Tate McRae Makes History as the First Artist to Appear on the Cover of Rolling Stone Canada

Rolling Stone is coming to Canada.

Rolling Stone Canada debuts today (Jan. 15) with an inaugural cover featuring rising A-list pop star Tate McRae. The cover story follows not just her rapid rise, but the realities of growing up Canadian in a global pop industry that now moves at internet speed. The story is up now at the new website, ca.rollingstone.com.

In the inaugural cover story, Tate McRae reflects on her childhood in Canada, her years training as a dancer and the pressure that comes with being constantly watched and interpreted online. She speaks candidly about performance expectations, the scrutiny around her live shows, and learning how to separate viral narratives from the actual work she puts into her craft. The story positions her less as a pop product and more as a young artist navigating visibility, control and burnout in real time.

“Tate is this very introspective, very sensitive, very introverted, awkward Canadian. Maybe more on the shy side. I’m observant, and I feel very internal, all the time," she tells Rolling Stone Canada about the "real" Tate vs. the "Tatiana" persona she embodies on stage. "And then, this persona that I’ve created is my way of being this confident pop girl. The contrast between the two is such a great way of showing how a person can be so multifaceted.”

Choosing McRae as the first Canadian cover sets the tone for what Rolling Stone Canada is aiming to do editorially: authoritative reporting, original features, and deeper insight into the evolving global music business.

The Canadian edition of the iconic publication is operated by ArtsHouse Media Group (AMG), the parent company of Billboard Canada and Billboard UK. AMG is also a co-owner of NXNE festival.

“Rolling Stone has long resonated with millions of Canadians,” says Mo Ghoneim, president and founder of AMG, said: Rolling Stone Canada is about shining a light on the artists, ideas and cultural moments shaping the country. It is an opportunity to tell Canadian stories with the depth, authority and global reach the brand is known for.”

The launch adds a new major platform to Canada’s music media ecosystem, arriving at a time when Canadian artists continue to shape global pop conversations across charts, touring and culture.

Many of Canada’s biggest artists have landed on the cover of Rolling Stone over the years. That includes artists like Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Neil Young, Alanis Morissette, The Sheepdogs and many more. That’s been a true rite of passage for artists and bands since Rolling Stone’s launch in 1967, and now there will be opportunity to feature and critically analyze Canadian music year-round.