Rudy Blair has interviewed everyone from Shania Twain to Sam Smith … and this week he interviewed US about our nomination for Group or Duo of the Year at the upcoming CMA Ontario Awards, which are happening next Sunday in Port Credit. Check it out!

We’ve got some exciting news…

We have officially been named one of the TOP 20 qualifying artists in the Hot Country Breakout Artist Contest with the Route 905 Country Festival! The announcement was made live on Hot Country Mornings with Tracy Lynn, and we are honestly so grateful and excited to be part of this.

Now comes the important part: VOTING.

From now until Friday, May 29 at 11:59pm, fans can vote once per day on BOTH radio station websites. The Top 10 artists with the most votes will move on to perform at a live showcase at Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. in Dundas on Saturday June 20. The winner of that showcase gets a spot on the Route 905 Country Festival and we would love to be on that stage!

Because of the Canadian news restrictions on social media platforms, we can’t reliably share voting links on Facebook or Instagram right now — so email support means everything.

If you’d like to support us, here’s how. Visit BOTH station websites:

Vote on Hot Country 93.9 

Vote on Hot Country 88.5 

Please vote for us on EACH station (and come back once a day until May 29and do it again)! Every single vote genuinely matters in a contest like this, and having your support behind us means more than we can say.

Thank you for cheering us on, supporting independent Canadian country music, and helping us take this next step.

We appreciate you so much!
Amanda & James

We’re so excited to share that our single “Comeback” has officially reached #1 on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown!

This song has meant so much to us from the very beginning. “Comeback” is the kind of song that leans into heartbreak while still letting you roll the windows down and sing at the top of your lungs. Seeing it connect with listeners in such a big way has been incredibly special.

To everyone who has streamed the song, requested it, added it to playlists, shared it online, or sung along at a live show - thank you. Independent artists truly feel every bit of support, and this milestone belongs to all of us.

Shout out to songwriters Sam Daviau, Ali Dutton, and Joey DePaiva. We share this fun moment with them. 

We’re so proud of this new chapter for Amanda & James, and we can’t wait to share more music with you soon.

— Amanda & James

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) announced the nominees for the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards and we’re nominated for Group or Duo of the Year for the second year in a row! Plus, our producer Matt Koebel is nominated for Producer of the Year for our song “Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right.”

The awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 31, at Port Credit Memorial Arena in Mississauga. The CMAOntario Awards Show will close out the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend from May 29-31, 2026. 

Tickets for the CMAOntario Awards Show go on sale Monday to the public April 6^th at 11am. 

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

Amanda and James

James Barker Band

Rosewood Avenue

School House

The Reklaws

The Western Swing Authority

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR

Adam Newcomb – Tyler Lorette

Jay Allan, Aaron Murray – Olivia Mae Graham

Matthew Koebel – Amanda & James

Ron Lopata – Jessica Sevier

Tebey and Danick Dupelle – Tebey

The Agenda, Beverley Mahood, Mac Shepherd – Dayna Reid

Read more: https://cknx.ca/blogs/country-music-news/2026/03/sully-burrows-leads-cmao-nominations/

Evoking James' track from his 2023 album, Amanda & James have landed in Mexico! But unlike the spirit of “Got Mexico'd”, which suggests that the warm tropical air, the Caribbean concoctions, and the sunshine conspire to derail productivity, we're in high gear!

You might know that we meet once or twice a week to deal with the business side of music. Well, February seems like a great time to ditch the snowy drive between Stratford and Waterloo, and replace it with comfy sandles in the Caribbean sunshine! 

We've got a packed week in Puerto Aventuras, a marina community in Mexico's Mayan Riviera. The week is chock full of live music, writing, and, of course, plotting a friendly takeover of the Canadian country music scene! (Oh, and maybe also the Mexican live music scene?).

Our first musical stop was a private poolside concert - such an incredible experience! Next up is Amanda & James live at the Nauti Burro, Puerto Aventuras' premiere live music venue, a unique open-air fast-casual bar in the heart of the commercial district.

We're also really excited to bring a somewhat scaled-back version of our “Time of My Life: The Greatest Duets in Concert” for a showcase for local music directors. Could we see a Mexican tour in 2026-27? You never know!

Some things come back in style - vinyl, bell bottoms, even the Backstreet Boys. But that relationship that finally pushed you past your limit? Leave it in the archives. Comeback is Amanda & James’ new chapter-closing, door-locking, don’t-text-me-at-3am break-up anthem about finally letting go. Powered by a playful groove, bluesy melodies, and the soaring harmonies Amanda & James are known for, Comeback celebrates moving on for good - no reunion, no revival, no Ross-and-Rachel energy here. Produced by Matt Koebel (CMAO & CCMA nominee) and mixed/mastered by Brandon Unis (7x JUNO nominee), Comeback is a fun, fierce soundtrack for anyone done with the on-again/off-again cycle. 

Comeback is available on all streaming and download platforms on February 6, 2026!

We had a blast at the CCMAs in Kelowna (what a gorgeous place!). It was so fun hanging out with our fellow country artists, connecting with industry pros, and learning a whole pile of things. Highlights: The mentor round tables at the conference, singing at the Strut Entertainment party, Music Rescues, and attending the awards show with some stellar performances. Congrats to our friends Rich DaSilva (Drummer of the Year), Chris Bray (Guitar Player of the Year), Ben Miller (Bass Player of the Year), and many others on their well-deserved awards. Shout out to Owen Riegling for winning F-150 Album of the Year - we love that album and Owen is an Ontario boy that we have loved watching rise in the industry. 

We’re still riding the high from the incredible experience of performing at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards last weekend — and just when we thought the high couldn’t get any better… we found out we’re Hot Country Toronto’s Breakout Artist of the Week! 🎉

Our latest single, Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right, will be spinning on Hot Country Toronto alongside a little interview with us on:

🗓 Saturday, June 7 at 10:45 a.m.

🗓 Sunday, June 8 at 7:45 p.m.

It’s wild to think that just days after stepping off the CMAOntario stage, we get to celebrate this next milestone. We poured our hearts into this song, and it’s been amazing to see how it’s connecting with people — both live and now on the radio.

Huge thanks to Tracy Lynn and the Hot Country team for the spotlight and for always backing Canadian country talent. If you’re able to tune in, let us know! And if you love the track, we’d be over the moon if you added it to a playlist or sent it to someone who needs a good slow burn duet.

LISTEN LIVE
 

Wow. What a weekend.

We’re still soaking it all in after an unforgettable time at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards in Hamilton. From the moment we arrived, it felt like something special was in the air.

We kicked things off at the CMAOntario R2i (Road to Independence) Conference, where we had the chance to learn from industry pros, connect with fellow artists, and leave totally inspired (and full of new ideas!). There’s something really energizing about being surrounded by people who are just as passionate about music as you are.

And then came the big night…

Walking the red carpet was fun, but nothing topped the feeling of stepping on stage to perform at the awards show. We’re still blown away that we got to share our music in that space, with that audience, as first-time nominees for Group or Duo of the Year. It was a memorable moment, for sure.

A huge thank-you to the CMAOntario team, the board, the volunteers, the other artists and nominees, and everyone who cheered us on along the way. It means the world.

We’ve gathered a few of our favourite moments from the weekend —

👉 Click here to see the gallery!

With full hearts,
Amanda & James 

We’re so honoured to share the live-off-the-floor performance of our song “Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right.”

We filmed the live version with AJ Astle and Jake Sauvé from Roadhouse Productions at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton. It’s a beautifully restored church with stained glass windows and soaring ceilings. There’s something about singing in that space that invites vulnerability. It’s full of charm, warmth, and quiet magic.

Featuring:
    •    Vocals: James Downham & Amanda Kind
    •    Keys: Matt Koebel
    •    Guitar: Al Rowe
    •    Bass: Ben Miller
    •    Drums: Rich DaSilva
    •    Recording Engineer: Emma Whale

Watch the video — and if it reaches you, we’d be so grateful if you left a comment, shared it, or added it to a playlist. Every little ripple helps.

➡️ Watch the Live Video

With gratitude,
Amanda & James