Rising Canadian country star blending raw heartbreak with fearless storytelling.
Toronto’s country music scene continues to produce exciting new voices, and one artist quickly making her mark is Paige Rutledge. The Oakville-born singer-songwriter is closing out a breakthrough year with a string of milestones that highlight both her growing fanbase and her evolving artistry. With a 2025 CMAO nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, a new label partnership with New Motor Records, and more than 600,000 streams on her debut EP The Break Up Rules, Rutledge is steadily carving out her place in Canada’s modern country landscape.
Her latest single, “Hate How I Love You,” showcases the emotional honesty that has become a hallmark of her songwriting. Written during a deeply personal moment following the end of a relationship, the track blends vulnerability with powerful storytelling, resonating strongly with listeners who have found pieces of their own experiences within the song.
At the same time, Rutledge proves she’s just as comfortable bringing energy and personality to her music. Her playful honky-tonk take on the holiday classic “Blue Christmas” flips the script on heartbreak and offers a fresh, confident twist on a timeless favourite.
In this interview with TorontoPages, Paige Rutledge opens up about songwriting, healing through music, and the whirlwind year that continues to shape her rising career.
How would you best describe or introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi TorontoPages!! My name is Paige Rutledge, and I am a country singer/songwriter from Oakville! I fell in love with country music at a very young age, and the first time I ever performed for people in public was at my grandfather’s funeral in 2007. This changed everything for me and made me realize how special music is. Since then, I have been chasing this crazy dream!
“Hate How I Love You” is incredibly vulnerable. Can you take us back to the real-life moment that sparked the song?
Absolutely! Hate How I Love You is easily the most vulnerable song I currently have released when it comes to heartbreak, and it can be really scary putting out something so personal, but I knew that this is a very universal feeling. I had just gone through a relationship ending and was letting myself feel all of the emotions that come along with that. Sometimes you’re sad, sometimes you’re angry, sometimes you’re a little bit of both, and those feelings are what initially sparked the title of this song.
You’ve said writing this song became part of your healing process. How did the emotional weight of the song change from the first draft to the final version?
I have always found writing and recording music to be a very therapeutic process, and that was no different with this song. The day that really stands out for me was the day that we recorded vocals. Everything was still fresh, and I think that allowed me to really let the raw emotion come through in the vocals. I would almost say that the song became more emotionally charged throughout the process because I find that when you are recording a song that is so personal, you kind of allow yourself to relive those moments again in your head. I really am proud of how much we were able to push the emotion in this song because that is what makes it so special to me.
What was it like collaborating with Dayna Reid and Jessica Sole on such a personal story?
So special! Dayna Reid and Jessica Sole are not only two amazing musicians and writers themselves, but also two of my friends, and that is a special relationship. I think with them already knowing what was happening in my life, we were able to dig into a more vulnerable and real place. Sharing such a personal story can be scary, but when you are able to do it with two friends, it allows you to go deeper and open up more than you think you can!
The song has already resonated strongly with listeners. Have any fan reactions surprised or moved you so far?
I’m always so honoured when people reach out directly to share how they found their stories in my song. There was one particular DM I got on Instagram after I released this song from a younger girl who let me know that she had just gone through a rough breakup and that this song had helped her get through it. Those are the moments that really remind you why you allow yourself to be vulnerable and put your story out there for others.
Sonically and emotionally, how does “Hate How I Love You” represent your growth as an artist compared to earlier releases?
I always want to continue pushing myself as a person and artist, and one thing that comes along with that is digging really deep to figure out what I actually want to say and how I want to say it. Writing this song forced me to do that. Each release or project that you work on forces you to grow as an artist and be “better” than what you previously released. I think Hate How I Love You was a song that really made me realize that I do have it in me to dig deeper than I even thought.
Your summer single “Whatcha Gonna Do” brought in over 200,000 streams and SiriusXM airplay. Did that success change how you approached your next release?
Oh, this is one of my favourites! I was so grateful for the streaming and SiriusXM support on this song, and it was so special to watch people sing along when we played it live this summer. Having success with this song just helped make listeners as excited as I was to release more music.
You close out the year by releasing a honky-tonk version of “Blue Christmas.” What inspired you to flip such a classic on its head?
I absolutely adore Christmas and have always wanted to do a Christmas song. It was actually my producer, Matt Koebel, who suggested that we try a cover of Blue Christmas. It was really important to me that whatever Christmas song we ended up covering felt like a “Paige” song, and I think we were able to accomplish that with this one. We were kind of joking around on the day we were recording vocals, and I said something along the lines of “Blue Christmas without you? Yeah right, Blue Christmas without me!” and Matt immediately said we needed to sing that, so we did!
Your version turns the unrequited love storyline around. Why was it important for you to give the song that empowering twist?
Recording Christmas songs can be a bit tricky because, of course, they are iconic, but we also wanted to try to do something new and fresh with a cover. I got soooo many messages from people letting me know how much they loved the lyric flip the first time they heard it, and that was good reassurance to know that our creative decision paid off. I love how you phrased it as an empowering twist because I think that is exactly what it is! It’s a little reminder that your ex (or whoever) out there is having a Blue Christmas without you!
Do you approach covering a classic differently than writing an original, or do you still try to make it feel like your story?
I would say maybe a little bit of both! I think it is important to honour the song when you are covering it, but also to have those little moments that make it unique and memorable for your listeners. I think the cover songs that resonate the most are the ones where you can feel artists putting a little bit of their own story or emotion into it, which makes it feel like you are listening to their song.
The Christmas release feels playful and confident. How much does humour and personality factor into your creative decisions?
I definitely have more of an outgoing personality, and I want that to come through in my music. I’ve always strived for my music to be a true representation of me, and I think when you can feel the artist’s personality through their music, you feel more connected to them. I want my listeners to hear something and think, “Oh yeah, that is Paige,” and I think we were able to accomplish that with Blue Christmas.
You’ve been nominated for 2025 CMAO Album of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year. What did those nominations mean to you personally?
Honestly, this was such a surprise, and I did not expect either nomination! I try my best not to get too caught up in awards, but at the same time, these nods are also reassurance and motivation to keep going. It is no secret that music is a challenging industry, so to be recognized for your work is a reminder that the music is resonating with people, and I am SO grateful to have had those nominations in 2025.
Your debut EP The Break Up Rules has now surpassed 600,000 streams. Looking back, what does that project represent in your journey?
This project really feels like it is what started everything for me. Break Up Rules was the first real project that I had put together, and I learned so much in that process. Matt Koebel worked for a year to make sure we had the right songs, the right vibe, and the right message to put out with this collection of work, and to see how much it resonated with listeners was such a crazy feeling. This was also the first time that I had put on a release show, and having it sell out at The Rivoli in Toronto was truly such a memorable career moment for me.
Many of your songs revolve around heartbreak, growth, and self-awareness. Do you find writing cathartic, exhausting, or a bit of both?
I’ve always found songwriting extremely cathartic. Being able to write about my life experiences and situations has taught me a lot about myself at the same time. Songwriting has definitely helped me through life and has allowed me to find a way to express how I am feeling and what I am going through. Sometimes it can be scary to be so vulnerable and share all your feelings on the internet haha, but at the same time you realize how many people are feeling or going through those same experiences. You kind of get to go through it together through music, which is pretty cool!
You’ve played major festivals like Big Valley Jamboree, the CNE, and CCMA Country Crawl. How has your live show evolved as your audience has grown?
Getting to perform live is my favourite part of being in music. We always strive to have an energetic and engaging show so that the audience really feels like they are a part of it. Getting to play some of these new stages has really taught us how to be creative in a new way, what cover songs can we do that the audience is going to go crazy for? Can we do something that really makes the audience feel like they are right there with us? I feel like I am the truest version of myself on stage, and the one thing that hasn’t changed is just how much fun we get to have while playing live.
How does performing these deeply personal songs live compare to writing them alone in a room?
It just brings a brand new life to the song. My favourite thing is always getting to try a new song live for the first time and seeing how the audience reacts to it. You get to see firsthand people finding their stories in your song, which is a very special feeling. I think what truly makes a song great is if it can hit as hard at a writers’ round as it does with a full band, and it’s so exciting to see if a song can do that.
As a Toronto-based country artist, how do you feel your hometown influences your sound or perspective?
I am so proud to be from the Toronto area and to feel the love and support from the community. Sonically, I think this has pushed me to explore traditional country storytelling with modern influences from other artists who have also grown up in the area.
With both emotional ballads and upbeat honky-tonk tracks in your catalogue, how would you describe the “full range” of Paige Rutledge as an artist?
I think you get a little bit of everything! But the main thing I would say is that every song is relatable and that there is a song for whatever you are feeling that day!
When things get busy or overwhelming, what helps keep you grounded?
I’ve had to force myself to learn how to take a break. I used to have the mindset that if I wasn’t doing something, then I was not doing enough. However, as things have continued to get busier over the last few years, I’ve learned the importance of taking a break so you don’t get burned out. I like to go up to my cottage and just shut down for a few days so I feel recharged, grounded, and ready to take on whatever we have next.
Finally, if someone is discovering your music for the first time through these latest releases, what do you hope they feel after hitting play?
I hope they feel like they can find a piece of themselves in my songs! I hope it makes them feel something, whether it’s happy and they want to sing along, or even a little sad and they want to blast the song and scream it in their car.
Your message for us at TorontoPages magazine.
Thank you SOOOO much for having me!! It has been such a pleasure to answer these questions and share a little about me and my music! I hope to see you all out at a show soon!
