Country singer Dean Brody, who originally hails from Jaffray, has received six nominations in this year’s Canadian Country Music Association awards.
The nominations were announced Wednesday, and for a second straight year, Nova Scotia-based Brody will go toe-to-toe with Gord Bamford, from Lancombe, Alta, who has taken the early lead with seven nominations.
Bamford has taken home hardware four of the last five years, so will be a tough contender to beat.
Bamford’s Leaning on a Lonesome Song is up against Brody’s It’s Friday for single of the year and songwriter of the year.
To confuse matters somewhat, Bamford’s album, Is It Friday Yet?, is nominated for album of the year. Brody’s Dirt, however, isn’t. Instead, he’s got a second single, Bob Marley, in the running for songwriter of the year.
Both white-hatted vocalists were two of the front-runners at 2012’s CCMAs, bested only by Johnny Reid and his eight nominations. This year, the Scottish-Canadian Reid has two.
Brody, who was born in Smithers, and Bamford are just a few of the 130 artists and groups up for the Canadian country music industry's most vaunted prizes, including veteran songbird Michelle Wright for female artist of the year, platinum recording artist Terri Clark for video of the year and Scotland-born Johnny Reid for fans' choice.
Autumn Hill were also announced as one of the performers for the show, which airs on September 8. The pair will join Grammy-nominated Tennessee troupe the Band Perry and circuit veterans Emerson Drive, among other performers yet to be revealed.
The CCMAs, which will conclude Country Music Week, will be held at Rexall Place in Edmonton — not far from the floods that devastated huge swaths of the area around Calgary.
The ceremony will be broadcast on CBC-TV at 8 p.m. ET with encore performances later that night on Country Music Television.
FANS’ CHOICE AWARD
Gord Bamford
Dean Brody
George Canyon
Terri Clark
Johnny Reid
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
It’s Friday — Dean Brody feat. Great Big Sea
Jumped Right In – Dallas Smith
Leaning On A Lonesome Song — Gord Bamford
Main Street, 1979 – Deric Ruttan
Show Some Respect – Bobby Wills
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Classics II – George Canyon
Is It Friday Yet? – Gord Bamford
Jumped Right In – Dallas Smith
Roll – Emerson Drive
Small Town Pistols – Small Town Pistols
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Baby I Know It (written by Caeland Garner/Johnny Reid; performed by Johnny Reid feat. Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
Bob Marley (written by Dean Brody; performed by Dean Brody)
Cool (written by Jason Blaine/Deric Ruttan; performed by Jason Blaine)
It’s Friday (written by Dean Brody; performed by Dean Brody feat. Great Big Sea)
Leaning On A Lonesome Song (written by Gord Bamford/Buddy Owens/Ray Stephenson; performed by Gord Bamford)
CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR
A Little More Work – Kira Isabella
Hope & Gasoline – Beverley Mahood
I’m Movin’ On – Terri Clark feat. Dean Brody
Leaning On A Lonesome Song – Gord Bamford
Maybe You Remember Me Now – Hey Romeo
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Terri Clark
Jaida Dreyer
Kira Isabella
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Michelle Wright
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford
Dean Brody
Chad Brownlee
Dallas Smith
Bobby Wills
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Emerson Drive
Hey Romeo
High Valley
Small Town Pistols
The Stellas
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Clayton Bellamy
Shane Chisholm
The Heartbroken
Corb Lund
Lindi Ortega
RISING STAR
Autumn Hill
Tim Hicks
MacKenzie Porter
Tebey
Bobby Wills
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Terri Clark
Leah Daniels
High Valley
Codie Prevost
Tenille