advertisement
Country

American Country Star Thomas Rhett Will Host 2024 CCMA Awards with MacKenzie Porter

The massively popular singer-songwriter will be joined by the rising Canadian artist and actor for the Canadian Country Music Association's annual ceremony on September 14 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

American Country Star Thomas Rhett Will Host 2024 CCMA Awards with MacKenzie Porter

Country music is having a major moment, and the CCMA Awards is getting one of the genre's biggest stars.

Thomas Rhett will host the Canadian Country Music Association's annual award ceremony on September 14, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton. And the American star will be joined by a homegrown star in the making, Alberta singer and actor MacKenzie Porter.


This year's awards take place during a big time in Canadian country, with major festivals popping up across the country and new bridges being made with Nashville.

In addition to topping Billboard's Country Airplay chart 20 times, Rhett also has 16 No. 1 hits on Canadian country radio, so he's a natural choice to cross the border to host Canada's biggest country music awards.

advertisement

“The way Canadian fans have embraced me throughout my career is something I never take for granted," Rhett tells Billboard Canada. "Every time we come there, we are blown away by the energy they bring and the love they have for country music."

Travelling between Canada and Nashville, Porter is also making a big splash on both sides of the border. With 900 million streams already, she's got a new album, Nobody's Born With a Broken Heart, coming out on April 26 on Big Loud Records.

"The CCMAs are truly one of my favourite events of the year," says Porter. "It's always so inclusive and supportive of everyone, from Canada’s biggest acts to the up and comers about to take over the scene. I love seeing who is next and who is making waves in the genre. The CCMAs always showcase those new artists."

"I personally think this year is going to be the best show yet," she continues. "Canadian country music has never been better, and having the show in Alberta, home of country music, feels very fitting!"

advertisement

CCMA's President Amy Jeninga says they carefully selected the hosts "based on their significant contributions to the Canadian country music community," with Rhett's major Canadian fanbase playing "a crucial role in our country music ecosystem." Plus, two of his band members are Canadian musicians, she notes. Porter, meanwhile, is a great representative of Alberta's country music scene, she says.

She's also a woman making waves in a genre that is typically overrepresented by male artists. It's also a time when Beyoncé's blockbuster Cowboy Carter album (which is filled with Canadian songwriters) has brought mainstream recognition to the contributions of Black country singers, which many major country music institutions have typically overlooked.

"At the CCMAs, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable culture that reflects the diversity of Canadian country music," says Jeninga. "We prioritize representation and diversity in our nominee selection, performances and award categories to create a welcoming space for all members of the country music community."

Nominations and programming have yet to be announced, but the CCMAs will get a big lead-in from Country Music Week 2024, which kicks off in Edmonton on Wednesday, September 11.

The CCMAs will air on Saturday, September 14 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app.

advertisement

advertisement
Mt. Joy
Caity Krone

Mt. Joy

Rock

Mt. Joy Returns With New Single ‘Coyote’ Ahead of 2025 North American Tour

It's the first single off their upcoming fourth studio album.

Mt. Joy have awaken from their winter hibernation with a new single, “Coyote,” an infectious homage to the energy and excitement one experiences on the cusp of breaking through.

The track is the first from the Philadelphia indie rockers’ fourth studio album, Hope We Have Fun (out May 30 on Futures x Bloom Field). It arrives ahead of the April 19 kickoff to their 2025 North American tour.

keep readingShow less
advertisement