The Juno Awards may have had trouble attracting a-list young stars at Saturday night’s industry gala, but plenty of legends showed up for the broadcast on Sunday night (March 29) at TD Coliseum in Hamilton. The gala presented the bulk of trophies, with only four plaques handed out on the broadcast, plus a hall of fame induction for Nelly Furtado and a special lifetime achievement award for Joni Mitchell.
Pre-Junos, the greatest excitement around this year’s broadcast came with news that Mitchell would attend in person to accept her lifetime achievement award, with noted Canadian artists led by Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell on hand to pay tribute by performing such Mitchell classics as “Case Of You,” “Both Sides Now” and “Big Yellow Taxi.” The finale saw all the performers join in on the classic, including Nelly Furtado, Jully Black, The Beaches, Alessia Cara, Sofia Camara members of Arkells, Billy Talent and more. Then, Joni herself joined in for the final notes “and put up a parking lot” to major applause.
That segment closed out the two-hour show, living up to expectations. Mitchell was introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, and she was visibly touched by the honor. “I’m so glad to be back in Canada,” she said, praising Carney multiple times. “I live in the States, and we know what’s happening here.”
The broadcast kicked off with a bang, and a surprise one at that. With minimal intro, hard rock global superstars Rush made their first-ever Junos appearance, delivering a high-octane version of “Finding My Way,” the first song on their first album. It was the first Rush performance since 2015 and the 2020 death of drummer Neil Peart, ahead of their upcoming stadium tour.
In the media room after, singer Geddy Lee explained that “choosing a song was impossible, so we asked management to choose one.” They settled on the first song on their first album, from 1974. Guitarist/founding member Alex Lifeson joked that he hopes he survives the upcoming global Rush tour.
“It is 85 shows, more than we’ve done in a long time. It’ll be exhausting, but we’ll come out stronger.” Both Rush members praised their recently recruited new drummer, Anika Nilles, and, referencing late drummer/lyricist Peart, Lee noted “music is still a part of us. Music lives beyond tragedy.”
After appearing at the podium at Saturday’s gala as winners in the rock album of the year category, Toronto rock quartet The Beaches returned to the winner’s circle for the prestigious group of the year category. This marks the third straight year they have won this award, a rare and highly impressive feat. On the broadcast, they chose to play a powerful ballad, backed by strings, and then hopped back on stage to accept their Juno. In a short acceptance speech, the group stressed “there is no better feeling than coming home.”
Two other winners from last night also got to shine by both performing on the broadcast and accepting another Juno. At the Awards Gala, young B.C. country singer-songwriter Cameron Whitcomb took home the trophy for country album of the year, for The Hard Way, and tonight he was victorious as breakthrough artist or group of the year. Whitcomb has earned that title in rapid fashion, and he is now back in the charts with a brand new single, “You And Me.”
In his acceptance speech he noted that “I still don’t know why I’m blessed with this opportunity, but I won’t squander it. I’ll stay sober.” To the press later, he added this advice: “Don’t drink, don’t do drugs, stay low-key.”
Daniel Caesar was the winner in the coveted songwriter of the year category last night, but was not in attendance to accept. He did show up to both perform and collect a special international achievement award, recognizing the strides he has made in global markets. His 2025 album, Son of Spergy, became his third top 10 album on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. He has made multiple appearances on influential NPR performance series Tiny Desk, and appeared on the cover of Billboard and Billboard Canada last year.
Helping induct Caesar with the international achievement award was fellow R&B star Mustafa, who referenced “the infinite brotherhood we cultivated, he from Oshawa, me from Regent Park.” Mustafa noted “you hear a stillness in his songs, and he took that stillness to a global stage.” Accompanied by his own guitar and subtle backing vocals, Caesar delivered a typically soulful ballad.”
Caesar also collected the Juno for contemporary R&B recording of the year for Son of Spergy, one of just four trophies handed out during the broadcast. When he accepted this Juno, Caesar brought up his dad, the titular Spergy.
When talking to the media at the conclusion of the gala, McLachlan was clearly excited about paying tribute to Joni Mitchell, a crucial inspiration, at tonight’s show. “I idolized her and I dissected her music,” said McLachlan. “Joni had asked me to create a medley around her songs for the tribute. She showed up at rehearsals today, and that was the first time she’d heard it.”
Another major surprise was a video tribute to Nelly Furtado by one of Canada’s biggest stars, Drake. The rapper praised the influence he took from her, imagining as a kid that he could have the same heights and Billboard hits that she did. He tipped his hat to her making strides as a woman in music, and said “the men in this industry do not make it easy.” He joked that her influence was so vast that he even broke his Junos boycott, staying away since he hosted the show in 2011 but was shut out of all his awards.
A cast of Juno Award-winning artists gathered to pay tribute to Furtado, who was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the event. Those performing included Alessia Cara, Lido Pimienta, Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Shawn Desman and Tanya Tagaq, and they joined Furtado’s own band, led by musical director Herag Sanbalian, who curated the selection of her greatest hits.
In her acceptance speech, Furtado expressed her great pride in Canada. “I’m a product of the Canadian dream. I live and work here, I totally believe in Canada,” she stated. She also singled out the Canadian black music community: “They embraced me so much early in my career.”
Majid Jordan also presented the fan choice award to bbno$, winning for the second year in a row. He made memorable headlines last year for his comments about Elon Musk, but was not there to accept this time around.
Here are all the winners from the Juno Awards broadcast:
WINNER: bbno$ (Independent*Broke/CMG)
Cameron Whitcomb Atlantic/Warner
James Barker Band Universal
Josh Ross Core Entertainment/Universal
Justin Bieber Island/Def Jam/Universal
Karan Aujla Warner
Shawn Mendes Island/Universal
Shubh Independent
Tate McRae RCA/Sony
The Weeknd XO/Republic/Universal
WINNER: Cameron Whitcomb (Atlantic/Warner)
Goldie Boutilier Independent
Jade LeMac Warner
Jutes Position Music
MICO Wasted Years/Columbia/Sony
Noeline Hofmann La Honda/The Orchard
Sacha Sony
Saya Gray Dirty Hit/Virgin
Sofia Camara 21 Entertainment/Universal
yung kai BMG/Flood Division
Arcade Fire Columbia/Sony
Mother Mother Warner
Peach Pit Columbia/Sony
WINNER: The Beaches (AWAL)
Three Days Grace RCA/Sony
Set Me Free Adria Kain ArtHaus/Circle of 5ths/APG
Mirage Avenoir LISTEN TO THE KIDS/Santa Anna/Sony
WINNER: Son Of Spergy Daniel Caesar Hollace/Republic/Universal
PAID IN MEMORIES Jessie Reyez FMLY/Island’Universal
Life 2 Majid Jordan OVO/Sony
THERAPIST SadBoi LVRN/The Orchard
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