The 2020 JUNO Awards were finally celebrated last night with a virtual presentation via CBC Music and CBC Gem after the original March ceremonies in Saskatoon were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With a little help from some of Canada’s most celebrated broadcasters and musicians of all backgrounds, all 42 categories received special spotlight as the all winners were announced during the hour and a half stream; and included performances by Traditional Roots Album of the Year winners, The Dead South, Music Video of the Year winner, iskwē, Breakthrough Group of the Year winners, Neon Dreams, and Alessia Cara, who was the night’s big winner with three statues, including Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
Other big winners from the broadcast include Shawn Mendes, who took home the award for Single of the Year for the third year in a row, Tory Lanez, who was the first artist to win both Rap Recording and R&B/Soul Recording of the Year (with Jessie Reyez) in the same year, and Avril Lavigne, who was voted JUNO Fan Choice for the second year in a row. In the most unique story of the night, Classical Album of the Year (Vocal or Choral) winners, the Ottawa Bach Choir, includes Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette as a member of the choir; officially making the current Governor General of Canada a JUNO Award winner. In addition, with their Breakthrough Group of the Year win, Neon Dreams became the first Allan Slaight Master Class winners to take home a JUNO Award.
Assisting CBC Music and CBC Radio hosts Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe, Florence K, Julie Nesrallah, Laila Biali, Odario Williams, Rich Terfry, Saroja Coelho, Tom Allen and George Stroumbolopolous in presenting the awards were special guest presenters, Chris Boucher from the 2019 NBA Champions, the Toronto Raptors, musician and actor, Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things, R&B/Soul Recording of the Year winner, Jessie Reyez, and singer-songwriter Alessia Cara, who was originally tapped to host the 2020 JUNO Awards broadcast in Saskatoon.
With the tricky 2020 JUNO Awards finally coming to a close, Canada’s best and brightest from the past, present and future will set their sights for Toronto; who will proudly play host to what will be the 50th JUNO Awards in 2021.
The 2020 JUNO Award winners are:
JUNO FAN CHOICE (PRESENTED BY TD): Avril Lavigne
SINGLE OF THE YEAR: “Señorita” Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? Billie Eilish
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY MUSIC CANADA): The Pains Of Growing Alessia Cara
ARTIST OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY CBC MUSIC): Shawn Mendes
GROUP OF THE YEAR: Loud Luxury
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND CANADA’S PRIVATE RADIO BROADCASTERS): Lennon Stella
BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND CANADA’S PRIVATE RADIO BROADCASTERS): Neon Dreams
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY SOCAN): Alessia Cara (“Growing Pains” (with Andrew Wansel, Warren Fielder) “Out of Love” (with Rick Nowels) The Pains of Growing; “Rooting For You” (with Jon Levine) This Summer)
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Wild As Me Meghan Patrick
ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: A Blemish in the Great Light Half Moon Run
ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY LONG & MCQUADE): Morbid Stuff PUP
POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY LIVE NATION CANADA): The Pains of Growing Alessia Cara
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA): A War On Everything The Glorious Sons
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Stay Tuned! Dominique Fils-Aimé
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO): MiGRATIONS Jacques Kuba Séguin
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (GROUP): Abundance Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: INSCAPE Alexandra Stréliski
ALBUM FRANCOPHONE DE L’ANNÉE: La nuit est une panthère Les Louanges
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Greatest Hits, Vol. 4 Big Block Singsong
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO OR CHAMBER): detach Angela Schwarzkopf
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (LARGE ENSEMBLE): The John Adams Album Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Kent Nagano
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (VOCAL OR CHORAL): Handel: Dixit Dominus; Bach & Schutz: Motets Ottawa Bach Choir, conducted by Lisette Canton
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR: “Evta” Ana Sokolović
RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR: “Freaky” Tory Lanez
DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR: “Love Me” Felix Cartal & Lights
R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR: “Feel It Too” Jessie Reyez, Tory Lanez, & Tainy
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR: The Warning Track Lyndon John X
INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY APTN): Stories from a Downtown Apartment Celeigh Cardinal
CONTEMPORARY ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Mohawk Lee Harvey Osmond
TRADITIONAL ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Sugar & Joy The Dead South
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Mad Love Dawn Tyler Watson
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: The Advent Of Christmas Matt Maher
WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR: BAROKAN Djely Tapa
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Ben Kaplan (“Brittle Bones Nicky” by Rare Americans, “It’s Alright” by Mother Mother (co-producer Ryan Guldemond))
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR: John ‘Beetle’ Bailey (“Dividido (feat. Silvana Estrada)” SUBLIME by Alex Cuba, “Shotgun” FRIDAY by Monkey House)
ALBUM ARTWORK OF THE YEAR: Chad Moldenhauer, Ian Clarke, Warren Clark, Lance Inkwell SELECTIONS FROM CUPHEAD (Kristofer Maddigan)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY STINGRAY): “Little Star” Sarah Legault (iskwē)
ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Beyond The Senses REZZ
METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Play to Win Striker
ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Shine A Light Bryan Adams
COMEDY ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA): Lil Bit of Buddle Sophie Buddle