Canadian country music celebrated the best of the best for 2020 in a most- unique way and what an amazing night of music it was

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) had a vision of how to celebrate Canada’s biggest night in country music and the country music community is so grateful for their foresight and creativity. They did what everyone thought was so very difficult to do – they showed the world that Canada knows how to bring it. They created an unforgettable evening of epic performances highlighting the incredible talent that all Canadians have come to love in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. The 2020 CCMA Awards presented by TD were filmed from Burl’s Creek, Ontario, and Nashville, Tennessee, over the course of four days earlier this summer and were broadcast nationally on Global TV on September 27. There were seven artist-category awards handed out on Saturday, September 26, at the CCMA Music Industry Awards and eight awards handed out on September 27 on-air from two different countries, which were made this year’s awards show so unique.

There were some amazing collaborations to grace this most-coveted (and unconventional) stage this year. Dean Brody and The Reklaws performed “Can’t Help Myself” in the middle of a country field surrounded by fans in their cars beaming their headlights onto the artists. There was the cool concept of the James Barker Band performing “Keep it Simple” from both official CCMA Award locations. A special collaboration that was the most-fitting finale and the pinnacle of the night featured Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Tenille Townes, Lindsay Ell, and Meghan Patrick performing Blue Rodeo’s “Lost Together” on the rooftop stage at the Westin Nashville.

The 2020 CCMA Awards presented by TD also delivered the biggest talent lineup fans have ever seen and Sunday evening had a lot of magical moments. To see up and coming artists like Don Amero, Tenille Townes, and Jade Eagleson join the stage with greats like the immeasurable talented Jess Moskaluke, the Hunter Brothers with their chilling pitch-perfect harmonies, the quintessential Brett Kissel, and the absolutely incredible Dallas Smith, just to name a few, was a great tribute to the country that we all call home. What’s more, the vitality and commitment to bring it from everyone on each of those stages was magnificent. Those performances tied together to deliver a powerful show.

Vancouver’s Dallas Smith took home the coveted TD Entertainer of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Smith was also lauded for his outstanding accomplishments in 2020 on Saturday night at the CCMA Music Industry Awards where he took home awards in both the Top-Selling Canadian Album of the Year presented by Music Canada and Top-Selling Canadian Single of the Year categories.

Also celebrating three wins was Alberta’s Brett Kissel, who landed wins in the Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and for the second year in a row he took home Fans’ Choice. On Saturday night, Kissel also celebrated a win at the CCMA Music Industry Awards for Creator Director(s) of the Year.

2019’s breakout star Tenille Townes continued her ACM winning streak as she accepted awards in the Female Artist of the Year, Songwriter(s) of the Year presented by SOCAN and Video of the Year categories.

The Washboard Union took home the CCMA 2020 Group of the Year for the third year in a row and the Roots Artist/Album Award for the fifth consecutive year.

Lindsay Ell won the Interactive Artist or Group of the Year for the second year in a row and Saskatchewan’s Tenille Arts celebrated her first-ever CCMA Awards win for Rising Star.

Here are the 2020 CCMA Awards presented by TD winners:

TD Entertainer of the Year

Dallas Smith

Album of the Year

Now or Never — Brett Kissel

Fans’ Choice

Brett Kissel

Female Artist of the Year

Tenille Townes

Group or Duo of the Year

The Washboard Union

Male Artist of the Year

Brett Kissel

Single of the Year

“Keep It Simple” — James Barker Band

Rising Star

Tenille Arts

Interactive Artist or Group of the Year

Lindsay Ell

Roots Album of the Year

Everbound — The Washboard Union

Songwriter(s) of the Year presented by SOCAN

Tina Parol, Gordie Sampson, Tenille Townes

Song: “Jersey on the Wall (I’m Just Asking)”

(Performed by: Tenille Townes)

Top-Selling Album of the Year

What You See Is What You Get — Luke Combs

Top-Selling Canadian Album of the Year presented by Music Canada

The Fall — Dallas Smith

Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year

“Drop” — Dallas Smith

Video of the Year

“Jersey on the Wall (I’m Just Asking)”  — Tenille Townes

Here are the winners of the CCMA Music Industry Awards

Bass Player of the Year (TIE)

Lisa Dodd

Justin Kudding

Drummer of the Year

Ben Bradley

Fiddle Player of the Year

Tyler Vollrath

Guitar Player of the Year presented by PRS Guitars

Matt McKay

Keyboard Player of the Year

Brendan Waters

Specialty Instrument Player of the Year

Mitch Jay

Steel Guitar Player of the Year

Mitch Jay

Music Director of the Year (Large Market)

Amanda Kingsland — CKBY FM, Ottawa, ON

Music Director of the Year (Medium or Small Market)

Shilo Bellis — CJXL FM, Moncton, NB

Country Personality(ies) of the Year

Shannon Ella — Pure Country

Radio Station of the Year (Large Market)

CKRY-FM — Calgary, AB

Radio Station of the Year (Medium or Small Market)

CJXL-FM, Moncton, NB

Booking Agency of the Year

Sakamoto Agency

Video Director of the Year

Ben Knechtel

Country Club of the Year

King Eddy — Calgary, AB

Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition of the Year

Boots and Hearts Music Festival — Oro-Medonte, ON

Country Music Program or Special of the Year

Canada Together: In Concert — Corus Entertainment

Management Company of the Year

Invictus Entertainment

Music Publishing Company of the Year

Warner Chappell Music Canada

Record Company of the Year

Warner Music Canada

Industry Person of the Year presented by MNP

Mike Denney — MDM Recordings Inc.

Creative Director(s) of the Year

Design Team: Brett Kissel, Connor Scheffler

Album: Now Or Never (Artist: Brett Kissel)

Recording Studio of the Year

Noble Street Studios — Toronto, ON

Record Producer(s) of the Year

Scott Moffatt

Retailer of the Year

Apple Music

Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year

Paul Biro — Sakamoto Agency

For more information on the CCMA and the 2020 CCMA Awards presented by TD, please visit ccma.org