Year in Review - Our Top Country songs of 2011

There was a lot of fine music released in 2011. This is my list of the Top 10 Canadian country songs of the year. ‘Comment’ a line or two and let me know if you agree or, sheesh, disagree if you have to. But first a quick look back at 2011.

johnny reid — 2011 was a good year for country soul man Johnny Reid

On the Canadian country scene, 2011 was a great year for a couple of guys who don’t seem to have a lot in common. One likes to wear cowboy hats, one likes to wear white shoes. One leans towards traditional country, the other has a soul country thing going on. But they do have one important factor in common. The songs they have recorded and released over the past couple of years have really connected with country music fans. And that’s really what it’s all about. So deservedly, Dean Brody and Johnny Reid enjoyed big years in 2011. Both singers took home some major hardware from the CCMA Awards last fall. Reid received the Fan’s Choice Award and Male Artist and Brody Album of the Year (Trail In Life), Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. And it was a fine year for one of this country’s major talents. Terri Clark returned to the airwaves with music from her latest, Roots & Wings, and also won the CCMA Award for Female Artist.

Also, one of the finest singers and entertainers this country has ever produced, Michelle Wright, was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Congratulations Michelle! Well deserved.

Other artists making an impact on the Canadian country scene in 2011…Gord Bamford, Jason Blaine, High Valley, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Emerson Drive, Deric Ruttan, Chad Brownlee (Rising Star of the Year), Tara Oram, George Canyon, Jimmy Rankin (Roots Artist of the Year), Jason McCoy, Aaron Lines, Doc Walker, Victoria Banks, Shane Yellowbird, Hey Romeo, The Stellas, The Heartbroken, and Codie Prevost.