Dallas Smith of 91原创 was one of two big winners at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Calgary on Sunday evening.

Smith, who co-hosted the show with Billy Ray Cyrus, won for male artist and entertainer of the year, which was reintroduced to the award show for the first time in 30 years.

He credits his mother for getting this far and convincing his father to lend him money to make his earliest recordings.

鈥淢y mom doesn鈥檛 come to these things very often. It鈥檚 been a while but my mom kicked the 鈥榶ou know what鈥� out of cancer this year,鈥� he said.

鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for my mom, I would never be here period for many, many reasons.鈥�

He said the entertainer award shows what you can do if you apply yourself.

鈥淚 would skip school because I would be so afraid to make that presentation in school and I鈥檇 fail a class. This is what happens when you get the right team behind you and you push yourself, you challenge yourself. You overcome those things.鈥�

Tenille Townes of Grande Prairie, Alta., was named female artist of the year and won for single of the year for her song 鈥楽omebody鈥檚 Daughter鈥�. She also won previously announced awards Saturday for video and songwriter of the year bringing her total to four.

The 25-year-old seemed shocked when her name was called out.

鈥淭his is crazy. Thank you so much to the CCMAs. I鈥檓 just so proud and grateful to be part of this country music family. Speaking of family I have a lot of family in the house tonight. I love you guys so much,鈥� Townes said choking back tears.

鈥淭his is for all the little girls out there singing along. Please don鈥檛 give up on those dreams.鈥�

Brett Kissel was the recipient of the fan鈥檚 choice award.

鈥淭his is like the Stanley Cup right here for me in my business right here. We had the best times of our lives this year thanks to you guys, seriously. This is so amazing and something I don鈥檛 take for granted,鈥� Kissel said.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Terri Clark kicked off the show with a blast from the past.

Cyrus reached to yesteryear with a rendition of 1992鈥檚 鈥淎chy Breaky Heart鈥� and was joined on stage by Clark, who was inducted into the hall of fame last year.

Cyrus has enjoyed renewed popularity with 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.

He said Calgary holds fond memories for him.

鈥淢ine started in Calgary at a bowling alley, called the Silver Dollar Saloon,鈥� he said. 鈥滻t was right there at that bowling alley that I got my very first gold record.鈥�

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on