North Bay musician receives nomination at Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards
After several loved ones close to Esther Pennell passed away in a short period of time, she decided to pick up the banjo to help deal with some of the emotions she was feeling.
"I needed some kind of grieving tool, something to help me feel what I was processing. The banjo just kind of found me," said Pennell.
"I had no intention of being a superstar -- not that I am one or anything -- but I never had any inclination toward that."
Pennell told CTV News her music honours her son Theo, who died in 2015 to an accidental overdose.
She wrote the song ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ for him.
'I've learned how to stand up tall'
"I’ve cried, I’ve faced fears, I’ve learned how to stand up tall and I found my voice. It’s all happened since he’s been gone," Pennell said.
"I used to stand in front of his picture on the wall and sing it to him when I was missing him, which still happens quite often."
Pennell has a new album out called 'Big Dream,' and she said it focuses on "peace and harmony." The album was recently nominated for Country Album of the Year at the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards.
"I got an email one day saying ‘Congratulations, you’ve been nominated for country album of the year,'" said Pennell.
"I was like, oh wow. There was over 250 submissions across Canada, so just to be counted amongst them was a real honour for me."
Pennell has now released three albums and said her plans in the near future are to re-record and re-release a few of her favourites.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.