The search for Canada’s next country superstar is officially heating up as SiriusXM, in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), unveils the eight semi-finalists for its eighth annual Top of the Country competition. Representing seven provinces from PEI to BC, these rising stars are about to head into the studio to record original tracks for a high-stakes public vote—where one lucky artist will eventually walk away with a life-changing $25,000 grand prize.
From soulful storytelling to high-octane stage presence, this year’s talent pool is deeper than ever. We caught up with semi-finalists Morgan Griffiths, Shawnee Kish, and Morgan Klaiber to talk about their “fight to the finish line,” capturing their signature sounds in the studio, and what it would mean to be crowned the champion in the heart of the Prairies. —Noa Nichol
Morgan Griffiths
Abbotsford has a rich connection to the Canadian country scene; how does it feel to represent your hometown as one of the eight artists selected for this national stage?
Representing Abbotsford BC makes me strive to achieve as much as I can. Seeing how much everyone loves Country Music out here, and with everybody supporting me with my music career, I’m sure they would be proud that an Abbotsford boy is fulfilling his dream!
You are about to head into the studio in either Vancouver or Toronto to record an original track—how are you preparing to capture your signature sound for this high-stakes session?
Heading in to record an original track of mine, my goal and mindset is to be as true and raw as I possibly can, grabbing the viewers’ attention and making it enjoyable.
Winning the $25,000 grand prize could be life-changing; if you take home the title this fall, is there a specific project or dream you’ve been waiting to fund?
If I get the chance to win the $25,000, I will definitely put a good chunk of that back into my music career and work towards releasing an album
The competition involves a public vote later this year; what is your strategy for rallying your BC fan base to help you secure a spot in the final three?
To rally my BC fan base to vote, I will be posting on all social media platforms constantly, spreading word of mouth, and announcing details at any of my live shows.
You’ll be attending major festivals like Departure Festival or LASSO Montréal if you move forward—which artist on those big stages has influenced your own performance style the most?
The artist that has influenced my performance style the most is Thomas Rhett. He knows how to find the groove in the song and his melodies are amazing, something I try to put into my work.
Shawnee Kish
You are already recognized for your powerful artistry; what made this the right year for you to enter the “fight to the finish line” for SiriusXM Top of the Country?
Entering the fight to the finish line is about sharing the version of me that’s fully stepped into her power. I’ve grown as a songwriter, a performer, and a person. This year felt like the moment where preparation met courage, and I feel like I’m at a place in my creative journey now where I trusted myself enough to say, okay, let’s go all in for all that it’s worth, it’s time.
The next phase involves recording an original track for public voting—can you give us a hint about the theme or energy of the song you’ve chosen for this session?
I’m beyond excited to share this never-before-heard song. I wrote it with the intention of bringing people together. Music has always been my way of empowering and inspiring others, and this song reflects who I am, where I’ve come from, and what I believe in. This is a time for us to stand together in the face of everything we’re struggling with. This song is meant to make you feel strong in your own. This song was meant for everybody and anybody.
This competition culminates with a live performance in Saskatoon; how do you translate the intimacy of a studio recording into a high-energy performance meant for a major festival stage?
When I was recording the track, I treated it like a performance rather than something overly polished or restrained. The goal was to capture real movement, urgency, and emotion so the energy is already embedded in the recording. That way, when it reaches a festival stage, we’re not trying to add intensity—we’re amplifying what’s already there. The intimacy comes from the honesty of the take, and the energy comes from letting the song breathe the same way it would in front of a crowd.
Having access to mentors and platforms through the CCMA is a huge milestone; what is the biggest piece of advice you’ve received so far in your career that you’re leaning on now?
The biggest advice I have received is to learn the business as much as the music. If you want sustainability and longevity you must learn all aspects of your craft. As an unsigned artist I have built something my family can be proud of, and I can continue growing because I understand that in order to chase my dreams and hit milestones, creativity has to go hand in hand with the development process.
If you advance to the finals, you’ll be heading to Nashville for CMA Fest in June—is there a specific Nashville landmark or “bucket list” musical experience you’re hoping to check off while there?
I have yet to experience Nashville, so getting to plant two feet on the pavement there and soak in the culture would be really energizing. A stop at the BlueBird cafe is a must.
Morgan Klaiber
As an artist from Medicine Hat, how has the landscape and culture of Southern Alberta shaped the stories you tell in your songwriting?
I’d say my songwriting style and topics are about as vast as the wide-open prairies and giant skies that I’m looking at when I write them! More commonly, I find myself often writing music that nods to my day-to-day rural living and the folks in my community, but it’s not limited to just cowboy stories and ranch life by any stretch. There’s a huge music culture in and around Medicine Hat, especially in the folk music scene, and that has a huge influence on me. Like many places, we have our own history of resilience here in the desert prairies, and I find more and more my songwriting has undertones of that.
This competition is known for “amplifying Canadian talent”—what do you hope Canadians discover about you as an artist when they hear your new original studio recording?
I hope they discover the modern sounds and stories of the west. I wear a cowboy hat because of who I am off of the stage, and my family’s heritage and culture, but it has far less to do with my sound and style than people would initially assume. Though my songs all fall under the country umbrella, I think the best part about the country music genre is how broad it is by nature, and you don’t have to be pigeonholed into any specific sound because of your look and identity. The backgrounds of artists in this genre are so vast and unique with it feeling like there’s no two the same, so I hope Canadians will see I’m paving my own road with who I am as a unique individual who expresses their own Canadiana sound and songwriting style with both vigor and vulnerability.
You have the potential to perform at Country Music Week 2026 in Saskatoon; what would it mean to you to be crowned the champion in the heart of the Prairies?
Prairies or not; to be crowned the champion would be nothing short of an honour and a privilege, not to mention life changing. I’m a proud Canadian, and the best part about country music week is how it brings us all together from coast to coast, regardless of the location. It’s the culmination of the country music industry in Canada so there truly is no better stage and group of people to share that moment with than those in the Canadian industry, and its greatest fans. But don’t get me wrong, being only 6 hours from home to go to the CCMAs this year is a real treat, and country music week always leans into the local culture that I can’t help but feel a part of when it’s in the prairies.
SiriusXM offers a massive North American reach; how are you planning to use this platform to bridge the gap between “emerging talent” and a household name?
This platform will give me the opportunity to get music straight to the ears of folks who haven’t yet heard of me and are craving something earnest and genuine. Everyone in the top 8 is so unique and authentic to themselves, and that alone makes an artist shine through, and connect to a listener, even through the stereo or a screen. The SiriusXM Top of the Country Contest has unparalleled rural to urban reach and is one of the most looked to contest of the year. Between the media exposure and incredible performance opportunities in Canada and CMA Fest in Nashville, there’s no shortage of occasions to reach the next potential fan and industry connection. I hope to gain as much visibility as this opportunity can offer with the expanded social media reach this carries, the interviews and platform exposure, potential Canadian and US performances, mentorship sessions, and the recorded song and video, and show anyone who’s listening who Morgan Klaiber is an artist, and a human being. There is no shortage of momentum to build on at every level of this contest, and I always put my most honest and real self forward. It’s the most rewarding way to make genuine and lasting connections with people and I can’t wait to introduce my work on a national and international level through this program.
Between the studio sessions and potential trips to Nashville for CMA Fest, which part of this journey are you personally most excited to document for your fans?
How do I pick just one? For now, I’m most excited to show everyone the song I’ve chosen to record with my live band, and what the process is like. It’s truly one of my most favourite songs I’ve written to date, and speaks of the enduring, the hopeful, and the realistic journey of the dreamer. It’s a story of how optimism and doubt can co-exist amongst resilience, something that regardless of your background is very relatable human experience. After that, I can’t wait to show people my view from the incredible stages that being a finalist puts you on! At the end of the day, I just really love to sing for people and share emotions together through music. Whether it’s in person at the show, or documenting online those extra special moments on and off the stage, it’s wholesome and real and connects us all in real-time and from a distance.
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