{"id":199977,"date":"2019-01-30T01:44:35","date_gmt":"2019-01-30T06:44:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=199977"},"modified":"2019-01-30T01:44:35","modified_gmt":"2019-01-30T06:44:35","slug":"sarah-mclachlan-hopes-to-overcome-her-terror-of-public-speaking-as-juno-host","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2019\/01\/30\/sarah-mclachlan-hopes-to-overcome-her-terror-of-public-speaking-as-juno-host\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarah McLachlan hopes to overcome her terror of public speaking as Juno host"},"content":{"rendered":"
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McLachlan will be in good company when she takes the stage in London, Ont., on March 17. (File Photo<\/a>: @officialsarahmclachlan\/Instagram<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TORONTO \u2014 Sarah McLachlan is feeling a sense of \u201cthrill and terror in equal measures\u201d as she prepares to step into the role of hosting this year’s Juno Awards.<\/p>\n

The \u201cBuilding a Mystery\u201d singer says she’s never hosted any event at all, so starting with Canada’s biggest night in music will be a considerable challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cUp until very recently I’ve been terrified about public speaking,\u201d McLachlan admitted on Tuesday as the Juno nominees were revealed in Toronto.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve had to become used to getting up in front of people… which seems ridiculous because I stand in front of thousands of people and sing and talk \u2014 but that’s when I’m in my moment and playing music.\u201d<\/p>\n

McLachlan will be in good company when she takes the stage in London, Ont., on March 17.<\/p>\n

Leading the nominees is pop superstar Shawn Mendes with six nods, including for his self-titled third studio project, which is up for album of the year, and the song \u201cIn My Blood,\u201d competing for single of the year.<\/p>\n

The Pickering, Ont.-raised singer is also nominated for the Juno fan choice award, as well as artist, songwriter and pop album of the year.<\/p>\n

Hitmaker the Weeknd pulled in five nominations, most of them in top categories including album of the year, which is determined by sales and streaming figures.<\/p>\n

However, despite his massive popularity Drake was missing from the Juno nominees list again this year. His 2018 album \u201cScorpion\u201d didn’t receive any recognition, even though it broke streaming records with the help of viral hit \u201cIn My Feelings\u201d last summer.<\/p>\n

Junos president Allan Reid said Drake chose not submit his work for consideration.<\/p>\n

And while the Toronto rapper could have still qualified for the fan choice and best single awards, the organizers didn’t include him as he \u201copted not to participate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Representatives for Drake did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

Drake has chosen to skip major awards shows before. He caused a stir in the music industry after boycotting last year’s Grammy Awards by not submitting anything from his previous release \u201cMore Life.\u201d He changed his mind this year for \u201cScorpion\u201d and is now among the leading Grammy contenders.<\/p>\n

The CARAS organization, which runs the Junos, has struggled to win favour with Drake after he hosted the 2011 show but was shut out of all of his five nominations. Two years ago they resurrected the international achievement award after 17 years to hand it to the rapper, though he didn’t show up to accept.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would love to see him back and hopefully will someday,\u201d Reid says.<\/p>\n

Among the other highlights this year are DJ duo Loud Luxury who scored four nominations helped by their breakout hit \u201cBody.\u201d They’re contending for single of the year alongside Alessia Cara’s \u201cGrowing Pains,\u201d Mendes’ \u201cIn My Blood,\u201d the Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar’s \u201cPray for Me\u201d and German-Canadian newcomer Bulow’s \u201cThis is Not a Love Song.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bulow was recognized in four categories, which also included fan choice, breakthrough artist and pop album of the year.<\/p>\n

Buzzworthy Quebecois singer Hubert Lenoir proved his crossover appeal in English Canada by grabbing three Juno nominations for his concept album \u201cDarlene.\u201d It’s in the running for francophone album, pop album and the coveted best album of the year categories.<\/p>\n

Joining Lenior in the best album category is Mendes, the Weeknd for \u201cMy Dear Melancholy,\u201d Three Days Grace with \u201cOutsider,\u201d and Jann Arden’s \u201cThese Are the Days.\u201d<\/p>\n

About one third of the Juno nominees were female this year, Reid said, which is \u201cpretty much almost the same as last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

But two closely watched categories \u2014 engineer and producer of the year \u2014 lacked a single female nominee.<\/p>\n

The Junos have faced criticism for repeatedly failing to recognize women in both fields. Five women have won the producer award in the 44 years that it’s been handed out, including Diana Krall last year. The engineer prize has never gone to a woman.<\/p>\n

Reid said he recognizes the ongoing conversation around gender diversity, and pointed out the Junos saw more submissions in the production category by women, helped by outreach by organizers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes time for those things to change,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don’t have any gender-based categories so it’s about going out, being discovered, and it was nice to see the increase in submissions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut those eventually have to turn into nominations at some point,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The Juno Awards air March 17 on CBC-TV.<\/p>\n

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