This Sunday night the Canadian country music industry will gather and celebrate the people that make the music. There will be performances from Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley, Paul Brandt, Terri Clark, Kira Isabella, Brett Kissel, and more.
If we’ve learned anything this year covering Boots & Hearts and talking to artists and seeing small shows and listening to the radio – Canadian Country Music is doing just fine.
In fact, things are going so well that predicting the 2014 CCMA Awards isn’t easy at all. But I’ve tried. So have a look, agree or disagree as you will… and watch this Sunday to see who wins!
FANS’ CHOICE AWARD
Paul Brandt
Dean Brody
George Canyon
Johnny Reid
It’s a fan vote based system – so there’s no real handicapping to be done on my end. But my gut says that Canadian country star and role model to a new generation of artists, Paul Brandt will be the winner here.
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Bounty – Dean Brody
Started With A Song – Brett Kissel
Take The Week Off – Deric Ruttan
Tippin’ Point – Dallas Smith
When Your Lips Are So Close – Gord Bamford
I know the words to all 5 of these songs, I can and do sing along to them when they come on my playlist or the radio. But looking at them on a list I have to think that Started With A Song comes in 1st as it has launched what looks like a huge career for Brett Kissel.
All Kinds of Crazy – Codie Prevost
Crop Circles – Dean Brody
Started With A Song – Brett Kissel
Throw Down – Tim Hicks
Tippin’ Point EP – Dallas Smith
Hicks went Top 10 three times and Top 15 another with singles from his debut album Throw Down. Brody’s Crop Circles has also gone Top 10 three times and would be my second choice in this category.
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Bounty (Written By: Dean Brody, Performed By: Dean Brody)
Hell Raisin’ Good Time (Written By: Jeff Coplan, Tim Hicks, Casey Marshall, Neil Sanderson, Performed By: Tim Hicks)
Mine Would Be You (Written By: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Deric Ruttan, Performed By: Blake Shelton)
Started With A Song (Written By: Brett Kissel, Craig Wiseman, Performed By: Brett Kissel)
When Your Lips Are So Close (Written By: Gord Bamford, Brent L. Baxter, Byron Hill, Performed By: Gord Bamford)
It might be lame to pick a song recorded by an American artist to win a Canadian award, but Deric Ruttan has proven time and again that he knows how to write a hit song – and Mine Would Be You is no different.
3-2-1 – Brett Kissel
Bounty – Dean Brody
Duet – Wes Mack ft. Carly McKillip
Friends Of Mine – Jason Blaine
Got A Feeling – Tim Hicks ft. Blackjack Billy
Take The Week Off – Deric Ruttan
When we spoke with Brett Kissel at Boots & Hearts and asked him which award he would like to win and Video Of The Year for 3,2,1 was one of the two that he mentioned. I have a feeling that he walks away with that award on Sunday night.
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kira Isabella
Jess Moskaluke
Lindi Ortega
Mackenzie Porter
This is one of the hardest categories to pick in the whole show. We asked Brett Kissel what he thought and he wouldn’t answer. We asked Tim Hicks and he told us that all 5 deserve it… but he also said it would be cool to see Jess or Mackenzie win – and I agree. My edge goes to Jess on the back of Cheap Wine And Cigarettes.
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dean Brody
Brett Kissel
Dallas Smith
Bobby Wills
Dallas has gone Top 10 with each of his last 5 singles (spread over 2 albums) and is a very strong performer on stage. If this goes to Bamford, Brody, Kissel or Smith I won’t be surprised at all. But if I’m picking a winner – it’s Smith.
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Autumn Hill
The Boom Chucka Boys
The Road Hammers
Small Town Pistols
The Western Swing Authority
This was another hard one. My first instinct said Small Town Pistols, but I think that The Road Hammers have this one to go with their new album. But don’t count out Autumn Hill either… 3 options – I’m hedging.
ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Lovelocks
Corb Lund
Lindi Ortega
Jimmy Rankin
The Western Swing Authority
Lindi isn’t my pick for Female Artist, but she is my pick for Roots Artist Of The Year. It’s tough sledding against Corb Lund and Jimmy Ranking – and I LOVE The Lovelocks – but I think Ortega takes this one.
RISING STAR
Lindsay Ell
Tim Hicks
Wes Mack
Jess Moskaluke
Tebey
I know it’s crazy to pick Jess as Female Artist Of The Year and not Rising Star – but Tim Hicks just had such a HUGE year, and now 5:01 is already topping the charts as his 2nd record. It’s really hard to pick against him. So I won’t.
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Leah Daniels
Brett Kissel
Jess Moskaluke
Johnny Reid
Tenille
This is another fan vote category, so I don’t know how to make my pick other than to tell you that Brett Kissel does such a great job of interacting with his (growing) fanbase on social media that he locks in my vote. Special mention to Leah Daniels who has been great with us through her social as well!
