Josh Ross wins big while kd lang rocks at CCMAs in Edmonton Achi-News

Josh Ross and his whiskey-fuelled ballad of heartbreak and hope took center stage on Saturday as kd lang brought the band back together at the 2024 Canadian Country Music Association Awards.

Ross, from Burlington, Ont., took home 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,” says Ross, adding that it highlights the difficulties he felt when moving to Nashville to pursue his music career.

Ross said he and his band play about 150 shows each year and are never home, but said he felt taking home entertainer of the year made the hard work worth it.

“I thank all of you,” he said.

On Friday, it also won two industry awards for best-selling Canadian single of the year (“Trouble”) and best-selling Canadian album of the year (It’s Complicated.)

Alberta’s MacKenzie Porter took home the top prize as female artist of the year, ending Tenille Townes’ five-year streak.

The win was a sweet relief for Porter, of Medicine Hat, Alta., who had been nominated for the award seven times in the past decade before capturing his own lightning in a bottle on Saturday.

He won video of the year for “Chasing Tornadoes”, a stunning salute to the swirling winds of romance 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 woman in the country music industry and gave a shout out to her fellow singers and her newborn daughter.

“I’ve been nominated (for the CCMAs) 28 times and this is one of my first wins,” Porter said in her first television appearance since having a baby.

“So to all you artists out there, keep pushing.”

Porter was up for six awards, tying for the top nomination spot with Jade Eagleson of Bailieboro, Ont. Eagleson took home album of the year for Do it Anyway.

Porter was co-hosting the show with American crooner Thomas Rhett, and along with the music, there was a bit of hockey. Edmonton Oilers players Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry came on stage and called Rhett an honorary Canadian while wearing an Oilers jersey.

The highlight of the evening was Lang celebrating her induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame by reeling and rocking with The Reclines for the first time in 35 years.

They performed “Big Boned Gal” — from the last album they recorded together in 1989 — about the gal in the blue dress with the bounce in her step shaken and snakin’ in the legion hall.

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Lang embodied the character in the song as she strode across the stage, clad in a blue and green western dress.

“That was a piece of cake,” Lang told reporters after her performance. “A good friendship has this ability to erase time. That certainly happened when we got together.”

Lang, from Consort, Alta., burst onto the Edmonton music scene in the early 1980s with The Reclines, a tribute band to American country star Patsy Cline.

She told the crowd that she was “extremely grateful” for the experiences she has had in her career and thanked Canadians for going on the journey with her.

“I love you, big time,” Lang said.

Among the other winners, the James Barker Band from Woodville, Ont., took home group of the year and the fans’ choice award. During their acceptance speech, frontman Barker hinted at new music and a possible tour in 2025.

Owen Riegling of Mildmay, Ont., also won for breakthrough artist of the year and best songwriting for “Old Dirt Roads.”

Speaking on the red carpet before the awards show, Riegling recalled writing the song five years ago in an hour and recording it as a demo.

Once he signed with Universal Music Canada, they recorded a new version.

“He’s had a long journey, and it’s cool to finally see him connecting with people and reaching people,” she said.

“I never would have guessed I’d be here.”

& copy 2024 The Canadian Press