Hometown Country Music –

Nominees Announces for CMAOntario Awards

Posted by admin at 10:12 pm on March 27, 2023

Mar 272023

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is excited to announce the nominees for the 11th Annual CMAOntario Awards, taking place on Sunday, June 4 at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario.

Josh Ross, Tebey, and Robyn Ottolini lead with five nominations apiece, followed by Tim Hicks with four nominations, and Karli June and Nate Haller with three nominations each.

Hosted by Jason McCoy and Shannon Ella from Pure Country Radio, the CMAOntario Awards Show will close out the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend June 2-4, 2023. The CMAOntario Awards, presented by Slaight Music, will acknowledge the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 19 categories. Tickets for the CMAOntario Awards Show are on sale now.

The Nominees for the 11th Annual CMAOntario Awards are:

SINGLE OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Pure Country 93

“First Taste Of Gone” – Josh Ross
“Say It” – Robyn Ottolini
“She Don’t Know” – Jade Eagleson
“We Did” – Sacha
“What Was I Drinking” – Tebey

ALBUM OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Country 106.7

Cloud 9 – Kelly Prescott
Diamonds in the Desert – Jason Blaine
Party in the Back – Nate Haller
Talk to Time – Tim Hicks
Where You Come From – Karli June

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR – sponsored by SOCAN

Deric Ruttan, Tim Hicks, Monty Criswell – Whiskey Does (recorded by Tim Hicks)
Josh Ross, Grady Block, Mason Thornley – On a Different Night (recorded by Josh Ross)
Karli June, Karen Kosowski, Tori Tullier – Makes You Pretty (recorded by Karli June)
Robyn Ottolini, Nate Miles, Emily Falvey – Say It (recorded by Robyn Ottolini)
Steven Lee Olsen, Brandon Day – Nashville or Nothing (recorded by Steven Lee Olsen)

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Elyse Saunders
Genevieve Fisher
Nicole Rayy
Robyn Ottolini
Sacha

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – sponsored by IBEW Local 353

Andrew Hyatt
Josh Ross
Nate Haller
Tebey
Tim Hicks

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Country 103

James Barker Band
River Town Saints
Rosewood Ave.
The Reklaws
The Western Swing Authority

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Callie McCullough
Julian Taylor
Mackenzie Leigh Meyer
The Abrams
The Western Swing Authority

FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Gabrielle Goulet
Kristine St. Pierre
Les Rats d’Swompe
Reney Ray
Vincent Bishop

RISING STAR AWARD – sponsored by Slaight Music

Amanda Jordan
Graham Scott Fleming
Josh Ross
Karli June
Owen Riegling

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Jim Dunlop Productions

“Busy” – Robyn Ottolini
“Country Like You” – Ryan Langdon
“Genes” – Elyse Saunders
“Sink With The Sun” – Tebey
“Somedays” – Graham Scott Fleming

FANS’ CHOICE – sponsored by Tourism Hamilton

Jade Eagleson
James Barker Band
Josh Ross
Meghan Patrick
Nate Haller
Robyn Ottolini
Steven Lee Olsen
Tebey
The Reklaws
Tim Hicks

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR

Jeff Dalziel – New Moon Junction
Karen Kosowski – Karli June
Mark Schroor & Erik Fintelman – Robyn Ottolini
Tebey and Danick Dupelle – Tebey
The Agenda – Graham Scott Fleming

MUSIC INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Manrkē

Aj Astle, Roadhouse Productions
Dave Woods, In The Country
Jill Snell, Jayward Artist Group
Samantha Pickard, Strut Entertainment
Steve Coady, Warner Music Canada

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET) – sponsored by Fielding Estate Winery

Country 104, London
Country 106.7, Kitchener
KX-947, Hamilton
KX96, Oshawa
Pure Country 94, Ottawa

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET) – sponsored by Lucknow’s Music in the Fields

COOL 100.1, Belleville
Country 92.9, Chatham
Country 93.5, Kingston
Hot Country 93.9, Brantford
Pure Country 105, Peterborough

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)

100.1 FM The Ranch, Listowel
Country 103, Manitoulin
Country 89, Welland
Country 93, Owen Sound
Pure Country 106, Orillia

The CMAOntario Awards Show will also include the Impact Award, which recognizes an artist, group, industry personality or organization that has left an enduring and indelibly positive footprint on the landscape of country music in Ontario.

Voting for the awards is restricted to CMAOntario members, with the exception of the Fans’ Choice Award, which is open to both public and membership voting. Eligible members will have the opportunity to vote on the final ballot as of today up until April 7, 2023 at www.cmaontario.ca/awards/voting. Music fans can cast their votes for the Fans’ Choice award as of April 28.

The CMAOntario Award Show is preceded by a weekend of activities as part of the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend, June 2-4, 2023. The CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend will include Songs & Stories: Songwriters in the Round, R2i TuneUp Conference, Street Fair, Bonfire and Tailgate Party. Additional details, including performers, will be announced in the coming weeks.

CMAOntario Awards Show
Sunday, June 4 from 7pm
Theatre Aquarius
190 King William St, Hamilton, ON

Fan VIP Tickets
Regular ticket price – $260
Includes reserved VIP Seating, Exclusive invitation to the pre-show rehearsal, Invitation to the VIP reception, and Ticket to the post-awards party

Regular Reserved Seating
Regular ticket price – $79
Member price – $69

Combo Package For Members
$155 – Conference Pass & Regular Awards Show Ticket

www.cmaontario.ca
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @theCMAOntario
#CMAOntario

HCM Daily Country Music News – March 24th, 2023

Posted by admin at 11:08 pm on March 24, 2023

Mar 242023

Country Music News and Videos

This Date in Country Music History

2022 – HCM Daily News – March 24th, 2022
2021 – Connie Smith’s “Once A Day” was announced as a new addition to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry
2020 – HCM Daily News – March 24th, 2020
2020 – Maren Morris gave birth to a son
2018 – Maren Morris married Ryan Hurd
2017 – RaeLynn released her debut album Wildhorse, prompting the city of Houston to declare it RaeLynn Day
2016 – Kenny Chesney released his single “Noise”
2015 – This Week’s New Music – March 24th, 2015
2014 – Luke Bryan released his single “Play It Again”
2009 – Martina McBride released her album Shine
2009 – Eric Church released his album Carolina
2008 – Luke Bryan released his single “Country Man”
2007 – Kenny Chesney topped the charts with “Beer In Mexico”
1996 – Brooks & Dunn released their single “My Maria”
1984 – Alabama topped the charts with “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)”
1979 – Anne Murray topped the charts with “I Just Fall In Love Again”

Today’s Birthdays

Blanco Brown
Mo Pitney
Natalie Hemby

Today’s New Albums

Alana Springsteen – Twenty Something, Messing It Up
Carly Pearce – 29: Written in Stone (Live from Music City)
Chancey Williams – One of These Days
Jessie Wilson – How ‘Bout We Find Out (EP)
Luke Combs – Gettin’ Old
Micah Cheatham – Michah Cheatham (EP)
Stefanie Duzel – The Other Side

Today’s New Singles

Ain’t Worth the Heartache – Curtis Grimes
Bad Guy – Dane Louis
Breaker Breaker 1-9 – Justin Colvard
Come and Take IT – Louie the Singer w/ Tommy Calle
Fairytale Ending – Cate Gartner
Give Her The Reins She’ll Run – Songbird Jones
Goodbye to the Blues – David Parmley
Green Eyes Blue – Randall King
Hangin’ On For Dear Life – James Garland
Haven’t Even Poured the Whiskey – Katie Fee
How ‘Bout We Find Out – Jessie Wilson
Keep Up the Fight – Ty Laramore
Kinda Bar – Kip Moore
Last Call – Philip Nance
Little Man – Ian Munsick
Livin’ the Dream – Brayden King
More Afraid of Living – Cliff Hanning
My Feet Don’t Touch the Ground – Bonner Rhae
Mystery Whiskey Woman – Maggie Baugh
Part of Me – Ross Flora
Putting Country Back in Country – Jake Bush
Rather Hurt You Now – Brina Kay w/ Justin Love
Same Car – Madeline Merlo
Season’s Change – Caitlin Mae
Still Here – Rissi Palmer w/ Miko Marks
Sunday – Jessica Terrell
Tennessee – Charlotte Morris
The Wildest Thing – Nathan Seeckts
This Kind of Living – Cowboy Dave
Well Tequila – Karissa Ella
Why Don’t You Come Over – Noah Smith

Today’s Photo Flashback

None Today

This Week’s Notable Events

Heart of Texas Country Music Festival – Brady, TX – Mar 24, 2023
KIX 106 40th Birthday Blowout with Joe Nichols, Parmalee – Memphis, TN – Mar 24, 2023
Heart of Texas Country Music Festival – Brady, TX – Mar 25, 2023
Ronnie Milsap & Friends on the Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, TN – Mar 25, 2023
Heart of Texas Country Music Festival – Brady, TX – Mar 26, 2023

Also check out…

Robert Earl Keen Honored On Texas House Of Representatives Floor

Posted by admin at 10:29 pm on March 24, 2023

Mar 242023

The latest Texas House Resolution, HR102, begins as such:

“WHEREAS, Renowned Texas musician Robert Earl Keen brought 41 years of touring to a triumphant close in 2022, bidding a fond and bittersweet farewell to cheering fans all across the country; and WHEREAS, A Houston native, Mr. Keen first picked up a guitar during his freshman year at Texas A&M University; he began playing around town, and after graduation, he took a day job in Austin, honed his chops, and won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Songwriting Competition…”

Needless to say, the parade of “WHEREAS” goes on forever and the party never ends. Eventually, HR102 states: “RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Robert Earl Keen on his retirement from touring and honor him for his outstanding contributions to Texas music.”

So that settles it, as of Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Robert Earl Keen has officially been recognized by the state of Texas for everything he’s done for the Texas music scene and beyond; a feat accomplished by no other Texas musician. His wife Kathleen, daughter Clara, Porter Garner, CEO and President of The Former Students Association of Texas A & M University, and Dr. Tyler Cooper, President and CEO of the Cooper Aerobics and Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, were all escorted to the floor of the Texas House of Representatives and Resolution 102 was read in Keen’s honor by Rep. Andrew Murr (R-District 53).

This honor comes just after Keen’s announcement of brand new music on the horizon. On April 14th, The Robert Earl Keen band will release Western Chill, a brand new full-length album, an accompanying performance video of the entire album, a detailed songbook for folks at home to sing and play along, and an accompanying 92-page, full-color graphic novel. Keen has repeatedly reminded fans and critics that even though he’s retired from touring, he has no intention of quitting music. “Quitting the road doesn’t mean I’m dead, and it doesn’t mean I’m going to quit producing stuff,” he says.

Western Chill is the first bonafide proof fans have seen of this promise, and the whopping package Keen has assembled should leave nothing to be desired short of an album tour—but rest assured that is not happening. For a preview into the visual world of Western Chill, Garden & Gun magazine shared the band’s performance of the album’s title track, “Western Chill.” Fans can watch Keen and the band rock through their ultimate mood-setter in 6/8 time at this link and pre-order Western Chill today directly from westernchill.com.

Charley Pride to be Honored with Bronze Statue

Posted by admin at 10:20 pm on March 24, 2023

Mar 242023

Country music legend and trailblazer Charley Pride will forever be immortalized as a bronze statue joining the likenesses of Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, and Little Jimmy Dickens—as part of the Ryman’s Icon Walk on Wednesday, March 29th. This portion of the Ryman’s exterior property recognizes legends who have paved the way for Nashville performers. The statues of Bill Monroe and Little Jimmy Dickens were added in 2017 as part of the Ryman’s 125th anniversary, with Lynn’s joining in 2020. The statues, sculpted by artist Ben Watts, take one year to create.