From the suburbs to the stage: 2 of this year's Juno nominees for best country album are rooted in B.C.

About five years ago, Tyler Joe Miller says he was "swinging a hammer," working as a carpenter and house painter, and just starting to break into the Canadian country music scene.
On Christmas Day 2019, he released his first single, Pillow Talkin', and his first EP came out the following year later. Miller has since been nominated for several Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs), including Songwriter of the Year in 2023.
Now, he's nominated for Country Album of the Year for his latest EP, Going Home, at the 2025 Juno Awards.
"This stuff is crazy," he told Gloria Macarenko, the host of CBC's On The Coast. "It still blows my mind that this is something that I get to do for a living."
WATCH | Tyler Joe Miller's What Good Is a Memory:
Miller is on the shortlist with Alberta stars Brett Kissel and MacKenzie Porter, Ontario's Josh Ross — who is up for five awards this year — and fellow British Columbian Dallas Smith.
While Miller grew up in Surrey, he and Smith both put down roots in Langley, B.C. — a community outside the hustle and bustle of Vancouver, where country-loving souls can enjoy the rural surroundings and, in Miller's case, raise some chickens.
"[There's] something in the water," Smith told Stephen Quinn, the host of The Early Edition. "I mean, the city's motto was where city meets country, right?"
His self-titled album, released in late 2023, is a Juno contender this spring and was already nominated for Album of the Year at the 2024 CCMAs.
Smith hasn't always been a country king; in fact, his career started in 1999 as the frontman for Default, a Canadian rock group that released four albums over eight years and won a Juno for Best New Group in 2002.
But he said he's always loved country music.
"I'm a big believer in a good song is a good song."
WATCH | Dallas Smith's How Do You Miss Me:
Smith recently played the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., a dream for any country musician.
"It was incredible," he said. "To actually get the invite from the Opry … it's quite an amazing, humbling experience."
Miller spent some time in Nashville himself recently, writing new songs and shooting a music video.
Upon his arrival home, he went to Aldergrove to pick up some chicks — baby chickens, that is.
"We moved to a property here [and] it had like a kind of an old chicken coop that needed some fixing up, so I spent the last little bit fixing her up, and we're putting the run in pretty soon here," Miller said. "We're kind of learning how to take care of chickens now, I guess."
Now, the two Langley-based artists will face off on Sunday at the 2025 Juno Awards, where they're up against some stiff competition.
"I'll just take an Uber down," Smith said with a laugh. "I'm looking forward to it. I mean, the Junos aren't here very often, so I'm going to enjoy that and enjoy it being in my backyard."

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6 hours ago

• Toronto Sun

CHRISTMAS IN JULY: A beautiful friendship

Variety Village best pals Kaden Jaglowitz, 13, (L) and his his best buddy Georgio Gonsalves, 12, who met at the Variety Village Summer Camp three years ago, shoot hoops in the main sports clubhouse on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Photo by Jack Boland / Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network Most kids with disabilities have no friends. None. One Canadian university study put membership in that lonely kids' club at 53%. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Sad but true. Not so at Variety Village. Which brings us to the bustling lobby of that iconic east end sports centre the other day. Georgio Gonsalves, 12, glances out the big windows and his eyes spark. He bounces up and down. 'K!' he exclaims. K as in Kaden Jaglowitz, 13. The two boys are best buds. They have not seen each other for all of three days. They love each other. I mean real love. 'Kaden is so sweet,' Georgio tells me. 'I love Georgio,' says Kaden. Variety Village best pals Kaden Jaglowitz, 13, (L) and his his best buddy Georgio Gonsalves, 12, who met at the Variety Village Summer Camp three years ago, shoot hoops in the main sports clubhouse on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Photo by Jack Boland They have other things in common, including Down syndrome and heart surgery scars and the like. Loneliness, too – until that vanished three summers ago at Variety Village's legendary camps. By chance, their moms had enrolled them in the introductory sports camp. At the end of day one, Georgio's mom, Mary Kapetanos, came to get him. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This is Kaden,' Georgio said, solemnly. 'He's my friend.' It was music to Mary's ears. Georgio had classmates, of course, but those relationships ended at the school bell. No one invited him for sleepovers. There were no BFFs – until that Variety camp, and Kaden. 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Other camps, for kids of all abilities, include taekwondo, art, drama, track and field and rock climbing – and basketball. You are lucky if you have a friendship like that of Kaden and Georgio. Variety Village remains its backdrop. You can help keep it so. Any donations in June to the Sun Christmas Fund – Christmas in July? – will be tripled thanks to Canadian Tire Jumpstart and a private donor, to a total of $150,000. Donate at or use the QR code on this page. Could be the start of a beautiful friendship. northchannelmike@ Columnists Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls World

CBC

7 hours ago

• CBC

Dene country musician Harry Rusk remembered for 'paving a path' for other Indigenous musicians

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National Post

21 hours ago

• National Post

Kids summer must-haves: Editor-tested toys, clothes and SPF

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