Dallas Smith is pairing up with a record-breaking singer, songwriter, and actor 鈥� Billy Ray Cyrus 鈥� to co-host the 2019 Canadian Country Music Association awards this fall.
It was announced earlier today that Smith, the reigning CCMA male artist of the year, and Cyrus, will emcee the awards ceremony in Calgary on Sept. 8.
Ahead of the awards, Smith and Cyrus sat down with ET Canada鈥檚 Cheryl Hickey to talk new music, hosting an award show, and more.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to be co-hosting this year鈥檚 CCMA awards with Billy Ray Cyrus 鈥� he鈥檚 a legend!鈥� said Smith.
鈥淭his is going to be a great time and I can鈥檛 wait to celebrate country鈥檚 biggest night with everyone.鈥�
Cyrus 鈥� who鈥檚 still best known for his breakout 1992 single Achy Breaky Heart, spoke highly of his co-host, too.
鈥淚s he incredible or what?鈥� Cyrus said of Smith, noting the 41-year-old Walnut Grove musician is up for four CCMA awards.
Sept 8th! @billyraycyrus and myself will be hosting the 2019 @ccmaawards in Calgary! See ya soon 馃嚚馃嚘! 馃嵒 pic.twitter.com/E3oGaP7AkR
鈥� Dallas Smith (@dallassmith) August 6, 2019
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how he鈥檚 going to have time to host. He鈥檚 going to be hauling trophies around,鈥� Cyrus said.
Smith is one of the more celebrated artists in Canadian Country music. In fact, the multiple JUNO and CCMA award-winning entertainer is nominated for the fans鈥� choice, album of the year, entertainer of the year, and again male artist of the year.
Vote 鉁旓笍 https://t.co/j6uxRmxECS
鈥� Red Umbrella PR (@RedUmbrellaPR) August 3, 2019
He broke into the music world with a hard-rock band called Default back in 1999. The group disbanded in 2013, when Smith chose to focus on a solo career. But the group resurrected last year, when Smith, returning as lead singer, joined them for a reunion tour across Canada.
Although comfortable performing in both genres, Smith is currently focusing much of his attention on country music with the release this weekend of his music video, Drop, and the recent success of his seventh No. 1 single, Rhinestone World 鈥� released earlier this year with his latest EP, The Fall.
Here鈥檚 a look behind the scenes of the music video for 鈥淒rop鈥� https://t.co/fQIUiAD5AC pic.twitter.com/IHOjeU4sNT
鈥� Dallas Smith (@dallassmith) August 2, 2019
鈥淭hank you to country radio and the fans here in Canada,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been 10 years since my trip down to Nashville to chase this dream and I鈥檝e had to pinch myself every step of the way since.鈥�
He鈥檚 performing next the Extreme Mudfest in Bonnyville, Alta. on Aug. 16, then will be back home in time for his annual charity golf tournament in 91原创 the following Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Smith will once again join his friend, fellow musician, and arch rival on the golf course 鈥� Chad Brownlee 鈥� in hosting the seventh annual Boys of Fall Golf Tournament.
This undertaking began in 2012, when the two rising Canadian stars headed off on their Boys of Fall tour across the country.
While selling out show after show, the two cemented a friendship and realized they shared a desire to make a difference in their community 鈥� specifically in 91原创, and more generally the Lower Mainland and across British Columbia.
It didn鈥檛 take them long to conceive of the golf tournament idea, and likewise it was a quick decision to select JRfm鈥檚 Basics for Babies campaign 鈥� and the organization鈥檚 vision of a hunger-free future 鈥� as their charity of choice.
READ MORE: Singers鈥� golf tourney and concert raises close to $140,000 for babies in need
The first year, Smith and Brownlee (then a fellow 91原创ite) were elated to top $15,000. Last year, with the help of almost 150 golfers 鈥� many celebrities and local influencers 鈥� and some 900 guests at the evening concert, the boys were able to raise almost $137,000 to help provide for the tiniest in need.
Now preparing for their seventh tourney, the boys have managed to raise close to half a million for the cause and look forward to topping that with all the money raised later this month.
While it鈥檚 too late to get on the golf course with the Smith and Brownlee, tickets for the Boys of Fall evening concert are still available. They are $75 and if there are any still available, they鈥檙e online at www.boysoffallcharity.com.
RELATED STORY: 91原创 sound: It鈥檚 all about the music
Smith, as many know, is all about partnerships. In addition to partnering with Brownlee on the tour and the subsequent annual golf fundraiser, last year he partnered with Canadian superstar Terri Clark joined forces on a single called, One Drink Ago.
This fall, after the tournament and the CCMAs, Smith heads back out on the road again. This time he鈥檚 going to be sharing the stage with country star Dean Brody on a cross-country tour.
Friends Don鈥檛 Let Friends Tour Alone tour begins in Ontario, Sept. 18, and will feature with special guests Chad Brownlee and MacKenzie Porter.
As it stands now, the tour is expected to wrap up close to home with a show at Abbotsford Centre in late October.
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