Drag sensation Priyanka to host CCMA Awards in London, Ont.
International Drag sensation Priyanka thought she was being pranked when the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards asked her to co-host this year's event in London, Ont.
Her reaction was "Are you joking? What are you talking about?" Priyanka told CTV News London via Zoom this week, worrying that fans wouldn't understand why she was chosen to host.
"But when I realized how musical I am, I have an album that charted this year in Canada and and I'm a musician myself and I'm also a great TV host too, I realized I belong here," says Priyanka.
"We have always thought of country to be more of a closed mindset...so for me, as a gay brown boy that dresses up as a drag queen, to be hosting this award show, it's going to change the world."
The first-ever winner of Canada’s Drag Race in 2020, Priyanka sold out shows all across Canada and broke barriers as the first ever drag queen on the cover of Elle Canada.
Priyanka’s EP “Taste Test” debuted at number five on the iTunes music charts in Canada with two-million streams on the musical endeavour. She also has a full-length album, holiday single and country song on the way.
She'll be arriving in London this weekend ahead of hosting the live CCMA event with country star Lindsay Ell at Budweiser Gardens Monday.
"I honestly cannot put into words the excitement that a lot of Londoners themselves are feeling to hear Priyanka is coming," says Stephen D'Amelio, vice-president of Pride London.
D'Amelio feels representation matters, and has heard from local drag queens who are really excited. D'Amelio is a DJ by trade, and has seen a shift in country music over the past few years.
"Taylor Swift is somebody who embraces the LGBT, Kacey Musgraves is another artist as well," says D'Amelio.
"With artists like Lil Nas X expanding diversity, it's fantastic to see not just the culture and the music itself taking a shift and trying to be a bit more open and inclusive, but also Canadian music has always been at the forefront of that. Seeing this on on a big stage is is really impressive."
Ell was an obvious choice to host the CCMA Awards as the most-nominated female artist in Canada. By choosing Priyanka, the CCMA committee wanted to show that country music is for everyone.
"The country music community extends to creators from all types of backgrounds and we really believe that collaboration generates creativity and that representation matters," says Amy Jeninga, president of the CCMAs.
"When you promote diversity and equality and inclusion, ultimately it benefits all of us. So that definitely was a key piece in our decision. I just think Priyanka is an incredible human being that's going to add a new layer of excitement and creativity and highlight a piece of the community that exists that perhaps is an untold story, and I love it more than has a huge Pride community."
Priyanka says the drag community has always loved country music, but some of the traditional fans have not always loved them back.
"A lot of our big gay icons that we look up to are like Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and Reba (McEntire). I think that for a lot of us that love country music, we didn't think that there was a space for us. Now with me, joining forces with the CCMAs to show the world that country music is a safe space for us, LGBTQ2S+ people, all the worlds are colliding. It's the best of both worlds. I call myself the Hannah Montana of Canada, and I feel like it's coming to fruition."
Ell can't wait to share the stage with Priyanka, who she had never met until the two were paired as co-hosts.
"Music is this incredible force that brings us together as humans on this planet," says Ell, who has five CCMA nominations including female artist of the year.
"I am so proud of the CCMAs for taking a stand, and talking about things that matter. The fact that we have the first drag queen ever to co-host an awards show, I'm honoured to be a part of it."
Ell will take the stage at Rum Runners in London on Friday night, and there is a good chance Priyanka will make a surprise appearance on stage with her.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.