Brett Kissel was a big winner at Sunday’s Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
The Alberta native was named the Fans’ Choice and also won Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (for Now or Never). Ahead of the broadcast, Kissel won Creative Director of the Year, with Connor Scheffler, for Now or Never.
"I am over the moon," said Kissel, who now has 18 CCMA Awards, in a release. "We’ve all talked about it. We’ve all been going through it. And we all know that this year is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. So if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s to cherish the good times, and enjoy the present moment. This celebration, and this moment, will be something I’ll never forget."
Kissel's performance of his hit “Drink About Me" was recorded in Oro-Medonte, Ontario – home of the annual Boots and Hearts festival – and the show featured other artists performing there and in Nashville.
Meghan Patrick did her song "Girls Like Me" and later joined Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Lindsay Ell and Tenille Townes for a cover of Blue Rodeo’s classic "Lost Together."
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Tenille Townes, also from Alberta, won Female Artist of the Year and her song “Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking)” earned the award for Video of the Year. Just last month, Townes was named the Academy of Country Music’s New Female Artist of the Year.
Another Tenille – Saskatchewan’s Tenille Arts – received the Rising Star honour.
Vancouver’s The Washboard Union won its third consecutive CCMA Award for Group of Duo of the Year and its Everbound was named Roots Album of the Year.
"Our hearts are absolutely exploding right now," read a statement from the band. "We can’t thank our families, our band and crew and the entire team behind us enough for everything they do day in and day out to allow us to do what we love."
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The big award of the night, Entertainer of the Year, went to Dallas Smith. (He also won Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year for The Fall and Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year for "Drop.")
Pure Country's own Shannon Ella was named Country Personality of the Year. "BEYOND grateful for this award," she tweeted, calling the award a "huge honour."
Check out the winners in major categories:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Dean Brody
Brett Kissel
The Reklaws
Dallas Smith * WINNER
Tenille Townes
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Black Sheep – Dean Brody
Love, Heartbreak, & Everything In Between – Tenille Arts
Now Or Never – Brett Kissel * WINNER
Singles Only – James Barker Band
Wild As Me – Meghan Patrick
FANS’ CHOICE
Dean Brody
Jade Eagleson
Hunter Brothers
James Barker Band
Brett Kissel * WINNER
MacKenzie Porter
The Reklaws
Dallas Smith
Tebey
Tenille Townes
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Ell
Jess Moskaluke
Meghan Patrick
MacKenzie Porter
Tenille Townes * WINNER
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
High Valley
Hunter Brothers
James Barker Band
The Reklaws
The Washboard Union * WINNER
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Dan Davidson
Lindsay Ell * WINNER
Aaron Goodvin
Nice Horse
Tenille Townes
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dean Brody
Jade Eagleson
Brett Kissel * WINNER
Dallas Smith
Tebey
RISING STAR
Tenille Arts * WINNER
Matt Lang
Tyler Joe Miller
Emily Reid
Sons Of Daughters
ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Everbound – The Washboard Union * WINNER
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 * WINNER
“Single Man” – High Valley
“Whiskey In A Teacup” – Dean Brody
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Skip Black, Aaron Goodvin, Matt Nolen - “Good Ol’ Bad Days” (Performed By: Aaron Goodvin)
Brad Rempel, Ben Stennis, Jenna Walker, Stuart Walker - “I Do Too” (Performed By: The Reklaws)
Tina Parol, Gordie Sampson, Tenille Townes - “Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking)” (Performed By: Tenille Townes) * WINNERS
Jeff Coplan, Tim Hicks, Bruce Wallace - “No Truck Song” (Performed By: Tim Hicks)
MacKenzie Porter, Jordan Sapp, Parker Welling - “These Days” (Performed By: MacKenzie Porter)
VIDEO OF THE YEAR AWARD
“Country Thunder” – The Washboard Union
“Drink About Me” – Brett Kissel
“Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking)” – Tenille Townes * WINNER
“No Truck Song” – Tim Hicks
“Silver Lining” – Hunter Brothers