The Canadian Country Music Awards were hosted in Saskatoon on Saturday evening, and many with Saskatchewan roots were happy to see the province host the event. Hosted by the James Barker Band, the 50th CCMAs showcased talent throughout Canada, with many performances by artists who call Saskatchewan home. “I’m so excited. It really feels like a big homecoming. And you’re going to see a lot of Saskatchewan artists up on that stage tonight, so I’m very excited to be home,” said Tenille Arts, one of the performers. “... We’re all from very different places. But the small-town vibe, we all kind of share that same feeling of just wanting community.” Originally from Weyburn, Arts shared that she was happy for her fellow musicians to experience Saskatchewan. “I hope they see how welcoming we are and just how much we love country music. And I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more young country singers come up because it’s just such a supportive place to be an artist,” Arts said. Saskatchewan’s Hunter Brothers also performed for the crowd at SaskTel centre. The group, which originally hails from Shaunavon, agreed that there’s a deeply rooted love for country music on the prairies. “It’s real for us. When we’re singing about green fields, we’re singing about backroads and country roads. That’s who we are in Saskatchewan,” said Dusty Hunter. “I think it resonates so much with us as a province — that country music is just kind of embedded into the very fiber of the being of Saskatchewan.” Double nominee Josh Stumph also echoed that sentiment. The Prince Albert-raised singer said country music draws a lot of inspiration from life on the prairies. “It’s the way we live our life here … that is what Saskatchewan is. It’s farmers and its hard-working people and its dirt roads every which way you go. That is the life we live here. We don’t just sing about it, we live it,” Stumph said. Cameron Whitcomb was the big winner of the night, taking home three major awards including Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year with his most recent album titled ‘The Hard Way’. While Whitcomb wasn’t able to attend the event in person, he did record a video thanking his fans, team and the CCMA for the titles. Meghan Patrick won the title of Female Artist of the Year. Patrick took to social media after winning the award to offer thanks and shared that she was unable to be at the event in person as she had recently given birth to a baby girl and was staying home with her daughter. The new mom emphasized how grateful she was to receive the accolade and excitement for the future. Additionally, the host James Barker Band took home the awards for Group or Duo of the Year, and Fan’s Choice. Nominee and performer, Brett Kissel has played many shows throughout Saskatchewan. He shared that while he’s originally from Alberta, he is always happy for the chance to visit. “They’re just the nicest people here in Saskatchewan. I’ve had flat tires on my bus. I’ve had breakdowns. I’ve been invited for perogies late at night for some kitchen parties,” he said. “Saskatchewan, it’s not just one of the best provinces. It’s one of the best places on the planet. And I stand by that.” Another highlight of the evening was the announcement of Jess Moskaluke’s upcoming debut at the Grand Ole Opry, one of Nashville’s most famous music venues. The announcement came as a surprise to Moskaluke, who tearfully expressed her gratitude for the opportunity onstage. The Langenburg-born singer said it was a full circle moment to learn about the honour at home, expressing that she’s incredibly proud of her Saskatchewan roots. “I think if you spend one evening here and you see the sky and just feel the quiet — it’s really easy to fall in love with what Saskatchewan [has] ,” Moskaluke said.
