Global Country

Global Country Success Stories

Brett’s country musical career continues to spiral upwards. He is signed with Warner Music Canada, and co-managed by well known Canadian manager, Louis O’Reily. He has released his sixth album, “Started With A Song”. Brett had a hand in writing all the songs on the album. The first single from the album broke all Canadian country radio records when 93% of all stations in Canada added it to their play list the first week it was released, and it went to Number One within a few short weeks. His second single from the album, “Raise Your Glass”, also shot to the number one spot on Canadian radio. Brett's previous two self released albums sold over 75,000 copies. He has now moved to Nashville, where he has a publishing and co-management deal with Bob Doyle, long time manager of Garth Brooks and The Band Perry. At the 2014 ACMA Awards, Brett received 4 nominations and took home awards for Single Of The Year for “Ït Started With A Song", and the Calgary Stampede Rising Star Award. In February, 2014, it was announced that Brett had 5 Edmonton Music Award nominations, winning Male Artist and Album of the Year Awards, and 2 JUNO nominations. At the JUNOs he became the first country artist in 17 years to win the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award. Also in February, 2014, Brett co-headlined the Young Guns Tour, with BC’s, One More Girl. The tour sold out across Canada from the west coast to the east coast. In September, 2014, Brett was the top nominated artist at the Canadian Country Music Awards, with 8 nominations. He won the CMT Video of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year Awards. In 2014 he also won a Canadian Radio Music Award as Best New Country Artist and toured across Canada as the opening act for Brad Paisley. Brett started off 2015 by winning Male Artist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year Awards at the Alberta Country Music Awards. During the summer months he headlined several festivals and then made an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville while releasing his new album, “Pick Me Up” which already spawned a massive hit song “Airwaves”. In Halifax in September 2015 he was awarded the CCMA Award for Interactive Artist Of The Year and in the fall of 2015 he is headlining his “Airwaves” cross-Canada tour, which has sold out in many venues.
Aaron is now living in Nashville where he is a singer/songwriter signed with Warner – Chappel music. Aaron is becoming the songwriter to go to for emerging Canadian artists, having had his songs cut on several recent albums. His songs are now also being recorded by some prominent American country acts, such as Luke Byran, who included one of Aaron’s songs on his latest album, which has gone Platinum, and Scotty McCreery, who included one of Aaron's songs on his new album. He has also had cuts on the albums of US newcomers, Jon Pardi, and Cole Swindell. In Canada Aaron has 10 songs on the upcoming debut album by Tristan Hornecastle. Aaron also co-produced the album, which will be released on Royalty Records. Aaron also has a song in the Canadian Top 50, “Always Tonight”, which he wrote with the group, Wyatt, who released the song on their album. Aaron is also still recording and working on his own performance career and on November 6, 2015 it was announced that he has been signed by Warner Music Canada, and his first single, “Knock On Wood” was released to Canadian radio. It was also announced that he will be on a 37 date cross Canada tour opening for Johnny Reid in February and March 2016
As the spokesperson for Alberta Dodge Dealers, Alex has toured and performed at numerous Alberta fairs, rodeos and other events, and released an EP album of her original songs which was distributed throughout the province by the Dodge dealerships. She is now in Los Angeles where she is working with Grammy Award winning producer Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, Kenny G and many others) and has had cameo appearances on the tv reality series “Nail Files”. She recently recorded a song for the soundtrack of the movie 108 Stitches. Alex has now returned to Calgary and is working on her country music career there

Candice has been pursuing her musical career with a passion. Since the Edmonton Oil Kings selected her as their anthem singer for their 2013 playoff run, Candice has been asked to sing the National Anthem at every major sporting venue in the Edmonton area, including for the Edmonton Eskimos, Edmonton Oilers, Castrol Raceway, and the Edmonton Prospects. She opened for the two time CCMA group of the year, Hey Romeo, and was selected for 3 Showcases during the 2013 CCMAs, where she won second place in the Aboriginal Showcase. This led to interviews, guest spots, and her single, “I Need You”, being added to rotation on CFWE 98.5. Indie Week 2013 in Toronto selected Candice for showcases at The Central and at the Cadillac Lounge, where she was declared second place overall. Candice received 2 ACMA nominations for 2013, and has performed for many charity events at top venues in the Edmonton area. She released a new single, “California Sunrise” in February of 2014 and has been busy writing and recording for her new album.
Livy Jeanne has been busy working on her country music career. She has trained under world famous performance coach Tom Jackson (Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, and many more); has been signed by Invictus Entertainment; has opened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, George Canyon, and others; has taken her “Invisible Tour”, an anti-bullying motivational musical show, to schools throughout Alberta and beyond; has received radio airplay across Canada; and has released her first 7 track album of original songs, “Under The Radar”, produced by award winning Canadian producer, Tom McKillip. She has now released a new single, “Wrong Side Of The Dirt”, to radio, and an accompanying video, which is receiving airplay on CMT. Livy was also one of the acts on the cross-Canada Young Guns Tour, and has received 2 Edmonton Music Award nominations.
Trevor is the only Canadian to ever make it into the finals of the prestigious Colgate Country Challenge in the US, where he ended up as the runner-up. He continues to write songs and record and perform with his band Roughstock, and has had several radio singles that received airplay across Canada. He recently opened for Don Williams on his western Canadian tour, and also for Tim McGraw in Edmonton and Zac Brown in Winnipeg, where out of nine acts he was one of only two to receive an encore. Currently Trevor is getting heavy radio airplay across Canada with his current single, scription

2024
13 - 17 Category:
1st Place: Hayley Isabel, Airdrie, AB
2nd Place: Addy Watson, Whitecourt, AB
18 – Over Category
1st Place: KJ Miller, Chestermere, AB
2nd Place: Eden Taylor, Airdrie, AB
2023
13 – 17 Category:
1st Place: Halle May Hobbs, Stony Plain, AB
2nd Place: Mikaela Roach, Golden Lake, ON
18 – Over Category
1st Place: Megan Paige, Millet, AB
2nd Place: Samantha Wiltzen, Sherwood Park, AB
2022
13 – 17 Category:
Edward Pimm, Mayerthorpe, AB
18 – Over Category:
Laura Wallbank, Gibbons, AB
Lena Daniels, Edmonton, AB
2020
13 – 17 Category:
1st Place: Martina Dawn, Devon, AB
2nd Place: Rachel Bryne, Edmonton, AB
18 – Over Category:
1st Place: Brandon Lorenzo, Airdrie, AB
2nd Place (tie): Jacquie Daniels, St Albert, AB
Clint Baker, Calgary, AB
2019
18 – Over Category:
Justin Sutton, Strugeon County, St Albert AB
Craig Silver, Calgary, AB
Grady Brown, Stavely, AB
2018
13 – 17 Category:
Charley Arnold, Edmonton, AB
Justine Sletten, Hazlot, SK
18 – Over Category:
Michela Sheedy, Okotoks, AB
Brenda Dirk, Spruce Grove, AB
Travis Dolter, Bittern Lake, AB
2017
13 – 17 Category:
Jordon Leaf – Grande Prairie, AB
Julie Sellin – Wetaskiwin, AB
Krissy Feniak – Drayton Valley, AB
18 – Over Category:
Terez Goulette – Calgary, AB
Ryan Snow – Edmonton, AB
2016
Brooklyn Blackmore –Head of Chez, NS
Al O’Neil – Enfield, NS
Sarah Matheson – Brookfield, NS
Angela McClement – Bedford, NS
Angus Brown Jr. – Halifax, NS
Hailey Benedict – St. Albert, AB
Hannah Gazso – Ardrossan, AB
Justin Hogg – Morinville, AB
TracyLynn – Spruce Grove, AB
Amy Ivory – Edmonton, AB
Tanya Hedrick – Sherwood Park, AB
Steve Gosse – Edmonton, AB
2015
Josh Ruzycki - Sherwood Park, AB
Nicole Sumerlyn – Abbotsford, BC
Ben Klick – West Kelowna, BC
Mariya Stokes – Calgary, AB
Nicky Pearson – Edmonton, AB
Michelle Lavallee – Medicine Hat, AB
2014
Julia Nicholson – St. Albert, AB
Sydney Mae – Cochrane, AB
Nakita Kohan – Spruce Grove, AB
Jessy Mossop – St. Albert, AB
2013
Jesse Mast – Salmon Arm, BC
Stephanie Lloyd – Debden, SK
Christianne Godart – Middle Lake, SK
Dahlia Wakefield – Edmonton, AB
Melody Lovejoy – Edmonton, AB
2012
Olivia Wik – Sherwood Park, AB
Cassidy Zahar – Vilna, AB
Candice Ryan – Spruce Grove, AB
Lyndsay Butler – High River, AB
2011
Brendan Guy – Leduc, AB
Payton Klassen – Sherwood Park, AB
Andrew Scott – Beaumont, AB
Stephanie Roinier – St. Paul, AB
Tommy J. Mueller – Calgary, AB
2010
Daylin Jorgensen – St. Albert, AB
Livy Jeanne – Ardrossan, AB
Kasha Derechey – Edmonton, AB
Ivan Daigle – Petiteadiac, NB
2009
Olivia Rose Leaf – Elk Point, AB
Sean Sonego – Edmonton, AB
Alex Hughes – Calgary, AB
Kara Wilson – Edmonton, AB
2008
Lauren Adamoski – Edmonton, AB
Alexandra Adamoski (Alee) – Edmonton, AB
Danielle Lowe – Edmonton, AB
Alex Hughes – Calgary, AB
Stan Hitchcock – St. Albert, AB
2007
Paul Chesters – Regina, SK
Winners under the original program
Samantha King – Bruce, AB
Michael Carey – Innisfail, AB
Candace Czuroski – Glendon, AB
Tiffany Dowhan – Radway, AB
Leah Durelle – St. Albert, AB
Mike Gouchie – Edmonton, AB
Joanne Janzen – Edmonton, AB
Aaron Goodvin – Fairview, AB
Brett Kissel – Flat Lake, AB
Katie Mission – Sherwood Park, AB
Shawn & Dee Ouellette – Bonnyville, AB
Trevor Panczak – Magrath, AB
Julia Vos – Mulhurst Bay, AB
Kayla Patrick – Edmonton, AB
Emily Seal – St. Albert, AB
Vissia Sisters, Alex, Aleisha & Andy – Stony Plain, AB
1st Rising Star – Supported and Promoted by Global Country
Adam Gregory – Edmonton, AB

Comments from previous winners:

“The trip was nothing short of an inspiring, eye-opening, extraordinary adventure. You have worked tirelessly… for the sake of helping young artists thrive.”

“The Nashville trip was amazing, You taught me so much about Nashville, and the business along with how the industry works.”

“It was a life-changing experience. I learned so much about the industry and made some amazing new friends.”

"I’m so glad to have been part of the Nashville crew, I love hearing of everyone’s success and looking forward to seeing everyone in the future.”

“So many wouldn’t be as far as they are now, without Global Country.”

Global Country Success Stories

Brett Kissell

Aaron Goodvin

Alex Hughes

Candice Ryan

Livy Jeanne

Trevor Panzcak

Global Country Star Search Winners

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