The Weeknd is back atop the nominees at this year鈥檚 Juno Awards while newcomer Tate McRae and pop-punk favourite Avril Lavigne trail close behind.
The Toronto-raised 鈥淏linding Lights鈥� and 鈥淪tarboy鈥� 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 鈥淒awn FM,鈥� single of the year for 鈥淪acrifice,鈥� and artist of the year.
鈥淒awn FM鈥� 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.
It鈥檚 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 didn鈥檛 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 Edmonton鈥檚 Rogers Place still hasn鈥檛 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.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been working with the host committee for six years to bring the Junos back,鈥� he said after the nominations were announced.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been 19 years since we were last there, so we鈥檙e really, really excited.鈥�
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 鈥� single, album, pop album and fan choice.
Lavigne鈥檚 fifth nomination is for artist of the year, while McRae鈥檚 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 Lavigne鈥檚 鈥淏ite Me,鈥� Pablo鈥檚 鈥淔lowers Need Rain鈥� with production duo Banx & Ranx, McRae鈥檚 鈥淪he鈥檚 All I Wanna Be,鈥� Shawn Mendes鈥� 鈥淲hen You鈥檙e Gone,鈥� and the Weeknd鈥檚 鈥淪acrifice.鈥�
Joining the Weeknd in the album of the year category are Ali Gatie鈥檚 鈥淲ho Hurt You?,鈥� Lavigne鈥檚 鈥淟ove Sux,鈥� Nav鈥檚 鈥淒emons Protected By Angels,鈥� and McRae鈥檚 鈥淚 Used to Think I Could Fly.鈥�
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 鈥淢idnights鈥� and 鈥淩ed (Taylor鈥檚 Version)鈥� are up against Ed Sheeran鈥檚 鈥�=,鈥� Harry Styles鈥� 鈥淗arry鈥檚 House鈥� and Lil Nas X鈥檚 鈥淢ontero.鈥� The winner is determined by a vote of the Junos organization鈥檚 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.
鈥擠avid Friend, The Canadian Press
