The biggest winner at the 2025 Juno Awards wasn’t there to accept her awards.
Tate McRae won four awards – for artist, single, album and pop album of the year – but was not able to make it to the Vancouver, British Columbia awards ceremony on Sunday (March 30) or the untelevised gala the night before to accept. That’s an ongoing issue at the Junos, where the responsibilities of the biggest international superstars often keep them from their home country’s award show.
Stars like Drake, The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes were not at Rogers Arena for the show, but there was an ongoing theme of Canadian excellence. At a time when U.S. President Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canada and threatens to annex it as the 51st state, many used the Junos as a chance to wave the cultural flag.
McRae won four out of five of her nominations, taking artist of the year for the second year in a row, single of the the year for the second year in a row (with “Exes” taking the award won last year by “Greedy”) and album of the year and pop album of the year for the first time (with Think Later). She missed out only on the fan choice award. That was won by the perpetually viral rapper bbno$, a hit on TikTok, which sponsored the award. He used the acceptance speech to create another viral moment, using his time to call billionaire and top Trump advisor Elon Musk a “piece of garbage.”
That was a more direct criticism of the American administration than what ran through most of the show, where a more nationalistic “Canada is not for sale” message rang through. Accepting the award for country album of the year, breakout Ontario singer Josh Ross thanked his label Universal Music both in Canada and south of the border, reminding them that “friends are better than enemies.”
Host Michael Bublé began the show with a medley of his hits in four different languages, duetting with Canadian artists including Elisapie, Jonita Gandhi, Roxane Bruneau and Maestro Fresh Wes. That recognized the diversity of sounds and genres, while his opening monologue recalled the famous “I Am Canadian” ad with Canadian pride and an affirmation that Canada is “the greatest nation on earth.”
Other than special awards, only four awards were presented on CBC’s Sunday broadcast, with the vast majority given out at the industry gala the night before. One of those was for group of the year. While Sum 41 seemed like a safe prediction given that they also were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame on the show and closed it with a medley of their pop-punk classics, it was instead awarded for the second year in a row to The Beaches. That continued a hot few years for the Toronto band, who broke out with their hit “Blame Brett” in 2023 and haven’t looked back since.
The other big award of the night was for breakthrough artist of the year. That accolade went to Nemahsis, the Palestinian-Canadian artist who was reportedly dropped from her major label for her refusal to silence her pro-Palestinian advocacy after Oct. 7. The singer, who also won alternative album of the year and performed on the broadcast, dedicated the award to her fellow hijabis and said all she ever wanted was to turn on Canadian TV and see someone who looked like her. “I didn’t think it would take this long or that I would be the one to do it,” she said. She thanked OVO Sound producer Noah “40” Shebib and artist Jad El Khoury for helping her finish her album Verbathim when she was suddenly fully independent and didn’t have the money to do so on her own.
Anne Murray was given the lifetime achievement award, marking only the second time in Junos history the award has been given (the other was to the architect of Canadian Content regulations and the namesake of the Junos, Pierre Juneau). Wearing a bedazzled Canada hockey jersey, the singer – who holds the record for most-ever Junos ahead of The Weeknd – talked about the importance of Canada to her multi-decade career and called the country her “safety blanket.” Producer Boi-1da won the international achievement award, recognizing his huge hits on the global stage – including four No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 – for artists like Rihanna, Drake and Eminem.
Other performances on the show included Haida Nation rap album of the year winners Snotty Nose Rez Kids with Tia Wood, Sunday night winners bbno$ and Josh Ross and an all-star Punjabi performance that featured Gminxr, Jazzy B, Inderpal Moga and Chani Nattan. Karan Aujla winning the fan choice award in 2024 showed the institution’s recognition of the Punjabi Wave, and the Junos implemented the new South Asian recording of the year award this year. AP Dhillon won for The Brownprint; however, the award was unfortunately not televised.
Find a full list of 2025 Juno Award winners below:
TikTok Juno Fan Choice
WINNER: bbno$ (Independent*Stem)
Dean Brody (Starseed)
Jade Eagleson (Starseed)
Josh Ross (Universal)
Karan Aujl (Independent)
Les Cowboys Fringants (Les Disques de La Tribu*Propagande)
Preston Pablo (Universal)
Shawn Mendes (Universal)
Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)
The Weeknd (XO*Universal)
Artist of the Year
Josh Ross (Universal)
Kaytranada (RCA*Sony)
Shawn Mendes (Island*Universal)
WINNER: Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)
The Weeknd (XO*Universal)
Single of the Year
“Single Again,” Josh Ross (Universal)
“Winning Speech,” Karan Aujla (Independent)
“Why Why Why,” Shawn Mendes (Island*Universal)
WINNER: “exes,” Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)
“Timeless,” The Weeknd & Playboi Carti (XO*Universal)
Album of the Year
Inuktitut, Elisapie (Bonsound*Sony)
Complicated, Josh Ross (Universal)
Submergé, Roxane Bruneau (Disques Artic*Sony)
UNDISPUTED, Sukha (GK*Universal)
WINNER: THINK LATER, Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)
Group of the Year
Crash Adams (Warner)
Mother Mother (Warner)
Spiritbox (BMG*Universal)
Sum 41 (Rise/BMG*Universal)
WINNER: The Beaches (Independent*AWAL)
Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year
Alexander Stewart (FAE*The Orchard)
AP Dhillon (Republic*Universal)
AR Paisley (Warner)
Chris Grey (Rebellion Records)
EKKSTACY (Dine Alone*The Orchard)
WINNER: Nemahsis (Independent)
Owen Riegling (Universal)
Sukha (GK*Universal)
Tony Ann (Decca*Universal)
Zeina (Artist Partner Group)
Jack Richardson Producer of the Year
Aaron Paris — “intro (end of the world)” (Ariana Grande), “Bought the Earth” (Yeat), “Let it Breathe” (Ski Mask the Slump God), “Tiger Eye” (Loony), “Dishonored” (Sean Leon and Jessie Reyez, “R e a l W o m a n” (PartyNextDoor)
Akeel Henry — “Spin” (Megan Thee Stallion), “Smoke” (Ari Lennox), “Shake” (Chlöe), “Oh, Wait…” (Shae Universe), “I Choose You” (Melanie Fiona), “Love Ain’t Guaranteed” (Mist)
Evan Blair — “Pretty Slowly” (Benson Boone), “Beautiful Things” (Benson Boone), “club heaven” (Nessa Barrett), “No High” (David Kushner), “this is how a woman leaves” (Maren Morris), “i hope i never fall in love” (Maren Morris)
WINNER: Jack Rochon — “II Hands II Heaven” (Beyoncé), “Protector” (Beyoncé), “Jolene” (Beyoncé), “My Way” (Charlotte Day Wilson), “Crash” (Kehlani), “Tears” (Kehlani)
Shawn Everett — “II Most Wanted” (Beyoncé), “Found Heaven” (Conan Gray), “Bright Lights” (The Killers), “I Don’t” (Brittany Howard), “Eye of the Night” (Conan Gray), “Prove It to You” (Brittany Howard)
Recording Engineer of the Year
George Seara — “Soft Spot” (Keshi), “Dream” (Keshi)
Hill Kourkoutis — “Ghost” (Sebastian Gaskin), “Should We” (Emi Jeen)
Mitch McCarthy — “Good Luck, Babe!” (Chappell Roan), “Make You Mine” (Madison Beer)
WINNER: Serban Ghenea — “Please Please Please” (Sabrina Carpenter), “Lose Control” (Teddy Swims)
Shawn Everett — “Don’t Forget Me” (Maggie Rogers), “Deeper Well” (Kacey Musgraves)
Songwriter of the Year
Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) — “Dancing in the Flames,” “Timeless,” “São Paulo”
AP Dhillon — “Old Money,” “Losing Myself,” “Bora Bora”
Jessie Reyez — “Child of Fire,” “Ridin,” “Shut Up”
WINNER: Mustafa Mustafa — “Name of God,” “Leaving Toronto,” “I’ll Go Anywhere”
Nemah Hasan (Nemahsis) — “stick of gum,” “you wore it better,” “coloured concrete”
Songwriter of the Year (Non-Performer)
Evan Blair – “Beautiful Things” (Benson Boone), “Pretty Slowly” (Benson Boone), “i hope i never fall in love” (Maren Morris)
WINNER: Lowell – “Texas Hold ‘Em” (Beyoncé), “Bodyguard” (Beyoncé), “Takes One to Know One” (The Beaches)
Nathan Ferraro— “Texas Hold ‘Em” (Beyoncé), “Smoke” (Ari Lennox), “Who Do I Call Now? (Hellbent)” (Sofia Camara)
Shaun Frank – “Love Somebody” (Morgan Wallen), “Training Season” (Dua Lipa), “Sideways” (Gordo)
Tobias Jesso Jr.”Houdini” (Dua Lipa), “push me over” (Maren Morris), “Come Show Me” (Camilla Cabello)
Music Video of the Year
“Human,” Adrian Villagomez, Apashe & Wasiu (Kannibalen*Create)
“Nasty,” Jonah Haber, Tinashe (Independent)
“GRAVITY,” Jorden Lee, Sean Leon (Independent)
WINNER: “Name of God,” Mustafa, Mustafa (Arts & Crafts*Universal)
“Jump Cut,” Winston Hacking, Corridor (Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard)
Album Artwork of the Year
Erik M. Grice (Art Director), Vanessa Elizabeth Heins (Photographer); Chandler – Wyatt C. Louis (Independent*Universal)
Gabriel Noel Altrows (Art Director, Illustrator); Good Kid 4 – Good Kid (Independent/The Orchard)
Kee Avil, Jacqueline Beaumont (Art Director), Fatine-Violette Sabiri (Photographer); Spine – Kee Avil (Constellation*Secretly Canadian)
WINNER: Keenan Gregory (Art Director); Altruistic – Royal Tusk (MNRK)
Kevin Hearn, Lauchlan Reid (Art Director), Antoine Jean Moonen (Designer), Lauchlan Reid (Illustrator); Basement Days – The Glacials (Celery*IDLA)
GENRE-SPECIFIC AWARDS
Country Album of the Year
The Compass Project – West Album, Brett Kissel (Independent*Universal)
Dallas Smith, Dallas Smith (Big Loud*Universal)
WINNER: Complicated, Josh Ross (Universal)
Nobody’s Born With a Broken Heart, MacKenzie Porter (Big Loud*Universal)
Going Home, Tyler Joe Miller (Independent*The Orchard)
South Asian Music Recording of the Year
WINNER: “The Brownprint,” AP Dhillon (Republic *Universal)
“COOLIN,” Chani Nattan, Inderpal Moga & Jazzy B (Warner)
“Love Like That,” Jonita Gandhi (Warner)
“Tauba Tauba” (From Bad Newz), Karan Aujla (T-Series)
“Arul,” Yanchan, Produced & Sandeep Narayan (Independent)
Classical Album of the Year (Solo Artist)
Signature Philip Glass, Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà (Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard)
Messiaen, Barbara Hannigan (Alpha Classics*Naxos)
WINNER: freezing, Emily D’Angelo (Deutsche Grammophon*Universal)
Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth, India Gailey (Red Shift*Believe)
Williams Violin Concerto No. 1; Bernstein Serenade, James Ehnes (Pentatone*Naxos/The Orchard)
Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble)
Known To Dreamers: Black Voices in Canadian Art Song, Canadian Art Song Project (Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos)
Rituæls, collectif9 (Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard)
East is East, Infusion Baroque (Leaf*Naxos)
Marie Hubert: Fille du Roy, Karina Gauvin (ATMA*Universal)
Kevin Lau: Under a Veil of Stars, St. John–Mercer–Park Trio (Leaf*Naxos)
Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble)
Ispiciwin, Luminous Voices (Leaf*Naxos)
Alikeness, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra Sinfonia, conducted by/dirigé par Mark Fewer featuring Aiyun Huang, Deantha Edmunds and Mark Fewer (Leaf*Naxos)
Sibelius 2 & 5, Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by/dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin (ATMA*Universal)
Schoenberg: Pelleas und Melisande & Verklärte Nacht, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, conducted by/dirigé par Rafael Payare (Pentatone*Naxos/PIAS)
WINNER: Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by/dirigé par Gustavo Gimeno featuring Marc-André Hamelin and Nathalie Forget (Harmonia Mundi)
Jazz Album of the Year (Solo)
WINNER:Montreal Jazz Series 1 (Échanges Synaptiques), André Leroux (Disques BG*Believe)
The Head of a Mouse, Audrey Ochoa (Chronograph*Fontana North)
Portrait of Right Now, Jocelyn Gould (Independent)
Slice of Life, Larnell Lewis (Independent)
The Antrim Coast, Mark Kelso (Modica)
Jazz Album of the Year (Group)
Time Will Tell, Andy Milne and Unison (Sunnyside*AMPED)
Reverence, Carn Davidson 9 (Independent)
Harbour, Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra (Justin Time*F.A.B./Nettwerk)
WINNER: Gravity, Jeremy Ledbetter Trio (Independent)
Jaya, Raagaverse (Independent)
Vocal Jazz Album of the Year
Oh Mother, Andrea Superstein (Cellar*La Reserve)
WINNER: Hello! How Are You?, Caity Gyorgy (La Reserve*The Orchard)
Winter Song, Kellylee Evans (Independent)
Wintersongs, Laila Biali (Independent/Believe)
Magpie, Sarah Jerrom (TPR*Outside In)
Instrumental Album of the Year
Disaster Pony, Disaster Pony (Independent*The Orchard)
Distant Places, Eric Bearclaw (Independent)
Ginger Beef, Ginger Beef (Independent)
WINNER: memory palace, Intervals (Independent*Believe)
Confluencias, Melón Jimenez & Lara Wong (Independent)
Blues Album of the Year
WINNER: This Old Life, Big Dave McLean (Cordova Bay*Fontana North)
New Orleans Sessions, Blue Moon Marquee (Independent)
YEAH!, David Gogo (Cordova Bay*Fontana North)
Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit, Samantha King & The Midnight Outfit (Independent)
One Guitar Woman, Sue Foley (Stony Plain*Fontana North)
Traditional Roots Album of the Year
Hemispheres, Inn Echo (Independent)
WINNER: Retro Man … More and More (Expanded Edition), Jake Vaadeland, Jayward*The Orchard Domino!, La Bottine Souriante (LABE*Sony/The Orchard)
The Road Back Home (Live), Loreena McKennitt (Independent*Universal)
At The End of the Day, Sylvia Tyson (Stony Plain*Fontana North)
Contemporary Roots Album of the Year
Anniversary, Abigail Lapell (Outside)
For Eden, Boy Golden (Six Shooter*The Orchard)
Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, Donovan Woods *End Times*The Orchard)
Pathways, Julian Taylor (Howling Turtle*ADA)
WINNER: Strange Medicine, Kaia Kater (acronym*The Orchard)
Adult Alternative Album of the Year
WINNER: Inuktitut, Elisapie (Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard)
Revelation, Leif Vollebekk (Secret City*F.A.B.)
Healing Power, Terra Lightfoot (Sonic Unyon*Universal)
We were born here, what’s your excuse?, The Secret Beach (Victory Pool*The Orchard)
Never Better, Wild Rivers (Nettwerk*F.A.B./Nettwerk)
Alternative Album of the Year
When a Thought Grows Wings, Luna Li (In Real Life*AWAL)
WINNER: Verbathim, Nemahsis (Independent)
Magpie, Peach Pit (Columbia*Sony)
What’s The Point, Ruby Waters (Independent*Dine Alone)
Water The Flowers, Pray for a Garden, Valley (Universal)
Rock Album of the Year
Pages, Big Wreck (Sonic Unyon*Universal)
Vices, JJ Wilde (Black Box)
Grief Chapter, Mother Mothe (Warner)
WINNER: Set Your Pussy Free, NOBRO (Dine Alone*The Orchard)
Heaven :x: Hell, Sum 41 (Rise/BMG*Universal)
Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year
WINNER: Beyond the Reach of the Sun, Anciients (Season of Mist*The Orchard)
PowerNerd, Devin Townsend (InsideOutMusic*Sony)
Fire, Kittie (Sumerian*Virgin)
The Fear of Fear, Spiritbox (BMG*Universal)
ULTRAPOWER, Striker (Independent)
Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
Roses, Aphrose (Independent)
Boundless Possibilities (Celeigh Cardinal, Independent)
Transitions, Kellie Loder (Independent*Warner)
Songs of Love & Death, Maddee Ritter (Independent*Universal)
WINNER: Lovers’ Gothic, Maïa Davies (acronym)
Pop Album of the Year
bleeding heart, Alexander Stewart (FAE*The Orchard)
if this is it…, Jamie Fine, Universal)
Anywhere But Here, Preston Pablo (31 East*Universal)
Shawn, Shawn Mendes (Island*Universal)
WINNER: THINK LATER, Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)
Dance Recording of the Year
“UH HUH,” DijahSB (Never Worry*The Orchard)
WINNER: “No Time,” Interplanetary Criminal & SadBoi (Room Two*Columbia)
Give in to you, REZZ, Virtual Riot & One True God (Monstercat)
“Call Me When,” So Sus (Independent)
“FOUL TASTE,” WAWA (Independent)
Underground Dance Single of the Year
WINNER: “Bamboo,” Ciel (Independent)
“Keepsake,” Destrata (Independent)
“Distant Memories,” Hernan Cattaneo, Hicky & Kalo (Independent)
“La Vérité,” Jesse Mac Cormack, Charlie Houston & Brö (Secret City*F.A.B)
“WTP,” Suray Sertin (Altered States*Universal)
Electronic Album of the Year
Honey, Caribou (Merge*F.A.B)
Union, ÈBONY (Independent*ADA)
Love, Care, Kindness & Hope, Fred Everything (Lazy Days*Prime Direct)
Timeless, Kaytranada (RCA*Sony)
WINNER: This But More, Priori (NAFF*One Eye Witness)
Rap Single of the Year
“People,” Classified (Independent)
“Double The Fun,” Haviah Mighty (Independent)
WINNER: “SHUT UP,” Jessie Reyez (FMLY/Island*Universal)
“BBE,” Snotty Nose Rez Kids (Sony)
Hier encore, Souldia & Lost (Disques 7ième Ciel)
Rap Album/EP of the Year
96 Miles From Bethlehem, Belly (SALXCO*Universal)
Luke’s View, Classified (Independent)
The Flower That Knew, DijahSB (Lowly)
See You When I See You…, Dom Vallie (Awesome*The Orchard)
WINNER: RED FUTURE, Snotty Nose Rez Kids (Sony)
Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
Limbo, Aqyila (Sony)
The Worst, Benita (Independent*Believe)
Cyan Blue, Charlotte Day Wilson (Independent*The Orchard)
Halfway Broken, Luna Elle (Hot Freestyle*Independent)
WINNER: VELVET SOUL, THEHONESTGUY (Independent*Believe)
Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year
WINNER: Bloom, Aqyila (Sony)
Noire, Avenoir (Independent*LISTEN TO THE KIDS)
FOR THE BOY IN ME, Dylan Sinclair (Five Stone*The Orchard)
LOONY, LOONY (Independent*AWAL)
Eastend Confessions, Zeina (Artist Partner Group)
Reggae Recording of the Year
WINNER: Born to Be Free, Exco Levi (Independent)
FALLBACK, King Cruff & Runkus (Tuff Gong*Universal)
Destiny, Lee “Scratch” Perry & Bob Riddim (Independent)
Sky’s The Limit, Skystar (Independent)
Rise, Tonya P (Independent)
Children’s Album of the Year
Shun Beh Nats’ujeh: We Are Healing Through Songs, Kym Gouchie (Independent)
WINNER: Penny Penguin, Raffi & Good Lovelies (Independent*Universal)
Riley Rocket: Songs From Season One, Riley Rocket and Megablast (Independent)
Buon Appetito, Walk off the Earth & Romeo Eats (Golden Carrot*The Orchard)
Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro “Rhyme Travellers”, Young Maestro (Independent)
Comedy Album of the Year
Wonder Woman, Courtney Gilmour (Comedy Records*Downtown)
WINNER: Honourable Intentions, Debra DiGiovanni (Independent)
Popcorn, Ivan Decker (Independent)
Sad Witch, Jess Salomon (Independent)
Down With Tech, Nathan Macintosh (Comedy Records*Downtown)
Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year
WINNER: New Comings, Black Bear Singers (Independent)
Winston & I, Brianna Lizotte (Independent)
Travelling Home, Cree Confederation (Independent)
REZilience, Northern Cree (Independent)
Ostesihtowin-“Brotherhood”, Young Spirit (Independent)
Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year
Precious Diamonds, Adrian Sutherland (Independent)
Boundless Possibilities, Celeigh Cardinal (Independent)
WINNER: Brown Man, Sebastian Gaskin (Ishkōdé*Universal)
RED FUTURE, Snotty Nose Rez Kids (Sony)
Pretty Red Bird, Tia Wood (Sony)
Francophone Album of the Year
Aliocha Schneider, Aliocha Schneider (Les Disques Audiogramme*Sony/The Orchard)
Demain il fera beau, Fredz (La Taniere*Believe)
Toutes les rues sont silencieuses, Jay Scøtt (Disques 7ième Ciel*Believe)
Abracadabra, Klô Pelgag (Secret City*F.A.B.)
Pub Royal, Les Cowboys Fringants (Les Disques de La Tribu*Propagande/Believe)
Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year
elenee., Elenee (Independent)
My Foundation, Jordan St. Cyr (Independent*The Orchard)
WINNER: Restore, Ryan Ofei (Independent*Platoon/Believe)
Miracle in the Making, Tehillah Worship (Independent)
Hymns Alive (Live), Toronto Mass Choir (Independent*Believe)
Global Music Album of the Year
Aarambh, Abby V (Sufiscore)
Kanzafula, Ahmed Moneka (Lulaworld*Independent)
Malak, Didon (Electrofone*Independent)
WINNER: Dankoroba, Djely Tapa (Independent*Believe)
Niebla, Ramon Chicharron (Independent*Believe)
Classical Composition of the Year
WINNER: Angmalukisaa, Deantha Edmunds (Independent*Leaf/Naxos)
the fog in our poise, Gabriel Dharmoo (Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos)
L’écoute du perdu : III. « Voix jetées », Keiko Devaux (ATMA*Universal)
Dark Flowe, Linda Catlin Smith (Redshift*Independent)
String Quartet No. 4 “Insects and Machines”, Vivian Fung, (Independent)
