Josh Ross
{{Short description|Canadian singer-songwriter (born 1996)}}
{{Other uses|Josh Ross (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Josh Ross
| image = Josh Ross.jpg
| caption = Ross performing in 2023
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|05|27}}
| birth_name =
| birth_place = Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
| alias =
| origin = Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|piano}}
| genre = Country
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active = 2018-present
| label = {{hlist|The Core|Universal Music Canada|Mercury Nashville}}
| associated_acts =
| website = {{official website|https://www.joshrossmusic.com/}}
}}
Josh Ross (born May 27, 1996) is a Canadian country singer and songwriter. He is managed by The Core Entertainment and jointly signed to Universal Music Canada and Universal Music Group Nashville.{{cite web|url=https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/universal-music-canada-signs-fast-rising-country-artist-josh-ross/|title=UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANADA SIGNS FAST RISING COUNTRY ARTIST JOSH ROSS|work=Universal Music Canada|date=April 13, 2022|access-date=July 22, 2022|archive-date=July 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722200311/https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/universal-music-canada-signs-fast-rising-country-artist-josh-ross/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2023/03/umg-nashville-universal-music-canada-join-forces-to-sign-josh-ross1/|title=UMG Nashville & Universal Music Canada Join Forces To Sign Josh Ross|first=Liza|last=Anderson|date=March 2, 2023|work=Music Row Magazine}} Ross has charted with the singles "First Taste of Gone", "On a Different Night", "Trouble", "Ain't Doin' Jack", "Single Again" and "Leave Me Too". In March 2024, he released the extended play Complicated.{{Cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2024/02/josh-ross-to-get-complicated-with-new-ep-in-march/|title=Josh Ross To Get 'Complicated' With New EP In March|first=Liza|last=Anderson|work=Music Row|date=February 20, 2024|access-date=March 19, 2024}}
Early life
Ross was born in Waterdown, Ontario, and later moved to nearby Burlington, Ontario for school.{{cite web|url=https://www.raisedrowdy.com/2022/02/10/exclusive-premiere-josh-ross-shares-emotional-story-in-first-taste-of-gone/|title=Exclusive Premiere: Josh Ross Shares Emotional Story in 'First Taste of Gone'|first=Nick|last=Tressler|date=February 10, 2022|work=Raised Rowdy|access-date=July 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/local-smiths-falls/life/contributed/2023/05/13/i-want-to-explore-different-sounds-canadian-singer-josh-ross-and-red-flags.html|title='I want to explore different sounds': Canadian singer Josh Ross and 'Red Flags'|first=Scott|last=Campbell|date=May 13, 2023|work=Peterborough Examiner|location=Smith Falls, Ontario|access-date=May 24, 2023}} He spent most of his youth playing sports such as hockey, football, soccer, and motocross.{{cite web|url=https://frontporchmusic.ca/music/josh-ross-profile-interview/|title=A Chat With Josh Ross About New EP: An Artist Profile|date=December 8, 2020|work=Front Porch Music|access-date=July 22, 2022}} He has extended family in Saskatoon, Los Angeles and Maine, and visited the United States often as a child.{{cite web|url=https://www.upstarmusiconline.com/post/josh-ross-showcases-pure-vocals-in-single-first-taste-of-gone|title=Josh Ross Showcases Pure Vocals In Single "First Taste of Gone" |date=June 5, 2022|first=Jamie|last=Shoemaker|work=Upstar Music|access-date=July 26, 2022}} Ross attended Western University on a football scholarship and was a defensive back.{{cite web|url=https://westernmustangs.ca/sports/football/roster/josh-ross/22287|title=Josh Ross - Football - Western Mustangs Sports|access-date=September 24, 2022|archive-date=September 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924183549/https://westernmustangs.ca/sports/football/roster/josh-ross/22287}} He had hoped to play in the Canadian Football League. A series of injuries coupled with two surgeries derailed his football career in university, and he elected to pursue a career in music as a result. Before his solo career, he initially formed a band in 2016 with Will Finch, a fellow former Western football player, named "Silver Lining".{{cite web|url= https://westerngazette.ca/culture/former-mustangs-football-players-finch-and-ross-form-band/article_d64f00fa-f5d4-11e5-8ad5-f770040bf1d6.html|title=Former Mustangs football players Finch and Ross form band|date=March 31, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2022|first=Serena|last=Quinn|work=Western Gazette|archive-date=September 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923165601/https://westerngazette.ca/culture/former-mustangs-football-players-finch-and-ross-form-band/article_d64f00fa-f5d4-11e5-8ad5-f770040bf1d6.html}} Ross listened to both country and rock music growing up, and cites Steve Earle as one of his biggest musical influences.{{cite web|url=https://countryswag.com/who-is-josh-ross-the-story-behind-his-journey-to-country-music/|title=Who Is Josh Ross? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music|first=Erica|last=Zisman|work=CountrySwag|date=March 22, 2022}}
Career
=Early career=
While working in construction management, Ross entered several music competitions including the Magna Hoedown in Aurora, Ontario, and the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artists Showcase. He began making trips to Nashville, Tennessee in 2018, with the support of fellow Canadian country artist Aaron Goodvin, before making a permanent move there in 2019. Ross released his first radio single "If You Were a Song" as an independent artist that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.country1073.ca/audio/1-for-country-with-josh-ross/|title=#1 For Country with Josh Ross|work=107.3 Country|publisher=Rogers Media}} He released the five-song extended play Do What You Love in 2020.
=2022–2023: Universal Music Group, Grey Cup halftime show=
In February 2022, Ross released the single "First Taste of Gone", which he co-wrote with Mason Thornley.{{cite web|url=https://countryswag.com/josh-ross-new-song-first-taste-of-gone/|title=Josh Ross Releases Personal New Song "First Taste of Gone"|date=February 11, 2022|first=Erica|last=Zisman|work=CountrySwag}} He then became one of the final eight finalists for SiriusXM's "Top of the Country" contest.{{cite web|url=https://frontporchmusic.ca/music/josh-ross-first-taste-of-gone/|title=Josh Ross Shares His "First Taste Of Gone" In New Single|first=Jenna|last=Weishar|work=Front Porch Music|date=April 11, 2022|access-date=July 25, 2022}} Ross subsequently signed a joint recording and management deal with The Core Entertainment and Universal Music Canada in April 2022. With Universal taking over promotion of "First Taste of Gone", the song moved into the top five of the Canada Country chart, and entered the Canadian Hot 100. Ross released the song "On a Different Night" in July 2022,{{cite web|url=https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/fast-rising-country-artist-josh-ross-unveils-his-latest-taste-of-heartfelt-country-on-a-different-night-out-now/|title=FAST-RISING COUNTRY ARTIST JOSH ROSS UNVEILS HIS LATEST TASTE OF HEARTFELT COUNTRY "ON A DIFFERENT NIGHT" OUT NOW|date=July 15, 2022|work=Universal Music Canada|access-date=July 25, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://etcanada.com/video/381608d4-0932-11ed-8e26-0242ac110003/josh-ross-details-new-song-on-a-different-night/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721221301/https://etcanada.com/video/381608d4-0932-11ed-8e26-0242ac110003/josh-ross-details-new-song-on-a-different-night/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2022|title=Josh Ross Details New Song 'On A Different Night'|work=ET Canada|access-date=July 25, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://countryswag.com/josh-ross-new-song-on-a-different-night/|title=Josh Ross Releases New Song "On A Different Night"|date=July 15, 2022|first=Erica|last=Zisman|work=CountrySwag|access-date=July 25, 2022}} which would become a radio single later that September.{{cite web|url=https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2022/09/19/lewis-capaldis-forget-me-weeks-fave-new-radio-track|title=Lewis Capaldi's 'Forget Me' Is This Week's Fave New Radio Track|work=FYI Music News|date=September 19, 2022|access-date=September 22, 2022}} He received a nomination for "Rising Star" at the 2022 Canadian Country Music Awards. Ross performed at the halftime show for the 109th Grey Cup in Regina, Saskatchewan, alongside Tyler Hubbard and Jordan Davis.{{cite web|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/canada-s-josh-ross-florida-georgia-line-pair-set-to-perform-during-grey-cup-halftime-show-1.6641818|title=Canada's Josh Ross, Florida Georgia Line pair set to perform during Grey Cup halftime show|date=November 4, 2022|work=The Canadian Press|publisher=CBC News|access-date=November 5, 2022}}
In January 2023, Ross released the single "Trouble".{{cite web|url=https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/breakout-country-artist-josh-ross-unveils-new-track-trouble/|title=BREAKOUT COUNTRY ARTIST JOSH ROSS UNVEILS NEW TRACK "TROUBLE"|date=January 4, 2023|work=Universal Music Canada|access-date=January 4, 2023|archive-date=May 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531172805/https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/breakout-country-artist-josh-ross-unveils-new-track-trouble/|url-status=dead}} He opened for Bailey Zimmerman at the end of his headlining tour in the United States in the same month.{{cite web|url=https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/bailey-zimmerman-breaks-streaming-records-leave-the-light-on-becomes-the-biggest-streaming-country-debut-of-all-time/|title=Bailey Zimmerman Breaks Streaming Records & 'Leave The Light On' Becomes The Biggest Streaming Country Debut Of All Time|first=Ally|last=Roden|work=Music Mayhem Magazine|date=October 31, 2022}} In March 2023, Universal Music Group Nashville signed Ross in partnership with Universal Music Canada and The Core.{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/226007/universal-music-group-nashville-teams-with-univers|title=Universal Music Group Nashville Teams With Universal Music Canada On Newcomer Josh Ross|first=Jeff|last=Lynn|date=March 2, 2023|work=AllAccess}}{{cite web|url=https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/universal-music-group-nashville-teams-with-universal-music-canada-on-country-newcomer-josh-ross/?fbclid=PAAaaLY2yNkl6eHUW0l3KZxTS5bOp3NEXZBx6d1NjGBKeZ0szOMTA-f2vWuQs|title=UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE TEAMS WITH UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANADA ON COUNTRY NEWCOMER JOSH ROSS|date=March 2, 2023|work=Universal Music Canada}} Ross subsequently released the song "Red Flags" later that month.{{cite web|url=https://canadianbeats.ca/2023/03/31/josh-ross-unveils-new-single-red-flags/|title=Josh Ross unveils new single, "Red Flags"|work=Canadian Beats Media|date=March 31, 2023|first=Nanci|last=Dagg|access-date=April 1, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/rising-country-music-star-josh-ross-releases-new-track-red-flags/|title=RISING COUNTRY MUSIC STAR JOSH ROSS RELEASES NEW TRACK "RED FLAGS"|work=Universal Music Canada|date=March 31, 2023|access-date=April 1, 2023}} He joined Lee Brice's "Beer Drinking Opportunity Tour" with Tenille Arts in Canada in the spring of 2023, and signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music shortly thereafter.{{cite web|url=https://www.hopestandard.com/local-news/country-star-lee-brice-bringing-beer-drinking-opportunity-tour-to-abbotsford/|title=Country star Lee Brice bringing Beer Drinking Opportunity Tour to Abbotsford|first=Ben|last=Lypka|date=January 17, 2023|work=Hope Standard|publisher=Black Press|access-date=January 23, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2023/05/warner-chappell-music-signs-josh-ross/|first=LB|last=Cantrell|title=Warner Chappell Music Signs Josh Ross|date=May 23, 2023|work=Music Row Magazine|access-date=May 27, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/228271/warner-chappell-music-signs-global-publishing-deal|title=Warner Chappell Music Signs Global Publishing Deal With Josh Ross|first=Charese|last=Frugé|work=AllAccess|date=May 23, 2023|access-date=May 27, 2023}} He was named "Rising Star" at the 2023 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards.{{cite web|url=https://beyondjames.com/joshross/|title=First Taste of Gone One of Many In Year of Firsts for Waterdown Musician|work=Beyond James|date=June 10, 2023|access-date=June 12, 2023}} In the summer of 2023, Ross was an opening act for Nickelback on their North American "Get Rollin' Tour" along with Brantley Gilbert.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/nickelback-announce-summer-2023-north-154326166.html|title=Nickelback Announce Summer 2023 North American Tour|date=January 23, 2023|work=Yahoo! Entertainment|first=Spencer|last=Kaufman}} In July 2023, he released the song "Ain't Doin' Jack".{{cite web|url=https://www.thenashnews.com/post/josh-ross-ain-t-doin-jack-song-review|title=Josh Ross "Ain't Doin' Jack" Song Review|first=Lesley|last=Janes|work=The Nash News|date=July 14, 2023}} That same month, he made his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.{{cite web|url=https://www.nashville.com/josh-ross-makes-his-opry-debut/|title= Josh Ross Makes His Opry Debut|date=July 28, 2023|first=Jerry|last=Holthouse|work=Nashville.com|access-date=August 22, 2023}} At the 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards in September 2023, Ross was nominated in six total categories, and won the award for "Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year". He released the song "Ain't the One" at the end of the month.{{cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/canadian-country-talent-josh-ross-aint-the-one/|title=Rising Canadian Country Talent Josh Ross Shares New Song 'Ain't The One'|first=Paul|last=Sexton|work=uDiscoverMusic|date=October 1, 2023|access-date=October 12, 2023}}
=2024–present: ''Complicated'', The Trouble Tour, and the Single Again Tour=
In 2024, Ross released the songs "Single Again" and "Truck Girl".{{cite web|url=https://countrynow.com/josh-ross-takes-a-deep-dive-into-heartache-with-dual-release-of-single-again-and-truck-girl/|title=Josh Ross Takes A Deep Dive Into Heartache With Dual Release Of 'Single Again' and 'Truck Girl'|first=Madeleine|last=O'Connell|date=January 16, 2024|work=Country Now|access-date=January 17, 2024}} Ross also embarked on his debut headlining tour "The Trouble Tour" in Canada in early 2024, and he joined Bailey Zimmerman again for his headlining "Religiously: The Tour" in the United States, Great Britain, and Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://countrychord.com/bailey-zimmerman-announces-the-religiously-2024-tour/|title=Bailey Zimmerman Announces The "Religiously" 2024 Tour W/ Josh Ross|first=Clayton|last=Anderson|work=Country Chord|date=June 12, 2023|access-date=June 12, 2023}} He released his extended play Complicated on March 29, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2024/02/20/josh-ross-unveils-new-ep-complicated-single-matching-tattoos/|title=Josh Ross unveils new EP 'Complicated & single 'Matching Tattoos'|first=James|last=Daykin|work=Entertainment Focus|date=February 20, 2024|access-date=February 22, 2024}} He followed that up with the release of the promotional singles "New Me" in May 2024 and "Want This Beer", a duet with Julia Michaels, in July 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.todayscountrymagazine.com/index.php/reviews/single-reviews/4592-single-review-josh-ross-new-me|title=Single Review: JOSH ROSS - New Me - Universal Music Canada|work=Today's Country Magazine|access-date=July 14, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Josh-Ross-Releases-Want-This-Beer-Featuring-Julia-Michaels-20240719|title=Josh Ross Releases 'Want This Beer' Featuring Julia Michaels|date=July 19, 2024|work=Broadway World|first=Josh|last=Sharpe|access-date=July 23, 2024}} From August to November 2024, Ross embarked on his debut American headlining tour, the "Single Again Tour".{{cite web|url= https://musicrow.com/2024/06/josh-ross-plots-single-again-tour-for-august/|title=Josh Ross Plots 'Single Again Tour' For August|date=June 21, 2024|first=Lorie|last=Hollabaugh|work=Music Row|access-date=July 13, 2024}} He won five awards at the 2024 Canadian Country Music Awards, including "Entertainer of the Year" and "Single of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://ccma.org/2024-ccma-award-winners/|title=2024 CCMA Award Winners|work=Canadian Country Music Association|access-date=September 15, 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240915175950/https://ccma.org/2024-ccma-award-winners/|archive-date=September 15, 2024}} Ross also won the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award at the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards.
In February 2025, Ross released "Leave Me Too", the lead single off an upcoming project.{{cite web|url=https://www.combster.com/s/josh-ross-releases-new-single-leave-me-too|title=Josh Ross Releases New Single 'Leave Me Too'|first=Paul|last=Goodman|date=February 17, 2025|work=Combster|access-date=March 10, 2025}} He tied with Tate McRae for the most nominations at the Juno Awards of 2025, and won the Juno Award for Country Album of the Year with Complicated.Kelsey Adams and Natalie Harmsen, [https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/juno-awards-2025-nominees-tate-mcrae-josh-ross-the-weeknd-shawn-mendes-1.7453648 "Juno Awards 2025: a breakdown of this year's nominees"]. CBC Music, February 10, 2025. In April 2025, Ross released the song "Hate How You Look".{{cite web|url=https://www.989bull.com/josh-ross-brings-hate-how-you-look-from-the-stage-to-the-studio/|title=Josh Ross brings ‘Hate How You Look’ from the stage to the studio|work=98.9 The Bull|date=April 18, 2025|access-date=May 13, 2025}} In May 2025, Ross collaborated with hip hop artist Akon on the song "Drunk Right Now (Na Na Na)", a reimagined version of Akon's song "Right Now (Na Na Na)".{{cite web|url=https://todaysbestcountry.com/josh-ross-is-drunk-right-now-with-akon/|title=Josh Ross is ‘Drunk Right Now’ with Akon|date=May 28, 2025|work=B93.3 Today's Best Country|access-date=June 2, 2025}}
Tours
- The Trouble Tour (2024)
- Single Again Tour (2024)
Discography
=Extended plays=
=Singles=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="6"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
---|
style="font-size:smaller;"
! scope="col" style="width:4em;"| CAN
! scope="col" style="width:4em;"| CAN Country
! scope="col" style="width:4em;"| US
! scope="col" style="width:4em;"| US
! scope="col" style="width:4em;"| US
! scope="col" style="width:4em;"| US
|
2019
! scope="row"| "If You Were a Song" | — | — | — | — | — | — | | rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}} |
rowspan="2"| 2022
! scope="row"| "First Taste of Gone" | 54 | 5 | — | — | — | — |
|
scope="row"| "On a Different Night"
| 65 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
|
rowspan="2"| 2023
! scope="row"| "Trouble" | 48 | 1 | — | 43 | — | 39 |
| align="left"| Complicated |
scope="row"| "Ain't Doin' Jack"
| 69 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| {{Non-album single}} |
2024
! scope="row"| "Single Again" | 60 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 9 | — |
| align="left"| Complicated |
rowspan="3"| 2025
! scope="row"| "Leave Me Too" | 58 | 5 | — | — | — | — | | rowspan="3" {{TBA}} |
scope="row"| "Hate How You Look"
| 79 | — | — | — | — | — | |
scope="row"| "Drunk Right Now (Na Na Na)" {{small|(with Akon)}} | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | |
colspan="10" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that territory. |
=Music videos=
Awards and nominations
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Josh Ross}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Josh}}
Category:Universal Music Group artists
Category:Canadian Country Music Association Entertainer(s) of the Year winners
Category:Canadian Country Music Association Male Artist of the Year winners
Category:Canadian Country Music Association Single of the Year winners
Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters
Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters
Category:People from Burlington, Ontario
Category:Western Mustangs football players
Category:21st-century Canadian male singers