Alberta Country artist Colleen Rae has many reasons to be proud of her debut CD What You Need Is Me. It has earned her nominations from the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA), Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), and Toronto Independent Music Awards (TIMA). Over the last decade, Colleen has toured as part of the band Cornerstone throughout Western Canada. They've shared the stage with artists such as Corb Lund, Adam Gregory, Charlie Major - and even Comedy legend Dan Aykroyd. Colleen has performed the hits of Country star Connie Smith in a tribute show. Her writing partners include hitmakers Byron Hill, Rob Heath, Tim Taylor, and Wood Newton. Recently, she took part in the filming of the APTN series Blackstone as an extra in 6 different scenes. Tune in to learn all about this talented Canadian Country artist - and hear some of her songs. You can comment on this show by e-mail at [email protected].

Dean Brody – originally from Jaffray, BC & now living in Nova Scotia – is riding high on the success of his 2nd album Trail In Life. He’s earned five Canadian Country Music Association award nominationsincluding Male Artist, Songwriter and Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year andAlbum, Song & Single of the Year. The awards will be handed out in Hamilton, Ontario in September. The current album has sent several songs to the top of the charts: Wildflower, Roll That Barrel Out, People Know You By Your First Name, Trail In Life & now the new single Little Yellow Blanket. Tune in as Dean talks about his music career and shares some of the stories behind his hit songs.

Alberta Country artist Tanya Ryan loves playing at local venues like Gitter's Pub in High River where she got her start as a singer-songwriter. In June 2010, she took her first of several trips to Nashville to learn more about the business & art of making music. Asked to name her favourite artists, the list includes Ray Charles, Zac Brown, Johnny Cash, and Jason McCoy. You can see & hear Tanya's talent on YouTube with her performances of her original songs Like Gasoline and Don't Date A Girl Like Me. Tune in to hear this rising Canadian Country artist talk about her start in music, songwriting & much more. To comment on this show, please e-mail us at [email protected].

Grande Prairie, Alberta Country artist Tenille is nominated for the 2011 CCMA Female Artist of the Year. Prior to the awards ceremony in Ontario in September, this talented 17- year-old will open a show for Country star Easton Corbin ("A Little More Country Than That") in Grand Prairie. Earlier this month, Tenille performed her song Real Me - from her debut CD Real - on CTV's Canada AM. Her video for her song Pictures On A Crooked Wall has aired on CMT. Recently, Tenille took a trip to Nashville to write with hitmakers Willie Mack, Gil Grand & Patricia Conroy. Tune in to hear from this rising star on the Country scene. We'll cover her start in music, songwriting, performing, plus much more - and you'll hear songs from her CD. To send your comments on this episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

Country artist Christi Bauerlee has been singing melodies since before she could put sentences together. As she grew up, she never stopped singing, writing and performing. Along the way, she added modelling and acting credits to her resume - including appearing in movies that starred Demi Moore & Corey Feldman. Her version of the Edwin Starr song War aired every Monday night for 2 seasons as the theme song for the CBS show Family Law. She's also sung background vocals for Neil Young. Christi is no stranger to singing on stages across the U.S. with artists like Craig Morgan, Kimberley Locke and John Waite. Tune in as this talented singer-songwriter talks about her music career, songwriting & more.

62 North is a rockin' Country band based out of Peterborough, Ontario. The group's members areDylan Mader, D.J. Brown & Frank Towns. They recently released a new album entitled Quit Work, Make Music - 3 of the 9 songs are originals. Some of the selections are songs made famous byBrooks & Dunn, Jason Aldean and Hank Williams Sr. This hard-working group has opened up shows for Country stars such as Michelle Wright, Jason Blaine, & Deric Ruttan - and has worked as a back-up band for Peterborough artists like Brenda Mullen, Elyse Saunders & Kristen T. Clark. With this new album & a busy touring schedule ahead, 62 North is looking to make a name for the group with music lovers & radio. The album's debut single is Til The Next Day written by D.J. & Dylan.

Saskatchewan's Codie Prevost is nominated for Rising Star at this year's Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) awards. He's already won the Saskatchewan (SCMA) Fans Choice Entertainer of the Year three times - as well as many other SCMA awards. His current album Get Loud was produced by Vancouver's great Tom McKillip. Rolling Back To You - the lead off single/video from the album - proved successful at radio & CMT. With a busy touring schedule & an upcoming video shoot, it's clear that Codie's success in Country music can be attributed to hard work & talent. Learn more about this popular Canadian artist at codieprevost.com. Tune in to this episode of In The Country to hear Codie discuss the making of his current CD, shooting videos, songwriting, entertaining & much more.

Nikki Shae grew up on a horse farm in a small town just north of Toronto. Her interest in singing began at an early age & she started writing songs at age eleven. After high school, Nikki studied Entertainment Management at a private school in Toronto to gain a thorough understanding of the music business & to ensure she was prepared to succeed in it. Nikki’s breakthrough came when she entered an Idol competition in hopes to win money for recording. She decided to stick with her roots and sing a Country song - Shania Twain’s Up. Nikki had been told for years that her voice & the way she writes from her heart suited Country music best. In 2011, she's been busy writing & recording - and getting ready to take her music career to the next level.

Brian Allen’s resume includes positions as a touring musician, recording artist, songwriter, producer, A&R for a major independent label, department manager for a Performing Right Organization and, most recently, a part time music business instructor at Metalworks Institute. He has earned multi-platinum awards for his songs, productions and A&R endeavours. As a songwriter, Brian co-wrote What About Love with Jim Vallance & Sheron Alton which became a Top 10 hit worldwide for Heart in 1985. He went on to produce double platinum albums for Bad Boys & Lee Aaron. His list of credits goes on and on. Brian is currently working with artists like Marshall Dane, Mike Lynch & Darrelle London. Brian joins me on the show to discuss songwriting, demos, album production & much more. The show will also feature songs from Marshall Dane.

Born in Belleville, Ontario – now based in Stoney Creek, ON - the past eight years have found Country singer/songwriter Brad James on a musical journey since discovering his first acoustic guitar. “My friend left a guitar in my trunk and I started messing around with it. I learned a couple of chords and really came to enjoy it,”he recalls. “Working at a country bar, I got to know some of the bands. Eventually, one of them convinced me to get up on stage on and sing. Besides being ridiculously nervous, it was amazing.” Brad feels that his self-titled debut album is the perfect representation of his live performances. Rockin’ tunes like “If You Like That Sorta Thing” and ballads like “Bitter” will no doubt earn this talented Canadian artist a ton of new fans. Tune in to hear all about Brad's music career & some songs from his CD.