BIOGRAPHY
Recognized as a 2022 CCMA Interactive Artist of the Year, Hailey Benedict continues to make her mark as a rising talent in the Canadian country music industry. This dynamic, guitar-wielding singer-songwriter was named a 2022 Country Music Alberta Horizon Female Artist Of The Year as well as the first artist to simultaneously secure the iHeart Radio Future Star and Stingray Trending track features, which catapulted her single, "Wanted You To", to hit #25 on the Mediabase country charts. The song was the highest-charting independent CANCON single of 2021 and received the Horizon Single of The Year at the Country Music Alberta Awards. Hailey was also named a 2022 CCMA Rising Star nominee.
Writing and performing is in Hailey’s blood, with a lifelong passion for singing and songwriting. Pulled up on stage by Keith Urban in front of 20,000 fans in 2016, she was handed a guitar and sang an original song, with video of the performance reaching over 10 million views. Her viral videos have made her one of the most followed Canadian country artists on TikTok. They also grabbed the attention of American Idol Producers who invited her to perform for their judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie in San Diego last season.
Hailey has also performed for numerous large-scale events including the Country Music Alberta Awards, Big Valley Jamboree, Seven Music Fest, Canadian Finals Rodeo, CFL Edmonton Anthem singer and headline performer in John Cameron Changing Lives production of Crescendo. She’s been invited to sing twice at Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge in Nashville, TN and has performed for showcases during Canadian Country Music Association Week. She also has had the privilege of opening for several internationally recognized artists such as Jason Aldean, Blue Rodeo, Lindsay Ell, Aaron Goodvin, Doc Walker and Gord Bamford.
A strong advocate for mental health and anti-bullying, Hailey supports several charitable foundations, and as a result of her efforts in the community, Hailey was honoured as one of the youngest ever Global Woman of Vision award recipients.
Career Highlights:
. 2023 Country Music Alberta Songwriter Of The Year
. 2023 Country Music Alberta Video Of The Year (Wanted You To)
. 2022 Country Music Alberta Interactive Artist Of The Year
. 2022 Canadian Country Music Interactive Artist Of The Year
. 2022 Canadian Country Music Rising Star Nominee
. 2022 Country Music Alberta Horizon Female Artist of the Year
. 2022 Country Music Alberta Horizon Single of the Year for “Wanted You To”
. #25 on Canadian Country Radio Mediabase charts for single “Wanted You To” (2021)
. Placement of song “Flight Risk” placed in U.S feature film “Lantern’s Lane”. Co-written with Tamara Laurel and Elysse Yulo. (2021)
. 2020 Country Music Alberta Award’s Female Artist of the Year & Fan’s Choice Award final ballot nominee
. 2019 Association of Country Music in Alberta Horizon Youth Artist of The Year
. 2019 Canadian Country Music Association's CCMA Week non-sanctioned 'Diamonds in the Rough' & 'Somewhere in Alberta' Emerging Artist Showcase Performer
. 2019 “Rising Star” Edmonton Music Award Recipient
. 2019 Top 3 “My United Way Voice” Finalist
. 2019 St. Albert’s Mayor’s Arts Award Recipient
. 2018 Top 10 National Canadian Songwriting Competition Finalist (Under 18 - "Crazy")
. 4 x Canadian Songwriting Competition Semi-Finalist (2017 & 2018)
. 2018 Alberta Men & Women Of Country Music Rising Star Award Recipient
· 5 x 2017 North America Country Music Association International Youth Award Winner
·2017 Big Valley Jamboree ATB Homegrown Talent Stage Grand Winner - performed main stage opening for country headliners Chris Young & Jason Aldean
· 2017 Global Woman of Vision Award recipient
· 2017 K-Days Youth Talent Search Grand Winner
. 3 x Brad Roy Songwriting Award (2016, 2017, 2018)
· Performed original song for Keith Urban & 20K fans
·2016 Global Country Canada Youth Winner
·2016 Country 106.5 Star Search Winner
·2014 Association of Country Music in Alberta Fan's Choice Award Winner