HAMILTON —
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Joni Mitchell are sitting side-by-side at the Junos, where the folk legend is set to receive a lifetime achievement award.
Host Mae Martin quipped that their “parents” were at the ceremony before the camera cut to the duo.
“I’m just kidding, those are not my parents,” the comedian said. “I’m not a nepo baby. That’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and one of the greatest songwriters in history, Joni Mitchell.
“Joni, just being in the same room and breathing the same air as you is making me want to cry tears of joy. Thank you, Joni, for everything you’ve given us.”
Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell are set to perform a tribute to Mitchell at the ceremony, and on the red carpet they suggested she “just might” join them in song.
Meanwhile, Rush opened the ceremony with their first performance at an awards show since 1978.
They performed “Finding My Way” — the first song on their first album. It was the Toronto band’s first live performance with new drummer Anika Nilles, filling in for Neil Peart, who died in 2020.
“Neil is irreplaceable, and if he had something to say to us right now, he’d probably say, ‘You guys are idiots,'” quipped frontman Geddy Lee in the media room.
“But, you know, music lives beyond tragedy, beyond anything that can happen in your life.”
Toronto’s The Beaches took home group of the year — marking the third year in a row they’ve claimed the prize.
Guitarist Leandra Earl thanked her ex during their acceptance speech.
“(She said) if you’re going to write a song about me, at least make it good. Well, I guess it was good enough,” she quipped, referencing the track “Lesbian of the Year.”
Daniel Caesar also took home the R&B recording of the year for his fourth studio album, “Son of Spergy” and is being honoured with the international achievement award.
Later tonight, Nelly Furtado is due to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
She’ll be feted by the likes of Alessia Cara, Jully Black, Shawn Desman and Tanya Tagaq.
Kardinal Offishall, who was also on hand to celebrate Furtado, said he was proud to see how far she’d come, noting he was in the studio with Timbaland the day the American rapper purchased her album.
“He was like, ‘I think I wanna work with her,'” he recalled. “To see what’s happened since then, it’s just awesome.”
Most of the awards were handed out at a livestreamed gala last night, where no-show Tate McRae emerged as the big winner.
The Calgary-born pop star took home four of the night’s biggest prizes, including artist of the year, single of the year for “Sports Car” and album of the year for “So Close To What,” along with pop album of the year for the same project.
The only awards left to be handed out tonight are fan choice, breakthrough artist or group, group of the year and contemporary R&B recording.
What the ceremony lacks in hardware it makes up for in performances.
Also on deck to perform is Cameron Whitcomb, the newcomer who took home country album of the year at last night’s ceremony. He’s up for breakthrough artist tonight.
Ahead of the ceremony, he said even being included in it left him speechless.
“From working on a pipeline to being here, it’s just — I can’t even, I don’t even know what to say,” he said on the carpet.
He noted that he flew his parents out to the ceremony in business class — a first for his family.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2026.
Alex Nino Gheciu and Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press
