This year’s Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards have pulled off quite a coup, bringing kd lang back together with her former band The Reclines for the first time in 35 years. The rebel cowpunks released three albums together between 1984 and 1989, before disbanding so that lang could continue to pursue the solo pop career that made her a Canadian national treasure. 

The reunion with The Reclines on 14 September coincides with lang’s induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, which she says she’s “beyond thrilled, and frankly pleasantly surprised” about, adding: "My love for the prairies, the people and our culture underscore every ounce of my inspiration. Not without its complexities, I might add. Such is life. I am so stoked to be coming to Edmonton to bask in this celebration… with deepest gratitude.”

On the subject of the reunion, lang says in a press release:

“Reuniting with The Reclines after 35 years in Edmonton for the CCMA Awards feels like a full-circle moment. The bond we shared, both musically and personally, remains as strong as ever, and revisiting a song that shaped our journey together is incredibly special. I’m thrilled to bring this experience to life on such a celebrated stage and share it with fans, both old and new.”

The Reclines’ second album – and major label debut – Angel with a Lariat was reissued for the first time in 2020 as part of Record Store Day. Listen to the title track below: 

lang's most recent release is a 2023 duet version of Tony Bennett's "Because of You", with Tony himself, recorded just two days before he died. They had previously sung the song together for Bennett's 2006 album, Duets: An American Classic, and recorded a whole album of duets in 2002.