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{{for|the German Luftwaffe ace|Paul Brandt (pilot)}}

[[Image:paulbrandt2.JPG|thumb|Paul Brandt]]

{{BLP sources|date=January 2018}}

'''Paul Brandt''' (born [[July 21]], [[1972]] as '''Paul Rennee Belobersycky''' in [[Calgary, Alberta]], [[Canada]]) is a [[country music]] singer. Growing up in [[Airdrie]], Alberta (near Calgary), he was a practising [[nurse]] at the time of his big break. In [[1996]], he made his mark on the [[country music]] charts with the single "My Heart Has a History" which propelled him to international success.

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = PaulBrandt PROMO 2015 007.jpg

| caption = Brandt, circa 2015

| name = Paul Brandt

| birth_name = Paul Rennée Belobersycky

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|7|21}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/arts-entertainment/music/and-the-juno-went-to/from-pediatric-nurse-to-country-musician.html | title=Paul Brandt, country musician | publisher=CBC Digital Archives | access-date=May 25, 2010 }}</ref>

| birth_place = [[Calgary]], Alberta, Canada

| origin = [[Airdrie, Alberta]], Canada

| instruments = Vocals, guitar

| genre = [[Country music|Country]]

| occupation = Singer, songwriter

| years_active = 1995–present

| label = * [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]

* Brand-T

| associated_acts = [[Josh Leo]]

| website = {{URL|paulbrandt.com/}}

}}

'''Paul Rennée Belobersycky''' (born July 21, 1972), known professionally as '''Paul Brandt''', is a Canadian [[country music]] artist. Growing up in [[Calgary]], he was a pediatric [[Registered nurse|nurse]] at the time of his big break. In 1996, he made his mark on the country music charts with the single "[[My Heart Has a History]]", propelling him to international success and making him the first male Canadian country singer to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard [[Hot Country Songs]] chart in the United States since [[Hank Snow]] in 1974. His second single "[[I Do (Paul Brandt song)|I Do]]" reached number one on the [[Mediabase]] Country chart in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2025/07/josh-ross-earns-first-u-s-chart-topper-with-single-again/|title=Josh Ross Earns First U.S. Chart-Topper With ‘Single Again’|date=July 21, 2025|first=Lorie|last=Hollabaugh|access-date=July 23, 2025|work=Music Row}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.countryuniverse.net/2022/06/22/every-no-1-single-of-the-nineties-paul-brandt-i-do/|title=Every No. 1 Single of the Nineties: Paul Brandt, “I Do”|first=Kevin John|last=Coyne|work=Country Universe|date=June 22, 2022|access-date=July 23, 2025}}</ref>

==Early life==

Brandt's first single, "My Heart Has a History", was a number 1 hit, as was his debut album ''[[Calm Before the Storm]]''. He followed up with the three hits "I Do" which he wrote for his friend's wedding, "I Meant to Do That" and "Take It from Me".

Brandt was born in [[Calgary]], Alberta and grew up in nearby [[Airdrie, Alberta|Airdrie]]. The first time Brandt sang in front of an audience was when he sang "[[Amazing Grace]]" at his [[Crescent Heights High School (Calgary)|high school]]. He attended [[Crescent Heights High School (Calgary, Alberta)|Crescent Heights High School]] from 1987-1990.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} He also graduated from Mount Royal University with a major in nursing during 1992.

==Career==

Brandt's second album, ''[[Outside the Frame]]'', did not repeat the same success as ''[[Calm Before the Storm]]'' did. But he did have some hit singles, most notably "A Little in Love" and "What's Come over You". Determined to put his stamp in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], Brandt recorded his third album, ''[[That's the Truth]]'', which was not as warmly received as the previous two, but the songs "That's the Truth" and "The Sycamore Tree" received extensive airplay. After three albums, he released the greatest hits compilation "What I Want to Be Remembered For" in [[2000]]. After his contract with [[Reprise Records]] expired in [[2001]], Brandt decided he and his wife Liz wanted to be closer to their home in Calgary, so Paul decided to record his albums on the Canadian label Orange Records. His next album, ''[[Small Towns & Big Dreams]]'' was released and was seen by many critics as being "Too Canadian". His last album ''[[This Time Around]]'' was popular in Canada and produced the hit songs "Leaving" and [[Convoy (song)|"Convoy"]]. He still continues to tour around Canada and does the odd show in the [[United States]].

Brandt's demo was one of many sent by A&Rs at the [[Warner Music Canada|Warner Canada]] office to their colleagues at Warner Nashville with a purpose of finding a new project that the two branches could work on together.<ref name="hitquarters">{{cite web |url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_PLevy.html |title=Interview With Paige Levy |publisher=[[HitQuarters]] |date=November 27, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906182931/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_PLevy.html |archive-date=September 6, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Nashville A&R Paige Levy singled out Brandt's recordings, later mentioning to [[HitQuarters]] about his great potential as a [[songwriter]].<ref name="hitquarters"/> As a result, the artist started travelling down to Nashville to undergo development. He was matched up with various experienced songwriters whom he could relate to, work well with and who would help him to refine his writing skills. This collaborations resulted in a large part of the material for Brandt's debut album ''[[Calm Before the Storm (Paul Brandt album)|Calm Before the Storm]]''.<ref name="hitquarters"/>

Other then performing, he and his wife are heavily involved in programs such as [[Christian Children's Fund]] and [[Foster Parents Plan]]. He also does a lot of work with terminally ill children, which goes back to his days working as a nurse at [[Alberta Children's Hospital]] in Calgary. Right now Paul and his wife Liz live in both Calgary and Nashville.

Brandt's first single, "[[My Heart Has a History]]," was a number 1 hit in Canada, as was his debut album, "Calm Before The Storm". He followed up with the three hits "[[I Do (Paul Brandt song)|I Do]]" (which he wrote for his friend's wedding), "[[I Meant to Do That]]" and "[[Take It From Me (Paul Brandt song)|Take It from Me]]." ''Calm Before the Storm'' was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1997.

One of Paul's latest projects was a video remake of [[C.W. McCall]]'s song [[Convoy (song)|"Convoy"]] in which he plays a truck driver along with country singers [[Jason McCoy]] and [[Aaron Lines]] as well as [[Calgary Flames]] defensemen [[Mike Commodore]] and [[Rhett Warrener]] as truckers and [[Nashville Star]] finalist [[George Canyon]] as the state trooper. The video can be seen on [[Country Music Television|CMT]].

Brandt's second album, ''[[Outside the Frame]]'', did not repeat the same success as ''Calm Before the Storm'' did. The album did have some hit singles, most notably "[[A Little in Love (Paul Brandt song)|A Little in Love]]" and "What's Come Over You." Determined to put his stamp in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], Brandt recorded his third album, ''[[That's the Truth (album)|That's the Truth]]'', in 1999. It was not received as warmly as the previous two, but the songs "[[That's the Truth (Paul Brandt song)|That's the Truth]]" and "The Sycamore Tree" became popular. After three albums, he released the Canada only greatest hits compilation, ''[[What I Want to Be Remembered For]]'', in 2000.

His latest single/video is "Alberta Bound," a tribute to the people and places of that province. Despite the song's name, it is not a remake of the [[Gordon Lightfoot]] classic.

After the greatest hits album, Brandt left [[Warner Records|Warner]] / [[Reprise Records]] and started his own label, ''Brand-T Records''. To date, every album that Brandt has released on Brand-T Records has garnered an Album of the Year award (Small Towns & Big Dreams (2002 [[Canadian Country Music Awards|CCMA's]]), This Time Around (2005 CCMA's), Risk (2008 Juno), and A Gift ([[GMA Canada|GMA]] - Seasonal Recording of the Year).

As an unsigned artist, his live acoustic album ''[[Small Towns and Big Dreams]]'' went on to win the CCMA Album of the Year. His label's success has continued as the follow-up album ''[[This Time Around (Paul Brandt album)|This Time Around]]'' went on to win [[Canadian Country Music Awards|CCMA]] Album of the Year and a [[GMA Canada|GMA Canada Covenant Award]] for the song "That's What I Love About Jesus" (2005). ''This Time Around'' went [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]] in Canada and also produced the hit songs "Leavin'", featuring [[Keith Urban]] courtesy Capitol Records, and his remake of the trucker classic song "[[Convoy (song)|Convoy]]." His last single/video from the album was "Alberta Bound," a tribute to the people and places of that province. Despite the song's name, it is not a remake of the [[Gordon Lightfoot]] track.

In September 2007 Brandt released his album, ''[[Risk (Paul Brandt album)|Risk]]''. On April 6, 2008, he won a [[Juno Awards of 2008|Juno Award]] for "Risk" as [[Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year|Country Recording of the Year]] in his home town . The first single for this project, "[[Didn't Even See the Dust]]," was released to country radio in May 2007. The video was filmed in [[Barcelona|Barcelona, Spain]]. "Dust" was one of the 20 most played country music songs of 2007 in Canada.<ref>[http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/YearEnd/07/Canada_Country_songs.asp R&R Top Canada Country Songs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305023257/http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/YearEnd/07/Canada_Country_songs.asp |date=March 5, 2008 }}</ref>

Brandt released the album ''[[Give It Away (Paul Brandt album)|Give It Away]]'' on September 13, 2011. He released his first gospel project called ''[[Just As I Am (Paul Brandt album)|Just As I Am]]'' on October 16, 2012. It features songs which Brandt grew up on and based his life upon.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

In 2015, Brandt released the single "[[I'm an Open Road]]" featuring [[Jess Moskaluke]], which became his first single to be certified Gold by [[Music Canada]].{{Certification Cite Ref |region=Canada |artist=Paul Brandt |title=I'm an Open Road |type=single }} In 2018, he announced a two-part extended play series, with ''[[The Journey YYC, Vol. 1]]'' being released in April 2018, and ''The Journey BNA, Vol. 2'' following in November 2018.<ref>{{cite web |first=Eric|last=Volmers|title=Home and Away: Paul Brandt tells his story through double-EP Journey project|url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/music/home-and-away-paul-brandt-tells-his-story-through-double-ep-journey-project|access-date=July 6, 2021|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|publisher=[[Postmedia Network]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Brandt and his wife, Elizabeth Peterson, were married on February 22, 1997, in [[Calgary, Alberta]], [[Canada]] at the [[Centre Street Church]], and had their first child, a son in 2008. In November 2010, they had a daughter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/05/paul-brandt.html |title=Paul Brandt welcomes first child, son Joseph Peterson |access-date=May 30, 2008 |work=Celebrity Baby Blog |archive-date=June 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607122300/http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/05/paul-brandt.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Brandt received an [[Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts]] from the [[University of Lethbridge]] on Saturday, October 17, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=13&s=11742 |title=U of L Senate Selects 2009 Honorary Degree Recipients |access-date=March 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706211111/http://www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=13&s=11742 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 }}</ref> He has also received an Honorary [[Doctorate of Divinity]] from [[Briercrest College and Seminary]] on April 24, 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.briercrest.ca/alumni/news-article.asp?id=889 |title=Briercrest College & Seminary selects 2010 Honorary Degree recipients}}</ref>

Brandt graduated in 1992 from [[Mount Royal University]] with a degree in Nursing and currently serves as the storyteller-in-residence for the institution.<ref>{{cite web |title=News - Mount Royal University - Calgary, Alberta, Canada |url=http://www.mtroyal.ca/AboutMountRoyal/MediaRoom/Newsroom/paulbrandtstoryteller.htm |website=www.mtroyal.ca |access-date=May 30, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2019 while on tour in [[Lethbridge]], [[Alberta]], he requested for some shelter dogs be brought to his green room before his show. The Lethbridge and District Humane Society provided a group of puppies, one of which he adopted and named “Chief”.

==Discography==

{{Main|Paul Brandt discography}}

*Calm Before The Storm (1996)

*''[[Calm Before the Storm (Paul Brandt album)|Calm Before the Storm]]'' (1996)

*Outside The Frame (1997)

*''[[Outside the Frame]]'' (1997)

*That's The Truth (1999)

*''[[That's the Truth (album)|That's the Truth]]'' (1999)

*What I Want To Be Remembered For: The Greatest Hits Collection (2000)

*''[[This Time Around (Paul Brandt album)|This Time Around]]'' (2004)

*Small Towns And Big Dreams (2001)

*''[[A Gift (album)|A Gift]]'' (2006)

*This Time Around (2004)

*''[[Risk (Paul Brandt album)|Risk]]'' (2007)

*''[[Give It Away (Paul Brandt album)|Give It Away]]'' (2011)

*''[[Just As I Am (Paul Brandt album)|Just as I Am]]'' (2012)

==Awards==

{{BLP sources section|date=January 2018}}

;[[Canadian Country Music Association|Canadian Country Music Awards]]

* 1996 [[SOCAN]] Song of the Year: "My Heart Has A History"

* 1997 Male Artist Of The Year

* 1997 [[SOCAN]] Song of the Year: "I Do"

* 1997 Single Of The Year: "I Do"

* 1997 Video Of The Year: "I Do"

* 1998 Male Artist Of The Year

* 1999 Male Artist Of The Year

* 2000 Male Artist Of The Year

* 2000 Video Of The Year: "That's The Truth"

* 2002 Male Artist Of The Year<ref>Paul Brandt also received 2002 CCMA Award nominations for: the Fans' Choice Award, Song Of The Year: "Small Towns And Big Dreams", Single Of The Year: "Small Towns And Big Dreams", and Album Graphics Of The Year: ''Small Towns And Big Dreams'' {{cite web|url=http://www.metrolyrics.com/2002-canadian-country-music-association-awards.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807152915/http://www.metrolyrics.com/2002-canadian-country-music-association-awards.html|archive-date=2008-08-07|url-status=unfit|title=CCMA 2002 Awards and nominations|website=metrolyrics.com|access-date=March 29, 2009}}</ref>

* 2002 Album of the Year: ''[[Small Towns and Big Dreams]]''

* 2005 Album of the Year: ''[[This Time Around (Paul Brandt album)|This Time Around]]''

* 2005 [[CMT (Canada)|CMT]] Video of the Year: "[[Convoy (song)|Convoy]]"

;[[Country Music Association]]

* 2005 Global Artist of the Year

;[[Country Music Television|CMT (United States)]]

* 1996 Top New Male Artist

;[[GMA Canada]] [[Covenant Awards]]

* 2005 Country/Bluegrass Song of the Year: "That's What I Love About Jesus"

* 2007 Seasonal Album Of The Year: ''[[A Gift (album)|A Gift]]''

* 2007 Seasonal Song of the Year: "A Gift"<ref>Paul Brandt also received nominations for Artist Of The Year, and for Male Vocalist Of The Year. [http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/awards/C101/ GMAC 2007 Covenant Award Nominees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129231214/http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/awards/C101/ |date=November 29, 2007 }}. Retrieved on August 29, 2009.</ref>

* 2008 nominee, Artist of the Year

* 2008 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year

* 2013 Album of the Year: ''[[Just As I Am (Paul Brandt album)|Just As I Am]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gmacanada.ca/winners/ |title=2013 Covenant Award winners |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111165903/http://www.gmacanada.ca/winners/ |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* 2013 Artist of the Year

* 2013 Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year: ''[[Just As I Am (Paul Brandt album)|Just As I Am]]''

* 2013 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year<ref>[http://www.gmacanada.ca/nominees/ 2013 Covenant Award nominees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927044404/http://www.gmacanada.ca/nominees/ |date=September 27, 2012 }}</ref>

* 2013 nominee (shared with [[High Valley]]): ''When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder''

;[[Juno Awards]]

* 1997 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year

* 1997 Country Male Vocalist of the Year

* 1998 Male Vocalist of the Year

* 1998 Country Male Vocalist of the Year

* 1998 nominee, Best Video: "A Little In Love" (Paul Brandt and Tim Hamilton)

* 1999 Best Country Male Vocalist

* 2000 nominee, Best Male Artist

* 2000 Best Country Male Artist

* 2001 Best Country Male Artist

* 2002 nominee, Best Country Artist/Group

* 2005 nominee, Country Recording Of The Year: ''This Time Around''

* 2008 Country Recording Of The Year: ''Risk''

* 2008 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award

;[[Western Canadian Music Awards]]

* 2008 Outstanding Country Recording: ''Risk''

;Other Awards

* 2011 Alberta Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award

* 2011 Canadian Country Album of the Year "Give It Away" by iTunes Rewind

* 2013 Awarded HRM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal by Prime Minister Stephen Harper

* 2017 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

*[ {{official website|http://www.paulbrandt.com Paul Brandt website]}}

* {{IMDb name|1558068}}

*[http://www.cmtcanada.com/artists/artist.asp?artistID=51&section=bio Paul Brandt bio on CMT]

{{Paul Brandt}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:1972 births|Brandt, Paul]]}}

[[Category:Canadian1972 country singers|Brandt, Paulbirths]]

[[Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters]]

[[Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters]]

[[Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent]]

[[Category:Juno Award for Artist of the Year winners]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Musicians from Calgary]]

[[Category:People from Airdrie, Alberta]]

[[Category:Canadian Country Music Association Male Artist of the Year winners]]

[[Category:Canadian Country Music Association Song of the Year winners]]

[[Category:Juno Award for Country Album of the Year winners]]

[[Category:Canadian Country Music Association Single of the Year winners]]

[[Category:21st-century Canadian male singers]]

[[Category:Canadian Country Music Association Album of the Year winners]]

[[Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters]]

[[Category:Singers from Alberta]]