Brett Kissel had a colossal weekend at the 2020 Canadian Country Music Association Awards, as the country superstar was honoured with four awards. Kissel won three times during the televised award show on Global TV Sunday night – Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Now or Never and the prestigious Fans’ Choice for the second consecutive year and third time in his career. Saturday night during the non-broadcast industry awards, he was awarded Creative Director of the Year, along with Connor Scheffler, for their work on Now or Never. With the four award wins, Brett now has a career total of 18 CCMA Awards.

“I am over the moon!” said Kissel. “We’ve all talked about it. We’ve all been going through it. And we all know that this year is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced.  So if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s to cherish the good times, and enjoy the present moment. This celebration, and this moment, will be something I’ll never forget.”

Kissel also performed his #1 hit single “Drink About Me,” filmed at Burl’s Creek in Oro-Medonte, Ontario. On Saturday night in London, Ontario, Brett performed his final two drive-in shows, a concert model he pioneered in Canada in June, becoming the first Canadian artist to bring live back during the pandemic with 8 sell-out shows in Edmonton. In total, Brett performed 24 socially-distant shows over the summer in front of over 30,000 country music fans, helping to raise over $250,000 for various local charities and food banks.  

Kissel won in the Album of the Year category for the very first time in his career. Now or Never, released at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1 of this year, has produced two gold-certified singles in “Drink About Me” and “She Drives Me Crazy,” and also includes his latest single “A Few Good Stories.”

“I put everything I had into this album and I received more love and support on this project than I thought was possible,” he said. “Winning Album of the Year is something I appreciate so much, because it’s something I can also share with those who made this record with me. My band. My producers – Bart (McKay) and Jacob (Durrett) – worked so hard on this record, and it’s amazing to receive this recognition.”

Kissel looks forward to bringing the Fans’ Choice Award trophy on the road with him again next year when it is safe to tour again, as he has done in previous years so the fans can get up close to the award that they helped him win.

“To be crowned the Male Artist is the Year as well as get to hold the trophy for the Fans’ Choice Award is something I only ever dreamed of as a little kid, sitting on the kitchen table, with my little legs dangling, in my cowboy boots, playing along with my guitar to the songs on the local radio station. It’s been a childhood dream to hold these awards up high and get to experience what I saw my heroes, Charlie Major, Paul Brandt, George Canyon, and Johnny Reid experience. I’m kind of at a loss for words to be honest.”

Brett would like to congratulate his bandmates for their 2020 CCMA Award wins: 

• Bass Player of the Year: Justin Kudding
• Guitar Player of the Year: Matty McKay
• Fiddle Player of the Year: Tyler Vollrath 
• Keyboard Player of the Year: Brendan Waters