May 16, 2018 (Toronto, ON) – Hot off the announcement of Shania Twain as the show’s host, the Canadian Country Music Awards have confirmed the program’s first three performers — Keith Urban, Lindsay Ell and High Valley. All three artists will be a part of the nationwide broadcast, from First Ontario Place in Hamilton, ON, on Sunday, September 9, live in all time zones on CBC and at cbcmusic.ca/ccmas at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT).
Grammy-Award winner Keith Urban is no stranger to the CCMA Awards stage. This year, the platinum-selling artist will arrive in Hamilton celebrating the release of his ninth studio album GRAFFITI U. Hitting #1 on all-genre charts after one week of release and recently gold certified in Canada, GRAFFITI Uboasts singles such as “Coming Home” (ft. Julia Michaels) and is anticipated to add to Urban’s long-list of #1 hits (23). The second chart-topping album for Keith Urban, GRAFFITI U will lay the foundation for electric, high-energy performances both at the 2018 CCMA Awards and each night of the upcoming 10 Canadian dates of the “GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR“.
Recently earning the first #1 single at Canadian country radio by a female in more than a decade with “Criminal,” Lindsay Ell has spent the better part of the last year taking the country world by storm. With her debut release THE PROJECT named the #1 Critic’s Choice Country Album of the Year by Billboard, the Calgary native has just wrapped a year-long tour with Brad Paisley and will head out with both Sugarland and Keith Urban later this year.
Two-time CCMA Award Group of the Year winners, High Valley has become one of Canada’s biggest success stories. Selling over 1 million singles worldwide, the brother duo recently released their fifth studio album DEAR LIFE. Spawning the Top 10 hits “Every Week’s Got A Friday” and “Dear Life” (Top 5), DEAR LIFE also delivered the #1 Canadian Country radio hit and their fourth GOLD-certified song “I Be U Be.” Nominated for a 2018 JUNO Award for Country Album of the Year, High Valley will head out on the road with Old Dominion this fall, bringing their smash hits “Make You Mine” (certified GOLD in both Canada and the US) and “She’s With Me” (Top 5 in Canada/Top 10 at US Country radio) to fans across North America.
Tickets for the 2018 CCMA Awards are available now, with GOLD and PLATINUM Packages available as of today. Single tickets and packages are available for purchase in-person through the FirstOntario Centre Box Office and online at ticketmaster.ca.
Fans are encouraged to follow along with CCMA Award updates via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. For more information on the CCMA and the 2018 CCMA Awards, visit ccma.org.
