Joni Mitchell took a victory lap at the Grammy Awards on Sunday as the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter picked up her ninth career trophy at the event, closing out a weekend that toasted her timeless contributions to music.

The 鈥淏oth Sides Now鈥� performer was one of several Canadians announced as winners as part of music鈥檚 biggest night, but unlike most of them, she was present in Las Vegas to accept her honour.

Other winners, including the Weeknd and Alex Cuba, were absent from the event while top Canadian nominee Justin Bieber lost in all eight categories that named him.

That left Mitchell to shine on a whirlwind Grammys weekend that also saw her celebrated by the Recording Academy on Friday as this year鈥檚 MusiCares Person of the Year.

Mitchell took to the stage during a pre-broadcast ceremony draped in white and walking slowly with a cane. She bopped along to the live band as she made her way to claim best historical album for 鈥淛oni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967),鈥� a remastered boxed set of her early work.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect this,鈥� Mitchell said to the audience, many of whom stood up to cheer when her name was called.

Mitchell thanked those involved with the project, including filmmaker Cameron Crowe who wrote the liner notes. She shares the honour with fellow compilation producer Patrick Milligan and mastering engineer Bernie Grundman.

Mitchell later appeared on the Grammys broadcast beside Bonnie Raitt to introduce a performance by fellow Grammy winner Brandi Carlile.

Another big Canadian winner was sound engineer Charles Moniz who now has seven Grammys on his mantle after picking up his latest for Silk Sonic鈥檚 鈥淟eave the Door Open,鈥� the smooth throwback hit that snagged record of the year. Moniz, who grew up in Burlington, Ont., is a longtime collaborator with Bruno Mars, who is one-half of Silk Sonic with Anderson .Paak.

Among the performers, Bieber joined Toronto鈥檚 Daniel Caesar and Los Angeles R&B singer Giveon to perform their chart-topper 鈥淧eaches.鈥� A significant portion of their song was muted by CBS censors, likely due to coarse language.

Back in Canada, Cuba learned he won best Latin pop album for 鈥淢end贸鈥� while driving his family through a snowstorm in northern British Columbia.

The Afro-Cuban singer, born Alexis Puentes, was returning home with his wife and youngest son after two nights performing with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, a previously announced engagement that collided with Grammys night.

Shortly after heavy snow began falling, Puentes said he received a phone call from his New York publicist who shared news of his first Grammy win.

鈥淲hat a surreal moment, man,鈥� he said of the blustery turn of events.

鈥淢aybe because we are coming out of the pandemic, this has an amplified meaning.鈥�

鈥淢end贸,鈥� which he said loosely translates to the 鈥渟ubstance of the soul,鈥� was recorded in his living room in Smithers, B.C., during the COVID-19 pandemic with the assistance of engineer John (Beetle) Bailey.

鈥淢usic has given me hope and positivity,鈥� Puentes said, 鈥渟o I wanted to maintain that throughout the album. There鈥檚 no sad songs.鈥�

The Weeknd also emerged a winner for his work with Kanye West only a year after he pledged to boycott the Grammys over their nominations process when his album 鈥淎fter Hours鈥� was shut out.

The Toronto singer, born Abel Tesfaye, picked up the prize for West鈥檚 song 鈥淗urricane,鈥� also featuring Lil Baby, in the best melodic rap performance category.

And Yannick N茅zet-S茅guin won the best orchestral performance Grammy as conductor of 鈥淧rice: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3.鈥� The Montrealer had been nominated in three classical categories.

Dream Theater, whose members include lead singer and songwriter James LaBrie of Penetanguishene, Ont., won best rock performance for 鈥淭he Alien.鈥�

David Friend, The Canadian Press

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