at the Country Music Association awards in the U.S., and big wins at the Canadian Country Music Awards in late 2024. It also presages a seeming invasion of country music throughout the Junos' setlist: four out of the 10 fan choice nominees are country or country-adjacent, while a fifth (Shawn Mendes) was honoured this year largely on the strength of his country-influenced single Why Why Why. Mendes is up for three additional awards: single, artist and pop album of the year (Shawn). That ties him for the second-most nominations with The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye), who is up for fan choice, artist, songwriter and single of the year (Timeless feat. Playboi Carti). Tesfaye previously announced that his most recent album (Hurry Up Tomorrow, which was released in January) would be his last under the Weeknd moniker. He will be eligible for more nominations for Hurry Up Tomorrow next year. If he were to win all four of the categories he is nominated in this year, he would become the Junos' most awarded artist of all time. He currently boasts 22 wins, just behind Anne Murray's 25. The Weeknd performs onstage during the Grammy Awards, on Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. () Nominees in key categories: Tiktok Juno fan choice: Bbno$, Dean Brody, Jade Eagleson, Josh Ross, Karan Aujla, Les Cowboys Fringants, Preston Pablo, Shawn Mendes, Tate McRae, The Weeknd. Artist of the year: Josh Ross, Kaytranada, Shawn Mendes, Tate McRae, The Weeknd. Album: Inuktitut, Elisapie; Complicated, Josh Ross; Submergé, Roxane Bruneau; Undisputed, Sukha; Think Later; Tate McRae. Single: Single Again, Josh Ross; Winning Speech, Karan Aujla; Why Why Why, Shawn Mendes; Exes, Tate McRae; Timeless, The Weeknd (feat. Playboi Carti). Group: Crash Adams, Mother Mother, Spiritbox, Sum 41, the Beaches. His nomination count matches another huge artist making a showing at this year's Junos. Beyoncé's album Cowboy Carter shows up four times in the Junos shortlist — though with none of the nominations geared toward the singer herself. Instead, four Canadians are up for the work they contributed to Beyoncé's Grammy-winning country album. Calgary-born Lowell and Ontario's Nathan Ferraro are in the running for songwriter of the year (non-performer) for some of the album's biggest tracks. Meanwhile, Jack Rochon and Shawn Everett are in the running for Jack Richardson producer of the year for the Cowboy Carter songs II Hands II Heaven, Protector and Jolene; and II Most Wanted, respectively. WATCH | Cowboy Carter and country's renaissance for Black artists: Lowell and Ferraro's "non-performing" songwriter category is a new one, and among a raft of shifted categories for 2025's show. Also new this year is "South Asian music recording of the year," which is meant to highlight homegrown talent inspired by that region's genres, including Punjabi and Bollywood music. Among its nominees are AP Dhillon (The Brownprint), Jonita Gandhi (Love Like That) and Karan Aujla, who last year became the first Punjabi artist to win fan choice. Aujla is nominated in the South Asian music category for Tauba Tauba, and is also nominated for fan choice and single of the year (Winning Speech). Dhillon is also up for songwriter and breakthrough artist or group of the year — a category that was merged for this year. Artists Sukha and AR Paisley help round out the Punjabi artists nominated in that category. Also nominated for breakthrough is Palestinian Canadian artist Nemahsis, who told CBC's Q that she was dropped by her label in 2023 for posting pro-Palestinian content on her social media accounts. She is nominated as an independent artist. Breakthrough artist or group of the year: Alexander Stewart, AP Dhillon, AR Paisley, Chris Grey, Ekkstacy, Nemahsis, Owen Riegling, Sukha, Tony Ann, Zeina. Songwriter: Abel Tesfaye, AP Dhillon, Jessie Reyez, Mustafa, Nemah Hasan. Songwriter (non-performer): Evan Blair, Lowell, Nathan Ferraro, Shaun Frank, Tobias Jesso Jr. Rap album: 96 Miles from Bethlehem, Belly; Luke's View, Classified; The Flower That Knew, DijahSB; See You When I See You, Dom Vallie; Red Future, Snotty Nose Rez Kids. Pop album: Bleeding Heart, Alexander Stewart; If This Is It..., Jamie Fine; Anywhere But Here, Preston Pablo; Shawn, Shawn Mendes; Think Later, Tate McRae Country album: The Compass Project — West Album, Brett Kissel; Dallas Smith, Dallas Smith; Complicated, Josh Ross; Nobody's Born With a Broken Heart, MacKenzie Porter; Going Home, Tyler Joe Miller. Unchanged this year are the reggae recording, and children's and Christian/gospel album categories. While Junos organizers initially announced those categories would be put on "hiatus," a backlash prompted them to reinstate all three — while maintaining their decision to exclude the international album category. That decision was made far ahead of the current Canada-U.S. trade war. Still, organization CEO Allan Reid told CBC News that sole omission speaks to the Junos' mandate to elevate and promote homegrown music to Canadian audiences. "It's sad to see the situation that's happening right now ... but I'm also super excited about the patriotism that's actually being created because of it," he said. "It's an exciting time for Canadian music right now." The children's album nominees also feature what is quickly becoming the Juno's most youthful mainstay. Romeo Eats (real name Romeo Aniello) now boasts his third Juno nomination, since becoming the youngest-ever nominee at four years old in 2022 and the youngest-ever winner the following year. When it comes to exclusions, eagle-eyed fans may notice the absence of certified lover boy and Super Bowl talking point Drake. Despite releasing multiple tracks in his infamous feud with rapper Kendrick Lamar, Drake is once again absent from Junos lists — an unsurprising omission, since the God's Plan artist stopped submitting his music for consideration in 2018. Also absent from this year's lists are Arkells for group of the year. As the most awarded group ever in that category, with six wins, it's a notable exclusion. Since 2010, they have only been left off the short list four times. Rockers Sum 41 are up for the award, however, and are also scheduled to give their final performance as a band at the Vancouver show. B.C.'s Michael Bublé is hosting the ceremonies for the third time, and will share the stage with fellow hometown nominees Peach Pit, Ekkstacy, Tobias Jesso Jr., Mother Mother, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and more. Boi-1da is set to receive the International Achievement Award and Sarah Harmer the 2025 Humanitarian Award. The show will broadcast March 30 at 8 pm ET/5pm PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen and globally at and CBC Music's YouTube page.
