Medicine Hat artist Klaiber to perform Canadian anthem at NFR, appear in cowboy poetry gathering

Klaiber said she has spent much of her life around rodeo arenas in Medicine Hat and Cypress County, where she has performed the anthem at various events.

“To get to go down to the [NFR], the one I’ve watched on TV every year of my life and cheered for the Canadian Cowboys and Cowgirls that were there, to be there with them this time and sing our national anthem and be a part of our Canadian pride, it truly means the world to me,” Klaiber said.

“To get to participate in the NFR on my own terms as a singer and contribute what I can to this great sport feels incredibly special,” she added.

“This is something that has kept Canada and the U.S. very strongly tied together, the rodeo community, so it’s a pretty important event for a lot of people on both sides of the border.”

Taking place in January, Klaiber will travel to Elko for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, an event that brings together musicians, poets, artisans and others to celebrate Western culture.

Klaiber attended the gathering as a spectator for the first time last year and said returning as a performer is another significant opportunity.

She said only a small number of Canadians have been invited to perform at the gathering this year, making the opportunity particularly meaningful.

“To be included in that as a Canadian and as a woman feels like a humongous, tremendous honour,” Klaiber said.

“It’s more than just a music event; it really celebrates the culture of the Western cowboy life and living,” she added.

“I can’t wait to go down there and share in the song trading and the performances that I get to do and share my story as a Southern Alberta rancher and a Western Canadian singer-songwriter.”

Klaiber said playing in the larger American Western music market has shown her that her music can connect with audiences beyond Canada.

“It’s nice to know that my songs and my show and my music and who I am as a person has good legs to stand on down south of the border,” Klaiber said.

“It’s a bigger scene. It’s a different league, and that’s forced me to level up in a lot of ways with my performances and really make me hone in on who I am as a person and what I can contribute to these music scenes.”

Klaiber said she hopes to make an impact through her music while continuing to grow as a songwriter, no matter who she shares the stage with.

“That’s my job as a songwriter. And that’s my purpose as a person,” Klaiber said.

Klaiber said she encourages aspiring country and Western songwriters to attend the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering to experience the event and connect with other artists.

“I gained a lot just from watching it last year myself. And you make a few friends, and it’s opened a ton of doors for me, and just introduced me to some real talents and really incredible, wholesome people,” Klaiber said.

Klaiber will take the stage to perform the national anthem at the NFR on Dec. 10.

by Jett Schwaier

Medicine Hat artist Klaiber to perform Canadian anthem at NFR, appear in cowboy poetry gathering

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