Country star Shania Twain didn’t get her wish when she won three prizes at the 32nd annual Juno Awards, Canada’s equivalent of the Grammys, over the weekend.
After winning the Country Recording of the Year nod at the untelevised ceremony in Ottawa on Saturday, she had said she would prefer not to win anything at the next day’s televised event because she wanted to concentrate on her role as host.
Alas, she ended up nabbing the Artist of the Year and Fan Choice Awards the next day.
“I’m here to host the show and perform,” Twain said Saturday at a press conference. She added that she didn’t want to belittle the award but that this year “it would be better for someone else to win” so she could concentrate on hosting.
Not only did Twain take time out to pick up the awards, but she was also to take a break from hosting to perform “Up!” and “Forever and For Always” on Sunday.
The big winner was 18-year-old pop sensation Avril Lavigne, who on Sunday picked up the Single of the Year Award for “Complicated,” and the Album of the Year Award for “Let Go.” They went along with the two awards, best new artist and best pop album for “Let Go,” that she got on Saturday. She was nominated for five Junos.
“It’s been a great year. I’m looking forward to releasing plenty more records,” she said, as she raised the Juno statuette and hoisted a can of beer at Saturday’s ceremony.
On Sunday, Theory of a Deadman was given the New Group of the Year Award, while Alanis Morissette picked up the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award for “Hands Clean” and “So Unsexy.”
Remy Shand’s “The Way I Feel” was named R&B/Soul Recording of the Year and Eminem’s “The Eminem Show” International Album of the Year.
Twenty-eight awards were given out on Saturday and nine on Sunday. Saturday’s ceremony was plagued by no-shows, partly due to a blizzard that grounded flights.
The Swollen Members’ “Monsters in the Closet” won for best rap recording, but although they were in town, the band didn’t show for the Saturday ceremony.
“Gravity” by Our Lady Peace picked up the award for rock recording of the year, but the band didn’t appear on stage. Other absentee winners included Diana Krall, Zubot & Dawson, and Sum 41. Krall was recognized for best vocal jazz album, and Zubot & Dawson for roots and traditional group album. Sum 41 beat out Blue Rodeo and the Tragically Hip for best group of the year.
