Meghan Patrick and The Reklaws lead 2020 CMAO Award Nominations

James Barker Band follow with Five Nominations
plus Tim Hicks and Tebey with Four Nominations
Carroll Baker to Receive Impact Award

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is excited to announce the nominees for the 8th Annual CMAOntario Awards taking place Sunday, October 4, 2020 at Centennial Hall in London. Leading the nominations are 12 time CMAOntario Award winner Meghan Patrick, and two time CMAOntario Award winners The Reklaws, with six nominations each.

Hosted by Jason McCoy and Jennifer Campbell, the 8th Annual CMAOntario Awards, presented by Slaight Music with support from Ontario Creates, will celebrate the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 19 categories, including the Impact Award, Nielsen Compass Award, and the Holly and Steve Kassay Generous Spirit Award.

The Final Nominees for the 8th Annual CMAOntario Awards are:

The Reklaws, Festival Country de Lotbiniere, 2019

SINGLE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Pure Country 106
“If You Met Me First” – Eric Ethridge
“Keep it Simple” – James Barker Band
“Old Country Soul” – The Reklaws
“What A Song Should Do” – Tim Hicks
“Wild As Me” – Meghan Patrick

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Big Deal – The Western Swing Authority
Cain – Andrew Hyatt
Freshman Year – The Reklaws
Singles Only – James Barker Band
Wild As Me – Meghan Patrick

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR sponsored by SOCAN
Jessica Mitchell – “Somebody Gonna Get Hurt”, recorded by Jessica Mitchell ft. Tim Hicks
Meghan Patrick, Jordan Rager, Michael Whitworth – “Wild As Me”, recorded by Meghan Patrick
Stuart Walker, Jenna Walker, Brad Rempel, Ben Stennis – “I Do Too”, recorded by The Reklaws
Tebey Ottoh, Kylie Sackley, Matt Rogers – “The Good Ones”, recorded by Tebey & Marie Mai
Tim Hicks, Emma-Lee, Karen Kosowski – “What A Song Should Do”, recorded by Tim Hicks

Jessica Mitchell Preforms on Johnny Reid’s Revival Tour at Budweiser Gardens in London Ontario. Photo: Kayla Winkworth

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Spring Tree Farm
Genevieve Fisher
Jessica Mitchell
Leah Daniels
Meghan Patrick
Nicole Rayy
Tianna Woods

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by ECAO/IBEW
Aaron Allen
Andrew Hyatt
Eric Ethridge
Jade Eagleson
Jim Cuddy
Tim Hicks

The Abrams perform at the Overflow Brewing Company photo Tom Mt. Pleasant

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR sponsored by Country 103
James Barker Band
Jess and Tay
The Abrams
The Reklaws
The Western Swing Authority

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR sponsored by Skelton Truck Lines
Jessica Mitchell
Kelly Prescott
The Abrams
The Redhill Valleys
The Western Swing Authority

FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR sponsored by Desjardins
Edouard Landry
Kristine St-Pierre
Les Rats D’Swompe
Reney Ray
Stef Paquette

Woodstock Truck Show – Kelsi Mayne Photo Cred: Spencer Smye

RISING STAR AWARD sponsored by Slaight Music
Aaron Allen
Alli Walker
David Boyd Janes
Dustin Bird
Kelsi Mayne

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR sponsored by MNP
“Feels Like That” – The Reklaws
“If You Met Me First” – Eric Ethridge
“Keep It Simple” – James Barker Band
“The Good Ones” – Tebey & Marie Mai
“ToGetHer” – Leah Daniels
“Wild as Me” – Meghan Patrick

Jade Eagleson. Festival Country de Lotbiniere, 2019. Photo: Ron Pettitt

FANS’ CHOICE sponsored by Ontario Creates
Jade Eagleson
James Barker Band
Meghan Patrick
Tebey
The Reklaws
Tim Hicks

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR sponsored by Metalworks Recording Studios
J.R. Hutt – Giselle Sanderson, Jamie Warren, Rebekah Stevens, Sean Hogan, Tianna Woods
Jason Barry – Amanda Jordan, Charlie Major, Josh David, Western Swing Authority, Billy Ray Cyrus
Jeff Dalziel – Aaron Allen, The Abrams, Dan Davidson, Chris Labelle, Ryan Langdon
Mark Schroor & Erik Fintelman – David Boyd Janes, Robyn Ottolini, Emily Clair
Tebey Ottoh & Danick Dupelle – Tebey & Marie Mai

INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR sponsored by Seeds CPA
Dave Woods, In the Country
Johnathan Smalley, Rock N Horse
KT Timmermans, Country 103/Manitoulin Country Fest
Ron Kitchener, RGK Entertainment
Shannon Ella, Pure Country/Complete Country

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
CHKX KX 947, Hamilton
CJBX Pure Country 93, London
CJKX KX96, Oshawa
CKBY Country 101.1, Ottawa
CKDK NEW Country 104, Woodstock

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET) sponsored by Lucknow’s Music in the Fields
CFCO Country 92.9, Chatham
CHCQ-FM Cool 100.1 FM, Belleville
CICS Pure Country 91.7, Sudbury
CJQM-FM Country 104.3, Sault Ste Marie
CKXC Country 93.5, Kingston

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)
CHAW Country 103, Little Current
CICX Pure Country 106, Orillia
CJDL-FM Country 107.3, Tillsonburg
CKYC Country 93, Owen Sound
CKYY Country 89, Welland

As part of the evening’s honours, Carroll Baker, an ambassador of Canadian country music, will receive the 2020 Impact Award.

“The CMAOntario is thrilled to be honouring Carroll,” said CMAOntario President Steve Kassay. “Her presence and career achievements have helped pave the way for country singers in this country. It’s about time Carroll’s career takes the centre stage spotlight.”

Known as Canada’s First Lady Of Country Music, Carroll Baker epitomizes every value that has made country music the enduring form that it is: honesty, reality, genuine feeling, hard work, love, family, friendship and respect for others. With a career spanning more than 40 years, she has achieved more than 20 number one records, 12 of which were consecutive. Carroll was the first Canadian Country music performer to be awarded gold record certification and has since received Gold and Platinum records in certified sales in both Canada and Australia. Her catalog comprises more than fifty recorded compositions, including, “Tonight with Love”, “Why I Had to Pass This Way”, “It’s My Party”, “It’s Late I Have to Go”, “Hooked on a Feeling”, “Love Triangle” and “Dreamin’ Ain’t Cheatin’”. Her composition “I’m An Old Rock ‘N Roller” was a country chart hit in 1984 for Tom Jones.

Carroll is an inductee of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame; recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Province of Nova Scotia and Province of Ontario; multiple winner of JUNO, CCMA and SOCAN/BMI awards; and in 2009, appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. A woman of many firsts, she made the history books in Canada when she became the first Canadian performer to do a television special from Nashville, Tennessee and the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House, followed by her own special on The Nashville Network titled “Carroll Baker’s New Country”, and the first Canadian country singer to perform on the JUNO Awards. She hosted her own TV series for CBC TV along with multiple television specials for CBC and CTV.

The CMAOntario Impact Award recognizes an artist, group, industry personality or company/organization that has left an enduring and indelibly positive footprint on the landscape of country music in Ontario. Previous recipients include The Good Brothers, Michelle Wright, Blue Rodeo, Prairie Oyster, Paula Chopik and Ed Leslie (producers of Havelock Country Jamboree) and Gordon Lightfoot.

Voting for the awards is restricted to CMAOntario members, with the exception of the Fans’ Choice award, which is open to both public and membership voting. Eligible members will have the opportunity to vote on the final ballot as of today, up until May 6, 2020.

Music fans can cast their votes for the Fans’ Choice award between May 1 – May 31, 2020 at www.cmaontario.ca/awards/voting.

The CMAOntario Award Show will close out the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend in London October 1 – 4, 2020.

The CMAOntario Awards are presented by Slaight Music with support from Ontario Creates.