Mildmay native in the mix for Entertainer of the Year
MIDWESTERN NEWSPAPERS STAFF
TORONTO – Owen Riegling is headed back to the red carpet.
The Mildmay native is nominated in five categories for the 2025 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards.
The CCMA announced award nominees on June 17, with Riegling in the mix for:
– Fans’ Choice Award presented by Bud Light, Entertainer of the Year;
– Ford F-150 Album of the Year;
– Songwriter(s) of the Year presented by SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada); and
– Single of the Year.
The 26-year-old singer/songwriter has experienced a meteoric rise to the top of the nation’s country music scene. He offered a shout-out to his fans in a Facebook post following the CCMA announcement
“It’s truly a blessing to get to do this and I take none of it for granted. It’s never been about recognition or awards it’s always been about the music and my connection with you guys. Thanks for sticking with me on this ride,” he stated.
Hosted by comedian, actor and cultural icon Tom Green, the 2025 CCMA Awards will broadcast live on CTV on Sept. 13 from Prospera Place, in Kelowna, BC.
The latest CCMA nominations come on the heels of a successful night for Riegling at the CMA Ontario awards on June 1, in Hamilton, where he picked up five awards including:
– Single of the Year: For his song Moonshines;
– Album of the Year: For his album Bruce County;
– Songwriter of the Year: For Moonshines;
– Male Artist of the Year; and
– Fan’s Choice.
At the 2024 CCMA awards, Riegling was nominated in four categories, winning in two, Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. The Songwriter of the Year award was for his song Old Dirt Roads. He was also nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.
In what was a very busy year for the entertainer in 2024, he also performed at the Grey Cup in Vancouver on Nov. 17.
Riegling is currently on a cross-Canada tour that includes upcoming Ontario appearances at the Boots and Hearts Music Festival in Oro Station on Aug. 9 and Lucknow’s Music in the Fields festival on Aug. 22.
