Canadian country artist Johnny Reid takes the stage at the General Motors Centre May 10. And he won’t be the only Canuck under the bright lights, with opening act Carolyn Dawn Johnson joining him on stage for a duet.

The Alberta-born Johnson describes Reid as a longtime friend. The pair recorded a duet, Baby I Know it, for Reid’s newest album, which they perform each night. She describes Reid’s energy on stage as infectious and says performing with him leaves a smile on her face. Those nights are often packed back-to-back with 29 shows in six weeks in what Johnson calls a potent tour.

“We’re both excited to play in Oshawa. There’s a great country (radio) station there, so there should be a lot of awesome fans and listeners,” she says.

All 29 of those dates are as Canadian as the acts and Johnson says it’s sweet to have Canadian fans be so receptive to her music.

“Johnny and I are both Canadian so it’s awesome to see fans supporting a Canadian act. It feels pretty heartwarming, like a ‘welcome home’ sort of feeling,” she adds.

Johnson isn’t new to the country scene: she’s been performing professionally and recording albums for the last 17 years. Even with those years under her belt, Johnson is still impressed and inspired by fans in the audience.

“I always hope that my songs are going to touch someone, whether it makes them jump up and down and laugh and sing out loud. Or if someone wants to cry or feels like they can be inspired by something I do that’s great,” she says.

Johnson joins Reid on stage, but not before she opens the show for him in what she describes as her favourite way.

“I open up acoustically, which is something I love to do because I’m a songwriter deep in the heart of me. So I get to play things the way they were originally written.”

She writes her own music but also writes for other artists as a staff writer for Seagayle Music.

“If I’m honoured enough to have someone record one of my songs I’m hoping that means they picked it because there’s something tangible in it for them. Something that helps define their artistry.”

Tickets are still available for the show at www.generalmotorscentre.com, at the General Motors Centre Box Office or by phone at 1-877-436-8811 .

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