Luke Bryan likes to explore while on road in Canada, even as his profile grows

TORONTO – While Luke Bryan admits he’s being recognized in public more and more often lately, he’s not the type to hide out in his hotel.

So the last time the country crooner was in Hamilton – where he’ll perform on Monday at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards – he went out “messing around,” eating dinner at a local bar and even carving out time to angle for trout along the nearby Grand River.

“I go out and live it up, man,” Bryan said in a recent interview from Woodstock, Va., where he was touring. “I had a great time.”

He says he won’t be worried about keeping a low profile with his upcoming visit, either, but of course there will be no shortage of country talent shuffling across the Ontario town this week.

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The Georgia-raised Bryan joins a cast of performers at this year’s CCMA awards that also includes Jim Cuddy, Ronnie Dunn, Terri Clark, George Canyon and leading nominee Johnny Reid, who enters with six nods including single of the year and album of the year.

Dean Brody of Jaffray, B.C., has five nominations while Canyon, Deric Ruttan of Bracebridge, Ont., and Gord Bamford from Lacombe, Alta., each earned four nods apiece going into the annual awards bash, which will be broadcast on CBC.

Bryan admits he’s never had the chance to watch the CCMA awards, nor is he too familiar with Canada’s brightest country stars, so he’s looking forward to making some new acquaintances.

“Before I get up there, I’m going to go online and learn as much as I can, and go up there with more knowledge, (so I’m) not in the dark about stuff,” he said.

And country fans know that Bryan has been busy lately.

His radio-ready third album, “Tailgates & Tanlines,” dropped in August and surprised many observers by debuting in the top spot on the U.S. country chart and No. 2 on the overall album chart (he also opened in the top 10 in Canada, a first for the 35-year-old).

He says the commercial success has been a “dream come true.” And while he acknowledges that it’s getting harder and harder to make anonymous excursions while on the road, well, he’s not complaining.

“I think if you have problems with that, you’re kind of in a sad spot,” he said.

“Because that’s all a part of it and you better learn to accept it and conform to it.”