First round of performers unveiled for the 2024 CCMA Awards presented by TD

Country Music Week 2024 kicks off in Edmonton on Wednesday, September 11, offering fans the unique opportunity to celebrate the magic of country music and the genre’s brightest homegrown stars, all culminating with the 2024 CCMA Awards presented by TD on September 14. Country Music Week 2024 is possible with the support of the Government of Alberta, the City of Edmonton, Explore Edmonton, and the 2024 Host Committee. With CTV as the exclusive broadcast partner for the 42nd annual CCMA Awards presented by TD, Bell Media will deliver extensive multi-platform coverage and content across broadcast, radio, digital, and social media properties, including iHeartRadio Canada’s PURE COUNTRY.

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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 presented by TD. Sponsors of Country Music Week 2024 and the 2024 CCMA Awards presented by TD include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters, and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”.

The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group (“TD” or the “Bank”). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by assets and serves over 27.5 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in The Charles Schwab Corporation; Wealth Management and Insurance, including TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities and TD Cowen. TD also ranks among the world’s leading online financial services firms, with more than 17 million active online and mobile customers. TD had $1.97 trillion in assets on April 30, 2024. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol “TD” on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

CTV is Canada’s #1 television brand. CTV provides unparalleled entertainment programming across two broadcast television networks; a powerful suite of specialty channels including CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, and CTV Sci-Fi Channel; and digital channels CTV Throwback and CTV Movies, streaming on demand from CTV.ca and the CTV app. CTV has been Canada’s most-watched conventional television network for the past 23 years in a row and features a wide range of sports and information programming, including CTV News, Canada’s highest-rated national and local newscasts. CTV’s parent company is Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and out-of-home advertising.

We’re young, ambitious, and building something extraordinary. Located on Treaty 6 Territory and with a population of just over one million, Edmonton is one of Canada’s youngest and fastest growing cities. As Alberta’s capital city, we proudly value our vibrant medley of cultures, languages, and religious backgrounds. Edmonton is a gathering place for the arts, and a thriving hub of live entertainment, visual art, and music. Our hundreds of festivals and events both big and small celebrate the incredible talent and passion for arts and music. We support and encourage the new and fresh, while also cherishing what our past has given us.   We’re building a resilient and diverse economy, attracting the best and the brightest and striving to be a world leader in environmental sustainability. We value quality of life, community safety and a welcoming spirit that embraces new people and new ideas.

Explore Edmonton Corporation (EEC) is the Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMMO) for Edmonton. EEC tells our city’s story, elevates the Edmonton experience, and generates inbound visitation. EEC manages the Edmonton Convention Centre and the Edmonton EXPO Centre. While EEC’s mandate is focused on attracting visitors from beyond our city’s limits, what we do and how we do it also enhances and amplifies the quality of life for Edmontonians.

Introspective and alluring are just a few of the prolific ways artist and songwriter Dasha has been described. Armed with a passion for telling her true story, Dasha has just released her debut country album, What Happens Now? The focus track, “Austin” has created a phenomenon online with millions of people engaging with the accompanying line dance. The New York Times has even named ‘Austin’ “one of the signature country songs of the year.” Dasha’s delicate delivery paired with her audacious and unapologetic artistry allows the rising star to “win the hearts of listeners everywhere” (Country Swag), a feat proven by amassing over 200 million streams to date.

Marking her biggest year yet, the San Luis Obispo native recently made her late-night debut on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! performing her massive breakout hit, “Austin” and the following week, performed at the CMT Music Awards in Texas. The track has been added into rotation on several Sirius XM stations as well as being Top 50 on the Spotify Global Charts, currently climbing Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, peaking at #28. The incredible support has allowed her to reach fans across the country and the world.

As just 29 years old, Jade Eagleson has made quite the mark on the international country music scene. Boasting 305M+ global streams and 120M+ views on YouTube since the debut of his self-titled album (2020), which holds 4 GOLD and 2 PLATINUM-certified singles as well as the title of Most Globally Streamed Debut Album by an internationally signed country artist. Jade has also landed five #1s at Canadian Country Radio, three GOLD and one PLATINUM-certified track on his sophomore album and another two GOLD-certified tracks on his third album Do It Anyway. His debut single “Got Your Name On It” (2018) is the first debut single by a Canadian artist to go PLATINUM. Jade kicked off 2024 with his third JUNO nomination for Country Album of the Year and most recently was named the 2023 CCMA Awards Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.

Known for his charismatic personality, dynamic stage presence, and unique music style, Brett Kissel has soared to the top of the Canadian country music charts as one of Canada’s most celebrated and beloved entertainers. With 22x CCMA awards, 3x JUNO awards, 2x Gold-certified albums, a Platinum record, ten Gold singles, and an impressive track record of 17x Top-10 radio hits, including 4x #1 singles, his talent and popularity are undeniable. Kissel has toured with Brad Paisley and Garth Brooks and collaborated with Grammy winners Charley Pride, Dave Mustaine, Nelly, and 98°, and most recently, TikTok sensation Cooper Alan. Following a year-long, four album roll out of The Compass Project that was accompanied by an extensive cross-Canada tour, Brett Kissel steps into a new chapter of music with ‘Let Your Horses Run’, a brand new single that reflects on resilience, perseverance, and courage.

Rising to international acclaim with a distinct country-pop shimmer, Canada-born, Nashville-based rising star MacKenzie Porter’s sound knows no borders. Making a statement with her just-released, 19-track Big Loud Records debut, Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart, Porter shines across the project; EUPHORIA. Magazine praises as having “a song on it for everyone.” The 2022 MusicRow Discovery Artist of the Year has earned global buzz for her “clear sound that instantly cuts deep” (CMT), earning nominations at the American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, CMT Awards, JUNO Awards, and has earned a whopping 22 CCMA Awards nominations, including a nod for Entertainer of the Year. This fall, she’ll co-host the CCMAs in Edmonton, Alberta, alongside Thomas Rhett.

The sparkling talent has made high-profile global appearances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CBC q, The Morning Show, and many more. Porter broke out in 2022 with chart-dominating, six-week U.S. No. 1 “Thinking ‘Bout You” with duet partner Dustin Lynch, building on international success as the first female this century to have six No. 1 songs at Canadian country radio and adding to over 920 million global on-demand streams. The quadruple threat (singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist / actor) stars across both stage and screen, part of the cast of Netflix’s cult-followed sci-fi television series Travelers and a series regular in AMC’s Hell On Wheels, acting when she’s not impressing with her “mesmerizing vocals and hook-driven songs” (Billboard). Touring the globe opening for Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Walker Hayes, Jordan Davis, Brad Paisley, Dallas Smith, Rascal Flatts, and more, MacKenzie wrapped her own Canadian headline tour earlier this year, and will open for Parker McCollum, Keith Urban, and Brett Young this summer.

The Reklaws are made up of siblings Jenna and Stuart Walker. With a landmark 2023 the pair landed three JUNO, hosted the 2023 CCMA Awards, winning Top Selling Canadian Album for their 2022 release Good Ol’ Days and landed their fourth #1 with “Honky Talkin’ About” feat. Drake Milligan. Overall, The Reklaws hold 8 JUNO nominations, 8 CCMA Awards, 4 #1s at Canadian Radio, 2 DOUBLE PLATINUM, 8 PLATINUM and 13 GOLD singles and a GOLD-certified debut album (Freshman Year), in addition to having their debut single “Long Live the Night” as CFL Thursday Night Football’s theme song (2018/19) and their viral hit “What the Truck” feat. SACHA as the fastest-Canadian country song to go PLATINUM in the streaming era. The pair hold 300M+ Global Streams and the most domestically streamed debut album in Canadian country history.

One of the most engaging and consistent country chart-toppers of the last 10 years, Thomas Rhett has emerged as a superstar with as much songwriting prowess as stadium-rocking charisma. The hitmaker just dropped a danceable dose of cutting-edge Country with his new single “Beautiful As You,” the lead track off his upcoming seventh studio album ABOUT A WOMAN set for release August 23. His six previous studio albums, defined by equal parts energy and emotion, have helped drive more than 16 billion global streams and armfuls of awards – eight ACM Awards including 2020 Entertainer of the Year, two CMA Awards, five GRAMMY® Awards nominations, plus trophies from the CMT Music Awards, Billboard Awards and iHeartRadio Awards, in addition to being recognized with five CMA Triple Play awards for penning three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period. With a well-established reputation for soul feeding love songs that speak to the masses, Thomas Rhett’s No. 1 streak extends all the way back to 2013 – a near perfect run broken only by a song which was eventually certified PLATINUM and is now a mainstay of his euphoric live shows (“Vacation”). It’s Thomas Rhett’s live show where he connects first-hand with fans in arenas, amphitheaters and stadiums all around the world, and now has a summer full of major music festivals and more on tap. He has also launched a tequila brand, Dos Primos, now offering Blanco, Reposado and Añejo variants. For more information, visit ThomasRhett.com.

Big Loud artist Dallas Smith has a track record of noteworthy success – from front man of platinum-selling rock band Default to 3x consecutive CCMA Entertainer of the Year and 2x JUNO Award winner, and now his U.S. debut. Across his storied career, the bona fide hitmaker has amassed 13 No. 1 singles, 21 Gold-certified singles, nine Platinum-certified singles, and four Gold-certified albums, with more than 520 million global streams and over two million album equivalents to date. A road-tested entertainer, Smith will embark on a festival stint this year performing his impressive catalog for legions of fans including a headlining performance at Country Thunder Alberta, as well as billing at Country Thunder Arizona, and more. Smith’s first full-length project with Big Loud Records, his self-titled, fifth studio album produced by longtime collaborator Joey Moi, is out now.

Charlotte Thompson | Charlotte@RedUmbrellaPR.com

Paquin Partnerships | Sponsorships@ccma.org

Dominique Bomberry | Dominique.Bomberry@td.com

Natalie Cole | Natalie.Cole@bellmedia.ca

Quinn Phillips | qphillips@exploreedmonton.com

Dave Stelling | dave.stelling@warnermusic.com

Richelle Umali | richelle@penelopepr.com

Jess Seguire | jess@alleycatpr.com

Canada | Tiffany Astle | Tiffany@penelopepr.com

U.S. | Jess Anderson | jess@bigloud.com

Canada | Charlotte Thompson | Charlotte@RedUmbrellaPR.com

U.S. | Tyne Parrish | Tynep@thegreenroompr.com

Canada | Charlotte Thompson | charlotte@redumbrellapr.com
U.S. | Jess Anderson | jess@bigloud.com