Torches and Twangs
Steve Tilley (Edmonton Sun) - September 8, 2000

Tyler Wilkinson has a twang. A twang!

The youngest member of family trio the Wilkinsons, who hail from twang-free Trenton, Ont., was on the horn from home base in Nashville yesterday. And boy, could you tell.

"I'm starting to get used to the whole southern thing," said Tyler by way of explanation. "Our road manager is from Mississippi, we have a whole bunch of southerners on our bus. So it's kinda hard not to pick up an accent when everybody you're around has an accent."

Ah, the perils of being steeped in the world of country music stardom. You can't really blame him, though.

The Wilkinsons, made up of 16-year-old Tyler, his 18-year-old sister Amanda and songwriter dad Steve, have had three incredible years of success. They're riding this wave as they cruise into Edmonton this weekend to perform at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards, beaming live from Skyreach Centre Monday night.

The clan practically needed a wheelbarrow to cart off the armload of hardware they won at least year's CCMA Awards in Ottawa. They took home the trophies for single of the year (26 Cents), song of the year (ditto), album of the year (Nothing But Love), best group or duo and the rising star award.

This year, they're nominated for group or duo of the year, album of the year (Here and Now) and single of the year (the infectious Jimmy's Got a Girlfriend).

Speaking of which ... at 16, with his pinup looks, Tyler Wilkinson has developed the inevitable squealing female following. Ask him about it, and you can practically hear him shuffling his feet. How does a young fella cope with breathless female fans screaming his name? Other than the obvious way, that is.

"I kinda just stay there and look shy and get really embarrassed, because it really does embarrass me," Tyler said. "I don't really get it, and none of us get it.

"The way I look at me I'm just Tyler and I don't really see myself as any teen idol or anything. I guess other people do and that's what I think is sorta weird."

Luckily - or not, depending on your point of view - Tyler is well insulated by his dad and big sister, and the family does a good job of keeping each other humble.

"You just gotta remember where you came from. Because a lot of people lose sight of that and they think what they're doing right now is their right. It's really not their right, it's their privilege."

"If you don't treat it right, there are thousands of other people in the world standing in line to fill your spot. When you have a family, you have someone there to say, 'You're still Tyler, you're still Amanda, you're still Steve. You don't get too cocky."

Tyler said the family has no plans to scale back their busy writing, recording and touring lifestyle any time soon, and there's even a standing offer for 10-year-old younger sister Kiaya to join.

"Amanda actually asked her a couple of weeks ago if she ever would think about joining the band at all, and Kiaya says, 'Um, maybe some day but not right now, because you already look too much like the Partridge Family.' "