Country stars celebrate Paul Brandt’s induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
Posted Sep 11, 2017 11:11 am.
Last Updated Sep 11, 2017 1:47 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SASKATOON – Last night’s Canadian Country Music Association Awards were filled with plenty of high points including performances by talents like Madeline Merlo and Brett Kissel, but even without appearing on stage, it was Paul Brandt that stole the show.
Presenter and hockey broadcast icon, Ron MacLean announced the esteemed singer’s induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame alongside a touching onscreen montage. What followed was a standing ovation from the crowd, surrounding a visibly verklempt Brandt, who was sitting front and centre with his wife, Elizabeth.
Brandt’s contemporaries were quick to chime in on how excited they were to see the Alberta-based musician receive such an honour.
Singer of the hit single ‘Kill Your Love’, Jess Moskaluke said, “There is nobody more deserving of [being inducted]. I could sit here for hours and talk about why Paul deserves this.”
“He represents the true kindness of the Canadian country music scene,” says Calgary’s JJ Shiplet, Roots Artist of the Year nominee. “He is authentic, just a fantastic guy and, c’mon, he’s got that great baritone voice to boot!”
“Paul has impacted and influenced [our band] for many years. The most telling thing about a person [in this industry] is how they act when the cameras aren’t rolling or when they aren’t onstage. Who he is offstage is the same man he is onstage. We look up to Paul and respect him.” said J.J. Hunter of The Hunter Brothers on the CCMA Awards green carpet.
“My fellow Albertan. He is so sweet and so talented,” gushed Lindsay Ell, nominee for Female Artist of the Year. “I hope someday we can collaborate on something. He really deserves this.”
Long-time friend and colleague, Aaron Pritchett has grown up with Brandt in the country music world and had this to say, “I was so proud of him back then when ‘My Heart Has a History’ came out [in 1996]. Since then, he’s built and built and he’s still coming out with great music. I love the guy.”
As the 2017 inductee, Brandt joins the likes of Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ian Tyson and Anne Murray in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
His new single ‘The Journey’ which was released in August is gaining a lot of traction and expected to break the Billboard Canada Country Top 50 this month.
