Canadian group James Barker Band has been tapped to host the country’s biggest night in country music. The Canadian Country Music Association says the group from Woodville, Ont., is also set to perform at the CCMA Awards on Sept. 19 in Saskatoon. Other performers for the live broadcast on CTV and Crave include Brett Kissel, Madeline Merlo, Dean Brody and Tenille Townes. James Barker Band is also in the running for five awards, including best album, best single and entertainer of the year, and previously won best group two years in a row. Meanwhile, country hitmaker Josh Ross and breakout star Cameron Whitcomb are leading nominees with seven apiece, and will square off against each other in several top categories. Organizers say the awards show will also include a musical tribute to American country icon Dolly Parton, who died of cancer last month at 80. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2026. Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press CTV News, CTV, Crave and CP24 are owned by Bell Media, which is a division of BCE.
