Canadian Country Music Awards 2009

This afternoon Vancouver is hosting the Canadian Country Music Awards at GM Place.

Thanks to Gabrielle Durning of the Uptown Giftbox Company, there will be a team of bloggers in the official Gift Lounge to cover a slice of the excitement happening all morning, noon, and night. A few weeks ago I put the call out to find some bloggers and some great talent stepped up.

Gabrielle has not only put together the entire Gift Lounge for the awards but she has opened it up for liveblogging and live Twitter coverage from this group. Throughout the day performers, nominees, celebrities, and legendary talent will make their way through the Gift Lounge, and the blogging squad will be there to document it. From host Jason Priestley, to Paul Brandt, Jann Arden, and Reba McEntire.

On top of that, each blogger will be getting their own gift pack which they can donate to the charity of their choice at the end of the awards. Gabrielle’s entire initiative is pretty innovative and dare I say a big step for blogging kind.

Unfortunately when I got home from Twestival last night (where we raised about $3,000 for the BC Childrens Hospital Foundation) a fever hit me and from about 8:00pm until about 6:00am this morning I’ve been fighting it. With laboured breathing I’m trying to determine if I can make it through the day at the Gift Lounge but I’m also taking into consideration the fact that I don’t want to give whatever I have to hundreds of people.

In case I don’t make it, you can check out any of the blogs listed here for coverage today and I believe everyone will be using #CCMA as the Twitter tag today.

Update: The first photos are the day from the livebloggers are being posted.

Photo credit: Fraser Valley Pulse on Flickr

Update: Fashion blogger Terri Portratz is also at the CCMA’s in another capacity. You can follow her tweets, including her recent announcement of Jason Priestley’s arrival, on Twitter @tportratz.

Terri and Rachel of Larry Designs with Jason Priestley – Photo: Hez

Update: Erica Ehm is chatting with guests in the lounge. Check out Cole’s posts for some great photos.

Update: The always fabulous Heather Watson (one of the livebloggers today) has some great coverage with plenty of photos.

Update: Gearing up for the awards ceremony, here’s a quick list of what’s in store courtesy of Country Music Vancouver:

CCMA Award Performers:
Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Terri Clark, George Canyon with Crystal Shawanda and Richard Marx, Doc Walker, Jessie Farrell, Aaron Pritchett, Emerson Drive, Johnny Reid, Gord Bamford, Paul Brandt and Jann Arden. There will also be special performances from Dean Brody, Victoria Banks and Tara Oram.

CCMA Award Presenters:
Martina McBride, George Canyon, Aaron Pritchett, The Higgins, Jason Blaine, One More Girl, Paul McGuire, Jillian Harris (from “The Bachelorette”), Amber Marshall and Graham Wardle (from the cast of CBC’s “Heartland”), The Wilsons, Shane Yellowbird, Patricia Conroy, Deric Ruttan, Jason McCoy, Colin James, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Hey Romeo and Ultimate Fan, Richard DeJonge.

CCMA Awards’ Leading Nominees:
Johnny Reid (six), George Canyon (five), Victoria Banks (five), Dean Brody and Gord Bamford (four).

Hez with Mason Raymond

Update: Heather Watson is reporting that some of the Vancouver Canucks have made it into the Gift Lounge.

Update: More photos from Heather are available on her Flickr (above).