Tenille Townes is returning to her spot as a front-runner at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter from Grande Prairie, Alta. emerged the leading contender with nominations in seven categories this year. They include both single and music video of the year for 鈥淕irl Who Didn鈥檛 Care.鈥�

Her release 鈥淢asquerades鈥� landed among the album of the year contenders, while Townes was named among the female artist of the year nominees and is up for entertainer of the year.

Townes is a favourite of the CCMA Awards and most recently led the nominees at the 2020 ceremony. The 28-year-old has nine CCMA trophies on her mantle.

Following closely behind on this year鈥檚 leaderboard is Jade Eagleson, the Alberta-based singer raised in Bailieboro, Ont., who holds six nominations. Two of them are in the single of the year category 鈥� one for his solo track 鈥淎ll Night To Figure It Out鈥� and another for 鈥淢ore Drinkin鈥� Than Fishin鈥�,鈥� a collaboration with Dean Brody.

The CCMA Awards will take place at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary and broadcast live Sept. 11 on Global.

Other major contenders include James Barker Band with five nominations while Brett Kissel and Brody each have four.

For single of the year, the nominees are Townes, Eagleson鈥檚 two tracks, as well as Kissel for 鈥淢ake A Life, Not A Living,鈥� Aaron Goodvin for 鈥淏oy Like Me,鈥� James Barker Band with 鈥淥ver All Over Again鈥� and Shawn Austin for 鈥淭ailgate to Heaven,鈥� featuring Chris Lane.

Album of the year includes Gord Bamford鈥檚 鈥淒iamonds in a Whiskey Glass,鈥� Meghan Patrick鈥檚 鈥淗eart On My Glass,鈥� Jade Eagleson鈥檚 鈥淗onkytonk Revival,鈥� Don Amero鈥檚 鈥淣othing is Meaningless,鈥� and Townes for 鈥淢asquerades.鈥�

The artists competing for entertainer of the year are Kissel, James Barker Band, Tenille Arts, Dallas Smith, and Townes.

The CCMA Awards are voted upon by the membership.

鈥擠avid Friend, The Canadian Press