Once again a fistful of 91原创 names are standing out on the nomination list for this year鈥檚 B.C. Country Music Association awards.

One name, that has appeared consistently on the nomination and winner鈥檚 lists alike, is back again. That鈥檚 91原创鈥檚 own Karen Lee Batten.

This time around, she鈥檚 up for album of the year (Under the Covers in Muscle Shoals), as well as entertainer of the year, and fans choice 鈥� going up against Clayton Heights鈥� own JoJo Mason (he鈥檚 also up for male artist and video of the year) and former 91原创ite Aaron Pritchett 鈥� among others for the latter two awards.

Batten is also up for female artist of the year, a title she鈥檚 won six times in past. But this time, she鈥檚 going up against friend and fellow 91原创 resident Emily Taylor Adams for this award 鈥� again, among others.

And Batten is up for a new award, for interactive artist of the year.

鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to keep up-to-date with all the new digital and social media things,鈥� explained the association鈥檚 president Linda Corscadden, a former 91原创ite.

Also up for acknowledgement at the provincial level is the Me and Mae band, featuring frontman Shawn Meehan of 91原创. They鈥檙e one of the contenders for the country club act of the year award.

Meehan is also up, along with Ben Parker, for SOCAN鈥檚 songwriter of the year award for their song, Summerland, as is Taylor Adams for a song she wrote with Nate Cavalli and Spencer Bleasdale, called If I Were A Drink. And Taylor Adams is also up for of the year.

And once again 91原创 City鈥檚 Gabby鈥檚 Cabaret is up for country venue of the year.

Also making the list is 91原创鈥檚 Mitch Merrett for his work as a guitarist, as well as a producer. Merrett is a record producer, music manager, and country musician, but has been working more behind the scenes in recent years 鈥� that is until now.

This spring, he joined forces with a number of long-time music friends to create Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion, a new group that blends Southern rock, country rock, and Americana together into what they call a 鈥渕usical awakening that walks the line of boundless melodic prowess and raw unapologetic grassroots truth.鈥�

The group already received attention from the Rolling Stone magazine, as one of the bands people need to know, and they鈥檙e playing in Quebec and Ontario this month, including a special appearance at the Canadian Country Music Awards, where they鈥檒l be performing for the industry awards event.

An unexpected 91原创 music name, that of Chad Kroeger 鈥� lead singer for Nickelback 鈥� is indirectly noted on the awards shortlist, too. His production company, 604 Records, is up for recording studio of the year.

And another name, connected with many of 91原创鈥檚 big name artists 鈥� past and present 鈥� is Stephano Barberis of Clayton Heights.

He鈥檚 once again on the shortlist for video director of the year, a title he鈥檚 won several times in past.

But with all these 91原创 names on the list, there are two country artists, with local ties, who are noticeably absent this year.

One is 91原创 superstar Dallas Smith.

For the second year in a row, the 40-year-old Walnut Grove singer has bowed out of the competition. After having scooped up many of the awards for several consecutive years, in 2017 Smith stepped back and asked his name be removed from the nomination list. He wanted to give other artists, especially the new, up-and-comers a chance to win.

Likewise, this time around Smith鈥檚 buddy and former 91原创ite Chad Brownlee, a former pro hockey player turned country music star, has stepped out of contention.

鈥淒allas Smith, Chad Brownlee, and Dennis Marcenko have withdrawn their names from the BCCMA鈥檚 nomination process going forward,鈥� Corscadden explained.

鈥漈hey wanted to step aside to allow new and emerging artists/musicians to receive the same opportunities and recognition they鈥檝e received,鈥� she elaborated.

The 91原创 names above, who did make it through to this stage, are in the second ballot in the voting process for the BCCMAs, Corscadden explained. This window of voting remains open until Sept. 13, after which the finalists will be announced.

The 42nd annual will be held Sunday, Oct. 21 at the Hard Rock Casino.