COMPLIANCE | Junos 2026: Drake’s surprise appearance, and Tate McRae’s absence mark Canada’s biggest night in music | CBC News

The 2026 Juno Awards came down to a short list of awards and a long list of performances on Sunday night.

Hosted by comedian and actress Mae Martin, a past host of the Canadian Screen Awards, the 55th season of Canada’s biggest music night returned to the spirit of last year, with hosts, presenters and award recipients. he defiantly expressed the importance of a unique Canadian identity in the face of American national aggression..

But for the most part, they felt like most Junos: safe.

Part of that is the few awards that are actually given out in the televised portion of the ceremony. After more than 40 were awarded at Saturday’s mini-ceremony, four major categories (group, R&B record of the year, best artist or group and fans’ choice) were awarded Sunday.

As a result, a clear champion was chosen long before Martin began their opening monologue. Alberta’s Tate McRae had almost doubled his feat, attracting singer, single (Sports Car), pop album and album (Very Close to Anything) of the year.

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This left him to miss out on the fan’s choice award, a category chosen entirely by the audience, a category that could be hard to beat after the recent relationship controversy involving what appeared to be a guest on the U.S. Olympic team.

Instead, the award went to bbno$, a Vancouver rapper who was recently in the news for questionable fact that he is leaving music due to online negligence – shortly before releasing a new song.

But neither McRae nor bbno$ were really there to talk about those issues, nor did Martin joke about the controversy – as expected at the American party. like the Oscars. Instead, Martin showed their incredible ability to herd goals through Canada’s two needs of safe defense, and bad pride.

“I’ve spent the last month traveling across the United States, so I’ve never felt so grateful to be back in my country,” said Martin, who uses pronouns, as the night began.

“I feel like I have my own people, you know? People who care more about what hockey team I support than what gender I am.”

The rest of the monologue, and the rest of the night, would return to that void. In fact, an evening that seemed to have no political overtones – or streakers – a potentially controversial moment comes from the surprised face.

“Being a woman in the music industry at any time is something I have to wear my hat on. The men in this business don’t make it easy,” rapper Drake said in a segment, speaking to Victoria’s Nelly Furtado before being inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame.

She and her co-hosts went on to talk about the contributions the “Princess of Portugal” made to the country’s music industry before Alessia Cara, Shawn Desman and others played her music.

But not before Drake managed to get into one more game, directly pointing out the full range of hits 15 years ago that have caused him to turn down every single party since.

“To the Junos — because you’re honoring one of my dearest friends tonight, I’m going to have mercy on you,” he said.

“Even though I know you’re thinking about the six awards you gave Shad in 2011 when you snitched. [my album] Take care of yourself while hosting the 40th anniversary of your awards show,” he said with a smile. “But listen, that’s neither here nor there. Tonight we’ll leave it at that.”

Unlike Drake, another no-show was The Weeknd – who similarly hasn’t appeared at the Junos since 2016. Nominated in five categories, he was already locked in four of them Saturday – making his home. Hurry Up Tomorrow first album by an Ontario artist to go without a Junos win since 2013 Kiss Land.

And there was no Justin Bieber: he also got six awards, and he was completely shut down. While she’s making an appearance at the pandemic-reversed Junos in 2021, she hasn’t appeared since 2010.

Like The Brad Wheeler of the Globe & Mail in theory, it’s possible that it’s not just a lack of interest in Canadian pride: while losing the Grammys can be one thing, going to the Juno Awards small potatoes party as a megastar and losing can damage the artist’s image.

As a result, the Junos were forced to focus on what they always focus on: respect both amazing that comes in, and it’s created talent. In that regard, we have seen the embarrassing performances of Mico (the actor). Missing home) Sofia Camara (singing Girls Like You), and Cameron Whitcomb – the latter of whom did a backstage gig shortly before becoming a successful singer.

We saw a stripped down performance of Daniel Caesar Who knows – a day after the soul singer won songwriter of the year, and shortly before he was honored with an international achievement award and won contemporary R&B record of the year for Son of Spergy.

We saw Toronto’s The Beaches play, belting out their song Lesbian of the Year next to Strings From Paris. Soon after, they would be assigned to the year group for the third party in a row.

Earlier, Rush started the show with their first public performance with new singer Anika Nilles since the death of founding member Neil Peart in 2020. And Joni Mitchell went on stage to receive a lifetime achievement award, presented by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

“I’m happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy to be here with our wonderful prime minister,” Mitchell said, to thunderous applause.

“I live in America and you know what happens there,” he joked shortly before joining Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell on his set. Big Yellow Taxi. At which point the trio traded hymns first, in typical Canadian fashion, McLachlan and Russell asked, letting Mitchell have the final say.