Tate McRae Wins Big, Trump Takes Some Lumps at Canada’s Juno Awards

variety.com:

Karen Bliss It was a bittersweet night for Tate McRae at the 54th annual Juno Awards in Vancouver, as the singer won four out of the five awards for which she was nominated but missed the event because she was thousands of miles away — in Brazil, already committed to playing Lollapalooza.

However, she was the night’s big winner, taking album (“Think Later”), pop album, single (“Exes”), and artist of the year. McRae, who has climbed to arena status in three short years and now has six Junos, was tied for the most nominations with country artist Josh Ross, whose star has also shot up in two years, recently opening Jelly Roll’s Canadian tour, receiving high praise onstage from the headliner and singing a duet with him.

So, Ross might’ve lost in four categories but taking home country album (“Complicated”) will certainly keep that trajectory going. “I just wanted my records to be heard around the world and I’m very grateful, this being my first project…” said the Nashville-based Ross, adding, “I’m proud to be Canadian and I think it’s time that we get back to our Canadian roots and remember that friends are better than enemies.” The line is in reference to the quickly dismantled goodwill that Canada has always shared with America, until an offhanded remark from President Trump about annexing Canada became his obsession — not to mention imposing higher tariffs, putting false blame on the country for the U.S.

fentanyl problem, and calling it “one of the nastiest countries to deal with.” All this has had the opposite desired effect, reigniting the kind of Canadian pride usually reserved for Canada Day (July 1).