Keith Urban, Lindsay Ell and High Valley Announced As First Round of Performers For 2018 Canadian Country Music Awards

All Performances to be Broadcast Live from Hamilton Nationwide

on CBC, Sunday, September 9

PLATINUM AND GOLD TICKET PACKAGES AVAILABLE NOW

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 FirstOntario Centre 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 U boasts 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.

About the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA)
Established in 1976, the CCMA is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Sponsors of Country Music Week and the 2018 CCMA Awards Show include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Radio Starmaker Fund, the Government of Ontario, City of Hamilton, Tourism Hamilton and the Hamilton, Halton and Brant Regional Tourism Organization.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

About CBC Music
CBC Music connects Canadians with the very best in music. Available through the CBC Music app, online, on radio and in television specials throughout the year, CBC Music ‎privileges Canadian artists and songs. Offering over 100 free music streams, CBC Music draws from all genres and classifications with knowledgeable hosts and programmers. Home to the JUNO Awards and your favourite music from across the country, discover the next great act with CBC Music. For more, visit www.cbcmusic.ca

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Media Contacts:

For Keith Urban:
Tye Worobess, Universal
Music Canada
tye.worobess@umusic.com | 416.859.8315

For High Valley
Steve Waxman, Warner Music Canada
steve.waxman@warnermusic.com | 416.758.1097

For the Canadian Country Music Association + Lindsay Ell:
Tiffany Astle, penelopePR
tiffany@penelopepr.com | 416.554.7329

For CBC and CBC Music:
Teaghan Hawke, Publicist, CBC
teaghan.hawke@cbc.ca | 416.205.6863