Juno host Drake leads with six nominations heading into this year’s show
Posted March 27, 2011 7:54 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – It’ll be all about Drake at this year’s Juno Awards.
The 24-year-old Toronto rapper is hosting the March 27 bash and is also the leading nominee.
He’s up for six trophies: album of the year, artist of the year, songwriter of the year, single of the year, rap recording of the year and the Juno fan choice award.
Teen phenom Justin Bieber, who grew up in Stratford, Ont., also scored multiple nominations, as did Montreal’s Arcade Fire.
Drake, Bieber and Arcade Fire are also up for prizes at the Grammy Awards in February.
All three received Juno nominations for album of the year. Rounding out that category is Hedley and country singer Johnny Reid.
Bieber, who was in Toronto on Tuesday promoting a new 3D documentary about his career, also got Juno nods for artist of the year and pop album of the year.
Competing against Drake’s “Find Your Love” in the single of year category are: rapper Classified with “Oh Canada;” Hedley’s “Perfect'”; K.D. lang, for the version of “Hallelujah” she sang at the Vancouver Olympics and Young Artists for Haiti’s version of K’Naan’s “Wavin’ Flag.”
Artists scheduled to perform at the Junos include Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene and Hedley.
There are 82 first-time Juno nominees this year.
The Junos, which honour the best in Canadian music, have been held in various cities in recent years, but are returning to Toronto to mark their 40th anniversary. The awards will be handed out on Sunday, March 27, at the Air Canada Centre.
Shania Twain is set to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the ceremony and legendary rocker Neil Young will be recognized for his humanitarian work.
