Maple Ridge country singer Madeline Merlo releases new single

Maple Ridge country singer Madeline Merlo has released a new single, “I Think You’re In Love With Me.” Merlo co-wrote the song with Seth Mosley, whose credits include Cooper Allan, High Valley and Gabby Barrett, and Emma Lee Doty, whose credits include Brett Kissel, Mickey Guyton and MacKenzie Porter. The upbeat track looks at the small reminders of a past relationship that can follow someone into a new one.

Merlo described it as a playful, self-assured song about the mark someone can leave on a relationship, so that pieces of them remain with the other person after it ends. She said writing it was a lot of fun, and that energy comes through in the track. It has already become a fan favourite online and at live shows, she said. Merlo called the release the first step into a new chapter and an official welcome to a new era for her.

Merlo has spent more than a decade establishing herself as a country singer, songwriter and artist. Her career includes nearly 150 million global streams, six top-10 singles at Canadian country radio, four performances at the Grand Ole Opry and three CCMA Awards. Raised in Maple Ridge, she grew up with a mix of classic soul, R&B and ’90s country, drawing inspiration from vocalists including Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Martina McBride and Faith Hill. After attending her first concert, a Shania Twain show, she said she wanted to be a singer. By 16, she was travelling to Nashville to write songs.

Her work includes co-writing the winning song on NBC’s “Songland” and Lady A’s No. 1 hit “Champagne Night.” She has also been named the 2026 BCCMA Entertainer of the Year and received a 2026 CCMA Award nomination for Female Artist of the Year. Her vocals have appeared on a CCMA Award-winning release by Dustin Lynch, as well as releases by Jelly Roll and Cole Swindell. In 2024, she was selected as a CMT Next Women of Country artist.

Merlo is now working as an independent artist, with full ownership of her music and control over her creative direction. She said she had been sitting with the music for a couple of years while waiting for permission to release it. At one point, she was unsure she would ever be able to share it and began questioning herself and whether she could continue as an artist. After 14 years of making music, she deliberately chose to begin this era independently. She said she now owns her music and makes those decisions herself. She is proud to finally share the single and begin rolling out the rest of her album with the freedom to shape this next chapter, and is excited to see where it leads. More information is at https://www.madelinemerlo.com/.