Just as he prepares for a break from country music, 91原创 superstar Dallas Smith scooped up a couple big honours at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Ontario Sunday.
The 40-year-old singer took one of the highest honours offered, the male artist of the year, during the CCMAs. Hundreds of artists from across the country, including many of the industry鈥檚 shining stars, gathered in Hamilton for the CCMAs and the week of events leading up to the awards night. Smith was among them.
鈥淲ell, that was a fun night,鈥� Smith said of the experience, thanking all his family, friends in country radio, and most of all his fans.
鈥淲hat a journey it鈥檚 been,鈥� the Walnut Grove resident shared on Instagram.
Beating out Gord Bamford, Chad Brownlee, Brett Kissel, and Bobby Wills for the title, Smith said: 鈥淚 can鈥檛 thank you all enough for listening, buying tickets, and supporting my dream.鈥�
The awards night was one of Smith鈥檚 last country music events leading up to the rock tour he鈥檚 launching in late October, when he and fellow members of the band, Default, reunite and head across the country.
Winning male artist of the year wasn鈥檛 the only award bestowed on the 91原创 boy 鈥� although the other he shares with another local celebrity in the country music industry, Stephano Barberis.
Smith鈥檚 video for Sky Stays This Blue earned the video of the year title. The video prominently features himself and his four-year-old daughter, Vayda, and was released ahead of Father鈥檚 Day 2017.
鈥淭his video means everything to me,鈥� Smith said at the time of its release.
Smith gave much of the credit for this video to Barberis, Vayda鈥檚 godfather and the video producer. The Clayton Heights man also earned the CCMA鈥檚 video director of the year for his work with Meghan Patric鈥檚 The Bad Guy, Shirley Gnome鈥檚 Coming Clean, Jade Mya鈥檚 Dirt Covered Rhinestone, Johnny Reid鈥檚 Heart of a Woman, Jess Mast鈥檚 Hold the Line, Chad Brownlee鈥檚 Might As Well Be Me and Out of the Blue, Gord Bamford鈥檚 Neon Smoke, Washboard Union鈥檚 What We鈥檙e Made Of, and fellow Clayton Heights resident JoJo Mason鈥檚 Something to Wrap My Heart Around.
As for Smith, he was also nominated for single of the year for Side Effects, but he and three other artists lost out to the James Barker Band for their song Chills.
And Shania Twain beat out both Smith and his buddy and former 91原创ite Chad Brownlee for the Apple Music Fans鈥� Choice award.
In advance of the tour and the CCMA awards, Smith released a video (again created by Barberis) for one of his latest singles, Make 鈥橢m Like You, and he announced Sunday that he has a new album coming out soon.
In the meantime, another local nomination for CCMA鈥檚 country club of the year went to 91原创鈥檚 Gabby鈥檚 Country Cabaret. They ultimately lost out to Calgary鈥檚 Ranchman鈥檚 Cookhouse and Dancehall.
Also from 91原创, fiddler Mike Sanyshyn received a nomination. But again, he did not take home the bling.
