Minesing’s Jason McCoy will be inducted in the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Hall of Fame this year.
“My first thought was, ‘Am I that old?’” McCoy said with a laugh.
“I feel like the Hall of Fame means you are putting a pin in it, but for me it’s just adding fuel in the fire to do more ... I’ve still got a lot of music to make,” the 52-year-old said.
The singer, songwriter and producer is currently touring with the Road Hammers, who have performances in Manitoba this weekend before heading to Prince Edward Island.
“We are doing shows all over the place,” he said.
A 35-year veteran of the entertainment industry, McCoy is a two-time CCMA Male Vocalist of the Year and a Country Music Association Global Artist Award winner.
After graduating from Barrie North Collegiate Institute, McCoy struck out on his own. He founded the the Road Hammers, the top-selling country band in Canada.
He has guided the band to success throughout Canada and the United States, earning awards along the way. The band won a Juno for Country Album of the Year for The Road Hammers, which went platinum. The band has also won the CCMA Group or Duo Award three times.
The Road Hammers have had five top-10 radio hits in Canada. They have nearly eight million YouTube views, including 2.3 million for the single, I’m a Road Hammer.
But being inducted into the CCMA Hall of Fame stands out.
“It’s different because it’s industry voted, so your name had to come up in the industry. It’s pretty humbling,” said McCoy. “It’s humbling to be nominated for any award.”
In a news release from the CCMA, McCoy said, “I’ve always been proud to be part of the Canadian country music community. It means a lot to me to be able to receive this amazing recognition from my peers and the music industry who have always been so supportive of my creative endeavours.”
While maintaining a full touring schedule with the Road Hammers, McCoy is also an award-winning co-host of the Pure Country 106 morning show with Carey Moran and host of the nationally syndicated weekly show, Nothin’ But the 90s.
“He is a very talented musician and is incredibly deserving of the honour,” Moran said of her co-host. “He’s also a lot of fun to be around, and I count myself lucky to be not only his co-worker, but also his friend.”
In the fall, Mc Coy is going solo on the Great Canadian Road Trip tour with Doc Walker and Michelle Wright, who was inducted into the CCMA Hall of Fame in 2011.
In a Facebook post, Wright wrote, “I’m so happy for you Jason. Welcome to the club.”
The tour includes stops in seven in Ontario — Wingham, Guelph, London, Chatham, Brantford, Lindsay, and North Bay — starting Oct. 11.
“I’m working on some new Road Hammer music as well,” McCoy said. “They are a band that needs to be in the Hall of Fame someday.”
McCoy has many talents, including television work. He hosted Smashtown (CMT Canada/USA), CMT’s Pet Heroes and Jason McCoy Eats America. He was also the host of the Road Hammers television series for two seasons.
McCoy still finds time for charity work. He volunteers for the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children and has been the national ambassador for the Ride for Dad, an event that raises money for prostate cancer research, for close to 15 years.
“That’s near and dear to me. My dad was a prostate cancer survivor,” he said.
The CCMA inducts one artist and one builder of the country music industry per year. This year, the builder inductee is talent agent and show promoter Brian Edwards.
Edwards and McCoy will be inducted at an exclusive ceremony during Country Music Week taking place in Hamilton Sept. 14 to 16. The CCMA Gala Dinner and Awards take place Sept. 16 at the First Ontario Centre in Hamilton.
“It’s truly a privilege to be able to celebrate the incredible achievements and careers of those in the Canadian country music community, and the addition of Brian and Jason to the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame is no exception,” said CCMA president Amy Jeninga.
“The opportunity to highlight their accomplishments during this year’s Country Music Week celebrations is sure to be a special and memorable moment, and one that I’m very much looking forward to.”
The CCMA has been inducting one artist per year since 1984. McCoy joins the ranks of George Fox (2022), Patricia Conroy (2021), Charlie Major (2019), Terri Clark (2018), Paul Brandt (2017) and Murray McLauchlan (2016), among others.
