Canadian country music royalty descends on Kelowna, B.C., for 2025 CCMA Awards

The biggest night in Canadian country music has arrived in B.C.

For the first time, Kelowna is hosting the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards. The show has only been held in B.C. twice since they began in 1977, both times in Vancouver.

"We couldn't be more thrilled to welcome this prestigious event to our city," Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas said in a news release when the location of the awards was announced last fall.

The awards recognize the best in Canadian country, including homegrown British Columbians; Surrey's Tyler Joe Miller has been nominated for album of the year. Miller, along with veteran musician Dallas Smith of New Westminster, are both finalists for the CCMA's fans' choice award.

"Country music is having a definite moment right now," Victoria-based country singer Theresa Anne Bromley, known as Pony Gold, told CBC's Sarah Penton.

"It's all about songwriting and sharing stories."

But perhaps one of the most nominated British Columbians of the year is Nanaimo's Cameron Whitcomb, who's up for several awards, including the coveted titles of entertainer and single of the year.

The 22-year-old rose to fame during his tenure on American Idol in 2022. The show's producers had approached him to join the competition after seeing videos of him singing on social media.

Whitcomb made it to the top 20, a feat among competitors, before getting eliminated.

Since then, Whitcomb has quickly risen to fame in the country music world. He released his first single just last year, Quitter, now nominated for CCMA single of the year.

"It's been incredible, man. I'm just grateful, really grateful," he told CBC's Eagle Andersen in July.

Whitcomb said he was finally able to quantify his success when he started seeing money in the bank.

"I hate to sound materialistic, but when I'm able to buy myself a brand new car and buy myself a house and buy my little brother a car after he got clean, that's when it becomes real," he said.

"Every time I take my friends out for lunch, I'm paying. That kind of stuff is important to me."

He's been open about his struggle with addiction — both in interviews and in his music.

When he moved to Kamloops at the age of 17, he said he was in the throes of addiction.

"I was living in [a hotel] and hiding out and doing drugs every day. But it was also the place I chose to get clean," he said. "I did a 180 while I was in Kamloops."

Whitcomb said his nomination for songwriter of the year means the most to him.

"I take a lot of pride in the songwriting and not just rehashing the same homogenized country nonsense," he said.

Canadian comedy legend Tom Green will host the awards live from Kelowna's Prospera Place tonight, Saturday, Sept. 13. You can watch the ceremony on CTV and its online platforms.