The Top of the Country contest is one that can help launch an emerging country artist into the stratosphere. Past winners like Matt Lang and Tyler Joe Miller have gone on to have great success since they one the title and finalists like Tim & The Glory Boys, Josh Ross have gone on to find great success as well with the latter becoming a superstar in the past few years. Last years winner was Hailey Benedict who has gone on to find a top 40 charting with her Christmas song “Freeze” and top 50 with “Damn You July” that was released a couple months before the contest. A runner up from last year was Teigen Gayse, whose single “Sleeping With Her” has gone on to be top 30 on the Billboard Canadian Country chart. This is a contest that can help establish a career and kickstart things.
Here are the 8 Semi-Finalists:
Robert Adam – Bonnyville, Alberta
Alexa Goldie – Kingston, Ontario
Parker Graye – Orillia, Ontario
Zach McPhee – Vernon, British Columbia
Tony Stevens – Surrey, British Columbia
Trudy – Montreal, Quebec
Mariya Stokes – Stavely, Alberta
Jade Turner – Misipawistik Cree Nation, Manitoba
Of the 8 artists Tony Stevens has 2 songs that can be heard on River Country including his new one “Whiskey in Colorado” and was a headliner on River Country Rising Stars. Jade Turner’s music has seen a few songs get featured on Rising Stars as well in the past. Parker Graye and Mariya Stokes are the only other two I have heard of at this point but look forward into hearing the what the others have to offer.
The top eight will soon hit the studio, recording original tracks to share with Canadian country music fans, who will then vote on their favourite. The competition will heat up further when the group is narrowed down to the final three, who will vie for the coveted title of SiriusXM’s Top of the Country winner and the $25,000 grand prize.
Following the public’s vote for their favourites, the three finalists will travel to Nashville for industry mentorship opportunities, and they’ll also have a performance slot at the 2024 CMA Fest. They’ll then hit the stage at Lasso Montréal in August, followed by the Top of the Country Finale during Country Music Week in September (in Edmonton), where the winner will be crowned. In addition to the $25,000 grand prize, SiriusXM will award both runners-up $10,000.
– Everett
