CCMA Hosts 44th Annual Awards

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Nate Haller & Tenille Townes. Photo: Olga Bondarenko

Cameron Whitcomb was the big winner of the night at this year’s 44th annual CCMA Awards on Sept. 19, taking home Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year, while also earning the Ford F-150 Album of the Year award for The Hard Way.

The awards were held at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon for the third time, and showcased a powerhouse line-up of performers and presenters, celebrating the achievements of Canada’s country music community over the last year.

Hosts James Barker Band received the Fans’ Choice award and was named Group or Duo of the Year for the fourth consecutive year, while Meghan Patrick earned her third Female Artist of the Year trophy. Sully Burrows was recognized as Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year presented by FACTOR, with Nate Haller and Tenille Townes taking home Musical Collaboration of the Year for “Backfire.” Thelma & James received Video of the Year for “Parking Lot Prayers,” and Josh Ross celebrated his third consecutive win for Single of the Year for “Hate How You Look.” The 2026 CCMA Awards are streaming now on Crave, and a full list of the awards can be found here.

Thelma & James. Photo: Olga Bondarenko

The 2026 CCMA Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards also took place on Sept. 18, kicking off the first of two evenings celebrating the best in the Canadian country music community. Hosted by Jackie Rae Greening, the 2026 CCMA Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards included the 2026 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductions of The Wilkinsons and Ron Kitchener; Brett Kissel and W. Brett Wilson were honored as the 2026 Gary Slaight Humanitarian Award co-recipients, and Natalie Waller was recognized with the 2026 Leonard T. Rambeau International Award.

The gala also featured performances from Dean Brody, Morgan Griffiths, Brett Kissel, Madeline Merlo, Tyler Joe Miller, and The Wilkinsons. This year marked the inaugural presentation of the International Industry Person of the Year Award, with Big Loud’s Seth England earning the honor. iHeartRadio/PURE Country’s Shannon Ella was named Country Personality(ies) of the Year, and Karen Kosowski made history as the first solo female to win for Record Producer of the Year.

Keyboard Player of the Year went to Amber Bauer, and Thelma & James took home the trophy for Alternative Country Album of the Year presented by the National Music Centre. Michael August, Nate Hall, James Adam Shelley, and Tenille Townes won Songwriter(s) of the Year presented by SOCAN, and Francophone Artist of the Year presented by Spotify went to Fred Dionne. Record Company of the Year honors went to Big Loud Records, with Music Publishing Company of the Year presented by CMRRA going to Big Loud Publishing.

James Barker Band. Photo: Olga Bondarenko

Sully Burrows. Photo: Olga Bondarenko

Lorie Hollabaugh
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