Chxrry Named 2026 Rising Star at Billboard Canada Women in Music
The Scarborough-born R&B act will accept the award at the Billboard Canada Women in Music celebration at Rebel in Toronto on Nov. 24.
Chxrry
Chxrry's momentum is about to be recognized with a big honour: the 2026 Billboard Canada Rising Star Award.
She will accept the honour at the star-studded Billboard Canada Women In Music on November 24 at Rebel in Toronto. Get your tickets here.
It has been four years since the Scarborough-born, Los Angeles-based act (formerly Chxrry22) made history as the first female artist signed to The Weeknd’s XO record label after posting viral song covers on social media that proved her initial star power. After signing, the artist, born Lydia Habtemariam, promptly released her debut project, 2022’s The Other Side, charming listeners with her unique blend of R&B and pop and bold yet honest storytelling.
Chxrry has continued to build her audience, playing both intimate and stadium-sized concerts during her opening stint on The Weeknd’s record-breaking After Hours Til Dawn tour. This year, she played 16 sold-out shows across the globe, including two stops in Toronto.
Four years since her major label debut, Chxrry is shining in the spotlight.
In May, Chxrry released her first full-length album, U, Me & My Ego. On the 10-track project, she doesn’t choose between vulnerability and confidence — she embraces both. Following up her acclaimed 2023 project, Siren, Chxrry’s ascent continued with My Ego, which features one of her biggest-ever singles: “Main Character.” The empowering track has amassed over 200,000 TikTok videos and has surpassed over five million global streams.
With additional co-signs from major artists like Mariah the Scientist, Rema and Offset, Chxrry’s magnetic presence has reached beyond her home country. In June, she was named Billboard’s Up-and-Coming R&B Artist of the Month ahead of the release of My Ego. “I don’t fit in anything,” she said. “I feel like I’ve created my own lane.”
As she's maintained her Scarborough roots, her connection to The Weeknd has continued to flourish. Chxrry was featured on his latest chart-topping album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, on “Reflections Laughing,” with Travis Scott and Florence + The Machine, and made a guest appearance in the “Cry For Me” music video.
Chxrry is the second Canadian artist to receive the Billboard Canada Rising Star award, following LU KALA in 2024. New York singer-songwriter Julia Wolf received the Global Rising Star award in 2025. Chxrry was on the Billboard Canada Women In Music Artist Spotlight last year. With millions of streams and a growing list of accolades, Chxrry’s rising star power is undeniable.
This year's Billboard Canada Women In Music will be the most global edition yet, bringing Canadian artists together with the world's biggest acts.
Global superstar Cardi B will be Billboard Canada's first-ever Global Woman of the Year recipient. Other recently announced honourees include Executive of the Year, Live Nation Canada’s Melissa Bubb-Clarke, and Impact Award Winner, MusiCounts/CARAS/The Juno Awards’ Kristy Fletcher.
Tickets for Billboard Canada Women In Music 2026 are available here.
