{{Short description|Canadian country music duo}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Stellas | origin = Whitby, Ontario, Canada | genre = Country | years_active = 2009–2015 | label = EMI Music Canada | website = {{official website|}} | current_members = {{Plainlist| *Brad Stella *MaryLynne Stella }} }}
'''The Stellas''' were a married Canadian country music duo from Whitby, Ontario.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bell|first=Mike|title=Success snowballing for country couple|url=http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/entertainment/story.html?id=72a3dfd0-4e9d-4c91-a391-ae18fff4ccd5|accessdate=April 5, 2012|newspaper=Calgary Herald|date=October 31, 2011}}</ref> They finished in fourth place on the second season of the CMT series ''Can You Duet'' in 2009.<ref name="leaderpost">{{cite news|last=DeDekker|first=Jeff|title=The Stellas are on to something|url=http://blogs.leaderpost.com/2011/09/19/the-stellas-are-on-to-something/|accessdate=April 5, 2012|newspaper=Leader-Post|date=September 19, 2011}}</ref> Their self-titled debut album was released by EMI Music Canada in September 2011. The first single was a cover of the Fairground Attraction's song "Perfect".<ref>{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Bruce|title=Mitchell: Stellas new talents on the rise|url=http://www.kelownacapnews.com/entertainment/130309693.html|accessdate=April 5, 2012|newspaper=Kelowna Capital News|date=September 22, 2011}}</ref> In July 2014, the duo released "Gravy", which doubles as the first single off their second album. An Irish rock and roll showband <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishshowbands.net/bgstellas.htm|title = Irish '60s Bands & Groups - the Stellas}}</ref> by the same name was active in the sixties releasing a single covering Wooly Bully and "Fortune Teller".
==Personal life==
Brad and MaryLynne met when they were age 20. The married couple has been together for sixteen years playing in bands and writing country pop music.
Brad played bass in rock bands for years, but was drawn to writing country. MaryLynne had never written songs until she met Brad. She grew up one of eight kids, which her late father supported as a musician (he was once a member of The Platters).
MaryLynne and Brad both performed in cover bands and hosted a weekly open mic where they eventually became a musical duo. The couple also opened a 15,000-square-foot music school, The Music Scene, which included a stage and auditorium.<ref>[https://www.durhamregion.com/whatson-story/3480305-music-scene-owners-turn-heads-in-nashville/ "Music Scene owners turn heads in Nashville"]. Mar 25, 2008 ''Oshawa This Week''</ref>
Brad and MaryLynne have two daughters, Lennon and Maisy, who are known for their roles on the ABC show ''Nashville''.
==Career==
In 2009, The Stellas tried out for the U.S. show ''Can You Duet'', performing songs by Paul McCartney and Cyndi Lauper. Following their audition for the Country Music Television show, The Stellas performed weekly for millions of American viewers and earned fourth place in the competition.<ref name="leaderpost" /> This led fellow Canadian and multi-platinum artist, Johnny Reid, to offer The Stellas the opening slot on his sold-out Canadian tour.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Stellas on CBC Music|url=http://music.cbc.ca/#/artists/The-Stellas|website=CBC Music|accessdate=July 30, 2014}}</ref> Eventually, Brad and MaryLynne signed a deal with EMI Music Canada. In 2012, they released their self-titled album, which was produced by Britain's Nick Trevisick (Paramore, Katy Perry, Sting). The Stellas wrote most of the songs on their 10-track self-titled debut album, except for a cover of Fairground Attraction's "Perfect" and a live version of Boudleaux Bryant's "Love Hurts".
Collaborations on the album include Trevisick on "Take It Slow", Pistol Annies' Angaleena Presley on "I Can't Listen to Love Songs" and multi-platinum Nashville songwriter John Scott Sherrill (Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson) on "Wished for You".
The Stellas were featured on volume 6 and volume 7 of the ''Now Country'' Canada albums. They are one of the two Canadian acts featured on those albums. They are also featured on ''The Best of Now Country'' Canada album that came out in May 2014.
The Stellas have supported multiple sold-out tours with Zac Brown Band.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Stellas Tour Dates|url=http://www.songkick.com/artists/37370-stellas|website=Songkick|accessdate=July 30, 2014}}</ref> Zac Brown recorded and released a song called "Let It Rain" that he wrote with Brad for his EP ''The Grohl Sessions, Vol. 1'' (released in 2013). It is the only song on that album that Dave Grohl plays drums on.
In July 2014, The Stellas released "Gravy", a blend of twang and tongue-in-cheek humor that doubles as the first single from the duo's second album. Fred Wilhelm, who helped The Stellas write "Gravy", co-wrote several other songs, including a track called "It Wouldn't Be This".
==Awards==
The Stellas have been nominated for eleven awards. They won the 2013 CCMA Group or Duo of the Year award,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brooks|first1=Stephanie|title=2013 CCMA Award winners The Stellas credit their Ontario music roots|url=http://cmaontario.ca/newsletter/2013/09/2013-ccma-award-winners-the-stellas-credit-their-ontario-music-roots/|accessdate=July 30, 2014|work=Country Music Association of Ontario|date=September 26, 2013}}</ref> the 2013 CMAO Group or Duo of the Year award<ref>{{cite web|title=2013 CMAO Award Winners|url=http://cmaontario.ca/2013-awards-winners|website=Country Music Association of Ontario|accessdate=July 30, 2014}}</ref> and the 2012 CCMA Video of the Year award.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Van Evra|first1=Jennifer|title=2012 Canadian Country Music Awards - Winners List|url=http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2012/9/2012-Canadian-Country-Music-Awards---Winners-List|accessdate=July 30, 2014|work=CBC Music|date=September 9, 2012}}</ref> Brad has also been nominated for the Glenn Cole Award, RCTA, JUNOES, and RIAA awards.
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="width:10em;"| Title ! style="width:20em;"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''The Stellas'' | * Release date: September 6, 2011 * Label: EMI Music Canada |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! style="width:14em;"| Single ! Album |- | rowspan="2"| 2011 ! scope="row"| "Perfect" | rowspan="3"| ''The Stellas'' |- ! scope="row"| "In This House" |- | 2012 ! scope="row"| "Riding in the Back Seat" |- | 2014 ! scope="row"| "Gravy" | rowspan="2"| TBD |- | 2015 ! scope="row"| "It Wouldn't Be This" |- |}
===Other appearances=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Song ! Album |- | 2018 | "Leavin's Not the Only Way to Go" | ''King of the Road: A Tribute to Roger Miller'' |}
===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! style="width:14em;"| Video ! Director |- | rowspan="2"| 2011 ! scope="row"| "Perfect" | Ivan Otis |- ! scope="row"| "In This House" | Margaret Malandruccolo |- | 2012 ! scope="row"| "Riding in the Back Seat" | Mike Peleshok |- | 2014 ! scope="row"| "Gravy" | Roman White<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tinson|first1=Kayla|title=TC Exclusive Interview & BTS Video with the Stellas|url=http://topcountry.ca/tc-exclusive-video-interview-stellas/|accessdate=July 30, 2014|work=Top Country|date=July 29, 2014}}</ref> |- | 2015 ! scope="row"| "It Wouldn't Be This" | Brad Stella<ref>{{cite web|title=It Wouldn't Be This – The Stellas|url=http://www.vevo.com/watch/the-stellas/It-Wouldnt-Be-This/CAP0T1500002|website=Vevo|accessdate=October 12, 2015}}</ref> |- |}
==Songwriting credits==
===Brad Stella=== * Matt York – "Lucky Man" (2009) * Jake Mathews – "Our Own Back Yard" * The Orchard – "Stick to Your Guns" (2012) * Zac Brown Band – "Let It Rain" (2013) * Lennon & Maisy - "Christmas Coming Home" (2012) * The Stellas – "Christmas Comin' Home" * The Stellas – "I Can't Listen to Love Songs" * The Stellas – "In This House" * The Stellas – "Riding in the Back Seat" * The Stellas – "Take It Slow" * The Stellas – "I Wished for You"
===MaryLynne Stella===
* The Orchard – "Stick to Your Guns" (2012) * Lennon & Maisy - "Christmas Coming Home" (2012) * Pete Lesperance – "Satellites" (2012) * The Stellas – "Christmas Comin' Home" * The Stellas – "I Can't Listen to Love Songs" * The Stellas – "In This House" * The Stellas – "The Game" * The Stellas – "Woe Is Me" * The Stellas – "Life of Riley" * The Stellas – "Take It Slow" * The Stellas – "I Wished for You"
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Association ! Category ! Result |- | rowspan="3"| 2012 | rowspan="4"| Canadian Country Music Association | Group or Duo of the Year | {{nom}} |- | Rising Star | {{nom}} |- | CMT Video of the Year – "In This House" | {{won}} |- | 2013 | Group or Duo of the Year | {{won}} |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.cmt.ca/artist/the-stellas/ The Stellas] at CMT
{{Can You Duet}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stellas}} Category:Canadian country music duos Category:Musical groups established in 2009 Category:Musical groups from the Regional Municipality of Durham Category:Whitby, Ontario Category:Canadian musical duos Category:Male–female musical duos Category:Married couples Category:2009 establishments in Ontario Category:Canadian Country Music Association Group or Duo of the Year winners