A little bar in small town Merritt was elevated to Country Club of the Year at the 33rd annual B.C. Country Music Awards Sunday night.

Cactus Annie’s, located at the base of the Merritt Desert Inn, was selected along with Vancouver’s Boone County Country Cabaret as the province’s best country music bar.

“I was shocked,” said Cactus Annie’s owner Melvina White, who accepted the award before a sold out crowd at the Red Robinson Show Theatre in Vancouver.

“I’ve had a number of nominations before.”

Cactus Annie’s was renovated by White about six years ago when it officially became a country bar.

Mayor Susan Roline and members of the Merritt Walk of Stars Society were on hand to witness the BCCMAs.

Country artist Ridley Bent was the big winner at BCCMAs. After winning the Roots/Canadiana award the previous night at the industry awards show, Bent dominated the podium winning the Gaylord Wood Traditional Country Award, the songwriter (Buckles and Boots), single (Buckles and Boots), male vocalist, entertainer and fan's choice awards.

As successful as Bent has been, he wasn’t able to win album of the year which went to Aaron Pritchett.

Female vocalist of the year went to MountainFest star Jessie Farrell.

Britt and Carly McKillip of One More Girl picked up the Ray McAuley Horizon award,

while The Higgins took the group/duo award.

Kamloops' Country 103.1 DJ Kelly Moore received on-air personality of the year in the 250 area code category.

JRfm won for station of the year.

BCCMA president and MF producer Don Adams was inducted into the BCCMA Hall of Fame.