ABC/Image Group LA Newcomer Lindsay Ell is up for two trophies at the Canadian Country Music Awards in her homeland this weekend. But the “Criminal” hitmaker is less focused on her potential wins than on meeting the ceremony’s host, country/pop icon Shania Twain.
“I still have never met Shania, just for whatever circumstance,” Lindsay explains. “Whenever she’s in town, I’m on the road. And so I’m so excited, to first off, get to meet my idol. She’s hosting the awards show that I’m getting to perform at.”
“I just had a #1 in Canada and was — oddly enough — the first female to have a #1 on Canadian country radio for 10 years, since Terri Clark in 2008,” she continues. “So it’s just gonna be such an incredible night — slash — I might fangirl on Shania, but I’m really excited.”
Lindsay’s nominated for Album of the Year for The Project, but she’ll also compete against the icon for Female Artist of the Year. So what will she say when she meets her hero?
“I need to rehearse this, because I probably will choke up,” she admits, “and I’ll just be like — I won’t even know what to say. But I will just tell her that she’s inspired me. I mean, I ran around the house singing Shania songs all of my childhood,” Lindsay laughs.
Ever the fashionista, Lindsay will be bringing the glam for Sunday night’s show.
“We have something special planned, for carpet and performance,” she reveals. “Of course, I’m performing ‘Criminal,’ so we might be getting a little creative… sort of a spinoff of the music video where I dressed up as a prisoner.”
Keith Urban and High Valley will also appear on the CCMAs, which are set to air on the CBC in Canada.
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