Billy Ray Cyrus is no expert on hosting Canadian awards shows, but he knows a good collaboration when he sees one.
And that鈥檚 why the Kentucky-raised hitmaker is confident that pairing with homegrown country singer Dallas Smith to co-host the Canadian Country Music Association Awards on Sept. 8 in Calgary will be a rip-roaring success.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to try and hit my mark and let Dallas do all the talking,鈥� Cyrus recently joked a few hours after being introduced to his new sidekick in Toronto for the first time.
鈥淚 called him Elvis as soon as I met him. He鈥檚 got one of those charismas that kind of leaps out at you鈥� it just hit me with positivity.鈥�
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Praise like that carries a lot of weight coming from Cyrus, who鈥檚 spent the summer basking in the popularity of his appearance on Lil Nas X鈥檚 鈥淥ld Town Road.鈥� The remix, featuring Cyrus, helped launch the single to No. 1 on Billboard鈥檚 main chart for a record-breaking 18 weeks, giving Cyrus an unexpected new chapter in his show business life, which started with the inescapable 1992 hit 鈥淎chy Breaky Heart.鈥�
鈥淩ight now I鈥檓 just enjoying this moment,鈥� the 57-year-old said of the experience. 鈥淔or me, at this time in my life, I鈥檝e gone full circle. This is a celebration of still being here after three decades.鈥�
Co-host Smith also has reasons to celebrate this year, Cyrus pointed out. The country singer, who rose to fame as the frontman of rock band Default, picked up four CCMA Award nominations, including entertainer, male artist and album of the year for 鈥漈he Fall.鈥�
鈥淚t sounds a bit cliche, but the fact that you鈥檙e nominated, you鈥檙e already a winner,鈥� Cyrus told Smith while cradling a black guitar underneath his arm.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very competitive out there 鈥� so many artists and so much music. Just being nominated is great. I鈥檓 proud of you, brother.鈥�
Other nominees for the 2019 CCMA Awards include James Barker Band and Brett Kissel who have a leading five nods each. Paul Brandt, Lindsay Ell, Tim Hicks, the Reklaws and Tenille Townes follow with four apiece.
The CCMA Awards ceremony returns to its old stompin鈥� grounds in Calgary this year for the ninth time, and the show will broadcast live on Global TV from inside the Scotiabank Saddledome. Early performers booked for the night include Alberta-raised Townes and Nashville-based band Old Dominion.
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The event offers a prime opportunity for Canadian country artists to shine, Smith said, noting that streaming music platforms have thrown open the doors to listeners across the world.
鈥淭he bar鈥檚 really been raised,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 competitive. With the streaming services, the borders have been erased a little bit.鈥�
David Friend, The Canadian Press
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