Tenille Townes emerges top winner at Canadian Country Music Association Awards
Tenille Townes cemented her status as one of Canada's top country music stars Sunday, taking home five trophies at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Calgary.
Townes, who also shared co-hosting duties with Atlanta artist Blanco Brown, went into the weekend with a leading seven nominations. She won songwriter of the year, female artist, single of the year for "Girl Who Didn't Care," entertainer of the year and album of the year for "Masquerades."
"This is so cool. Man this feels so good to be back here in Alberta," the Grande Prairie native who now lives in Nashville said, paying tribute to female artists that came before her.
"It's 40 years of the CCMAs and I would not be standing here if it weren't for the heroes who held on to this, that came before and paved a path...Patricia Conroy, Terri Clark, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and here's to the ones coming next, too," she said.
"Thank you guys for listening to my music and making this Grande Prairie girl's dream come true."
She told reporters backstage that her album "Masquerades" was a product of the pandemic.
"Writing that music in the middle of pandemic, feeling so lost and isolated and the entire world is going through so much — to be able to find healing in music in that time was such a light. That album will always represent that to me."
Townes has won 14 CCMA Awards in her career. She was also among the performers at the show, closing the broadcast with her song "The Last Time."
Brett Kissel performed his song "Ain't the Same" with '90s boy band 98 Degrees, while Lindsay Ell was joined by Canadian drag performer Kaos.
Dallas Smith, who was last year's big winner, won male artist for the second year in a row, as well as the coveted fans' choice award.
"My parents, they’re at home in Langley watching with a bunch of friends. Got my little girls watching at home with their grandma. It's a dream come true to be able to involve family and work like this," he said.
"It all comes down to the fans that I’ve made over the last 22 years in the music business. And I have never, ever, ever felt the love that I have felt from the fans and the country music community."
The first award of the evening went to the Reklaws for group or duo of the year.
The brother-sister pair, Jenna and Stuart Walker, weren't able to attend saying they were mourning the death of their mother.
"She loved the CCMAS so they would like nothing more than to dedicate this award in her honour and anyone else affected by mental health," said presenter Jojo Mason.
The rising star award went to Andrew Hyatt who joked this was a long time coming.
"Man. Honestly I feel like I've been rising for so long I should probably go see a doctor about it," he said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Bailieboro, Ont. native Jade Eagleson, who was the leading male nominee going into awards show weekend, took home the top-selling Canadian album of the year award for "Honkytonk Revival."
Organizers say there were between 6,000 and 7,000 fans in the crowd and for the first time since 2019 there were no COVID-19 protocols.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 11, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Downtown Vancouver stabbing suspect dead after being shot by police
A suspect is dead after being shot by police in a Vancouver convenience store after two people were injured in a stabbing Wednesday morning, according to authorities.
2 Canadians confirmed dead in Poland, as consular officials gather information
Two Canadians have died following an incident in Poland, CTV News has learned.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls Donald Trump 'funny guy' in Fox News interview
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called U.S. president-elect Donald Trump a 'funny guy' on Wednesday in an interview with Fox News for his comment that Canada should become the United States's 51st state.
Toddler fatally shot after his 7-year-old brother finds a gun in the family's truck
A two-year-old boy was fatally shot when his seven-year-old brother found a gun in the glovebox of the family's truck in Southern California, authorities said.
DEVELOPING As police search for suspect, disturbing video surfaces after U.S. health-care CEO gunned down in New York
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference.
Millions in Cuba remain in dark after nationwide blackout
Cuba said it was generating only enough electricity to cover about 1/6th of peak demand late on Wednesday, hours after its national grid collapsed leaving millions without power.
'Utterly absurd': Freeland rebuffs Poilievre's offer of two hours to present fall economic statement
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has rebuffed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's offer to give up two hours of scheduled opposition time next Monday to present the awaited fall economic statement as 'utterly absurd.'
Canada Post stores continue to operate during strike — but why?
As many postal workers continue to strike across the country, some Canadians have been puzzled by the fact some Canada Post offices and retail outlets remain open.
Mattel sued over 'Wicked' dolls with porn website link
Mattel was sued this week by a South Carolina mother for mistakenly putting a link to an adult film site on the packaging for its dolls tied to the movie 'Wicked.'