# Brett Kissel

Brett Kissel (born May 27, 1990) is a Canadian country singer. He has achieved four number-one hits on the Canadian country chart with "Airwaves", "Drink About Me", "A Few Good Stories", and "Make a Life, Not a Living". Kissel has released the albums, Started with a Song (2013), Pick Me Up (2015), We Were That Song (2017), Now or Never (2020), What Is Life? (2021), The Compass Project (2023), and Let Your Horses Run – The Album (2025).

## Early life

Kissel was born in St. Paul, Alberta, the son of Brenda and Gordon Kissel. He has one older brother, Jamison. He grew up on a cattle ranch in northeastern Alberta's Flat Lake region, where his family operates the Wengzynowski North View cattle ranch.

## Career
### 2000–2011: Early years

Kissel recorded his first album, Keepin' It Country, when he was 12 years old.
Kissel released three more albums, By Request in 2004, Tried and True – A Canadian Tribute in 2006 and My Roots Run Deep in 2008. In 2006, Kissel was nominated for the Chevy Trucks Rising Star Award at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Kissel was 16 years old at the time, making him the youngest CCMA nominee in the history of the awards show.
On May 10, 2013, Kissel signed a record deal with Warner Music Canada. His debut single, "Started with a Song", was released on June 17. It became the most added song at Canadian country radio in its first week, surpassing a Canadian country radio record set by Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together". It debuted at number 87 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for the week of July 27, 2013. The music video for the song premiered on CMT Canada on June 27. Kissel's first album for Warner, also titled Started with a Song, was released on October 1, 2013.
On February 14, 2014, Kissel released his third single from his Started with a Song album titled "3-2-1". On March 29, 2014, Kissel won his first Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and also performed on the 2014 Juno Awards broadcast on CTV alongside OneRepublic, Tegan and Sara, Bachman–Turner Overdrive and The Sheepdogs.
In September 2014, Kissel led all country singers with eight nominations for the Canadian Country Music Awards held in Edmonton, Alberta.

### 2015–2018: Pick Me Up and We Were That Song

In September 2017 Kissel won Male Artist of the Year, Interactive Artist of the Year, Country Music Program or Special of the Year and Video of the Year for I Didn't Fall in Love With Your Hair at the 2017 Canadian Country Music Awards. He also released a new album We Were That Song on December 8, 2017. In 2018 he went on a tour across Canada to support the album.

### 2019–2021: Now or Never, What Is Life?

In September 2019, Kissel released his first American country radio single "Drink About Me", the lead single from his fourth major-label album Now or Never which was released on January 1, 2020. "Drink About Me" would become Kissel's second number one on the Canada Country chart, but wouldn't find a place on the American Country Billboard chart. "She Drives Me Crazy" was released as the second single off the album in February 2020.
In September 2020, Kissel released this third single off Now or Never, "A Few Good Stories" and picked up 4 CCMA Awards, winning Male Artist of the Year, Fan's Choice, Creative Director, and Album of the Year for Now it Never. Kissel then signed his first American record deal with Verge Records, a Nashville-based partner of ONErpm. "A Few Good Stories" became Kissel's third Number One on Canada Country, "She Drives Me Crazy" became Kissel's second Platinum-certified single, and "Drink About Me" was nominated for Single of the Year at the 2021 Juno Awards.
In March 2021, Kissel released the single "Make a Life, Not a Living", and announced his fifth major-label album What Is Life?, which was released on April 9, 2021. "Make a Life, Not a Living" debuted by setting a record as the most-added song at Canadian country radio in a single week ever. It later became his fourth career Number One at Canadian country radio, and his first song to chart in the top 50 of the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. Kissel won the "Fans' Choice" award at the 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards in November 2021.

### 2022–present: The Compass Project and The Side You've Never Seen Tour

In 2022, he released the single "Ain't the Same" with American vocal group 98 Degrees. Along with its follow-up single "Watch It", the song was included on Kissel's studio album The Compass Project - South Album, which was released on January 27, 2023. The entire box set saw Kissel release four different albums as part of The Compass Project in 2023. The South Album also included the single "Never Have I Ever", which was released in January 2023 alongside the official announcement of the project. The East Album was released on April 28, 2023. Kissel was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for outstanding contributions to the Province of Alberta in April 2023. In September 2023, he released the single "Two of Us" with American country artist Cooper Alan. Kissel released the West Album on November 3, 2023, and followed with the live North Album on December 1, 2023. The South Album received a nomination for Country Album of the Year at the 2024 Juno Awards. In May 2024, Kissel released the single "Let Your Horses Run". In the fall of 2024 and early 2025, Kissel will embark on his first acoustic tour across Canada, "The Side You've Never Seen Tour". He released his fourteenth album Let Your Horses Run - The Album on February 28, 2025.

## Personal life

Brett Kissel married Cecilia Friesen in July 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta. They lived in Nashville, Tennessee for several years. In 2016, Cecilia gave birth to their first daughter. Over the next six years, she gave birth to their second daughter, and two sons. Kissel and his family now reside on his family farm in northern Alberta.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Details | Peak positions | Peak positions | Certifications |
| Title | Details | CAN | US Heat | Certifications |
| Keepin' It Country | Release date: September 12, 2003 Label: BAK 2 BAK Entertainment Inc. | — | — | |
| By Request | Release date: September 26, 2004 Label: BAK 2 BAK Entertainment Inc. | — | — | |
| Tried and True – A Canadian Tribute | Release date: March 5, 2006 Label: BAK 2 BAK Entertainment Inc. | — | — | |
| My Roots Run Deep | Release date: May 9, 2008 Label: BAK 2 BAK Entertainment Inc. | — | — | |
| Started with a Song | Release date: October 1, 2013 Label: Warner Music Canada | 22 | — | MC: Gold |
| Pick Me Up | Release date: September 11, 2015 Label: Warner Music Canada | 7 | — | MC: Gold |
| We Were That Song | Release date: December 8, 2017 Label: Warner Music Canada | 29 | — | MC: Gold |
| Now or Never | Release date: January 1, 2020 Label: Warner Music Canada | 43 | 18 | |
| What Is Life? | Release date: April 9, 2021 Label: Warner Music Canada / ONErpm | — | — | |
| The Compass Project – South Album | Release date: January 27, 2023 Label: Big Star Recordings / ONErpm | — | — | |
| The Compass Project – East Album | Release date: April 28, 2023 Label: Big Star Recordings / ONErpm | — | — | |
| The Compass Project – West Album | Release date: November 3, 2023 Label: Big Star Recordings / ONErpm | — | — | |
| The Compass Project – North Album | Release date: December 1, 2023 Label: Big Star Recordings / ONErpm | — | — | |
| Let Your Horses Run – The Album | Release date: February 28, 2025 Label: Big Star Recordings / ONErpm | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |||||

### Singles
#### As lead artist

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | CAN | CAN Country | Certifications | Album |
| "Started with a Song" | 2013 | 58 | 3 | MC: Gold | Started with a Song |
| "Raise Your Glass" | 2013 | 88 | 7 | | Started with a Song |
| "3-2-1" | 2014 | 52 | 3 | MC: Platinum | Started with a Song |
| "Tough People Do" | 2014 | 99 | 9 | | Started with a Song |
| "Something You Just Don't Forget" | 2014 | 91 | 5 | | Started with a Song |
| "Airwaves" | 2015 | 61 | 1 | MC: Platinum | Pick Me Up |
| "Pick Me Up" | 2015 | 86 | 6 | | Pick Me Up |
| "Cool with That" | 2016 | — | 8 | MC: Gold | Pick Me Up |
| "I Didn't Fall in Love with Your Hair" (featuring Carolyn Dawn Johnson) | 2016 | 88 | 16 | MC: Gold | Pick Me Up |
| "She's Desire" | 2017 | — | 6 | | Pick Me Up |
| "We Were That Song" | 2017 | — | 4 | MC: Gold | We Were That Song |
| "Anthem" | 2018 | — | 8 | MC: Gold | We Were That Song |
| "Guitars & Gasoline" | 2018 | — | 8 | | We Were That Song |
| "Cecilia" | 2018 | — | 8 | | We Were That Song |
| "Drink About Me" | 2019 | 61 | 1 | MC: Platinum | Now or Never |
| "She Drives Me Crazy" | 2020 | 78 | 12 | MC: Platinum | Now or Never |
| "A Few Good Stories" | 2020 | 62 | 1 | MC: Gold | Now or Never |
| "Make a Life, Not a Living" | 2021 | 49 | 1 | MC: Platinum | What Is Life? |
| "Night in the Life" | 2021 | — | 15 | | What Is Life? |
| "Ain't the Same" (featuring 98 Degrees) | 2022 | — | 33 | | The Compass Project – South Album |
| "Watch It" | 2022 | — | 11 | | The Compass Project – South Album |
| "Never Have I Ever" | 2023 | — | 22 | MC: Gold | The Compass Project – South Album |
| "Two of Us" (with Cooper Alan) | 2023 | — | 6 | | Let Your Horses Run |
| "Let Your Horses Run" | 2024 | 89 | 4 | | Let Your Horses Run |
| "Another One" | 2024 | — | 8 | | Let Your Horses Run |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart ||||||

#### As featured artist

| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
| Year | Single | CAN Country | Album |
| 2021 | "Somewhere to Drink" (Nate Haller featuring Brett Kissel and the Reklaws) | 25 | Party in the Back |

### Christmas singles

| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
| Year | Single | CAN Country | Album |
| 2014 | "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" | 45 | Non-album singles |
| 2014 | "Not So Perfect Christmas" | 48 | Non-album singles |
| 2020 | "Frosty the Snowman" | 39 | Non-album singles |
| 2023 | "I Want a Massey Ferguson for Christmas" | 51 | Non-album singles |

### Promotional singles

| Year | Single | Album |
| 2012 | "Hockey, Please Come Back" | Non-album single |
| 2017 | "Nights in the Sun" (featuring Grandpa Bear) | We Were That Song |
| 2018 | "Love Them a Little" | Non-album singles |
| 2021 | "Wannabes" | Non-album singles |
| 2022 | "Our Home" | The Compass Project – South Album |
| 2023 | "Spend a Little Time With You" | The Compass Project – East Album |
| 2023 | "Nowhere" | The Compass Project – East Album |
| 2023 | "Missin You in San Antone" | The Compass Project – West Album |
| 2023 | "Deer Blind" | The Compass Project – West Album |
| 2024 | "Close to You" | Let Your Horses Run |
| 2025 | "Get the Hell Out of This Town" (featuring Don Louis) | Let Your Horses Run |

### Music videos

| Year | Video | Director |
| 2012 | "Hockey, Please Come Back" | Blake McWilliam |
| 2013 | "Started with a Song" | Margaret Malandruccolo |
| 2013 | "Raise Your Glass" | Margaret Malandruccolo |
| 2014 | "3-2-1" | Shaun Silva |
| 2014 | "Tough People Do" | Lisa Mann |
| 2014 | "Something You Just Don't Forget" | Lisa Mann |
| 2015 | "Canadian Kid" | Mike Peleshok |
| 2015 | "Airwaves" | Ben Knechtel |
| 2015 | "Pick Me Up" | Blake McWilliam |
| 2016 | "Cool with That" | Ben Knechtel |
| 2016 | "I Didn't Fall in Love with Your Hair" | |
| 2017 | "We Were That Song" | Blake McWilliam |
| 2018 | "Anthem" | Blake McWilliam |
| 2018 | "Guitars and Gasoline" | Ben Dartnell |
| 2018 | "Cecilia" | Blake McWilliam |
| 2018 | "Love Them a Little" | Jim Wright |
| 2019 | "Drink, Cuss, or Fish" | Ben Dartnell |
| 2019 | "Drink About Me" | Blake McWilliam |
| 2020 | "She Drives Me Crazy" | Emma Higgins / Brett Kissel |
| 2020 | "A Few Good Stories" (with Walk Off the Earth) | Chris Di Staulo |
| 2020 | "Coffee with Her" | |
| 2020 | "Young Enough" | Ben Dartnell |
| 2021 | "Make a Life, Not a Living" | Megan Jackson |
| 2021 | "Somewhere to Drink" (with Nate Haller and The Reklaws) | Ben Knechtel |
| 2022 | "Ain't the Same" (with 98 Degrees) | Aaron Huisman |
| 2022 | "Our Home" | |
| 2023 | "Never Have I Ever" | Ben Dartnell / Connor Scheffler |
| 2024 | "Two of Us" (with Cooper Alan | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 2006 | Canadian Country Music Association | Chevy Trucks Rising Star Award | Nominated |
| 2007 | Canadian Country Music Association | Chevy Trucks Rising Star Award | Nominated |
| 2014 | Juno Awards | Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2014 | Juno Awards | Country Album of the Year – Started with a Song | Nominated |
| 2014 | Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards | Rising Star Award | Won |
| 2014 | Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards | Single of the Year Award – "Started with a Song" | Won |
| 2014 | Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2014 | Canadian Country Music Association | Album of the Year – Started with a Song | Nominated |
| 2014 | Canadian Country Music Association | Single of the Year – "Started with a Song" | Nominated |
| 2014 | Canadian Country Music Association | Songwriter of the Year – "Started with a Song" | Nominated |
| 2014 | Canadian Country Music Association | CMT Video of the Year – "3-2-1" | Won |
| 2014 | Canadian Country Music Association | Interactive Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2015 | Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards | Male Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2015 | Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards | Country Album of the Year – Started with a Song | Won |
| 2015 | Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards | Single of the Year – "3-2-1" | Won |
| 2015 | Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2015 | Canadian Country Music Association | Single of the Year – "3-2-1" | Nominated |
| 2015 | Canadian Country Music Association | Video of the Year – "Tough People Do" | Nominated |
| 2015 | Canadian Country Music Association | Interactive Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2016 | Juno Awards | Country Album of the Year – Pick Me Up | Nominated |
| 2016 | Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2016 | Canadian Country Music Association | Interactive Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2016 | Canadian Country Music Association | Fan's Choice Award | Won |
| 2016 | Canadian Country Music Association | Single of the Year – "Airwaves" | Nominated |
| 2017 | Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2017 | Canadian Country Music Association | Single of the Year – "Cool With That" | Nominated |
| 2017 | Canadian Country Music Association | Video of the Year – "I Didn't Fall In Love With Your Hair" | Won |
| 2017 | Canadian Country Music Association | Songwriter of the Year – "Cool With That" (with Ted Hewitt, Phil O'Donnell) | Nominated |
| 2017 | Canadian Country Music Association | Interactive Artist or Group of the Year | Won |
| 2018 | Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | Canadian Country Music Association | Fan's Choice Award | Nominated |
| 2018 | Canadian Country Music Association | Country Album of the Year – We Were That Song | Nominated |
| 2018 | Canadian Country Music Association | Video of the Year – "We Were That Song" | Nominated |
| 2018 | Canadian Country Music Association | Interactive Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2018 | Western Canadian Music Awards | Country Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2019 | Juno Awards | Country Album of the Year – We Were That Song | Won |
| 2019 | Canadian Country Music Association | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated |
| 2019 | Canadian Country Music Association | Fans' Choice Award | Won |
| 2019 | Canadian Country Music Association | Interactive Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2019 | Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2019 | Canadian Country Music Association | Songwriter of the Year – "Cecilia" (with Seth Mosley, Brad Rempel) | Nominated |
| 2019 | Western Canadian Music Awards | Country Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2020 | Canadian Country Music Association | Album Of The Year - Now Or Never | Won |
| 2020 | Canadian Country Music Association | Entertainer Of The Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | Canadian Country Music Association | Fans' Choice Award | Won |
| 2020 | Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist Of The Year | Won |
| 2020 | Canadian Country Music Association | Video Of The Year - "Drink About Me" | Nominated |
| 2021 | Juno Awards of 2021 | Single of the Year - "Drink About Me" | Nominated |
| 2021 | 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards | Album of the Year - What is Life? | Nominated |
| 2021 | 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards | Entertainer Of The Year | Nominated |
| 2021 | 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards | Fans' Choice Award | Won |
| 2021 | 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards | Male Artist Of The Year | Nominated |
| 2021 | 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards | Video Of The Year - "Make a Life, Not a Living" | Won |
| 2022 | Juno Awards of 2022 | Country Album of the Year - What is Life? | Won |
| 2022 | Juno Awards of 2022 | Single of the Year - "Make a Life, Not a Living" | Nominated |
| 2022 | Canadian Country Music Association | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated |
| 2022 | Canadian Country Music Association | Fans' Choice | Nominated |
| 2022 | Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2022 | Canadian Country Music Association | Single of the Year - "Make a Life, Not a Living" | Nominated |
| 2023 | Canadian Country Music Association | Fans' Choice | Nominated |
| 2023 | Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2024 | Juno Awards | Country Album of the Year - The Compass Project - South Album | Nominated |
| 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Alternative Country Album of the Year - The Compass Project - West Album | Won |
| 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Musical Collaboration of the Year - "Two of Us" (with Cooper Alan) | Nominated |
| 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Video of the Year - "Two of Us" (with Cooper Alan) | Nominated |
| 2025 | Juno Awards | Country Album of the Year – The Compass Project - West Album | Pending |