Cameron Whitcomb, Josh Ross Triumph at 2025 Canadian Country Music Association Awards

Two of the hottest stars in Canadian country music triumphed on the weekend.

Josh Ross and Cameron Whitcomb both took home two major trophies from The Canadian Country Music Association Awards, held in Kelowna on Sept. 13.

Ross won single of the year for "Single Again" and was named entertainer of the year, while fast-rising B.C. singer-songwriter Whitcomb was named breakthrough artist of the year and won the fans' choice award.

The two stars had topped the awards nominations list this year, with six nods apiece, followed by Owen Riegling with five.

A double CCMAs winner last year, Riegling won in the album of the year category, for Bruce County (From The Beginning). Other previous CCMA winners reprising earlier success this year included MacKenzie Porter (female artist of the year), James Barker Band (group or duo of the Year) and Jade Eagleson (male artist of the year). A new category, francophone artist of the year, was won by Salebarbes.

The 43nd annual edition CCMA Awards were held at Prospera Place in Kelowna for the first time on Sept. 13. Performers on the show included Cameron Whitcomb, Madeline Merlo and Tyler Joe Miller, Sacha and Restless Road, Dallas Smith and Alexandra Kay, and Thelma & James, with comedian Tom Green on board as host.

His two CCMA Awards confirmed that the now Nashville-based Josh Ross is on a serious roll. A new album, his full-length debut, Later Tonight, comes out via Universal Music Canada on Sept. 19, and Live Nation Canada recently announced his extensive 11-city national tour, set for February and March 2026.

Equally hot right now is Cameron Whitcomb. Back in March, the B.C. singer and former American Idol contestant scored his fourth entry on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, with "Options," following earlier hits "Quitter," "Medusa" and "Hundred Mile High." He has kept busy this year with shows in Australia, the U.S. and Canada. Signed to Atlantic Records, Whitcomb releases his full-length debut album, The Hard Way, on Sept. 26.

The night before the main CTV-televised awards show, the CCMA hosted its music industry gala dinner and awards. There, Lisa Brokop and Joe Wood were inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, while Craig Senyk received the 2025 Gary Slaight Humanitarian Award. 36 artist and industry awards were handed out at that industry-only event.

Here is a full list of winners:

2025 CCMA AWARDS WINNERS

ARTIST AWARDS

Entertainer of the Year (Award #1)

• Josh Ross

Ford F-150® Album of the Year (Award #2)

• Bruce County (From The Beginning) – Owen Riegling

Fans’ Choice presented by Bud Light (Award #3)

• Cameron Whitcomb

Female Artist of the Year (Award #4)

• Mackenzie Porter

Francophone Artist of the Year presented by Spotify (Award #5)

• Salebarbes

Group or Duo of the Year (Award #6)

• James Barker Band

Musical Collaboration of the Year (Award #7)

• Broken Heart Thing – Madeline Merlo feat. Dustin Lynch

Male Artist of the Year (Award #8)

• Jade Eagleson

Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year presented by Birkenstock (Award #9)

• Cameron Whitcomb

Alternative Country Album of the Year presented by National Music Centre (Award #10)

• One More Dollar To Go – Jake Vaadeland

Single of the Year (Award #11)

• Single Again – Josh Ross

Songwriter(s) of the Year presented by SOCAN (Award #12)

• Kelly Archer, Travis Denning, Chris Stevens – I’m Gonna Love You (Artist: Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood)

Video of the Year (Award #16)

• Single Again – Josh Ross

MUSICIAN AWARDS

Bass Player of the Year (Award #17)

• Lisa Dodd
• Ben Miller

Drummer of the Year (Award #18)

• Rich DaSilva

Fiddle Player of the Year (Award #19)

• Tyler Beckett

Guitar Player of the Year presented by PRS Guitars (Award #20)

• Chris Bray

Keyboard Player of the Year (Award #21)

• Brendan Waters

Specialty Instrument Player of the Year (Award #22)

• Tyler Vollrath

Steel Guitar Player of the Year (Award #23)

• Matt McKay

RADIO AWARDS

Radio Station of the Year (Large Market)(Award #24)

• CFCW (Edmonton, AB)

Radio Station of the Year (Medium or Small Market)(Award #25)

• CIGV-FM (Kelowna, BC)

INDUSTRY AWARDS

Booking Agency of the Year (Award #26)

• Paquin Entertainment Group

Country Club of the Year (Award #27)

• King Eddy (Calgary, AB)

Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition of the Year (Award #28)

• Boots and Hearts Music Festival (Oro-Medonte, ON)

Country Music Program, Special, or Digital Feature of the Year (Award #29)

• Pure Country Top 50 Countdown (iHeartRadio Canada)

Country Personality(ies) of the Year (Award #30)

• Jason McCoy (CICX-FM)

Management Company of the Year (Award #31)

• The Core Entertainment

Music Publishing Company of the Year presented by CMRRA (Award #32)

• Anthem Entertainment Group

Record Company of the Year (Award #33)

• Universal Music Canada

Industry Person of the Year (Award #34)

• Lindsay Hyslop (BBR Music Group)

Creative Team or Designer of the Year (Award #35)

• Design Team: Stephane Lamontagne, JF Galipeau – Album: All Night Longer (Artist: Matt Lang)

Recording Studio of the Year (Award #36)

• Revolution Recording (Toronto, ON)

Record Producer(s) of the Year (Award #37)

• Joey Moi – Album: Quit!! (Artist: HARDY)

Retailer or Commercial Platform of the Year (Award #38)

• SiriusXM Canada

Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year (Award #39)

• Denise Ross (Live Nation Entertainment)

Video Director of the Year (Award #40)

• Ben Knechtel – Outliving (Artist: The Reklaws), Remind Me Again (Artist: Zach McPhee), Youth (Artist: Sully Burrows)

Innovative Campaign of the Year presented by TD (Award #41)

• Outliving (For Mom) EP Launch Campaign (The Reklaws, Starseed Entertainment)