10TH ANNUAL
CAROLINA COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

NEWS RELEASE

Winners Announced for Carolina Country Music Awards
Carolina Country Music Association recognizes local musicians

North Myrtle Beach, S.C. (January 20, 2024) – The Carolina Country Music Association presented the annual Carolina Country Music Awards (CCMAs) Saturday night, January 20, 2024.  A standing room only crowd estimated at 2,500 filled the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach to watch the annual show, which is hosted by Frank Johnson, Chief Meteorologist at News 13 (WBTW Television) and Sweet Tea, on-air personality at the Carolina Country Radio Network (93.9 WMIR in Myrtle Beach, 100.1 WFAY in Fayetteville, and 106.3 WYAY in Wilmington).  Sweet Tea also serves as Executive Director of the Carolina Country Music Association and Executive Producer of the show.  Bill Bowman, Publisher of Up and Coming Weekly of Fayetteville, NC, served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening’s festivities.

Country Music superstar John Berry, born in Aiken, SC, and singer of former #1 “Your Love Amazes Me” and six other top ten hits on the country charts, was honored with the CCMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the CCMA Hall of Fame.  The CCMA Gold Medal was awarded to Jason Michael Carroll, born in Youngsville, NC, and singer of “Alyssa Lies” and four other Top 40 Country hits.  Bassist Andy McKinney of Fayetteville, NC, formerly of Molly Hatchet, was also awarded a CCMA Gold Medal.  McKinney has performed with artists as diverse as James Taylor and Charlie Daniels, among others.

Country music singer/songwriter Skip Ewing made a surprise appearance to support his friends Joe and Suzy Brooks, who were awarded the Sweet Tea Making A Difference Award for their years as a foster family, training diabetic service dogs, and other philanthropic endeavors.  Joe and Suzy are the longtime owners of Hamburger Joe’s in North Myrtle Beach, SC.  Skip, who’s written over one hundred Top 40 Country songs during his career, later appeared on stage to perform two of his new songs. 

Texas Music Awards Emerging New Artist Donice Morace also made a special appearance.

This year’s winners are as follows:

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR - Erik Hawks (Hope Mills, NC)

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR - Taylor Richardson (Conway, SC)

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR - Warcry Band (West Union, SC)

DUO OF THE YEAR - Velvet Rodeo (Swansboro, NC)

COUNTRY SINGLE OF THE YEAR - Taylor Richardson “Leavin’” (Conway, SC)

COUNTRY MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR - kindred  “Still” (Whiteville, NC)

CHRISTIAN COUNTRY SINGLE OF THE YEAR  - Rob Cole “Jesus and Woman” (Pembroke, NC)

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR - Paige King Johnson (Angier, NC)

COUNTRY TOUR OF THE YEAR - Kevin Nichols (Myrtle Beach, SC)

MICHAEL COMER EMERGING NEW ARTIST - Jordan Pickett (Silk Hope, NC)

DAMIEN HORNE HUMANITARIAN AWARD - Cliff Wheeler (Wilmington, NC)

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR - Garrett Huffman (Gastonia, NC)

A production of the Carolina Country Music Association, the Carolina Country Music Awards is

an annual event open to performers who grew up in or now reside in North Carolina or South

Carolina. To submit an artist packet or for more information about the show, visit

www.CarolinaCountryMusicAwards.com.