Latest news with #TopoftheCountry
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Sully Burrows, Noeline Hofmann and Jake Vaadeland rock Canadian country music scene
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sully Burrows, Noeline Hofmann and Jake Vaadeland are one step closer to becoming the next big name on Canada's country music scene after a nationwide vote in SiriusXM's Top of the Country contest. Article content The singing competition saw the trio beat out hundreds of hopefuls in a bid to land the $25,000 grand prize and the title of Top of the Country champion. The winner will be crowned at next month's Canadian Country Music Awards in Kelowna, B.C. The two runners-up will each take home $10,000. Article content Article content All three couldn't be more different musically — Burrows graduated high school in Parry Sound, Ont., last June before landing his first hit song Youth last October; Hofmann was a rancher in Alberta who caught the ear of country superstar Zach Bryan; and Juno-winning Vaadeland puts his own unique spin on country and bluegrass — but the trio are all united in wanting to have their voices heard. Article content Article content Since she was a little girl, Hofmann, 22, always dreamed of playing music for a living. 'But I grew up in a town of 1,500 people … I never saw an example of how pursuing a career in music could be possible,' she told Postmedia in an interview at Nashville's CMA Fest earlier this summer. 'Still, I always felt in my heart that was something I wanted to do.' Article content After recording her plaintive track Purple Gas, the Bow Island, Alta. native saw her career take off when Bryan asked if she would sing it with him on his 2024 album The Great American Bar Scene. Article content Article content The song's title is a reference to a type of fuel farmers and ranchers use in Alberta. Article content Article content 'I never could have imagined that it would end up on his album,' the Country Music Alberta Award winner says. 'It's hard to measure the impact Zach has had on my journey … he's such an advocate for artists and writers and I'm so grateful to him for giving me a chance to take the ball and run with it.' Article content She's spent most of the summer on the road, with a show booked alongside Bryan, Kings Of Leon and Turnpike Troubadours at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park set for Aug. 15 and opening dates on The Crooner & The Cowboy Tour with Leon Bridges and Charley Crockett. Article content Hofmann is also up for two CCMAs — Breakthrough Artist and Alternative Country Album of the Year.
Associated Press
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Canada, meet your 2025 SiriusXM Top of the Country finalists!
With voting now closed, the finalists gear up for a summer-long journey to claim the title of Top of the Country champion TORONTO, April 14, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, SiriusXM Canada and the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) are thrilled to announce the three finalists for the 2025 SiriusXM Top of the Country competition. Following a nationwide vote—open to Canadian music fans and industry experts—three standout country artists are moving forward to the final stage. The top three have earned exclusive mentorship opportunities and will perform at major live events across the country, culminating at Country Music Week 2025 in September. Here, our finalists will perform live on stage, and one will be crowned this year's SiriusXM Top of the Country champion, awarded a grand prize of $25,000, with the two runners-up taking home $10,000 each. The 2025 SiriusXM Top of the Country finalists are: 'This year's voting period was a fantastic show of support for Canadian country music, and the caliber of talent only amplified this sense of national pride, driving more fans to vote,' says Michelle Mearns, SVP of Programming & Operations, SiriusXM Canada. 'This competition is a true testament to our shared commitment to homegrown music from coast to coast. We're excited to see fans continue cheering on these artists as they race toward the finale!' The finalists will continue their journey with a trip to the capital of country music—Nashville—for CMA Fest this June, where they'll connect with top industry experts and prepare for their upcoming live performances. In August, they'll take the stage at Montréal's LASSO country music festival—a key moment on the road to crowning the 2025 SiriusXM Top of the Country champion in Kelowna, BC during Country Music Week 2025 this September. Broadcast live on SiriusXM's Top of the Country Radio (Ch. 171), the finale will feature unforgettable performances from all three finalists — but only one will take home the crown! 'We're incredibly excited to see this year's competition unfold,' says Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. 'The country music scene in Canada and around the world continues to expand every year, and it's an incredible honour to elevate and celebrate the passionate artists and fans across the country who make SiriusXM's Top of the Country possible.' SiriusXM's Top of the Country in partnership with the CCMA is part of SiriusXM's ongoing tradition of promoting and elevating the best emerging Canadian music. SiriusXM continues to offer a leading platform for Canadian artists through its significant financial contributions and North American-wide reach. About SiriusXM Canada Sirius XM Canada Inc., operating as SiriusXM Canada, is the country's leading audio entertainment company. SiriusXM creates and offers ad-free music; premier sports talk and live events; comedy; news; podcasts; and exclusive talk and entertainment. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company, as well as on smartphones and all connected devices on the SiriusXM app. For more information, visit Join SiriusXM Canada on Facebook at on X at @siriusxmcanada, on Instagram at @siriusxmcanada and on YouTube at SiriusXM radios and accessories are available from retailers nationwide and online at SiriusXM. In addition, SiriusXM Music for Business provides ad-free music to a variety of businesses. SiriusXM is also a leading provider of connected vehicles services, giving customers access to a suite of safety, security, and convenience services including automatic crash notification, stolen vehicle recovery assistance, enhanced roadside assistance and turn-by-turn navigation. SiriusXM Canada has been designated one of Canada's Best Managed Companies 15 years in a row and is currently a Platinum Club Member. About The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) Established in 1976, the CCMA® is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate, and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community, and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. SOURCE Sirius XM Canada Inc.
