Yesterday the Country Music Alberta award nominations were released which sees a number of local talents as well as River Country being honoured with nominations. River Country finds itself for the 2nd year in a row up for Station of the Year for Small/Medium Market, something I know I take great pride in as being an independent company and in the north it can be hard to get noticed when everything is so Calgary and Edmonton. Joining River Country in nominations are the following local talents from the Peace and Mackenzie:
- Tenille Townes (Grande Prairie) up for Female Artist of the Year
- Aaron Goodvin (Spirit River) up for Male Artist of the Year
- Dave Oostra (Grande Prairie) up for Drummer of the Year
- Matt O’Connor (Peace River) up for Specialty Instrument of the Year
- Chevy Beaulieu (Steen River) up for various awards
- Ashley Ghostkeeper (High Level/Paddle Prairie) up for Interactive Artist of the Year
- High Valley (Blumenort) up for Group or Duo of the Year
I know we take great pleasure in seeing our own getting celebrated or recognized and hope when the CMAB members vote many can take some hardware back to the north.
Here is a complete list of nominations (Horizon = emerging talent awards):
Horizon Female Artist of the Year
Kalsey Kulyk
Morgan Klaiber
Sykamore
Alex Hughes
Brettyn Rose
Horizon Male Artist of the Year
Presented by Shattered Glass
Chevy Beaulieu
Brayden King
Brandon Lorenzo
Garrett Gregory
Devin Cooper
Horizon Group or Duo of the Year
Foxx Worthee
Jacquie Daniels and the Blank Slates
Uncle Trent and Friends
Horizon Single of the Year
“If We Want To” Performed By Chevy Beaulieu
“One For The Road” Performed By Drew Gregory
“Wilder Horses” Performed By Morgan Klaiber
“Good Ones” Performed By Brayden King
“F**k Pretty” Performed By Mariya Stokes
Horizon Album of the Year
“Mood Ring” Performed by Mariya Stokes
“One for the Road” Performed by Drew Gregory
“Stayin’ Wild” Performed by Brayden King
“Still Knowing” Performed by Leanne Lightfoot
“Image of Love” Performed by Stirling John
Songwriter(s) of the Year
“F**k Pretty” Written By Mariya Stokes / Shea Michael, Performed by Mariya Stokes
“Bridges” Written By Troy Kokol / Joni Delaurier, Performed by Scarlett Butler
“Work in Progress” Written By Drew Gregory / Wade Kirby, Performed by Drew Gregory
“Wild West” Written By Brettyn Rose / Tareya Green, Performed by Brettyn Rose
“Give A Damn” Written By Chevy Beaulieu, Performed by Chevy Beaulieu
Interactive Artist of the Year
Foxx Worthee
Michela Sheedy
Julia Vos
Brayden King
Ashley Ghostkeeper
Female Artist of the Year
Hailey Benedict
Shawnee Kish
MacKenzie Porter
Noeline Hofmann
Lindsay Ell
Tenille Townes
Male Artist of the Year
Dan Davidson
Aaron Goodvin
Brett Kissel
Gord Bamford
Kyle McKearney
Group or Duo of the Year
The Road Hammers
The Prairie States
Thelma & James
High Valley
Single of the Year
“Happy Ever After You” Performed by Thelma & James
“Coming Home to You (feat. Owen Riegling)” Performed by MacKenzie Porter
“The Bullfighter” Performed by Noeline Hofmann
“Easy Man” Performed by The Prairie States
“Cowboys & Dreamers” Performed by Brett Kissel
Fans’ Choice Award
Robert Adam
Kalsey Kulyk
Garrett Gregory
Morgan Klaiber
Brayden King
Drew Gregory
Alex Hughes
Darla Daniels
Travis Dolter
Foxx Worthee
Video of the Year
“One For The Road” Performed By Drew Gregory
“If We Want To” Performed By Chevy Beaulieu
“I Only Kiss Cowboys” Performed By Julia Vos
“Bar Brawl Country” Performed By Ryan Davidson
“You Fight Dirty” Performed By Kalsey Kulyk
Roots Artist of the Year
Ryan Davidson
Jessie Bird
Josh Dillon Band
Brother Bicker Band
Mallory Chipman
Horizon Youth Award
Hayley Isabel
Addy Watson
Evie Marsten
Autumn Beverly
Aveya
Amelia Bates
Visual Creative of the Year
Meighan King Wall, Mariya Stokes, Natasha Mandrusiak, Sebastian Buzzalino
Kyle McKearney & Jeff Ojeda
Jason Allen
Codi McIvor
Taylor-Rae Poznikoff, Alexandra Poznikoff, Brianne Farquhar, Acacia Evans
Community Spirit Award
Devin Cooper
Turner Bates
Lena Daniels
Stirling John Foundation
Brandon Lorenzo
Talent Buyer of the Year
Dan Clapson, Blue Jay Sessions
Ed Harris, Country Thunder Alberta/Big Valley Jamboree/Chinook Family Stampede Breakfast
Sheldon Lachambre, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino
Cody Mack, UP Productions
Chris Melnychuk, SILVERPLOW
Country Venue of the Year
Cook County Saloon (Edmonton)
Grey Eagle Resort & Casino – Event Centre (Tsuut’ina)
The King Eddy (Calgary)
Ranchman’s (Calgary)
Rig Hand Distillery (Leduc)
Industry Person of the Year
Dan Clapson, Blue Jay Sessions / The Prairie Emporium
Denis Dufresne, Vinyl Tree
Carla Hackman, Fame Group Agency
Codi McIvor, This Is Codi
Megan Pierson, Ranchman’s
Live Event or Presenting Series of the Year (Small/Medium Market)
Blue Jay Sessions (Calgary, Kelowna, Vancouver)
Bow Valley Boot Stomp (Cochrane)
Heartstrings & Honky Tonks – Broadcasting LIVE on 840 CFCW (Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Calgary, Camrose, Bonnyville)
Stampede City Sessions (Calgary)
Tucker Tuesdays (Nisku)
Live Event or Presenting Series of the Year (Large Market)
Whoop-Up Days (Lethbridge)
Cody Synder Charity Bullbustin’ 2025 (Tsuut’ina)
Country Thunder Alberta (Calgary)
Big Valley Jamboree (Camrose)
Calgary Stampede (Calgary)
Drummer of the Year
Bradley Durand
Brendan Lyons
Cody Mack
Dave Oostra
Greg Williamson
Bass Player of the Year
Chris Byrne
Lisa Dodd
Jared Froese
Lisa Jacobs
Mat Patenaude
Brandi Sidoryk
Guitar Player of the Year
Russell Broom
Ryan Davidson
Josh Ruzycki
Mike Sands
Beamer Wigley
Specialty Instrument of the Year
Talia Beckie – Fiddle
Darla Daniels – Fiddle
Johnny Gasparic – Banjo
Matt O’Connor – Fiddle, Mandolin, Banjo
Catherine Robertson – Fiddle
Radio Station of the Year (Small/Medium Market)
96.5 The Ranch, Olds
Sun Country 99.7, High River
91.5 Cochrane Now, Cochrane
River Country 94.9, Peace River
The One 93.1, Leduc
Radio Station of the Year (Large Market)
840 CFCW, Edmonton
Country 105, Calgary
CJWE 88.1 FM Windspeaker, Calgary
CFWE 98.5 FM Windspeaker, Edmonton
CISN Country 103.9 FM, Edmonton
– Everett
