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Hours before what could be the biggest night of his life, Tyler Joe Miller was almost speechless.
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The British Columbia artist started the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) award celebrations early at Budweiser Gardens in London when he won SiriusXM’s Top of the Country competition, featuring a prize of $ 25,000.
“It was a long competition and it was so nice to finally be back in front of people playing music, but I’m such a fan of the other two contestants, it was just crazy,” Miller said. hours before the awards ceremony. started at 8 p.m.
“Now that I have this giant check in my room, I’m not sure what to do. It is a dream of mine to pursue my passion for country music and I can’t wait to see the rest. “
Next up for Miller is the CCMA Awards hosted by Lindsay Ell and drag queen Priyanka where he will perform with Tenille Arts, Ell, Tim Hicks, High Valley, JoJo Mason, Jess Moskaluke. Robyn Ottolini, Dallas Smith, MacKenzie Porter and Dustin Lynch, The Reklaws with Sacha (they recorded What the Truck together) and Tenille Townes.
Miller is nominated for the CCMA Rising Star Award, Male Artist of the Year, Fan’s Choice Award and Album of the Year for Sometimes I Don’t, But Sometimes I Do .
“This whole weekend has been so overwhelming and now I feel a lot of excitement going to the awards and seeing what people bring home,” Miller said.
“I just want to have a good time and support everyone. This is the thing with country music; everyone is rooting for each other.
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Miller competed for the Top of the Country against Raquel Cole and Kelly Prescott ahead of the Reklaws concert Friday at CCMA House (London Music Hall).
Other inaugural winners of the CCMA Gala Dinner and Awards at RBC Place Sunday were Dallas Smith for Best-Selling Canadian Album of the Year and Dean Brody and The Reklaws for Best-Selling Single of the Year ( Can’t Help Myself).
Ell took home the award for Interactive Artist or Group of the Year, Corb Lund for Alternative Country Album of the Year for Agricultural Tragic, and Songwriter of the Year went to a Group of ‘writers (Patricia Conroy, Ester Dean, Andrew DeRoberts, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Shane McAnally, Madeline Merlo, Tina Parol, Hillary Scott, Ryan Tedder and Dave Thomson) for the song Champagne Night performed by Lady A.
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Additionally, Brett Kissel received the Live Innovation Award for his concert series, titled Live at the Drive-in, which met the new award’s criteria to “continue to celebrate Canadian country music live during the pandemic. world ”.
All were still awaiting the results of the CCMA awards based on industry and fan voting.
Dallas Smith is nominated for Single of the Year for Like A Man, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Timeless, Fan’s Choice Award and Male Artist of the Year.
The Reklaws lead with six nominations for artist of the year, the fan’s choice award, a group or duo, interactive artists and two nominations for single of the year for Where I’m From and Can ‘t Help Myself with Dean Brody.
Ell is nominated for Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (Heart Theory) and also Songwriter of the Year.
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The weekend was filled with fan events, all free of charge, including the CCMA Fanfest at CCMA House on Saturday which gave fans the opportunity to meet (remotely) many Canadian country music stars. It was followed by the CCMA house party with performances by Shawn Austin, Tim Hicks, High Valley, Andrew Hyatt, JoJo Mason, Tyler Joe Miller, Jess Moskaluke, Steven Lee Olsen, MacKenzie Porter, Dallas Smith and Tim and The Glory Boys.
Two unplugged sessions took place Sunday at CCMA House with James Barker, Jade Eagleson, Madison Kozak, Griffen Palmer, The Reklaws, Tenille Arts, Aaron Goodwin, Robyn Ottolini, Brad Rempel of High Valley and Tenille Townes.
“It was just great,” said Natalie Wakabayashi, Culture and Entertainment Director at Tourism London and member of the Host Committee.
“It wasn’t like 2016, but we’re coming out of a pandemic and we were more than happy with the crowds. It was great and the unplugged session was the best. We got to hear the artists talk about their songs, where they were from, how they wrote them and what the songs meant to them. What was really cool was the time they spent with the fans, taking that extra moment to say hello or thank people, sign autographs.
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