Burlington, Ont.'s, Josh Ross wins big while k.d. lang rocks with The Reclines at CCMAs
CBC
Josh Ross and his whisky-soaked ballad of heartbreak and hope took home top honours Saturday as k.d. lang got the band back together at the 2024 Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
Ross, from Burlington, Ont., captured single of the year for "Trouble." The 28-year-old former college football player turned country star also took home male artist of the year and entertainer of the year at the show, held at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
"This song was a surreal song," Ross said, adding it highlights the struggles he felt when moving to Nashville to pursue his music career.
Ross said he and his band play roughly 150 shows every year and are never home, but said he feels that taking home entertainer of the year made the hard work worth it.
"I thank each and every one of you," he said.
On Friday, he also won two industry awards for top-selling Canadian single of the year ("Trouble") and top-selling Canadian album of the year ("It's Complicated.")
Alberta's MacKenzie Porter took home a top prize as female artist of the year, ending the five-year run for Tenille Townes.
The win was sweet relief for Porter, of Medicine Hat, Alta., who had been nominated for the award seven times in the last decade before capturing her own lightning in a bottle Saturday.
She won video of the year for "Chasing Tornadoes," a toe-tapping salute to the swirling winds of romance set against the lonely Nevada desert and the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Porter said it takes a lot of hard work and hustle to succeed as a female in the country music industry and gave a shout out to her fellow singers and newborn daughter.
"I've been nominated (for the CCMAs) 28 times and this is one of my first wins," said Porter in her first televised appearance since having a baby.
"So to all of you artists out there, keep pushing."
Porter was up for six awards, tying the top nomination spot with Jade Eagleson of Bailieboro, Ont. Eagleson took home album of the year for "Do It Anyway."
Porter co-hosted the show with American crooner Thomas Rhett, and along with the music, there was a little hockey. Edmonton Oilers players Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry came on stage and dubbed Rhett an honorary Canadian as he donned an Oilers jersey.
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