The Weeknd, Jessie Reyez, Justin Bieber Lead 2021 Juno Nominations
The 50th annual Canadian music celebration broadcasts live on Sunday, May 16.
Nominees for the 50th annual Juno Awards were announced today by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The Weeknd leads with six nominations, while Jessie Reyez and Justin Bieber are each up for five awards. Amid the pandemic, the award show will be presented to an at-home audience only, broadcasting live from several iconic venues across the country on Sunday, May 16.
Toronto-born artist The Weeknd, who released his blockbuster album, After Hours, last year, is up for such prestigious awards as Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Contemporary R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. His chart-topping, global hit “Blinding Lights” is up for Single of the Year, while he is also nominated for the Fan Choice Award – the ceremony’s only category that is voted on by fans.
Reyez, a Toronto native who released her widely-acclaimed debut album Before Love Came to Kill Us in March, is also up for Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year. Reyez also has two selections in the Music Video of the Year category: the animated “Intruders,” helmed by Les Solis and Peter Huang, and “No One’s in the Room,” directed by Emma Higgins.
Bieber, who hails from London, Ontario, will be up against both Reyez and The Weeknd in the Artist of the Year category. 2020’s Changes – which marked Bieber’s first LP in five years – is also up for Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year. His song “Intentions” ft. Quavo has a nod for Single of the Year, while he is also nominated for the Fan Choice Award.
All three artists will compete with legendary singer Céline Dion and Iraqi-Canadian singer-songwriter Ali Gatie in the Artist of the Year category. Dion and Gatie are also up for Album of the Year, alongside Leonard Cohen for his posthumous release, Thanks for the Dance.
Five-time Juno winner Alessia Cara, who was slated to host last year’s canceled ceremonies, is up for Songwriter of the Year. Ten-time winner Shawn Mendes, meanwhile, is up for a Fan Choice Award.
Rock band The Tragically Hip, who received 16 Junos over their more than 30-year career, will be presented with the esteemed Humanitarian Award, while singer, songwriter, and actress Jann Arden will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
For a full list of nominees, visit the Juno Awards’ official website.
