‘Greedy’ pop star Tate McRae pockets a leading four wins at Junos pre-telecast ceremony

By Canadian Press on March 29, 2025.

VANCOUVER — Calgary pop star Tate McRae was feeling the wealth at the Juno Awards industry gala on Saturday.

The “Greedy” singer emerged as the night’s top winner at the invite-only event, picking up four Junos in several of the most coveted categories.

McRae won artist of the year while “Exes” was named single of the year. Her 2023 record “Think Later” won both album and pop album of the year.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t there to bask in her rewards. McRae was hundreds of miles away playing a music festival in Brazil, which left her texting messages of gratitude instead.

“Hey everyone, it’s Tate here. I’m in São Paulo,” co-host and actress Supinder Wraich read from the stage at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

McRae continued the text, thanking her Canadian fans “who’ve been with me since the start of this wild ride.”

At least one of those adoring fans was in the room showing his support. Country singer Josh Ross, a self-professed McRae fan who also happened to tie her this year with a leading five nominations, rose to his feet a few times when her name was called to show his support.

Other big winners at the pre-telecast included Mustafa, who didn’t show up to accept his two Junos. His self-directed “Name of God” was named music video of the year, and he also won songwriter of the year.

Punjabi music star AP Dhillon wasn’t there to take home the first-ever South Asian music recording Juno award. His album “The Brownprint” won the category.

But emotions were high for some winners who were present.

Darren Metz of Haisla hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids said he was caught in the moment of his first Juno win for the pair’s sixth album “Red Future.” It landed rap album of the year.

“I had a good cry walking here,” Metz said in the press room standing beside his collaborator Quinton Nyce, known as Yung Trybez.

“When you work so hard towards something for so long, and then finally get it, all the emotions you endured throughout that journey just come out.”

Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie extended the celebration for her pop covers collection “Inuktitut,” which saw her translate hits by Blondie and Metallica to her native tongue.

Last year, the album helped her win contemporary Indigenous artist, due to qualification dates it was eligible to win adult alternative album of the year.

She said making it taught her “how to go to that truthful place.”

“I think it pretty much changed my life,” she said. “And I feel like I’m going to write songs in a different way.”

Elizabeth Lowell Boland won the first songwriter of the year award created for non-performers. She picked up the prize for her work behind the scenes on Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter” album and the Beaches’ “Takes One To Know One.”

The Calgary-raised Boland pushed for splitting the songwriting Juno category into two awards — performer and non-performer — after seeing the only Juno songwriting trophy consistently won by well-known stage performers.

“I’ve been fighting for this award,” Boland said.

“I chased down people at parties. I was really annoying. I joked that people would run away from me when they saw me at parties, because I wasn’t really interested in mingling. I just wanted to change this one little thing.”

Palestinian-Canadian artist Nemahsis received alternative album for her debut “Verbathim,” which was co-produced by Noah (40) Shebib. Known as Drake’s long-time collaborator, he swooped in to help her finish the project after she was dropped from her label.

“Oh my god, I forgot to thank him,” exclaimed the singer, born Nemah Hasan.

“This album wouldn’t be out without him, not just because he’s the best ears in the industry, but also because I had no money, so I got bang for my buck.”

Aqyila scored contemporary R&B recording of the year for “Bloom,” while Priori’s “This But More” won electronic album.

TikTok star Jake Vaadeland’s bluegrass release “Retro Man … More and More” took home traditional roots album. The dapper, 1950s-style bluegrass musician accepted his Juno dressed in a retro suit accented by music notes on the collar.

“I am well aware that I’m living in the year 2025 — or whatever it is, ” he said with a prominent twang in his voice.

“And I may dress a certain way, or play a certain style of music, but I still grew up in the generation that I grew up in … This type of performance, this type of entertainment is really missing in the music industry today. We need to bring it back. And I’m trying so hard to do that.”

The Junos industry ceremony precedes Sunday’s CBC broadcast, which Michael Buble host and Sum 41 will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2025.

David Friend, The Canadian Press