Nanaimo singer Cameron Whitcomb tops 2025 Canadian Country Music Awards nominations
Nanaimo country singer Cameron Whitcomb has topped the nominations list at the 2025 Canadian Country Music Awards with nods in six categories including entertainer, songwriter and male artist of the year.
Whitcomb is tied with Waterdown, Ont., singer Josh Ross, who also has six nominations.
Ross recently apologized to fans after facing criticism for calling the U.S. 'the best country in the world'. He and Whitcomb are up against each other in three categories.
Whitcomb, whose career kicked off when he began posting videos of himself singing on Reddit, was spotted by an American Idol producer who invited him to audition for the program. Whitcomb competed on Season 20 of Idol in 2022, reaching the top 20 before being eliminated. The experience led him to decide to pursue a music career.
He released his debut single Shoot Me Dead in 2023, inking a deal with Atlantic Records. His 2024 single Quitter was serviced to radio in Australia, Canada and the U.K., where it received favourable reviews. He has been steadily touring across North America over the past two years, building a solid fan base for his high-energy live show.
Whitcomb's most recent EP Options was released on March 17. It includes singles such as the rocking Gasoline & Matches, and Bad Apple.
Other B.C.-based acts in the running for awards include Surrey's Tyler Joe Miller with four nominations. Perennial favourite Dallas Smith has one nomination in the Fans Choice category. Smith has won eight CCMAs.
New to this year's CCMA Awards is the francophone Artist of the Year award to be presented to a solo, duo or group act demonstrating exceptional achievements within the nomination time frame. This year's nominees are: Francis Degrandpré, Fred Dionne, Sara Dufour, Vince Lemire, and Salebarbes.
The full list of 2025 CCMA Awards nominees can be found at ccma.org.
Local fans will have two opportunities to put Whitcomb in first place as they can vote in both the Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year, and Fans Choice awards by casting their ballot at ccma.org/fanvoting.
It says a lot about the explosion of country music into the mainstream that the Breakthrough Artist Award is presented by Birkenstock. Socks or not, the comfort shoe brand is not likely anyone's first go-to when thinking about big hats and buckles.
The Fans Choice Award is presented by Bud Light, which seems much more 'on brand.'
Country Music Week kicks off on Sept. 10 in Kelowna. The four-day-long event includes an industry conference, fan events, country crawl and the big awards show. That event will include performances from Madeline Merlo, Tyler Joe Miller, Sacha and Restless Road, Smith and Alexandra Kay, Thelma & James, Whitcomb and more act announcements to come.
The 2025 CCMA Awards presented by TD take place on Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. at Prospera Place. Tickets are on sale now at selectyourtickets.
sderdeyn@postmedia.com
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