Though Nashville remains the cradle of country, Canada has a pretty long history with it too, taking the styles and sounds of its Southern neighbors and applying its own rustic, regional spin. Few artists epitomize that country cross-pollination like Cameron Whitcomb, a pipeline worker turned singer-songwriter who found viral success with his gritty voice and honest songwriting. 2025 was a big year for the 22-year-old artist from British Columbia, who dropped his critically acclaimed debut album The Hard Way in September. A deeply personal LP that touches on mental health and addiction, the record introduces Whitcomb as a peer to similarly vulnerable artists like Zach Bryan, as well as a sonic successor to 2010s folk rockers like The Lumineers. Whitcomb took home the Fans’ Choice Award at this year’s CCMA Awards and was named an Apple Music Up Next artist for Canada. Listen to him now on Canada’s Country and add the playlist to your library to stay up on the songs shaping the future of country music.