CHART-TOPPING, MULTI-AWARD WINNING, FIVE-TIME 2026 CCMA AWARD NOMINEES JAMES BARKER BAND ANNOUNCED AS HOSTS FOR THE 2026 CCMA AWARDS

NEWLY ANNOUNCED PERFORMERS AND PRESENTERS ALSO ADDED TO COUNTRY MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT IN CANADA

THE 44TH ANNUAL CCMA AWARDS IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON CTV SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 AT 8 P.M. ET/PT, AND STREAMING ON CRAVE

Tickets For The 2026 CCMA Awards Available HERE

TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- Today, the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) is thrilled to announce that chart-topping, multi-award winning, five-time 2026 CCMA Award nominees James Barker Band will take the stage as hosts of the 2026 CCMA Awards, adding a new milestone to an impressive list of achievements for one of Canadian country's most celebrated groups. Already set to deliver a highly anticipated performance at country music's biggest night in Canada, the band will now lead the evening's celebrations as well, all while vying for five of the night's biggest honours: Entertainer of the Year, Ford F-150 Album of the Year, Fans' Choice, Group or Duo of the Year, and Single of the Year.

The band will bring their signature humour, chemistry, and infectious energy to the hosting role, treating fans in Saskatoon and coast to coast to coast to an evening full of can't miss moments.

"We're fired up to be hosting the CCMA Awards this year," shares James Barker Band. "We've grown up watching this show and have been lucky enough to make so many great memories at the CCMAs over the years, so getting the chance to host and celebrate Canadian country music from the other side of the stage is pretty special. We're excited to celebrate our friends, have some fun, and hopefully keep the whole thing on the rails. You never really know what could happen when you give the four of us microphones on live TV."

Newly announced performers for the 2026 CCMA Awards include 2026 Gary Slaight Humanitarian Award recipient Brett Kissel, 3x CCMA Award winner and 2026 Female Artist of the Year nominee Madeline Merlo, 2x 2026 CCMA Award nominee including Fans' Choice Tyler Joe Miller, and 2x 2026 CCMA Award nominee including a Female Artist of the Year nomination, Sacha. Additionally, the exciting evening will feature previously announced performances from Dean Brody, Nate Haller, High Valley, The Reklaws, Owen Riegling, The Strumbellas, Thelma & James, Tenille Townes, and homegrown Saskatchewan stars including Weyburn's Tenille Arts, Shaunavon's Hunter Brothers, Hudson Bay's Kalsey Kulyk, and Rocanville's Jess Moskaluke.

The evening will also feature a special tribute performance that audiences won't want to miss, honouring the enduring cultural influence and legacy of country music icon Dolly Parton through a medley of her classic hits.

Stepping on the stage as newly announced presenters for the 2026 CCMA Awards are Verdah Ansari, Hailey Benedict, Ty Bentli, Sully Burrows, Damhnait Doyle, Darian Duthie, Jade Eagleson, Shannon Ella, High Valley, Brett Kissel, Ron Kitchener, Zach McPhee, Madeline Merlo, Tyler Joe Miller, John Morgan, Brock Phillips, The Prairie States, Tyla Rodrigues, Saskatchewan Roughriders, The Strumbellas, Josh Stumpf, The Wikinsons, and Brett Wilson.

Available exclusively on CTV Saturday, September 19 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and streaming on Crave, the 2026 CCMA Awards bring the artistry, identity, and creative spirit of Canadian country music to a national stage for one unforgettable night.

Country Music Week 2026 kicks off in Saskatoon on Wednesday, September 16, offering fans the unique opportunity to celebrate the magic of country music and the genre's brightest homegrown stars, all culminating with the 2026 CCMA Awards on September 19. This year's CCMA Award nominees include 197 artists and industry professionals, with 72 earning their first-ever nomination.

Country Music Week 2026 and the 2026 CCMA Awards are made possible through the support of the City of Saskatoon, Discover Saskatoon and Saskatoon Destination Marketing Hotels (SDMH), the Government of Saskatchewan, and the 2026 Host Committee. Bell Media will deliver extensive multi-platform 2026 CCMA Awards coverage and content across broadcast, radio, digital, and social media properties, including iHeartRadio Canada's PURE COUNTRY.

For the latest CCMA news, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube or visit www.ccma.org. 

About The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®)
Established in 1976, the CCMA® is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to promoting and recognizing Canadian country music. Now in its 50th year, the CCMA celebrates the spirit, community, and creativity fostered by country music through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's most-watched broadcaster, delivering the country's most popular entertainment, news, and sports programming across two broadcast networks, a powerful suite of specialty channels with CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, CTV Sci-Fi Channel, CTV Nature Channel, CTV Speed Channel, and CTV Wild Channel. CTV is also available on Crave, the largest Canadian-owned streamer. Home to Canada's highest-rated national newscast and most-trusted local news, CTV is part of Bell Media, Canada's leading media and entertainment company, with a portfolio spanning premium video, audio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media.

About Discover Saskatoon and Saskatoon Destination Marketing Hotels (SDMH)
Discover Saskatoon is the official Destination Management Organization (DMO) for Saskatoon and the surrounding region. The organization is primarily funded by Saskatoon Destination Marketing Hotels Incorporated (SDMH), a collective of leading hotels committed to advancing Saskatoon's visitor economy. Discover Saskatoon also receives additional support from the City of Saskatoon through a fee-for-service agreement.

Together, SDMH and Discover Saskatoon drive growth through strategic marketing, major event attraction, and experience development. SDMH hotel partners contribute through a voluntary Destination Marketing Program that fuels initiatives to elevate Saskatoon's global profile, attract high-impact events, and enhance the visitor experience.

The visitor economy contributes nearly $800 million annually to the Saskatoon region, driving economic diversification, job creation, and community vibrancy. Through this partnership, SDMH, The City of Saskatoon, and Discover Saskatoon play a vital role in growing Saskatoon's prosperity and global presence. 

Learn more at discoversaskatoon.com or sdmh.ca.

About James Barker Band
James Barker Band are one of Canada's most successful country acts, with more than 413 million global streams, six No. 1 singles at Canadian country radio, 12 Gold and Platinum certifications, two JUNO Awards for Country Album of the Year and 6 CCMA Awards. The quartet comprised of James Barker (lead vocals/guitar), Connor Stephen (drums), Taylor Abram (guitar/background vocals) and Bobby Martin (bass) have built a reputation for hit songs, big live shows and a chemistry that comes through both on and off stage.

In 2026, James Barker Band continue to build momentum on both sides of the border. Their latest single, "After Dark," was the #1 most-added song at country radio overall for two consecutive weeks, and the band earned six CCMA Award nominations, including Entertainer of the Year. They recently surprised more than 30,000 fans with a performance at Chicago's Rate Field before taking the stage for their biggest show to date, performing for more than 70,000 fans at Festival d'été de Québec.

Throughout their career, James Barker Band have opened for some of country and music's biggest names, including Post Malone, Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll, Thomas Rhett and the Jonas Brothers, while continuing to grow their audience across North America and beyond.

About Brett Kissel
Known for his charismatic personality, dynamic stage presence and unique musical style, Brett Kissel has soared to the top of the Canadian country music charts as one of the country's most celebrated entertainers. With 23 CCMA Awards – including the 2026 Humanitarian Award - 3 JUNO Awards, 2 Gold-certified albums, 14 Gold singles, 6 Platinum singles and more than 20 Top 10 radio hits including 4 #1s, his impact is undeniable. Kissel has toured with Brad Paisley and Garth Brooks and collaborated with Charley Pride, Dave Mustaine, Nelly, 98° and Dierks Bentley. Following the ambitious four-album rollout of The Compass Project and its accompanying national tour, Kissel entered a powerful new chapter last year with a run of Top 10 singles from his latest album "Let Your Horses Run" including "Cowboys & Dreamers," the title track and "Hurtin' Songs."

About Madeline Merlo
With a crystalline country vocal and an international rep for writing vivid scenes of emotional insight, Madeline Merlo is an artist with an old soul and a new school style. Signing a record deal at the tender age of 18, Merlo found fast success at Canadian country radio and earned the CCMA Rising Star award in 2015. By 2020 she had crossed the border, competing on Season 2 of NBC songwriting reality series Songland – and coming out a winner. Her song "Champagne Night" became a Platinum-certified three-week No. 1 for Lady A, opening the door for Merlo's artistic dreams. She quickly dropped the sassy country/funk and soul single "It Didn't," racking up more than 11 million Spotify streams to date and followed with the gravel-road pop of her Slide EP in 2022. After being named to CMT's Next Women of Country class of 2024, Merlo released ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door), and called it her most emotionally insightful project yet. The EP, produced by Zach Crowell (Sam Hunt, Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch) features guitar melodies from Keith Urban, and the Canadian gold-certified, CCMA Award winning single "Broken Heart Thing" featuring Dustin Lynch. With 130M+ global streams and 7 Top 10 singles at Canadian Country radio to date, look for a new musical chapter from Merlo this fall.

About Tyler Joe Miller
Tyler Joe Miller quickly made a name for himself in Canadian country music after releasing his Gold Certified debut single, "Pillow Talkin'" at the end of 2019. That single earned him the title of iHeartRadio Future Star and became his first #1 single on Canadian country radio. An unprecedented and record-breaking climb followed with the single "I Would Be Over Me Too," which earned Miller the distinction as the first independent Canadian country artist to reach #1 at radio with their first two singles. In 2020, he released his debut EP Sometimes I Don't, But Sometimes I Do and in 2021 was named SiriusXM's Top of the Country winner. Miller is a multi-CCMA Award nominee, multi-Juno Award nominee and multi-BCCMA Award winner. "Under the Influence," his most recent hit single, is his eleventh Top 10 single at Canadian Country radio to date.

About Sacha
A trailblazer in Country Music, Sacha blends heartfelt storytelling with an infectious energy that captivates audiences. Since releasing her debut EP The Best Thing, she has quickly risen as one of the genre's most exciting new voices. Named iHeartRadio's "Future Star" and a member of CMT's prestigious Next Women of Country Class, Sacha has achieved numerous milestones in her burgeoning career.

Known for her introspective songwriting, her debut album Woman In The Mirror, is a bold collection that highlights her growth as both a writer and storyteller. The album includes Sacha's hit single, "Hey Mom I Made It," a true heartfelt anthem that has garnered over 11 million combined streams globally.

Sacha continues to make waves across the industry. She is recognized as one of Holler Country's '10 Country Artists You Need to Know in 2025,' and she's performed at a Vogue magazine party, made her Grand Ole Opry debut and hit the stage at of some of Country music's biggest festivals including CMA Fest in Nashville, Boots & Hearts, LASSO, Cavendish, and more. Captivating audiences with her electrifying live performances, Sacha is cementing her place as a must-see performer in Country Music.

Media Contacts:

For the Canadian Country Music Association
Red Umbrella P.R. | [email protected] 

For CTV
Christy Sullivan | [email protected] 

For Discover Saskatoon & SDMH
Leanne Schinkel | [email protected] 

For CCMA Awards + Country Music Week Sponsorship Inquiries
[email protected] 

For James Barker Band
Kieran Sells | [email protected] 

For Brett Kissel
Adam Gonshor | [email protected] 

For Madeline Merlo
Shelby Burnell | [email protected]

For Tyler Joe Miller
Dayna Shiskos | [email protected] 

For Sacha
Sam Taus | [email protected] 

 

SOURCE CTV