Been waiting for these ones to be held...............and the big winners were ..............
The Road Hammers pounded their competition as the Canadian Country Music Association honoured its brightest stars at a gala awards show last night.
The band won the top group award for the second consecutive year.
The group, fronted by Toronto's Jason McCoy, also won video of the year.
The wins are icing on the cake for the Hammers, who collected a Juno in April for country recording of the year.
The annual awards ceremony started off with a bang as the Road Hammers performed Girl on the Billboard before a packed house in Saint John.
Performances by Nova Scotia's George Canyon and Alberta's Carolyn Dawn Johnson were followed by their wins for male and female artist of the year, with Canyon also picking up the single-of-the-year award for Somebody Wrote Love.
For Canyon, 35, it is a continuation of the enormous success he has enjoyed since catapulting to fame almost three years ago as runner-up on the American country talent show, Nashville Star.
Prior to his discovery on the Idol-type show, Canyon struggled 14 years for recognition.
Last year at the Canadian Country Music Awards, Canyon stole the show with four big wins, including the coveted fan's choice as top entertainer.
This year, the Kraft Cheez Whiz Fans' Choice Award, voted on by fans from coast to coast, was won by Montreal-born Terri Clark, who grew up in Medicine Hat, Alta.
CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD WINNERS
Fan's Choice Award: Terri Clark
Female artist: Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Male artist: George Canyon
Group or duo: Road Hammers
Album of the year: Hair in My Eyes Like a Highland Steer, recorded by Corb Lund
Single of the year: Somebody Wrote Love, recorded by George Canyon
SOCAN songwriters of the year: Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson for Jesus, Take the Wheel
CMT Video of the year: East Bound and Down, Road Hammers
Roots artist or group: Corb Lund
Top-selling album: The Legend of Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash
