Nominees Announced For CCMA Awards

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has announced the nominees and host for the 2009 CCMA Awards, to be held Sept. 13 in Vancouver, BC.

Johnny Reid leads the nominations with a total of six, including Single of the Year, Album, Songwriter, CMT Video, Male Artist and the CCMA Fans’ Choice Award. Reid will perform at this year’s CCMA Awards.

George Canyon is also nominated in the Single of the Year, Album of the Year, CMT Video of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Fans’ Choice categories for a total of five major CCMA Awards nominations.

Songwriter and artist, Victoria Banks, earned five nominations. Her debut album, When You Can Fly, earned her nominations for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and the Rising Star Award.

Other Final Ballot nominees include the 2008 Top New Male Talent of the Year Gord Bamford (four nominations), and newcomer Dean Brody, who earned nominations for Rising Star, Single of the Year, CMT Video of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.

Jason Priestley will host the 2009 CCCMA Awards.  Now in his third decade as a professional performer, Priestley has spent much of the last year directing episodes of the hit ABC family show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and a new online series for the CW called The Lake.

Also today, the CCMA announced the addition of Reba McEntire to the superstar line-up of performers at the 2009 CCMA Awards. This year’s celebration, to be broadcast nationally on CBC TV with encore airings on CMT in Canada, will take place in Vancouver, BC on Sept. 13 at GM Place.

The two-hour review of a year in country music will also feature performances by George Canyon, Terri Clark, Doc Walker, Jessie Farrell, Martina McBride, Aaron Pritchett, and Johnny Reid.

FANS’ CHOICE AWARD
George Canyon, Doc Walker, Jessie Farrell, Aaron Pritchett, Johnny Reid

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“A Woman Like You,” Johnny Reid
“
Brothers,” Dean Brody
“Just Like You,” George Canyon
“Little Guy,” Gord Bamford
“The Wheel,” Victoria Banks

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dance With Me, Johnny Reid
Dawn Of A New Day, Crystal Shawanda
Thankful, Aaron Pritchett
What I Do, George Canyon
When You Can Fly, Victoria Banks

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
“A Woman Like You” (written by Johnny Reid / Brent Maher; recorded by Johnny Reid)
“Brothers” (written by Dean Brody; recorded by Dean Brody
“Little Guy” (written by Gord Bamford; recorded by Gord Bamford)
“One Last Sundown” (written by Jon Mabe /Chris Thorsteinson / Dave Wasyliw; recorded by Doc Walker)
“The Wheel” (written by Victoria Banks / Tia Sillers; recorded by Victoria Banks)

CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“A Woman Like You,” Johnny Reid
“Brothers,” Dean Brody
“Go To Bed Angry,” Tara Oram
“Just Like You,: George Canyon
“Little Guy,” Gord Bamford

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Victoria Banks, Terri Clark, Jessie Farrell, Tara Oram, Crystal Shawanda

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford, Jason Blaine, Paul Brandt, George Canyon, Johnny Reid

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker, Emerson Drive, Hey Romeo, The Higgins, Jo Hikk

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Ridley Bent, Shane Chisholm, The Higgins, Corb Lund, Mike Plume Band

RISING STAR
Victoria Banks, Dean Brody, Jo Hikk, Damian Marshall, Tara Oram

For information or a complete list of nominees, visit www.ccma.org.