Jason McCoy, Boots and Hearts recognized on national country music stage

Barrie country music star and radio host Jason McCoy speaks after winning the CCMA Country Personality of the Year award.

A Barrie country music icon and the region’s renowned annual country music festival won awards at the 2025 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards in Kelowna, B.C. Friday evening.

Jason McCoy took home the Country Personality of the Year award and Oro-Medonte’s Boots and Hearts Music Festival was recognized as the Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition of the Year.

McCoy, 55, has won multiple CCMA Male Vocalist of the Year awards and was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2023. He is the lead singer and guitarist for ‘The Road Hammers,’ and is a morning show host for Pure Country 106 with Carey Moran.

“Just to be nominated in this category is amazing. I have the best of all worlds,” said McCoy in his victory speech and through his Instagram story. He went on to thank his Pure Country 106 colleagues, particularly his co-host. “There is no Jason McCoy without my co-host, Carey Moran. It’s a pleasure to be able to spin all these amazing records every morning, so thank you so much.”

Last year, McCoy and Moran also won a Broadcast Dialogue Radio award for Best On-Air Team or Host in the small market category.

For Boots and Hearts, Friday’s recognition marks the festival’s eighth Country Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year award. The flagship festival has welcomed stars that include Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson and Nickelback among many others, bringing tens of thousands of country music fans to Burl’s Creek each year.

McCoy and Boots and Hearts received two of the 36 awards that were handed out on Friday, with eight more set to be announced at 8 p.m. Saturday evening.