Canadian country music will take centre stage at the Grand Ole Opry today, as the iconic Nashville venue celebrates 50 years of the Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
Among the Canadian artists taking part is Tenille Arts, who says she's excited to play that stage.
Arts will be joined by a lineup that includes Terri Clark, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Gord Bamford, Paul Brandt, Tammy Nielsen and Brett Kissel. She says Canadian country music has developed a sound of its own, shaped in part by the country's size and the different influences artists grow up with.
Arts, who is based in Nashville, says staying connected to her Canadian roots is important to her songwriting.
She's also continuing to release new music, including her song The Right Drugs. Despite its title, Arts says the track is about finding happiness in everyday life.
Tonight's Grand Ole Opry performance offers an opportunity to celebrate five decades of the CCMAs and the Canadian artists who have helped shape country music over the years.