Pick any major category for the upcoming East Coast Music Association’s music awards, and you’ll find the Mabou native’s name there. Rankin is nominated for entertainer of the year; album of the year, country recording of the year, and solo recording of the year for his album “Forget About the World;” songwriter of the year and song of the year for the album’s first big hit “Here in My Heart,” and two video of the year nods for “Here in My Heart” and “I’m Just Saying.”
Rankin, currently on a tour of western Canada with The Rankin Family, said he heard the news first thing Friday morning.
“I was asleep on our tour bus here out in British Columbia and the first thing when I got out of bed somebody said “congratulations, you just received eight nominations,’ and then they made a joke about me. It was a nice surprise waking up to that, it doesn’t happen every day,” he said.
Rankin said he’s pleased the album has been so well received by fans and the music industry.
