2021 JUNO Awards Winners & Special Moments
The 50th JUNO Awards have been handed out, the show went on, streaming to the world from locations all over Canada. It celebrated the current and the influential past, and once again we are reminded of the talent and excellence we have right here in the north.
More than 200 artists were nominated for 2021 JUNO Awards, nearly 100 of them were first-time nominees, and all of them were deserving. In the end, The Weeknd ran the table, taking home five awards, bringing his career total to 15, and moving him to sixth all-time on the award winners list.
We have to tip our hat to the JUNO team and all of the artists included because this show, all virtual, more than a year into this pandemic, still gave us special moments that we appreciate and are thankful for.
Note: Friday’s Opening Night Awards show also had great performances and presentations. CLICK HERE to watch it if you missed it!
Here is an incomplete list of moments that made us smile, made us cry, gave us goosebumps, and/or felt like they mattered.
• Buffy Sainte-Marie’s open to the show with strength and truth and all of her legacy speaking to Canada.
• The Hip-Hop Tribute and a look back at the start of the JUNOs recognition of the music that we’re still celebrating today.
• Susan Aglukark’s presentation of the Teacher of the Year Award to Mary Piercey-Lewis. Thank you to Mary for everything she has done and continues to do for her students and community. And thank you to every music teacher from coast to coast.
• Max Kerman (Arkells) giving a shoutout to Vaccine Hunters Canada and This Is Our Shot and the important work they have done as volunteers.
• Jann Arden’s induction to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, her performance of Good Mother, and Anne’s Murray’s introduction – all of it. “Music is magic.”
• The presentation of the Humanitarian Award to The Tragically Hip, and the stories and honouring of the band and the good work they’ve done in their career.
• The Tragically Hip with Feist performing It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken. I don’t know what to say about this, other than I am thankful to have experienced it.
If you missed the 50th JUNO Awards Show, or want to watch again hit play now!
And now, the full list of 2021 JUNO Award Winner & Nominees. Congratulations to every artist nominated and all of the winners!
2021 JUNO Awards Winners & Nominees!
JUNO FAN CHOICE
★ Shawn Mendes
‣ Ali Gatie
‣ Curtis Waters
‣ JP Saxe
‣ Justin Bieber
‣ Lennon Stella
‣ Les Cowboys Fringants
‣ NAV
‣ Tate McRae
‣ The Weeknd
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
★ Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
‣ Drink About Me – Brett Kissel
‣ If The World Was Ending – JP Saxe (feat. Julia Michaels)
‣ Intentions – Justin Bieber (feat. Quavo)
‣ Kissing Other People – Lennon Stella
INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Fine Line – Harry Styles
‣ Music To Be Murdered By – Eminem
‣ What You See Ain’t Always What You Get – Luke Combs
‣ Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon – Pop Smoke
‣ folklore – Taylor Swift
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ After Hours – The Weeknd
‣ YOU – Ali Gatie
‣ Courage – Céline Dion
‣ Changes – Justin Bieber
‣ Thanks for the Dance – Leonard Cohen
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
★ The Weeknd
‣ Ali Gatie
‣ Céline Dion
‣ Jessie Reyez
‣ Justin Bieber
GROUP OF THE YEAR
★ Arkells
‣ Half Moon Run
‣ Loud Luxury
‣ The Glorious Sons
‣ The Reklaws
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
★ JP Saxe
‣ Curtis Waters
‣ Powfu
‣ Ryland James
‣ Tate McRae
BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR
★ Crown Lands
‣ 2Frères
‣ MANILA GREY
‣ Peach Pit
‣ Young Bombs
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
★ The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), Belly (Ahmad Balshe), & Jason “DaHeala” Quenneville
“After Hours” – co-songwriters Carlo “Illangelo” Montagnese, Mario Winans
“Blinding Lights”, “Save Your Tears” – co-songwriters Max Martin, Oscar Holter
AFTER HOURS – The Weeknd
‣ Alanis Morissette
“Ablaze”, “Reasons I Drink”, “Smiling” – co-songwriter Michael Farrell
SUCH PRETTY FORKS IN THE ROAD – Alanis
‣ Alessia Cara
“Hell and High Water (feat. Alessia Cara)” – co-songwriters Bas Van Daalen, Jasper Helderman, Mickey Karbal, Philip Meckseper, Thomas Pentz
MUSIC IS THE WEAPON – Major Lazer
“I Choose” – co-songwriters Brayden Deskins, Colton Fisher, Diana Studenberg, Jason Rabinowitz, Jon Levine, Jordyn Kane, Kris Pearn, Mark Mothersbaugh
I CHOOSE (FROM THE NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM ‘THE WILLOUGHBYS’) – Alessia Cara
“Welcome Back (feat. Alessia Cara)” – co-songwriters Ali Gatie, Amy Allen, Blake Slatkin
WELCOME BACK – Ali Gatie
‣ Jessie Reyez
“COFFIN (feat. Eminem)” – co-songwriters Andre Robertson, Marshall Mathers, Tobias Frelin
BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US – Jessie Reyez
“FAR AWAY” – co-songwriters Rogét Chahayed, Vegyn (Joseph Thornalley)
FAR AWAY – Jessie Reyez
“NO ONE’S IN THE ROOM” – co-songwriters Dernst Emile II, Jordan Ullman
BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US+ – Jessie Reyez
‣ JP Saxe
“A Little Bit Yours” – co-songwriters Alex St. Kitts, Benjamin Rice, Ryan Marrone
A LITTLE BIT YOURS – JP Saxe
“Golf On TV” – co-songwriters Lennon Stella, Ruslan Odnoralov, Simon Wilcox
THREE. TWO. ONE. – Lennon Stella
“If The World Was Ending (feat. Julia Michaels)” – co-songwriter Julia Michaels
HOLD IT TOGETHER – JP Saxe
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ The Lemonade Stand – Tenille Townes
‣ Timeless – Dallas Smith
‣ Jade Eagleson – Jade Eagleson
‣ heart theory – Lindsay Ell
‣ Drinkin’ Songs: The Collection – MacKenzie Porter
ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Sad Hunk – BAHAMAS
‣ Are You in Love? – Basia Bulat
‣ Fear – Begonia
‣ Unfollow The Rules – Rufus Wainwright
‣ Are You Gone – Sarah Harmer
ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Pray For It – July Talk
‣ Pity Party – Curtis Waters
‣ The Sun and Her Scorch – Dizzy
‣ This Place Sucks Ass – PUP
‣ Heavy Light – U.S. Girls
POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Changes – Justin Bieber
‣ It’s Never Really Over – Johnny Orlando
‣ Hold It Together – JP Saxe
‣ Three. Two. One. – Lennon Stella
‣ Ryland James – Ryland James
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Ruthless – JJ Wilde
‣ Crown Lands – Crown Lands
‣ Colorado – Neil Young & Crazy Horse
‣ All Of Us – Sam Roberts Band
‣ A Beautiful Place to Drown – Silverstein
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ With You – Sammy Jackson
‣ This Dream Of You – Diana Krall
‣ Out of Dust – Laila Biali
‣ Sinatra – Matt Dusk
‣ Clémence – Sophie Day
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO
★ Elegant Traveler – Jocelyn Gould
‣ Gang of Three – Andrés Vial
‣ Básico, No Básico y Dirigido – Elmer Ferrer
‣ Conpambiche – Junior Santos
‣ VENA – Rachel Therrien
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: GROUP
★ The reMission – Andy Milne and Unison
‣ Surfboard – Brandi Disterheft Trio with George Coleman
‣ Rythme de passage – Emie R Roussel Trio
‣ First Spring – Florian Hoefner Trio
‣ Trane of Thought, Live at the Rex – Pat LaBarbera/Kirk MacDonald Quintet
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Movements III – Blitz//Berlin
‣ Crowing Ignites – Bruce Cockburn
‣ Eleven Words – David Foster
‣ Volume 1 – Flore Laurentienne
‣ Prior Street – Gordon Grdina
ALBUM FRANCOPHONE DE L’ANNÉE
★ Quand la nuit tombe – Louis-Jean Cormier
‣ À tous les vents – 2Frères
‣ Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs – Klô Pelgag
‣ Les antipodes – Les Cowboys Fringants
‣ Pour déjouer l’ennui – Pierre Lapointe
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Heart Parade – Splash’N Boots
‣ Letters and Numbers – ABC Singsong
‣ Goodnight to You All: Traditional Lullabies from Ireland & the UK – Charlie Hope
‣ Small But Mighty – Ginalina
‣ J’aime mon école – Njacko Backo and Kalimbas at Work
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER
★ MOSAÏQUE – Ensemble Made In Canada
‣ Bach & Brahms Reimagined – James Ehnes, Jon Kimura Parker, Jens Lindemann
‣ Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Nos. 4, 5 & 8 – James Ehnes with Andrew Armstrong
‣ La Peste – Les Barocudas
‣ Ana Sokolović: Short Stories – Quatuor Bozzini
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LARGE ENSEMBLE
★ Ginastera – Bernstein – Moussa: Œuvres pour violon et orchestre / Works for Violin and Orchestra – Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Kent Nagano, feat. Andrew Wan
‣ Mozart: Concertos pour piano / Piano Concertos Nos. 22 & 24 – Les Violons du Roy, conducted by Jonathan Cohen, feat. Charles Richard-Hamelin
‣ Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 3, 5, & Other Works – Louis Lortie with BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Edward Gardner
‣ Jacques Hétu: Concertos – Orchestre symphonique de Laval, conducted by Alain Trudel, feat. Jean-Philippe Sylvestre
‣ Penderecki: St. Luke Passion – Orchestre symphonique de Montréal with Kraków Philharmonic Choir & Warsaw Boys’ Choir, conducted by Kent Nagano
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: VOCAL OR CHORAL
★ Massenet: Thaïs – Erin Wall, Joshua Hopkins, Andrew Staples, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir with Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis
‣ La passione – Barbara Hannigan with Ludwig Orchestra
‣ Nuits blanches: Airs d’opéra à la cour de Russie au XVIIe siècle / Opera Arias at the Russian Court of the 18th Century – Karina Gauvin with Pacific Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Weimann
‣ Sea Dreams – Luminous Voices, conducted by Timothy Shantz
‣ Sarah Slean and Symphony Nova Scotia – Sarah Slean with Symphony Nova Scotia, conducted by Bernhard Gueller
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
★ Violin Concerto “Adrano” – Samy Moussa
‣ Take The Dog Sled – Alexina Louie
‣ Commedia dell’arte – Ana Sokolović
‣ Harbour – Anna Höstman
‣ Tachitipo – Zosha Di Castri
RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
★ ELEMENTS Vol. 1 – TOBi
‣ New Mania – 88GLAM
‣ Baby Gravy 2 – bbno$ & Yung Gravy
‣ Cold World – Eric Reprid
‣ Good Intentions (Brown Boy 2 Deluxe Version) – NAV
DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
★ BUBBA – KAYTRANADA
‣ MINE – Felix Cartal, Sophie Simmons
‣ Dancing In The Dark – Frank Walker
‣ Someone Else – REZZ x Grabbitz
‣ Voices – So Sus
CONTEMPORARY R&B RECORDING OF THE YEAR
★ After Hours – The Weeknd
‣ BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US – Jessie Reyez
‣ Where You Are – Savannah Ré
‣ Solaris – Shay Lia
‣ Holiday – TOBi
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
★ I Pray – TOME x Sean Kingston
‣ Give It All – Ammoye
‣ Black Man – Blessed
‣ Roots Rock (ft. Micah Shemaiah, Lasai & Big Sugar) – Dubmatix
‣ Let It Be Done – Kirk Diamond
INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
★ North Star Calling – Leela Gilday
‣ Kîyânaw – Burnstick
‣ Church House Blues – Crystal Shawanda
‣ The Ridge – Julian Taylor
‣ Nunarjua Isulinginniani – Terry Uyarak
CONTEMPORARY ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Bravado – Rose Cousins
‣ The Ridge – Julian Taylor
‣ North Star Calling – Leela Gilday
‣ CHICKABOOM! – Tami Neilson
‣ Reliever – William Prince
TRADITIONAL ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Bet On Love – Pharis & Jason Romero
‣ All Hands – Beòlach
‣ Debout! – Le Diable à Cinq
‣ 13 or So – Nick Hornbuckle
‣ The Thing About Fish – Rum Ragged
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Church House Blues – Crystal Shawanda
‣ Hell Bent with Grace – Angel Forrest
‣ Spirits in the Water – Dione Taylor
‣ Solar Powered Too – Rick Fines
‣ The Reckless One – Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ THE WAY – Shawna Cain
‣ All Things New – Allen Froese
‣ The Cure – K-Anthony
‣ Alive & Breathing – Matt Maher
‣ Wouldn’t You Love to Know? – Steve Bell
WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Espiral – OKAN
‣ VelkomBak – Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra I
‣ The Gold Diggers – Lengaïa Salsa Brava
‣ Patria – Mazacote
‣ Kora Flamenca – Zal Sissokho
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
★ WondaGurl
“Aim For The Moon (feat. Quavo)” (co-producers 5ive Beatz, 808Melo, Dani, Dez Wright, Tyy Beats)
SHOOT FOR THE STARS AIM FOR THE MOON – Pop Smoke
“GANG GANG” (co-producer Vou)
JACKBOYS – JACKBOYS & Sheck Wes
‣ Akeel Henry
“Rain (feat. Swae Lee)” (co-producer Mike ‘DZL’ Holmes)
BACK HOME – Trey Songz
“Spell My Name” (co-producer Antonio Dixon)
SPELL MY NAME – Toni Braxton
‣ Jordon Manswell
“Fallin’” (co-producers Jonathan Martin, Toni Braxton)
SPELL MY NAME – Toni Braxton
“Home”
PROVERB – Dylan Sinclair
‣ KAYTRANADA
“10% (feat. Kali Uchis)”
BUBBA – KAYTRANADA
“Frontstreet (Freestyle)”
FRONTSTREET (FREESTYLE) – Mick Jenkins
‣ Murda Beatz
“motive (with Doja Cat)” (co-producers Joseph L’Étranger, Mr. Franks, Tommy Brown)
POSITIONS – Ariana Grande
“Say You Love Me” (co-producers Joseph L’Étranger, OG Parker)
SLIME & B – Chris Brown & Young Thug
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
★ Serban Ghenea
“Blinding Lights”
AFTER HOURS – The Weeknd
“positions”
POSITIONS – Ariana Grande
‣ George Seara
“Good Love”, “Take Me Home”
TAKE ME HOME – Shawn Hook
‣ Jason Dufour
“All of the Feelings”
CRAVE – Kiesza
“Whiskey Tonight”
JADE EAGLESON – Jade Eagleson
‣ Johann Deterville
“Home”
PROVERB – Dylan Sinclair
“LA MEMORIA”
BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US – Jessie Reyez l
‣ John ‘Beetle’ Bailey
“The End of a Love Affair”
VEGAS BREEZE – Micah Barnes
“The Grand Bazaar (feat Béla Fleck and Robi Botos)”
REFUGE – Sultans Of String
ALBUM ARTWORK OF THE YEAR
★ Julien Hébert (Art Director), David Beauchemin (Designer), Florence Obrecht (Illustrator), Marc-Étienne Mongrain (Photographer)
NOTRE-DAME-DES-SEPT-DOULEURS – Klô Pelgag
‣ Jared Barter (Art Director & Designer), Michael Zavacky (Art Director & Illustrator), Maryn Devine and Rémi Thériault (Photographers)
JUST WORDS – Lynne Hanson
‣ Lido Pimienta and Orly Anan (Art Directors), Mat Dunlap (Designer), Daniela Murillo (Photographer)
MISS COLOMBIA – Lido Pimienta
‣ Luke Hoskin (Art Director), John Meloche (Designer), Martin Wittfooth (Illustrator)
PALIMPSEST – Protest The Hero
‣ Peter Dreimanis (Art Director, Designer, & Photographer), Scott Waring (Art Director & Designer), Leah Fay (Designer), Lyle Bell and Ty Snaden (Photographers)
PRAY FOR IT – July Talk
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
★ NO ONE’S IN THE ROOM – Emma Higgins (Jessie Reyez)
‣ Wait No More – Ben Knechtel (Scott Helman)
‣ Wrap Me Up – Brittney Canda & Vincent René-Lortie (Sheenah Ko)
‣ INTRUDERS – Les Solis (Solis Animation Inc.) & Peter Huang (Jessie Reyez)
‣ Pomegranate – Nick DenBoer (deadmau5 & The Neptunes)
ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Suddenly – Caribou
‣ Lavender God – ATTLAS
‣ Desire – Bob Moses
‣ Juvenile – CRi
‣ All the Time – Jessy Lanza
METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Abyss – Unleash The Archers
‣ Ballistic, Sadistic – Annihilator
‣ Unconquered – Kataklysm
‣ Palimpsest – Protest The Hero
‣ Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! – Vile Creature
ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Such Pretty Forks in the Road – Alanis Morissette
‣ Courage – Céline Dion
‣ Starlit Afternoon – Craig Stickland
‣ Pour déjouer l’ennui – Pierre Lapointe
‣ CH III: The Come Up – STORRY
COMEDY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
★ Horse Power – Jacob Samuel
‣ PanDerek (1st Wave!) – Derek Seguin
‣ Existing Is Exhausting – Matt Wright
‣ The Pursuit of Comedy Has Ruined My Life – Nick Nemeroff
‣ Decoxification – Shirley Gnome
TRADITIONAL R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
★ Solid – Savannah Ré
‣ Take Care of You (feat. Syd) – Charlotte Day Wilson
‣ Proverb Dylan – Sinclair
‣ Alt Therapy Session 1: Disillusion – Emanuel
‣ In This Thing Called Life – IAMTHELIVING
WALT GREALIS SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
★ Pegi Cecconi
HUMANITARIAN AWARD
★ The Tragically Hip
CANADIAN MUSIC HALL OF FAME
★ Jann Arden
TEACHER OF THE YEAR
★ Mary Piercey-Lewis
creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.
