Taking
Over Christmas
Anika Van Wyk
Calgary Sun
November 25, 2005
This
Canyon has grand goals indeed. George Canyon is planning a
triple threat for the Christmas season — the country
star has a cross-country tour, a Christmas CD and will be
starring in his own Christmas TV special on CMT November 25.
TRIPLE
THREAT ... George Canyon will star in his own CMT special,
George Canyon’s Christmas, November 25 at 6 p.m. The
Okotoks resident also has a new Christmas album on shelves,
Home for Christmas, and brings his live show home next month.
“I’m
more in the Christmas mood than most — I started celebrating
in August,” Canyon tells the Sun about recording the
CD Home for Christmas and shooting George Canyon’s Christmas.
The
CMT special centres around the Albertan trying to get home
for the holidays after a gig at the Grand Ole Opry.
Since
the show was actually shot outside Nashville and Toronto,
Canyon’s real family — wife Jennifer and children
son Kale and daughter Madison — only have limited roles.
“They’re
in the church waiting for me.”
Having
his family be part of his special was important to Canyon,
but even more critical to the Okotoks resident was that the
projects be family friendly.
“It’s
something people can watch with their children … they
can feel comfortable leaving the room and knowing that there
won’t be anything that I wouldn’t want my children
to watch.
“It’s
stuff you can feel good about letting your kids watch and
listen to.”
Canyon
particularly enjoyed working with the TV show’s guests
— such as Julie Roberts, Dave Gunning and Doug Gilmour.
“I’m
such a fan of Doug Gilmour. Getting to work with a hero of
mine was great.
“My
Dad and I used to watch Hockey Night in Canada together …
and watch Doug Gilmour,” says Canyon of his late father.
As
for his holiday tour, it will stop in neighbouring communities
Medicine Hat (Dec. 12), Red Deer (Dec. 13), his hometown of
Okotoks (Dec. 14) and Fort Macleod (Dec. 16). The tour doesn’t
stop in Calgary.
“Believe
me I want to play in Calgary, but we can’t because of
the possibility of a tour with somebody I can’t say,”
he says.
Another
prospect that has Canyon a little anxious these days is a
movie script written especially for him.
The
Christian content cowboy movie is set in the 1800s and has
Canyon in the lead role. It would film in this area.
“God
willing, we can do it next year. I’ve seen the storyboards
and I’m very honoured.”
Being
honoured should come naturally to Canyon, whose star raised
after placing second in the reality TV talent search Nashville
Star — he received a whopping 13 awards in 2005 including
top honours at the Canadian Country Music Awards.
“I
don’t think it has sunk in yet. When I hear people introduce
me at shows, it starts to sink in, but part of me doesn’t
want to let it sink in.”
Though
the CCMA awards were more than two months ago, he has yet
to receive his four trophies.
Another
thing he’s still waiting on is the rich part of, rich
and famous.
“Yeah,
it doesn’t work that way. But we don’t want to
be rich … we just want a ranch and to run some cattle
when we retire.”
So
that means there won’t be any elaborate gifts under
the tree this year?
“Even
if we won the lotto there wouldn’t be,” admits
Canyon, who has already agreed with his wife to buy matching
belt buckles for each other this Christmas.
The
Canyon family also plan to ride out into the woods to collect
their Christmas tree and go skating on the pond together.
“The
outdoors are so important to Jen and I,” says Canyon.
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