Josh Ross (singer)

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.[5] 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.[5] Ross released his first radio single "If You Were a Song" as an independent artist that year.[10] He released the five-song extended play Do What You Love in 2020.[5]

In February 2022, Ross released the single "First Taste of Gone", which he co-wrote with Mason Thornley.[11] He then became one of the final eight finalists for SiriusXM's "Top of the Country" contest.[12] Ross subsequently signed a joint recording and management deal with The Core Entertainment and Universal Music Canada in April 2022.[1] With Universal taking over promotion of "First Taste of Gone", the song moved into the top five of the Canada Country chart,[13] and entered the Canadian Hot 100.[14] Ross released the song "On a Different Night" in July 2022,[15][16][17] which would become a radio single later that September.[18] He received a nomination for "Rising Star" at the 2022 Canadian Country Music Awards.[19] Ross performed at the halftime show for the 109th Grey Cup in Regina, Saskatchewan, alongside Tyler Hubbard and Jordan Davis.[20]

In January 2023, Ross released the single "Trouble".[21] He opened for Bailey Zimmerman at the end of his headlining tour in the United States in the same month.[22] In March 2023, Universal Music Group Nashville signed Ross in partnership with Universal Music Canada and The Core.[23][24] Ross subsequently released the song "Red Flags" later that month.[25][26] 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.[27][28][29] He was named "Rising Star" at the 2023 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards.[30] In the summer of 2023, Ross is an opening act for Nickelback on their North American "Get Rollin' Tour" along with Brantley Gilbert.[31] In July 2023, he released the song "Ain't Doin' Jack".[32] That same month, he made his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.[33] 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".[34][35] He released the song "Ain't the One" at the end of the month.[36]

In 2024, Ross will join Bailey Zimmerman again for his headlining "Religiously: The Tour" in the United States, Great Britain, and Ireland.[37]