National Music Centre (NMC), in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), will reveal the updated Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame exhibition celebrating this year’s inductees: B.C.- born country star Lisa Brokop (Artist) and independent country music champion Joe Wood (Stan Klees Builder). Opening September 10 in Calgary, the exhibition launches just as Country Music Week takes over Kelowna (September 10–13).
Over her 35-year career, Artist inductee Lisa Brokop has earned three independent CCMA wins,13 consecutive CCMA female vocalist nominations, an ACM nod, multiple Gold records, recorded 10 studio albums, and charted 43 North American singles. She’s also written songs for artists like Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis, and Terri Clark. With deep respect for the legendary women of country music, Brokop has carried their stories forward through her own career. In 2016, she launched The Patsy Cline Project, an album paying homage to the American country legend with covers and original songs. Hot on the heels of the album’s success, she created Legendary Ladies of Country, a show touring North America featuring songs by female country greats and her personal inspirations, including Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Emmylou Harris. The updated exhibition features treasures from Brokop’s multifaceted career, including her very first handwritten lyrics for the 1985 song “Country is the Best to Me!”, and the wedding dress she wore on the cover of The Patsy Cline Project album.
“Being welcomed into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame has been the greatest honour of my career and I’m truly humbled by it,” said Lisa Brokop. “I have such gratitude to every person who has ever bought a ticket to a show, bought an album or T-shirt or given me their love and support in some way over these past decades, and I share this honour with you! I am thrilled that these pieces will be on display in this exhibition. They hold so many memories and dreams, and I can’t wait for people to see them and join me in the celebration!”
Stan Klees Builder inductee Joe Wood has spent nearly five decades championing independent Canadian country artists, helping deliver more than 10,000 songs to radio. With his wife Trudy, he co-founded RDR Music Group and broke new ground in music distribution, creating the first Canadian compilation CD, leading early digital delivery with Yangaroo/DMDS, and continually adapting to industry change. During his time in the industry, he has supported artists such as Gord Bamford, Tenille Townes, The Reklaws, Michelle Wright, Ian Tyson, Brett Kissel, and even Garth Brooks.
“To be recognized in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame is beyond anything I ever imagined when I first started out,” said Joe Wood. “This honour is really a celebration of the artists I’ve had the privilege to support, and the enduring spirit of independent country music in Canada. Stan Klees, the industry builder who this award was named after, was a friend of mine. Stan would have approved.”
The exhibition highlights Wood’s resilience in the music industry through personal stories, and a copy of 1989’s Promopak 1—the first-ever Canadian independent artist compilation CD.
“The National Music Centre is proud to honour Lisa Brokop and Joe Wood with this updated exhibition,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO, NMC. “Their stories reflect the passion, artistry, and perseverance that continue to shape Canada’s country music landscape.”
“We are proud to honour Lisa Brokop and Joe Wood for their remarkable contributions to Canadian country music,” said Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “The CCMA is thrilled to celebrate their induction as both recognition of all they have accomplished and a tribute to the legacy they continue to build. This exhibition with the National Music Centre ensures their impact will be recognized for years to come.”
As the official permanent home of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, National Music Centre is the custodian of more than 2,000 artifacts (textiles, instruments, and photos) within the CCMHF collection. Dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history and legacy of Canadian country music, the exhibition incorporates items from the 2025 inductees, as well as past honourees including k.d. lang, Jason McCoy, Rita MacNeil, Terri Clark, Paul Brandt, Hank Snow, Michelle Wright, Ian Tyson, and others.