Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Michelle Wright and Merritt's own Cameron Snee are among the artists to be featured in the Walk of Stars Gala's in June.

The Walk of Stars gala evening, which features music, comedy, and its popular silent auction, will be held June 2, slightly later than its usual slot the last weekend of May.

In addition to Snee and Wright, acts at the event include Russell DeCarle, the singer and bassist of Ontario country group Prairie Oyster, which received numerous Canadian Country Music Awards and Juno Awards in the 1980s and '90s.

Hayley McLean, who appeared at last year's gala, is expected to return for another performance this year.

Livy Jeanne, a 16-year-old Edmonton-area singer due to release her first album, Under the Radar, this spring, round out this year's slate of performers.

Comedic musician Wendell Ferguson takes over the gala's hosting duties from Country Music Television's Casey Clarke for the first time this year.

"Wendell is the MC. He's done a lot of the national events and is a CCMA board member," explains Merritt Walk of Stars president Ron Sanders.

The gala has traditionally been the centrepiece of a weekend of country music entertainment in the Nicola Valley, including free performances for the public, hosted by the Merritt Walk of Stars. The group is also responsible for the cement stars with handprints of country artists found around town.

Sanders says his group expects to hold additional events during the June weekend, but those plans are not yet set.

"We're still a little fuzzy yet. We'll be dealing with that soon."

At the 2011 Walk of Stars Gala, the Merritt Walk of Stars announced a three-party agreement with the Canadian Country Music Association and National Music Centre for the display of Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame plaques in Merritt.

The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame on Quilchena Avenue has since opened on several select occasions, such as during the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, but has remained closed in general due to a lack of operating funds.

Sanders promises major announcements about the status of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame will come soon but adds he is reluctant to reveal more until the time is right.

"We're just going to rip into the gala and there are some other things that are imminent."
Tickets for the gala will be available from the Merritt and District Chamber of Commerce office and Home Hardware.