Celine Dion Leads Juno Award Nominations

by Jarrett Martineau | February 5, 2008 at 11:28 am

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This is news about the other Juno: not the indie film hit starring Oscar-nominated Canadian actress Ellen Page, but Canada's biggest annual music award.

Nominees for the 2008 Juno Awards have been announced and several pop heavyweights are in the running for the most nods, with Vegas crooner and heartbreaking movie ballad queen Celine Dion leading the musical pack.

It's shaping up to be a four-horse race at this year's Juno Awards, with Avril Lavigne, Céline Dion, Feist and Michael Bublé all set to compete for several top honours.

Organizers announced the contenders for the upcoming Junos, Canada's most prominent musical honours, in Toronto Tuesday morning. Pop diva Dion scored a leading six nods, with Lavigne, Feist and Bublé close behind at five each.

Although there are some great musicians nominated this year, I have to admit that I'm most excited about the fact that the controversial and hilarious comedian Russell Peters is set to host the event.

CTV also announced this morning that Indo-Canadian comedian Russell Peters will be hosting the Juno Awards gala, which will be held April 6 at Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary.

"This is the first time they've let a non-white host the Junos," Peters said. "They're going to regret this decision."

Peters went on to admit that he's going to try to do something
different for this year's show: make it entertaining. That will be a
far cry from previous editions of the awards gala which have been
hosted, less than effectively (or entertainingly), by the likes of
Nelly Furtado and Pamela Anderson.

For the complete list of Juno nods check out the official site and, in the meantime, here are some highlights from this year's nominees:

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Girlfriend, Avril Lavigne
1234, Feist
Paralyzer, Finger Eleven
Seven Day Fool, Jully Black
Everything, Michael Buble

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The best damn thing, Avril Lavigne
D'elles, Celine Dion
Taking Chances, Celine Dion
The Reminder, Feist
Call Me Irresponsible, Michael Buble

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Avril Lavigne
Celine Dion
Feist
Michael Buble
Pascale Picard

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Arcade Fire
Blue Rodeo
Finger Eleven
Hedley
Kain

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Belly
Jeremy Fisher
Justin Nozuka
Serena Ryder
Suzie McNeil

NEW GROUP OF THE YEAR
Dragonette
Faber Drive
illScarlet
State of Shock
Wintersleep

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Avril Lavigne ("Girlfriend," "Keep Holding On" by Lukasz Gottwald; "When You're Gone" by Butch Walker)
Daniel Belanger ("La Fin de l'Homme," Television," "Sports et Loisirs" by Daniel Belanger)
Feist ("My Moon My Man," "1234," "I Feel it All" by Feist)
Joel Plaskett ("Fashionable People," "Nothing More to Say," "Face of the Earth" by Joel Plaskett)
Rufus Wainwright ("Going to Town," "Release the Stars," "Do I Disappoint You" by Rufus Wainwright)

ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Neon Bible, Arcade Fire
LP, Holy Fuck
Close to Paradise, Patrick Watson
The Con, Tegan and Sara
Welcome to the Night Sky, Wintersleep

POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Duets: Friends & Legends, Anne Murray
Street Gospels, Bedouin Soundclash
Taking Chances, Celine Dion
The Reminder, Feist
Call Me Irresponsible, Michael Buble

ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Them Vs. You Vs. Me, Finger Eleven
Hospital Music, Matthew Good
The Lucky Ones, Pride Tiger
Underclass Hero, Sum 41
The Saint Alvia Cartel, The Saint Alvia Cartel