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Country hitmaker Josh Ross and breakout star Cameron Whitcomb are riding high into this year’s Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
The CCMA announced Thursday that both musicians are the leading nominees with seven apiece and will square off against each other in several categories, including entertainer of the year, album of the year, fans’ choice, male artist of the year and single of the year.
Close on their heels are James Barker Band, Thelma & James and Tenille Townes, with five nominations each.
Ross, who grew up in Burlington, Ont., recently scored his second consecutive U.S. country radio No. 1 with “Hate How You Look,” becoming the first solo Canadian male artist in more than 50 years to land back-to-back chart-topping singles.
Whitcomb, a Nanaimo, B.C. native, is also having a big year, winning Juno Awards for breakthrough artist of the year and country album of the year for his debut, “The Hard Way.”
Country Music Week begins Sept. 16 in Saskatoon and culminates with the awards show on Sept. 19.
Previously announced performers include Dean Brody, James Barker Band, The Reklaws, Owen Riegling, Tenille Arts, Hunter Brothers, Kalsey Kulyk and Jess Moskaluke.
James Barker Band, which formed in Woodville, Ont., is nominated for entertainer of the year, album of the year, fans’ choice, group or duo of the year and single of the year.
Thelma & James — the husband-and-wife duo of Alberta-born country star MacKenzie Porter with Nashville singer-songwriter Jake Etheridge — earned nominations for album of the year, group or duo of the year, alternative country album of the year, video of the year and songwriter(s) of the year.
Grande Prairie, Alta., native Townes is up for female artist of the year, single of the year, alternative country album of the year, musical collaboration of the year and songwriter(s) of the year.
Owen Riegling, who grew up in Mildmay, Ont., received four nods, including entertainer of the year, album of the year, fans’ choice and male artist of the year.
The CCMAs also announced the nominees for the second annual francophone artist of the year award, with Francis Degrandpre, Fred Dionne, Gab Forest, Vince Lemire and Laurence St-Martin in the running.
Overall, 192 artists and industry professionals received nominations.
Fans will vote to determine the winners of the fans’ choice award and breakthrough artist or group of the year.