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Prince Albert’s Josh Stumpf did not leave the Canadian Country Music Association Awards with a trophy, but the 23-year-old artist said earning his first two nominations was an honour in itself.
Stumpf was nominated for fans’ choice and breakthrough artist or group of the year at Saturday’s awards in Saskatoon. The James Barker Band won the fans’ choice award, while Sully Burrows was named breakthrough artist or group of the year.
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Before the awards were handed out, Stumpf said the recognition alone was enough.
“It means more to me that I got nominated than anything else,” he said. “I’m so grateful. Win, lose, draw, I do not care. I’m just happy to be with everybody and acknowledged and validated.”
“It feels like I belong here, which is cool,” he said.
Stumpf was one of several Saskatchewan artists in the spotlight as the province hosted Country Music Week and the CCMA Awards. He helped open the celebrations Tuesday with a performance at the kickoff event at Gather Local Market.
Hearing the audience sing along to his song “Highway Money” became one of the highlights of the week.
“Dude, that was like something I’ve never experienced before,” he said. “And then I got to hear the crowd singing the words back to ‘Highway Money.’ That was incredible.”
Stumpf admitted he was nervous before stepping onstage, as he is before most performances. The nerves began to fade once he made it through the opening song.
“Then once you get through the first song, it feels like nothing,” he said. “Then you get through the second song, you’re like, ‘All right, I’m ready to go. Let’s do it. What do you mean I have to go?’”
The CCMA nominations marked another step in Stumpf’s growing music career. He won the emerging artist award at the 2024 Saskatchewan Country Music Awards and was a semifinalist in the 2026 SiriusXM Top of the Country competition.
He is also continuing to work on new music, including “Johnny Walker (Back to Me).” Stumpf said the song personifies a bottle of Johnnie Walker.
“The song is written about going to the bar and talking to the bottle,” he explained. “Saying, ‘I know you’ve seen this girl in and out of this bar. Could you get this message across?’ Basically, that’s what’s going on.”
With Country Music Week now behind him, Stumpf’s schedule remains busy. He’s heading to Niagara Falls before travelling to Australia for three weeks.
In February, he’s scheduled to return to Ontario for a tour with Canadian-American country music singer Tebey.
The trophies may have gone to other artists this time, but Stumpf left his first CCMA Awards as a two-time nominee, and feeling like he’s earned his place among Canada’s country music community.
