‘Grit and Gratitude’: Brett Kissel’s Journey to Greatness on the Canadian Country Music Scene

Back in 2020, when Brett Kissel was referred to as Canadian country music royalty, he had a very modest response: “I’ve got a long ways to go!” He then listed the greats as Paul Brandt, Shania Twain, and Carolyn Dawn Johnson. “I’m just some young guy tryna make it!”

Today, he’s a multi-platinum artist, Juno and CCMA winner. He has four number-one hits on the Canadian country charts, seven full-length albums, and is currently wrapping up a 35-date tour. His résumé indicates that he has, in fact, made it.

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His song ‘That’s Country Music’ was an opportunity for him to express his profound gratitude for the music itself. He says, “It was an opportunity for me to write a song and thank the genre and thank anybody whose ever had a hand in building up the greatest genre in the world – as far as I’m concerned.” To him, that’s not just great artists like Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, and George Strait—it’s also all the producers, industry people, and everybody at radio.

With a career marked by humility, talent, and heartfelt appreciation for his craft, Brett Kissel has carved out a place among the legends he once looked up to.