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Madeline Merlo

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Madeline Merlo
Background information
Birth nameMadeline Rae Merlo
Born (1994-02-09) February 9, 1994 (age 30)
Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada[1]
OriginMaple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active2013–present
Labels
Stoney Creek
Websitemadelinemerlo.com

Madeline Rae Merlo[2] (born February 9, 1994) is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. She signed to Open Road Recordings in 2013 and released her debut album, Free Soul, three years later. In 2015, Merlo received the "Rising Star" award from the Canadian Country Music Association. In 2021, she signed with the Nashville-based BBR Music Group,[3] joining their imprint Wheelhouse Records, and later being re-assigned to Stoney Creek Records.[4]

Early life

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Merlo grew up in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Her father was a funk musician, and the house was often filled with music.[1] She had a desire to be a performer since the first time she sang in front of a crowd of people. In public school, she took part in her school talent show. She sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and after that performance she decided that she wanted to be a singer.[5]

Throughout high school, Merlo played in a band and together they began gigging around. She also continued to hone her vocal skills by performing in musical theatre productions and taking every opportunity she could to further her skills as a performer.[6]

Merlo credits seeing Shania Twain at the first concert she ever attended to be the reason she pursued the genre of country music. Seeing a successful Canadian woman from a small town gave Merlo the confidence to pursue her career.[7]

Career

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Music career

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2011–2017: Early career and Free Soul

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At the age of 17 before she was signed, Merlo wrote songs and recorded music with BC-based writer and producer Dan Swinimer.[1] Swinimer signed her to his production company "Manicdown Productions", and they worked together for nearly two years. In 2012, Swinimer invited RGK Entertainment's Ron Kitchener to Vancouver to see Merlo perform at the Railway Club. Merlo signed with RGK Entertainment and Open Road Recordings as a result in 2013. A year later in February 2014, she released her debut single, "Sinking Like a Stone" which was produced and co-written by Swinimer.[8] It charted for twenty weeks on the Billboard Canada Country chart, peaking at number 32.[9]

She released a self-titled extended play via Open Road Recordings on July 22, 2014.[10] Her single "Honey Jack" became a hit in Canada, landing her the opening slot on The Road Trip Tour alongside Dean Brody and Paul Brandt. In 2015, Merlo won the CCMA Rising Star Award, and the BCCMA Female Artist of the Year. After those big wins, Madeline released a series of singles including "War Paint", "Over and Over", and "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" which entered into the top 10 at Canadian Country Radio. Her debut album Free Soul was released in 2016.

Her single "War Paint" from Free Soul garnered fan support on social media, and was the No. 1 Most Added country song in Canada in its debut week. It was written in response to the loss of one of her friends to mental illness. She dedicated the song to all those who suffer alone, hoping it might bring them hope, and a will to battle and survive.[5] In 2017, "Motel Flamingo" was her 4th song to land in the Top 15 at Canadian Country Radio. Her next single "Neon Love" in 2018 also managed to enter the Top 15 at Canadian country radio making it her 5th single to enter in the Top 15.

2020–present: Songland appearance, Slide and One House Down (from the Girl Next Door)'

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On April 13, 2020, Madeline won the first episode of the second season of Songland with her song "Champagne Night" written for Lady Antebellum and produced by Shane McAnally. She then released her seventh and eighth Top 20 singles in Canada, "Kiss Kiss"[11] and "It Didn't".[12]

In 2021, Merlo signed her debut U.S. record deal with BBR Music Group in Nashville.[3] She subsequently released the extended play Slide via their imprint Wheelhouse Records on September 23, 2022.[13] She also provided backing vocals on Cole Swindell's single "She Had Me at Heads Carolina.[14] In 2023, she released the single "Tim + Faith".[15][16] The song would become her first top five hit on the Billboard Canada Country chart.[9]

In August 2024, Merlo released the single "Broken Heart Thing" featuring Dustin Lynch. The song will be included on her upcoming extended play One House Down (from the Girl Next Door), which is set for release on October 11, 2024, via BBR's Stoney Creek Records.[17] She was nominated for "Female Artist of the Year" at the 2024 Canadian Country Music Awards.[18]

Acting career

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In 2017, Merlo starred alongside Jana Kramer and Sophie Tweed-Simmons in the musical film, Country Crush, which saw her play the lead role of a young woman trying to make it as a country singer. She also did the singing voice of Sonata Dusk in My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks.

Personal life

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Merlo moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2018. On April 22, 2023, at the Long Hollow Gardens in Gallatin, Tennessee, Merlo married Nashville attorney Chase Fann.[19]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2014 My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks Sonata Dusk (voice) As singing voice for Maryke Hendrikse's character
2016 Country Crush Nancy Taylor
2020 Songland Herself Episode: "Lady Antebellum"

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details Peak
positions
CAN
[20]
Free Soul
  • Release date: April 29, 2016
  • Label: Open Road
 88

Extended plays

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Title Details
Madeline Merlo
  • Release date: July 22, 2014
  • Label: Open Road
Slide
  • Release date: September 23, 2022
  • Label: Wheelhouse
One House Down (from the Girl Next Door)
  • Release date: October 11, 2024
  • Label: Stoney Creek

Singles

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Year Title Peak positions Certifications Album
CAN Country
[9]
2014 "Sinking Like a Stone" 32 Free Soul
"Alive" 42
2015 "Honey Jack" 25
2016 "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" 10
"War Paint" 13
2017 "Over and Over" 13
"Motel Flamingo" 8 Non-album singles
2018 "Neon Love" 11
2019 "Unraveling" 23
"Dear Me" 10
2020 "Kiss Kiss" 13
"It Didn't" 17
2022 "Slide" 6 Slide
2023 "Tim + Faith" 5 —
2024 "Broken Heart Thing"
(featuring Dustin Lynch) 		25 One House Down (from the Girl Next Door)
"—" denotes a recording that failed to chart.

Christmas singles

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Year Single Album
2014 "Jolly Ol' Redneck"[22] Non-album singles
2016 "White Christmas"[23]

Music videos

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Year Video Director
2014 "Sinking Like a Stone" Adam Rothlein
"Alive" John "JP" Poliquin
2016 "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" Adam Rothlein
"War Paint" (Unplugged) Rami Mikhail
2017 "Over and Over"
"Crush"
"Motel Flamingo" Jaren Hayman
2018 "Neon Love" Rami Mikhail
2019 "Dear Me" Stephano Barberis
2020 "Kiss Kiss" Brian K. Vaughn
2021 "It Didn't" The Edde Brothers
2022 "Slide" Preston Leatherman

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Result
2015 British Columbia Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Won [24]
Canadian Country Music Association Rising Star Won [25]
2016
 British Columbia Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Won [26]
Album of the Year – Free Soul Nominated
Single of the Year – "What Ya Wanna Do About It" Nominated
Video of the Year – "War Paint" Nominated
2017 Western Canadian Music Awards Country Artist of the Year Nominated [27]
Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year Nominated [28]
2018 Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year Nominated [29]
2021 Canadian Country Music Association Songwriter of the Year - "Champagne Night" (shared with Shane McAnally, Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood, Tina Parol, David Thomson, Patricia Conroy, Ryan Tedder, Esther Dean, Andrew DeRoberts) Won [30]
[31]
2024 Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year Nominated [18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Zimmer, Eric (March 24, 2014). "Maple Ridge musician chasing her dream". Maple Ridge Times. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  2. ^ "CHAMPAGNE NIGHT". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  3. ^ a b LB, Cantrell (January 20, 2021). "BBR Music Group Signs Madeline Merlo". Music Row Magazine. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "BBR Music Group". Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Five Questions With... Madeline Merlo". FYIMusicNews. April 1, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "Rising country star in hometown appearance". Maple Ridge News. September 1, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Chandler, Justin (August 27, 2018). "Meet Madeline Merlo, the rising star who'll pay tribute to her idol Shania Twain at the CCMAs". CBC Music.
  8. ^ "Madeline Merlo on CBC Music". CBC Music. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c
  10. ^ "Madeline Merlo – Madeline Merlo". AllMusic. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  11. ^ Vaughn, Grace (August 5, 2020). "Madeline Merlo Releases Music Video For 'Kiss Kiss'". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  12. ^ Pape, Hendrik (October 27, 2020). "Madeline Merlo To Drop New Single "It Didn't" on October 28th". Soundcheck Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  13. ^ Andrew, Stephen (September 25, 2022). "Songland' Winner Madeline Merlo on Working With Sam Hunt on New 'Slide' EP: 'It Was an Amazing Phone Call to Get' (Exclusive)". Popculture. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  14. ^ Tom Roland (June 21, 2022). "Makin' Tracks: Cole Swindell Brings New Life to Jo Dee Messina's 'Heads Carolina'". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "Award-Winning Songwriter and Songland Winner Madeline Merlo Delivers Her Latest Emotive Track "Tim + Faith" Via BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records". BBR Music Group. September 15, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  16. ^ Flanagan, Colleen (September 22, 2023). "Lower Mainland country star releases new single". The Abbotsford News. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  17. ^ Melanson, James (August 13, 2024). "MADELINE MERLO RELEASES "BROKEN HEART THING" WITH DUSTIN LYNCH". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "2024 CCMA AWARDS NOMINEES". Canadian Country Music Association. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  19. ^ https://www.facebook.com/peoplemag. "Just Married! All the Celebrity Weddings of 2023". Peoplemag. Retrieved July 3, 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
  20. ^ "Madeline Merlo Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Canadian single certifications – Madeline Merlo". Music Canada. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  22. ^ RGK Admin (December 2, 2014). "Sneak Peek: Madeline Merlo's "Jolly Ol' Redneck"". Top Country. TC Inc. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  23. ^ "White Christmas – Single by Madeline Merlo". Open Road Recordings. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  24. ^ "BCCMA Nominees". Top Country. September 2, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  25. ^ "COMPLETE LIST OF 2015 CCMA AWARD WINNERS". Canadian Country Music Association. September 13, 2015. Archived from the original on March 11, 2017.
  26. ^ "The 2016 BCCMA Final Ballot Nominees ! – Country 107.1". www.country1071.com. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  27. ^ "2017 Western Canadian Music Award Nominees". BreakOut West. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  28. ^ "2017 CCMA AWARD NOMINEES". Canadian Country Music Association. July 12, 2017. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020.
  29. ^ Morawetz, Kate. "2018 CCMA Awards Nominees". Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  30. ^ Kennedy, John R. (September 21, 2021). "The Reklaws Lead 2021 CCMA Awards Nominations". iHeartRadio.ca. Bell Media.
  31. ^ "CCMA 2021 Award Nominees". Canadian Country Music Association. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
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