The Weeknd has cleaned up on the Junos, Canada’s music awards.
On Monday night time, the Canadian celebrity gained for greatest album of the yr for Dawn FM. That adopted the Toronto-raised pop celebrity, whose actual title is Abel Tesfaye, in pre-telecast award-giving choosing up trophies for greatest artist, greatest single for “Sacrifice” and songwriter of the yr.
The Weeknd, who penned “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” for Avatar: The Way of Water, got here into the Junos with a field-leading six nominations. He earlier gained for greatest artist on the Junos in 2015, 2016 and 2021, and this yr, beat out competitors from Avril Lavigne, Lauren Spencer-Smith, Michael Bublé and Shawn Mendes in that high-profile class.
The Weeknd’s participation within the Junos, with Dawn FM put into rivalry, got here as he continues to snub the Grammy Awards stateside. At the identical time, the Rogers Place area in Edmonton rang with boos when the favored Canadian artist was a no-show on the Junos to simply accept his album of the yr trophy.
Also in the course of the reside telecast that aired nationwide on the CBC community, Lavigne shouted expletives at a topless environmental activist who crashed the stage – with “Save the Green Belt” drawn on her again – because the Complicated singer was introducing a musical efficiency by AP Dhillon.
Lavigne additionally picked up the Juno Fan Choice Award for the fourth time. “Now no one try anything this time,” the Canadian celebrity stated whereas accepting the award, earlier than uttering one other expletive, solely this time it was bleeped out.
An emotional high-point for this yr’s Junos got here throughout a efficiency by Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee that was accompanied by video testimony that recalled his grandfather’s time on the McIntosh Residential School in northwestern Ontario, the place Indigenous youth faraway from their households made widespread allegations that they endured bodily and sexual abuse.
In different prize giving on Monday night time, the most effective rap album prize went to Toronto rapper TOBi, also called Nigerian-Canadian artist Oluwatobi Feyisara Ajibolade, for Shall I Continue?. And Timmins, Ontario singer-songwriter Preston Pablo gained for breakthrough artist of the yr, whereas the most effective modern R&B recording went for the third time to Jessie Reyez for her second studio album, Yessie.
Also Monday night time, Nickelback was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame by Ryan Reynolds and Bublé, through video appearances, and Winnipeg-based Lakewood School music trainer Jewel Casselman was acknowledged because the Canadian music trainer of the yr.
In different pre-telecast prize giving on the Junos, the most effective worldwide album trophy went to Harry Styles for Harry’s House, and the Arkells picked up the Juno for greatest group, a class they’ve gained 5 instances earlier than.
The Junos, organized by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, have been held with an in-person awards and live performance gala in Edmonton, Alberta. The 2023 version was hosted for the second yr operating by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu, who confirmed off his tune and dance abilities, which included performing a backflip and a medley of Lavigne hits.
