Joni brings joy to Junos

HAMILTON, Ont. — It was an all-Canadian love-in at Sunday’s Juno Awards as Joni Mitchell took the stage for a stirring sing-along after accepting a lifetime achievement award from Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The Canadian folk icon was welcomed by Carney, who gave a glowing speech, saying “she shifted culture, inspired generations and redefined what songwriting could be.”

The Canadian folk icon was welcomed by Carney in a lionizing speech.

During her acceptance speech, Mitchell said she was “so happy to be in Canada” with “our wonderful prime minister.”

“Joni’s music didn’t just provide the soundtrack to our lives. She shifted culture, inspired generations and redefined what songwriting could be,” Carney said.

“I’m living in the States, and you know what’s happening there,” she said.

Taking the stage to a thunderous standing ovation, Mitchell told the audience she was “so happy to be in Canada” with “our wonderful prime minister.”

Mitchell then joined a musical tribute to her oeuvre, with several Canadian artists including Sarah McLachlan, Allison Russell and Jully Black.

“I’m living in the States, and you know what’s happening there,” the 82-year-old said.

She took the mic and joined a singalong of her 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi, swaying along with the music and beaming, though slightly off-rhythm.

“This man is a blessing. You guys are so fortunate,” Mitchell added as the crowd cheered.

Earlier in the night, Drake moved Nelly Furtado to tears with a video speech toasting her, marking his first appearance at the ceremony since 2011.

She added that her life has improved since her brain aneurysm in 2015: “I went into a coma, which helped me to quit smoking. And my house filled up with the most wonderful nurses. I was on the road with men for years and years. Now I live with a house full of women … so my life has changed for the better, out of a catastrophe, like a phoenix.”

The Toronto rapper paid tribute to Furtado as she was being inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame.

Mitchell then joined a musical tribute to her oeuvre with several Canadian artists, including Sarah McLachlan, Allison Russell, Jully Black, The Beaches and Alessia Cara.

She took the mic and joined a sing-along of her 1970 hit “Big Yellow Taxi,” swaying along with the music and beaming, though slightly off rhythm.

Earlier in the night, Carney and Mitchell sat side-by-side at the ceremony. Host Mae Martin quipped that their “parents” were at the show, before the camera cut to the duo.

“I’m just kidding, those are not my parents,” the comedian said. “I’m not a nepo baby.”

The wholehearted vibes were in the air throughout the evening, as Drake suspended his years-long feud with the Junos to pay tribute to Nelly Furtado, who was being inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame.
The Toronto rapper moved Furtado to tears with his video speech toasting her.

Reading from a piece of paper while sitting in a studio, Drake said Furtado “showed us what was possible and what a Canadian artist could be.”

Drake has not showed up at the Junos since hosting 15 years ago, when he was infamously snubbed despite being up for several awards.

The rapper said he would “spare” the Junos, even though he knew the organization was “still thinking about those six awards that you gave to Shad in 2011 when you snubbed Take Care as I hosted the 40th anniversary of your award show.”

“To the Junos, because you are honouring one of my dearest friends tonight, I will spare you, even though I know you’re still thinking about those six awards that you gave to Shad in 2011 when you snubbed ‘Take Care’ as I hosted the 40th anniversary of your award show,” he said.

Furtado was celebrated by the likes of Alessia Cara, Jully Black, Shawn Desman and Tanya Tagaq in a live medley of her greatest hits.

“But listen, that’s neither here nor there. Tonight we’ll let it go.”

Rush opened the ceremony with their first performance at an awards show since 1978.

Speaking with reporters backstage, singer-songwriter Shawn Desman said he heard Drake was initially planning on attending in person.

They performed Finding My Way, the first song on their first album. It was the Toronto band’s first live performance with new drummer Anika Nilles, filling in for Neil Peart, who died in 2020.

“I’m not sure what happened. But Drake is a good dude,” Desman said.

“Neil is irreplaceable, and if he had something to say to us right now, he’d probably say, ‘You guys are idiots,’” quipped frontman Geddy Lee in the media room.

Furtado was feted by singers such as Cara, Black, Desman and Tanya Tagaq in a live medley of her greatest hits.

“But, you know, music lives beyond tragedy, beyond anything that can happen in your life.”

Kardinal Offishall, who also was on hand to celebrate Furtado, said he was proud to see how far she’d come, noting he was in the studio with Timbaland the day the American rapper and producer purchased a copy of her album.

Toronto’s the Beaches took home group of the year, marking the third year in a row they’ve claimed the prize.

“He was like, ‘I think I wanna work with her,'” he told The Canadian Press on the orange carpet earlier in the night. “To see what’s happened since then, it’s just awesome.”

Daniel Caesar also took home the R&B recording of the year for his fourth studio album, Son of Spergy and was honoured with the international achievement award.

Meanwhile, Rush opened the ceremony with their first performance at an awards show since 1978.

Most of the awards were handed out at a livestreamed gala Saturday night.

They performed “Finding My Way” with new drummer Anika Nilles, filling in for Neil Peart, who died in 2020.

“Music lives beyond tragedy, beyond anything that can happen in your life,” frontman Geddy Lee later told reporters.

Toronto’s The Beaches took home best group — marking the third year in a row they’ve claimed the prize.

“I also want to thank my ex who said, ‘If you’re going to write a song about me, at least make it good.’ Well, I guess it was good enough,” quipped guitarist Leandra Earl, referencing the track “Lesbian of the Year.”

Daniel Caesar took home best R&B recording for his fourth studio album, “Son of Spergy,” and was honoured with the international achievement award. The artist from Oshawa, Ont., performed a hushed set from the album after a moving speech from Mustafa praising him.

“He’s always trying to interrogate what it means to navigate a working life, a life with purpose, a life with dignity,” Mustafa said. “And that, I think, is what separates an artist and an entertainer; a writer and someone that I think operates like a heart surgeon when they’re writing songs.”

Caesar accepted the R&B award while standing next to his dad.

“Thank you to my dad, this is Spergy, right here … and to my mom, and to Mustafa, thanks for the kind words.”

B.C. rapper bbno$ took home the fan choice award — voted on by the audience — for the second year in a row. He was not in attendance to receive the trophy, which was accepted on his behalf by R&B duo Majid Jordan.

Most of the awards were handed out at a livestreamed gala last night, where no-show Tate McRae emerged as the big winner.

The Calgary-born pop star took home four of the night’s biggest prizes, including best artist, single for “Sports Car,” and album of the year for “So Close To What,” along with pop album of the year for the same project.

Cameron Whitcomb, the newcomer who took home country album of the year Saturday, also took home breakthrough artist on Sunday.

Ahead of the ceremony, he said the opportunity to perform at the show left him speechless.

“From working on a pipeline to being here, it’s just — I can’t even, I don’t even know what to say,” he said on the carpet.

Tate McRae says she’s “Canada down” — and the country’s evidently pretty down with her too, as she led all winners at the Juno Awards industry gala on Saturday. However, the Calgary- born pop star did not attend the ceremony, nor did she provide a video message or written statement acknowledging the wins. The absenteeism turned out to be a theme of the evening as several winners, as well as top nominees Justin Bieber and the Weeknd, no-showed at the Hamilton ceremony where most of the awards were handed out.

However, Winnipeg winner Begonia made a splash when her Fantasy Life tied for adult alternative album with My Second Last Album by Bahamas, to whom she has previously lost twice in the same category. The singer born Alexa Dirks, wearing a red wig and a yellow satin outfit, gave an exuberant speech after Afie Jurvanen of Bahamas graciously ceded the microphone.

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra also took home a trophy on Saturday for its album East Meets West: Connections.

Late Free Press journalist Alan Small was paid tribute in the In Memorium section; the longtime music writer died in 2024 at age 56.

Winnipeg was also represented by the show’s co-host Odario Williams, who hosts CBC Radio’s Afterdark program. The former Mood Ruff rapper gave a shoutout to his hometown when he plugged the fact that next year’s Junos will be held in Winnipeg April 1-4, 2027.

McRae took home four of the night’s biggest prizes, including artist of the year, single of the year for Sports Car and album of the year for So Close To What, along with pop album of the year.

In February, McRae drew backlash for appearing in an NBC Olympics ad highlighting Team USA, with social media users expressing disappointment with her for promoting American athletes instead of ones from her home country. She appeared to address the uproar on Instagram by sharing a childhood photo of herself holding a Canadian flag with the caption “…y’all know I’m Canada down.”

Toronto-born artist SadBoi pocketed rap album/EP of the year for Dry Cry. Speaking with reporters backstage, she reflected on the narrative that Canadian artists need to leave the country to succeed.

“I’m proudly Canadian. And I love being Canadian, but I think it’s important in general, no matter what you do, to just travel just to experience life,” said SadBoi, who relocated to Atlanta and signed with U.S. label Love Renaissance.

Rock album of the year went to the Beaches for No Hard Feelings. Asked in the press room why they make a point to attend the Junos each year despite their global success, the band insisted the awards show is especially significant to them.

“The Junos truly is the highlight of our year every year. It’s always so much fun and there are so many friends here,” said drummer Eliza Enman-Mc-Daniel.

“It’s just so amazing to be immersed in the Canadian music scene.”

The awards also marked the debut of the Latin music recording of the year category, with Alex Cuba taking the inaugural prize for Índole.

Cuba wasn’t present to accept his award.

 

— The Canadian Press, with files from the Winnipeg Free Press