Madeline Merlo
{{short description|Canadian country pop singer-songwriter (born 1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Madeline Merlo
| image = Madeline Merlo From Songland.jpg
| caption = Merlo in 2020
| image_size =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|2|9}}
| birth_name = Madeline Rae Merlo
| birth_place = Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada{{cite news|last1=Zimmer|first1=Eric|title=Maple Ridge musician chasing her dream|url=http://www.mrtimes.com/entertainment/maple-ridge-musician-chasing-her-dream-1.918745|accessdate=September 11, 2014|work=Maple Ridge Times|date=March 24, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912032955/http://www.mrtimes.com/entertainment/maple-ridge-musician-chasing-her-dream-1.918745|archivedate=September 12, 2014}}
| origin = Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
| instrument =
| genre = {{hlist|Country|country-pop|pop}}
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active = 2013–present
| label = {{hlist|Open Road|BBR Music Group, Wheelhouse}} Stoney Creek
| website = {{URL|www.madelinemerlo.com/|madelinemerlo.com}}
}}
Madeline Rae Merlo{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/907411165?page=1|title=CHAMPAGNE NIGHT |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=September 19, 2023}} (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,{{cite news|last=LB|first=Cantrell|title=BBR Music Group Signs Madeline Merlo|url=https://musicrow.com/2021/01/bbr-music-group-signs-madeline-merlo/|accessdate=January 21, 2021|work=Music Row Magazine|date=January 20, 2021}} joining their imprint Wheelhouse Records, and later being re-assigned to Stoney Creek Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbrmusicgroup.com/|title=BBR Music Group|access-date=September 26, 2022}}
Early life
Merlo grew up in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Growing up, her house was often filled with music. 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.{{Cite web|title=Five Questions With... Madeline Merlo|url=https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2017/04/12/five-questions-madeline-merlo|date=April 1, 2017|website=FYIMusicNews|language=en|access-date=May 12, 2020}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Rising country star in hometown appearance|url=https://www.mapleridgenews.com/entertainment/rising-country-star-in-hometown-appearance/|date=September 1, 2014|website=Maple Ridge News|language=en-US|access-date=May 12, 2020}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Meet Madeline Merlo, the rising star who'll pay tribute to her idol Shania Twain at the CCMAs|url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/events/ccmas/meet-madeline-merlo-the-rising-star-who-ll-pay-tribute-to-her-idol-shania-twain-at-the-ccmas-1.5046983|last=Chandler|first=Justin|date=August 27, 2018|website=CBC Music|access-date=}}
Career
= Music career =
==2011–2017: Early career and ''Free Soul''==
At the age of 17 before she was signed, Merlo wrote songs and recorded music with BC-based writer and producer Dan Swinimer. 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.{{cite web|title=Madeline Merlo on CBC Music|url=http://music.cbc.ca/#/artists/Madeline-Merlo|website=CBC Music|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301002442/http://music.cbc.ca/|archivedate=March 1, 2016|accessdate=September 11, 2014}} It charted for twenty weeks on the Billboard Canada Country chart, peaking at number 32.
She released a self-titled extended play via Open Road Recordings on July 22, 2014.{{cite web|title=Madeline Merlo – Madeline Merlo|url={{AllMusic|class=album/release|id=mr0004215622|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic|accessdate=September 11, 2014}} 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. 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)''==
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"{{cite web|title=Madeline Merlo Releases Music Video For 'Kiss Kiss'|first=Grace|last=Vaughn|url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/madeline-merlo-music-video-kiss-kiss/?amp=1 |work=Sounds Like Nashville|date=August 5, 2020 |accessdate=December 10, 2020}} and "It Didn't".{{cite news |last1=Pape |first1=Hendrik |title=Madeline Merlo To Drop New Single "It Didn't" on October 28th |url=https://www.soundcheckentertainment.ca/madeline-merlo-to-drop-new-single-it-didnt-on-october-28th/ |accessdate=July 8, 2021|publisher=Soundcheck Entertainment |date=October 27, 2020}}
In 2021, Merlo signed her debut U.S. record deal with BBR Music Group in Nashville. She subsequently released the extended play Slide via their imprint Wheelhouse Records on September 23, 2022.{{cite web |last=Andrew |first=Stephen |date=September 25, 2022 |title=Songland' Winner Madeline Merlo on Working With Sam Hunt on New 'Slide' EP: 'It Was an Amazing Phone Call to Get' (Exclusive) |url=https://popculture.com/country-music/news/songland-winner-madeline-merlo-working-sam-hunt-slide-ep-amazing-phone-call-to-get-exclusive/ |access-date=September 26, 2022 |work=Popculture}} She also provided backing vocals on Cole Swindell's single "She Had Me at Heads Carolina.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/cole-swindell-jo-dee-messina-heads-carolina-makin-ttracks-1235103471/ | title=Makin' Tracks: Cole Swindell Brings New Life to Jo Dee Messina's 'Heads Carolina' | magazine=Billboard | date=June 21, 2022 | access-date=June 22, 2022 | author=Tom Roland}} In 2023, she released the single "Tim + Faith".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbrmusicgroup.com/award-winning-songwriter-songland-winner-madeline-merlo-delivers-latest-emotive-track-tim-faith-via-bbr-music-group-wheelhouse-records/|title=Award-Winning Songwriter and Songland Winner Madeline Merlo Delivers Her Latest Emotive Track "Tim + Faith" Via BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records|date=September 15, 2023|work=BBR Music Group|access-date=November 29, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abbynews.com/entertainment/lower-mainland-country-star-releases-new-single-4452823|title=Lower Mainland country star releases new single|first=Colleen|last=Flanagan|work=The Abbotsford News|date=September 22, 2023|access-date=November 29, 2023}} The song would become her first top five hit on the Billboard Canada Country chart.
In August 2024, Merlo released the single "Broken Heart Thing" featuring Dustin Lynch.{{cite web|url=https://canadianbeats.ca/2024/08/13/madeline-merlo-releases-broken-heart-thing-with-dustin-lynch/|title=MADELINE MERLO RELEASES “BROKEN HEART THING” WITH DUSTIN LYNCH|first=James|last=Melanson|work=Canadian Beats Media|date=August 13, 2024|access-date=August 29, 2024}} The song was included on her extended play One House Down (from the Girl Next Door), which was released on October 11, 2024, via BBR's Stoney Creek Records.{{cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2024/10/madeline-merlo-is-one-house-down-from-the-girl-next-door/|title=Madeline Merlo Is ‘One House Down (From The Girl Next Door)’|date=October 11, 2024|work=Music Row|first=Madison|last=Hahnen|access-date=February 10, 2025}} She was nominated for "Female Artist of the Year" at the 2024 Canadian Country Music Awards.
= Acting career =
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
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.{{Cite web |title=Just Married! All the Celebrity Weddings of 2023 |url=https://people.com/celebrity-weddings-of-2023-7098893 |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | 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
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details ! Peak |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! CAN |
| scope="row"| Free Soul
|
| 88 |
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| style="width:10em;"| Title
! style="width:18em;"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Madeline Merlo
|
|
| scope="row"| Slide
|
|
| scope="row"| One House Down (From the Girl Next Door)
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col"| Peak positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! scope="col" style="width:4em;"| CAN Country
|
| rowspan="2"| 2014
! scope="row"| "Sinking Like a Stone" | 32 | | align="left" rowspan="6"| Free Soul |
| scope="row"| "Alive"
| 42 | |
| 2015
! scope="row"| "Honey Jack" | 25 | |
| rowspan="2"| 2016
! scope="row"| "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" | 10 | |
| scope="row"| "War Paint"
| 13 | |
| rowspan="2"| 2017
! scope="row"| "Over and Over" | 13 | |
| scope="row"| "Motel Flamingo"
| 8 | | rowspan="6" {{Non-album singles}} |
| 2018
! scope="row"| "Neon Love" | 11 |
|
| rowspan="2"| 2019
! scope="row"| "Unraveling" | 23 | |
| scope="row"| "Dear Me"
| 10 | |
| rowspan="2"| 2020
! scope="row"| "Kiss Kiss" | 13 | |
| scope="row"| "It Didn't"
| 17 | |
| 2022
! scope="row"| "Slide" | 6 | | align="left"| Slide |
| 2023
! scope="row"| "Tim + Faith" | 5 | | {{N/A}} |
| 2024
! scope="row"| "Broken Heart Thing" | 6 | | align="left"| One House Down (from the Girl Next Door) |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:smaller" | "—" denotes a recording that failed to chart. |
==Christmas singles==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="width:2em;" | Year
! style="width:16em;"| Single ! style="width:8em;" | Album |
|---|
| 2014
! scope="row"| "Jolly Ol' Redneck"{{cite web|author1=RGK Admin|title=Sneak Peek: Madeline Merlo's "Jolly Ol' Redneck"|url=http://topcountry.ca/sneak-peek-madeline-merlos-jolly-ol-redneck/|website=Top Country|publisher=TC Inc|accessdate=December 17, 2016|date=December 2, 2014}} | rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}} |
| 2016
! scope="row"| "White Christmas"{{cite web|title=White Christmas – Single by Madeline Merlo|url=https://rgk.lnk.to/WhiteChristmas|publisher=Open Road Recordings|accessdate=December 17, 2016}} |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Year
! style="width:16em;"| Video ! Director |
|---|
| rowspan="2"| 2014
! scope="row"| "Sinking Like a Stone" | Adam Rothlein |
| scope="row"| "Alive"
| John "JP" Poliquin |
| rowspan="2"| 2016
! scope="row"| "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" | Adam Rothlein |
| scope="row"| "War Paint" {{small|(Unplugged)}}
| rowspan="2"| Rami Mikhail |
| rowspan="3"| 2017
! scope="row"| "Over and Over" |
| scope="row"| "Crush"
| |
| scope="row"| "Motel Flamingo"
| Jaren Hayman |
| 2018
! scope="row"| "Neon Love" | Rami Mikhail |
| 2019
! scope="row"| "Dear Me" | Stephano Barberis |
| 2020
! scope="row"| "Kiss Kiss" | Brian K. Vaughn |
| 2021
! scope="row"| "It Didn't" | The Edde Brothers |
| 2022
! scope="row"| "Slide" | Preston Leatherman |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.madelinemerlo.com/}}
{{Madeline Merlo}}
{{Songland}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merlo, Madeline}}
Category:Canadian women country singers
Category:Singers from British Columbia
Category:Open Road Recordings artists
Category:Canadian Country Music Association Rising Star Award winners
Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters