Terri Clark, the Canadian country chanteuse, will host the Canadian Country Music Association’s gala awards ceremony on Sept. 8.

Awards will be presented at the MST Centre in Winnipeg featuring performances by Jessie Farrell, George Canyon, Dierks Bentley, Doc Walker, Emerson Drive and Johnny Reid.

Leading the nominations with seven is Farrell, including single of the year and album of the year. Doc Walker is close behind with six nominations.

Related posts:

1. Canadian Ladies Can’t Get Enough Nods
2. Road Hammers Tops At Country Music Awards
3. Regina To Host 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

Ready to get back to your down-home redneck roots?

The 2005 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) will air tonight with Canadian country star Paul Brandt acting as host.

“They’ve turned the [Calgary Pengrowth] Saddledome into a giant projection screen so the visual aspect will be very impressive,” says Brandt, who is taking on hosting duties for the sixth time. “The amount of music we’ll be able to play for the audience will be unmatched.”

Also impressive is the six stages erected at the Saddledome.

“It’s a lot more scattered and responsive and there’s a lot more room for me to completely screw up,” Brandt says. “There’s going to be a lot of energy because of the way it’s set up.”

Brandt is also slated to perform on tonight’s show. He’ll sing his new single “Alberta Bound” during a special tribute to Alberta’s centennial.

“All the things I love about Alberta just fell out — it took about 15 minutes to write,” says Brandt.

Dierks Bentley, George Canyon, Terri Clark, Doc Walker and Carolyn Dawn Johnson are also scheduled to perform.

Look for newcomers The Road Hammers to come out on top following the success of their debut disc and single “I’m A Road Hammer”. The group is nominated for best group, album, single, video and song of the year, and rising star.

The CCMAs air tonight at 8 p.m. on CBC in most time zones. It’s also being broadcast to audiences in the U.S. and Australia.

Officials say the CBC lockout will have no affect on the broadcast since it’s an independent production.

Complete list of nominees for the 2005 CCMAs:

KRAFT CHEEZ WHIZ FANS? CHOICE AWARD

Paul Brandt
George Canyon
Terri Clark
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Jason McCoy

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Convoy ? Paul Brandt
Die Of A Broken Heart ?Carolyn Dawn Johnson
I?m A Road Hammer ? The Road Hammers
My Name ? George Canyon
Sister Golden Hair ? The Poverty Plainsmen

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Hey, Do You Know Me ? Lisa Brokop
Lap Of Luxury ? The Poverty Plainsmen
One Good Friend ? George Canyon
The Road Hammers ? The Road Hammers
This Time Around ? Paul Brandt

SOCAN SONG OF THE YEAR

Dress Rehearsal (written by Carolyn Dawn Johnson / Troy Verges;
recorded by Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
Hey, Do You Know Me (written by Lisa Brokop / Kim McLean;
recorded by Lisa Brokop)
Home (written by Paul Brandt; recorded by Paul Brandt)
I?m A Road Hammer (written by Denny Carr / Jason McCoy;
recorded by The Road Hammers)
My Name (written by George Canyon / Gordie Sampson;
recorded by George Canyon)

CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Convoy ? Paul Brandt
Girls Lie Too ? Terri Clark
I?m A Road Hammer ? The Road Hammers
John Roland Wood ? Aaron Pritchett
Roughest Neck Around ? Corb Lund Band

TOP SELLING ALBUM

(This is a non-voting category)
Be Here ? Keith Urban
Greatest Hits ? Shania Twain
Greatest Hits 2 ? Toby Keith
Here For The Party ? Gretchen Wilson
Live Like You Were Dying ? Tim McGraw

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Lisa Brokop
Terri Clark
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Shania Twain
Amanda Wilkinson

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Paul Brandt
George Canyon
Jason McCoy
Aaron Pritchett
Deric Ruttan

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

Corb Lund Band
Doc Walker
Emerson Drive
The Poverty Plainsmen
The Road Hammers

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Corb Lund Band
The Cruzeros
Kathleen Edwards
The Good Brothers Ian Tyson

CHEVY TRUCKS RISING STAR AWARD

Gord Bamford
Lisa Hewitt
Johnny Reid
The Road Hammers
Amanda Wilkinson

Related posts:

1. Princess Diaries’ Heather Matarazzo to Wed Girlfriend
2. Road Hammers Tops At Country Music Awards
3. Regina To Host 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance