Country Music Week hits Calgary by San Larocque Country Music Week hit Calgary with a twang the week of September 5-8. The All-Star Canadian Country Music Awards show, September 8, was viewed by millions across Canada and the US and by over 7,500 excited fans at Calgary’s Pengrowth Saddledome. Christian, singer/songwriter Paul Brandt, of Calgary, hosted the big event and stirred up the fans by jumping into the crowd to deliver several comical renditions of recent country hits. Medicine Hat-born Terri Clark won best single of the year for her international chart-topping I Just Wanna Be Mad.

Clark, a clear favorite in the country music arena, was voted Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year for the fourth time. "I’m always surprised, shocked and humbled by the whole thing, especially the fan’s choice award," said Clark, "I’m honored that they would hold me in that kind of regard and vote for me for that award– it’s a pretty special thing."

Considering herself "no different from her fans," Clark stated, "I was given a gift to be able to share with them and it is a tremendous gift. You gotta pass that on. You can’t keep it all to yourself. I have been very blessed. I’m very grateful…it’s been a great year!" Clark revealed in her bio sheet that Jesus Christ is the person that she would most like to meet.

Jason McCoy, Canada’s country music songwriter of the year, publicly thanked God in his acceptance speech. McCoy later voiced to the media that he and his partner "became Christians this year" and hinted at the possibility of writing a gospel album.

The Country Music Gospel Show was held on Sunday, Sept. 7 at Grace Baptist Church in Calgary.

Christian singer/songwriter Jim Witter hosted the show. University of Calgary’s Inner Voices Choir performed an unusual song using only their voices and throat sounds to create the likeness of instruments.

Edmonton’s Gina Williams, a tiny girl with a large voice, gave an excellent, soulful performance of the song Lead Me Home.

Montreal cowboy John Landry played despite having a broken hand and shared about his recent trip to Bosnia. "I feel blessed and lucky to live here."

The big show stopper was Father Heffernan, a small, power-packed elderly priest who gave a poetic blessing at the start of the show. He had the audience on their feet clapping as he fiddled for the crowd half-way through the concert!

The free concert was held for a full audience. An offering was collected for Dreams Take Flight, a non-profit organization that organizes trips to Disneyland for physically, mentally or socially challenged children. To help a "dream take flight" visit their website at www.dreamstakeflight.ca .