CMAOntario Awards Reveal 2025 Nominees
Owen Riegling. Credit Matthew Berinato/Universal Music Canada
The Country Music Association of Ontario has announced the nominees for the 13th annual CMAOntario Awards taking place Sunday, June 1, 2025 at The Music Hall in Hamilton, Ontario.
Owen Riegling leads with six nominations followed by Andrew Hyatt, Elyse Saunders, and Tebey with four nominations each.
Hosted by Jason McCoy, the CMAOntario Awards Show will close out the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend from May 30-June 1, 2025. The CMAOntario Awards will acknowledge the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 17 categories plus special awards.
The Nominees for the 13th Annual CMAOntario Awards are:
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Blinding Lights (Country Version): Tebey
Finding Firsts: Andrew Hyatt
Hey Mom I Made It: Sacha
Moonshines: Owen Riegling
Never Have I Ever: Elyse Saunders
Race To The Bottom: Nate Haller
ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR
Break Up Rules: Paige Rutledge
Bruce County: Owen Riegling
Golden Child: Meghan Patrick
Growing up to Do: Robyn Ottolini
L Is For: Andrew Hyatt
Pathways: Julian Taylor
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Chrystal Oudijk, Douglas Romanow, Nicole Rayy: Guilty
Elyse Saunders, Jason Blaine: Never Have I Ever
Karli June, Deric Ruttan: Still Make Cowgirls
Owen Riegling, Daryl Scott, Jesse Slack: Moonshines
Tebey, G. Palmer, S. Walker, D. Dupelle: Hangover at My Place|
Tim Hicks, Deric Ruttan, Monty Criswell: Quits
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dayna Reid
Elyse Saunders
Jessie T
Karli June
Robyn Ottolini
Sacha
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Andrew Hyatt
Brian John Harwood
Nate Haller
Owen Riegling
Ryan Langdon
Tim Hicks
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Amanda and James
New Moon Junction
River Town Saints
Rosewood Ave
The Redhill Valleys
The Western Swing Authority
RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
Adam Newcomb: Sacha, Elyse Saunders, Riley Taylor
Deric Ruttan: Karli June – Still Make Cowgirls
Douglas Romanow: Nicole Rayy – Guilty
Matthew Koebel: Jessie T, Paige Rutledge, Jessica Sole
Shawn Moore: Spencer Burns, Bradley Hale, Brothers Wilde, Tim Albertson
The Agenda: Angelica Appelman, David Madras, Kasey Nugent, Patrick James Clark, Peter Peres
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Callie McCullough
Emily Clair
Julian Taylor
Mackenzie Leigh Meyer
The Redhill Valleys
The Western Swing Authority
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Alexa Goldie
Dayna Reid
Olivia Mae Graham
Paige Rutledge
Spencer Burns
Sully Burrows
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Blinding Lights (Country Version): Tebey
Finding Firsts: Andrew Hyatt
Guilty: Nicole Rayy
Moonshines: Owen Riegling
Never Have I Ever: Elyse Saunders
Still Make Cowgirls: Karli June
INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR
AJ Astle, Roadhouse Productions
Christine Wiley & Christine Stevens, C to C Music Insider
Dave Woods, In the Country
Elliott Deseure & Nick Marinac, Adaptive Media
Samantha Pickard, Strut Entertainment
Sam Davs, Cosmic Alchemy Designs
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Adrian Juras (Karli June and Ryan Langdon)
Jeff Brown (Kelsi Mayne, Washboard Union, Jason Blaine)
Joey DePaiva (Mackenzie Leigh Meyer, Spencer Burns, Nicole Rayy)
Jordan Honsinger (Tebey)
Mackenzie Leigh Meyer (Robyn Ottolini)
Ryan Cassar (Elyse Saunders, Kelsi Mayne, Paige Rutledge)
FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Kristine St-Pierre
Les Rats D’Swompe
Mitch Jean
Reney Ray
Sugar Crush
Vincent Bishop
FANS’ CHOICE sponsored by Tourism Hamilton
Josh Ross
Owen Riegling
Sacha
Steven Lee Olsen
Tebey
The Reklaws
For more information about the CMAOntario Festival and Awards in Hamilton visit CMAOntario.ca. Tickets are on sale now.
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