Eight times a lady
Shania's the one to watch during Monday's Canadian Country Music Awards show
By JANE STEVENSON -- Toronto Sun
The fact that hugely popular, easy-on-the-eyes Shania Twain has a leading eight Canadian Country Music Award nominations certainly couldn't hurt ratings for Monday night's ceremony in Calgary.
�
Even if the awards show, being broadcast from the Jubilee Auditorium on CTV, are going to be airing later than usual this year. They won't be seen in Ontario until 10 p.m.
�
Still, the CCMAs have Twain, whose latest album Come On Over has sold just over six million copies worldwide and is vying for best album and top selling album honours, as their sultry secret weapon.
In addition to becoming a last-minute performer, Twain, who recently appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone (a rarity for a country music artist), is also a presenter (for best male vocalist) and should make more than a few runs up to the podium.
Her other nominations are for best female vocalist and the CMT Maple Leaf Foods Fan's Choice Award while her song You're Still The One is up for best single. Another track, Don't Be Stupid, is in the race for SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada), song and video of the year and her final nomination is for best vocal collaboration for her duet with Bryan White on From This Moment On.
�
"I'm always excited when I win something, not that I'll win anything at the Canadian Country Music Awards, but just to be nominated, of course, it's fun," said Twain in a recent interview. "It always brings a smile to my face. It's a nice perk and you appreciate it but even if I win something I'm not going to get so over the top about it. It's just -- you can't."
�
Someone who's a little more new at this game is Jason McCoy, whose six nods are second only to Twain's haul. He is seen as the leader of a new wave of Canadian country music artists that includes Julian Austin, who has five nominations.
�
"The nominations are the exciting part," says McCoy, down the line from a tour stop in Winnipeg this week. "As far as the show itself, it's always good to see all the other artists. When people say it's just an honour to be nominated, that's really what it is. As far as winning goes, it's out of your hands anyway, so it's just a lot of fun. This time 'cause of the sheer number we're hoping to pick up something, but you never know."
�
McCoy, a native of Minesing, Ont., will compete for male vocalist and the fan's choice award while his song Born Again In Dixieland is in the running for best single, video and SOCAN song of the year. His latest release, Playin' For Keeps is up for best album.
�
He will also perform on the show along with Austin, host Terri Clark, Michelle Wright and Jim Brickman, Paul Brandt, Lisa Brokop, Charlie Major and Farmer's Daughter. In addition, there will be a second stage under a tent in the auditorium's parking lot where four of the five CCMA rising star nominees -- Chris Cummings, Gil Grand, Beverley Mahood and Rick Tippe -- will hold court. Bruce Guthro is the only no-show of that group.
�
Still, McCoy knows that all eyes will probably be on Twain.
�
"These awards used to be held in a club, in a bar, so country music has come so far and people like that, their profile, just helps," says McCoy. "I'm a fan of her and what she's done globally for Canada."
�
Twain is currently in the middle of her first North American tour and her concert in Dallas tonight will be broadcast live on DirectTV in the U.S.
�
She says, while awards aren't anything to gauge a career by, she understands that fans might be disappointed if she doesn't take home as much hardware as they would like.
�
"I remember myself as a fan watching award shows and getting bitterly disappointed when my favorite person didn't win and jumping for joy when my person won," says Twain. "I took it a lot more seriously when I was a fan."
BACK