The Weeknd is back atop the nominees at this yearB次元官网网址檚 Juno Awards while newcomer Tate McRae and pop-punk favourite Avril Lavigne trail close behind.
The Toronto-raised B次元官网网址淏linding LightsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪tarboyB次元官网网址� hitmaker earned six nods across some of the main categories heading into the annual celebration of Canadian music.
They include album of the year for B次元官网网址淒awn FM,B次元官网网址� single of the year for B次元官网网址淪acrifice,B次元官网网址� and artist of the year.
B次元官网网址淒awn FMB次元官网网址� also earned a nomination for pop album of the year while the Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, will vie for songwriter of the year and the TikTok Juno Fan Choice prize, which is voted on by viewers.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a repeat performance for Tesfaye, who was the leading Juno nominee most recently in 2021. He emerged that year as the top winner, scoring five Junos, but didnB次元官网网址檛 show up for what was a hybrid COVID-19 pandemic ceremony of taped and live appearances.
Whether the superstar plans to attend the Junos at EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 Rogers Place still hasnB次元官网网址檛 been announced. The event will be broadcast March 13 on CBC and CBC Gem.
This marks the first time the Junos have toured since the start of the pandemic. The show has been held in Toronto for the past two years.
Junos president Allan Reid said the show in Edmonton has been a long time coming.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been working with the host committee for six years to bring the Junos back,B次元官网网址� he said after the nominations were announced.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been 19 years since we were last there, so weB次元官网网址檙e really, really excited.B次元官网网址�
Other big contenders include Lavigne, the Napanee, Ont. pop-punk princess who competes for the throne with Calgary pop royalty McRae. The two singers go up against each other in four categories B次元官网网址� single, album, pop album and fan choice.
LavigneB次元官网网址檚 fifth nomination is for artist of the year, while McRaeB次元官网网址檚 is for songwriter.
Heading to the Junos with three nominations each are pop newcomers Preston Pablo and R锚ve. Country siblings the Reklaws and rapper Nav also have three nominations apiece.
Nominees for single of the year include LavigneB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淏ite Me,B次元官网网址� PabloB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淔lowers Need RainB次元官网网址� with production duo Banx & Ranx, McRaeB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 All I Wanna Be,B次元官网网址� Shawn MendesB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淲hen YouB次元官网网址檙e Gone,B次元官网网址� and the WeekndB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪acrifice.B次元官网网址�
Joining the Weeknd in the album of the year category are Ali GatieB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淲ho Hurt You?,B次元官网网址� LavigneB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淟ove Sux,B次元官网网址� NavB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淒emons Protected By Angels,B次元官网网址� and McRaeB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淚 Used to Think I Could Fly.B次元官网网址�
Other notable names include Arcade Fire, who landed among the group of the year contenders.
Their nomination appears to be a vote of support from the Canadian music industry at a troubled time for the Montreal act. Lead singer Win Butler last year faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct that he has denied, saying all encounters took place between consenting adults.
And Taylor Swift reasserted her star power by appearing twice in the international album of the year category, which determines its nominees based on top sales and streaming numbers.
Her records B次元官网网址淢idnightsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淩ed (TaylorB次元官网网址檚 Version)B次元官网网址� are up against Ed SheeranB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址�=,B次元官网网址� Harry StylesB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淗arryB次元官网网址檚 HouseB次元官网网址� and Lil Nas XB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淢ontero.B次元官网网址� The winner is determined by a vote of the Junos organizationB次元官网网址檚 board of directors.
Jessie Reyez, Alexisonfire and Aysanabee will perform on the awards show, joining previously announced acts that include Tenille Townes, Nickelback and AP Dhillon.
B次元官网网址擠avid Friend, The Canadian Press
