Alberta country singer Tenille Townes topped the list of Canadian Country Music Awards nominees announced this week, after winning four awards at the event last year.
One of those six nominations was a songwriter of the year nod, shared with Big Pond, Cape Breton native Gordie Sampson and Tina Parole, for Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking). The emotional ballad was inspired by the 2014 death of Grand Manan, N.B. teenager Danielle Park, a star basketball player and valedictorian for her high school graduating class in the Bay of Fundy island community.
The song was also nominated for video of the year for its poignant clip shot in an empty school gym, highlighting its lyrics about loss and life’s unanswerable questions.
Townes was also the only female solo artist listed in the entertainer of the year category, along with her nominations for female artist, interactive artist and Fans’ Choice artist of the year.
Former South Shore resident Dean Brody was tied with Alberta hitmaker Brett Kissel with five nominations each.
Quadruple nominees included the James Barker Band, the Reklaws and Dallas Smith, while Jade Eagleson, the Hunter Brothers, MacKenzie Porter and the Washboard Union each picked up three nominations each.
In the industry award nominations, Prince Edward Island’s Cavendish Beach Music Festival chalked up its sixth straight nomination for CCMA Top Festival, sharing the category with Alberta’s Calgary Stampede and Centrefield Music Festival, Ontario’s Boots and Hearts Music Festival and the online Diesel Bird Digital Music Festival.
“We’re humbled to receive this nomination for a sixth year, winning twice previously. It’s not a small feat to be recognized by the industry as a great country festival with so many amazing events happening around our country,” said Jeff Squires, president and CEO of the Cavendish festival’s producer, Whitecap Entertainment, after the nominations were announced.
Although the Cavendish Beach Music Festival couldn’t take place this summer due to COVID-19, organizers rallied and produced the Cavendish Beach Drive-In Concert Series, with live performances taking place on July 25, Aug. 8 and Aug. 29.
The Canadian Country Music Awards will take place on Sept. 27, airing on Global TV and via the Global TV app. Performances for the show will be filmed at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds in Ontario — home to the Boots and Hearts Music Festival — and in Nashville. Details about performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.
2020 Canadian Country Music Award nominations
Entertainer of the Year
Dean Brody
Brett Kissel
The Reklaws
Dallas Smith
Tenille Townes
Album of the Year
Black Sheep – Dean Brody
Love, Heartbreak, & Everything In Between – Tenille Arts
Now Or Never – Brett Kissel
Singles Only – James Barker Band
Wild As Me – Meghan Patrick
Fan's Choice
Dean Brody
Jade Eagleson
Hunter Brothers
James Barker Band
Brett Kissel
MacKenzie Porter
The Reklaws
Dallas Smith
Tebey
Tenille Townes
Female Artist of the Year
Lindsay Ell
Jess Moskaluke
Meghan Patrick
MacKenzie Porter
Tenille Townes
Group or Duo of the Year
High Valley
Hunter Brothers
James Barker Band
The Reklaws
The Washboard Union
Interactive Artist or Group
Dan Davidson
Lindsay Ell
Aaron Goodvin
Nice Horse
Tenille Townes
Male Artist of the Year
Dean Brody
Jade Eagleson
Brett Kissel
Dallas Smith
Tebey
Rising Star Award
Tenille Arts
Matt Lang
Tyler Joe Miller
Emily Reid
Sons Of Daughters
Roots Album of the Year
Everbound – The Washboard Union
Fingers Crossed – JJ Shiplett
Kalsey Kulyk – Kalsey Kulyk
Love Wins – Kelly Prescott
The Other Way – Donovan Woods
Single of the Year
Count The Ways – Jade Eagleson
Drop – Dallas Smith
Keep It Simple – James Barker Band
Single Man – High Valley
Whiskey In A Teacup – Dean Brody
Songwriter(s) of the Year
Skip Black, Aaron Goodvin, Matt Nolen
Song: Good Ol’ Bad Days (Performed By: Aaron Goodvin)
Brad Rempel, Ben Stennis, Jenna Walker, Stuart Walker
Song: I Do Too (Performed By: The Reklaws)
Tina Parol, Gordie Sampson, Tenille Townes
Song: Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking) (Performed By: Tenille Townes)
Jeff Coplan, Tim Hicks, Bruce Wallace
Song: No Truck Song (Performed By: Tim Hicks)
MacKenzie Porter, Jordan Sapp, Parker Welling
Song: These Days (Performed By: MacKenzie Porter)
Video of the Year
Country Thunder – The Washboard Union
Drink About Me – Brett Kissel
Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking) – Tenille Townes
No Truck Song – Tim Hicks
Silver Lining – Hunter Brothers
Musician Awards
Bass Player of the Year
Kirby Barber
Lisa Dodd
Curtis Ebner
Doug Elash
Matt Genereux
Justin Kudding
Drummer of the Year
Matthew Atkins
Ben Bradley
Spencer Cheyne
Flavio Cirillo
Rob Wells
Greg Williamson
Fiddle Player of the Year
Linsey Beckett
Tyler Beckett
Denis Dufresne
Matt Piche
Mike Sanyshyn
Tyler Vollrath
Guitar Player of the Year
Paul Chapman
Ryan Davidson
Matt McKay
Chad Murphy
Darren Savard
Keyboard Player of the Year
Mike Little
Brendan Waters
Scott Wilkinson
Specialty Instrument Player of the Year
Mitch Jay
Connor Riddell
Tyler Vollrath
Steel Guitar Player of the Year
Chris Altmann
Doug Johnson
Mitch Jay
