Local singer nominated for Ontario country music award

Local country singer Olivia Mae Graham was nominated as Breakthrough Artist of the Year by the Country Music Association of Ontario. She finds out if she wins at the awards ceremony on June 1. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Local singer Olivia Mae Graham has been nominated for a Country Music Association of Ontario award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

“It’s something I’ve dreamed of for years,” she said. “I’ve been going to the CMAO awards for years.”

Graham explained that CMAO members choose the award nominees through three rounds of voting. She was one of six chosen as a nominee. Further voting will decide who wins the award.

“It’s going to be fun to walk the red carpet, to celebrate with my friends,” she said. “To recognize me in this way is super humbling.”

The winner will be announced at the 13th annual awards show, which is scheduled for June 1 at the Music Hall in Hamilton. The show is open to the public.

“This is the first step to recognize those in the industry has been making waves on a breakthrough,” she said, pointing to recent winners Owen Riegling and Josh Ross as examples whose careers started to take off after winning.

Graham said she is getting more radio play and plans to release some new songs this spring. The award nomination is helping that.

“It’s definitely made more industry people take note and we’re getting more interview requests,” she said.

Artists needed to have released a song within the last 12 months to be eligible for the award. Graham's eligible song was “Boots.” She just released an acoustic version of the song with a new video.

“It shows small-town shows at the age of 12 to opening for Terri Clark and James Barker Band,” she said of the video. “This song is about my journey so the fact this song got us nominated is really cool in my opinion.”

Graham is in the process of releasing her first album, scheduled for this fall.

“I cannot wait for people to hear the new songs I’ve been working on, I’m just so excited,” she said. “They always say in the music world it takes your whole life to write your first album and six months for the second one.”

Writing new songs daily, Graham said the track list isn’t finalized yet.

“Having an album and collection of songs where I wrote every single one, and I was able to produce with musicians I love, it’s a big milestone. It’s a collection of my life to this point,” she said. “I’m excited to see what happens after we put it out into the world.”

Graham will play at the Carriage House in Tillsonburg on May 25. The last show she played there sold out.

“I’m so excited to be back in Tillsonburg,” she said. “I’m happy to celebrate with friends before heading off to the awards in June.”

Tickets are available through her website at https://www.oliviamaegraham.com