The 50th JUNO Awards finally took place last night after being delayed more than once over the past year. The JUNOS are presented each year to Canadian artists who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in the music industry. These awards are often thought of as the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards, so the stars bringing home a trophy should feel on top of the world!
Some of today’s most popular artists were born in Canada, whether or not their fans realized it here in the States. These include The Weeknd, who swept the awards in multiple categories; Jessie Reyez, whose music is gaining more and more well-deserved recognition; the incomparable vocalist Alessia Cara; and several others, including JP Saxe, Kaytranada, and Lennon Stella.
Did you miss the show? Don’t worry! Read on to discover who was nominated and who won big at the JUNO Awards last night.
Artist of the Year: The Weeknd
Other nominees:
- Ali Gatie
- Céline Dion
- Jessie Reyez
- Justin Bieber
Breakthrough Artist of the Year: JP Saxe
Other nominees:
- Ryland James
- Tate McRae
- Powfu
- Curtis Waters
Fan Choice Award: Shawn Mendes
Other nominees:
- Justin Bieber
- Les Cowboys Fringants
- Ali Gatie
- Tate McRae
- NAV
- JP Saxe
- Lennon Stella
- Curtis Waters
- The Weeknd
Songwriter of the Year: The Weeknd, Ahmad Balshe, & Jason ‘DaHeala’ Quenneville for ‘After Hours,’ ‘Blinding Lights,’ & ‘Save Your Tears’
Other nominees:
- Alanis Morissette
- Alessia Cara
- Jessie Reyez
- JP Saxe
Pop Album of the Year: Justin Bieber, Changes
Other nominees:
- Ryland James, Ryland James
- Johnny Orlando, It’s Never Really Over
- JP Saxe, Hold It Together
- Lennon Stella, Three. Two. One.
Adult Contemporary Album of the Year: Alanis Morissette, Such Pretty Forks in the Road
Other nominees:
- Celine Dion, Courage
- Pierre Lapointe, Pour déjouer l’ennui
- Craig Stickland, Starlit Afternoon
- Storry, CH III: The Come Up
Dance Recording of the Year: Kaytranada, Bubba
Other nominees:
- Felix Cartal and Sophie Simmons, MINE
- Rezz X Grabbitz, Someone Else
- So Sus, Voices
- Frank Walker, Dancing in the Dark
Single of the Year: The Weeknd, ‘Blinding Lights’
Other nominees:
- Brett Kissel, “Drink About Me”
- JP Saxe feat. Julia Michaels, “If the World Was Ending”
- Justin Bieber feat. Quavo, “Intentions”
- Lennon Stella, “Kissing Other People”
Contemporary R&B/Soul Recording of the Year: The Weeknd, After Hours
Other nominees:
- Jessie Reyez, Before Love Came to Kill Us
- Savannah Ré, “Where You Are”
- Shay Lia, Solaris
- Tobi, Holiday
Rock Album of the Year: JJ Wilde, Ruthless
Other nominees:
- Crown Lands, Crown Lands
- Sam Roberts Band, All of Us
- Silverstein, A Beautiful Place to Drown
- Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Colorado
Big congratulations are in order for The Weeknd, who was nominated in six categories–that’s more nods than any other artist received this year! His success at the JUNOs feels redemptive, especially after the Grammys essentially blacklisted him from consideration. We’re happy to see that his home country is giving his incredible album, After Hours, the praise it deserves.
Also exciting is watching female artists Jessie Reyez, Alessia Cara, and Lennon Stella rake in nominations left and right. I have a feeling that these up-and-coming ladies will be dominating the charts before we know it.
