Carly Rae Jepsen set to host Junos in Winnipeg

Canadian dance-pop star Carly Rae Jepsen will host the 2027 Juno Awards in Winnipeg on April 4, CBC announced on Monday. The singer, who rose to fame with her hit single Call Me Maybe in 2012, will be the first host to hold the prestigious event in the city. Angine de Poitrine, a Quebec polka-dotted duo known for their microtonal "space rock," will also make their Junos debut during the telecast, while Toronto's rock band Our Lady Peace will perform, as they are set to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

The Juno Awards were last held in Winnipeg in 2014. "We're very excited to be back," Allan Reid, president and CEO of CARAS and the Juno Awards, said at the press conference. The city has significantly grown since the last Junos event and the music industry in Winnipeg is thriving. Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham emphasized the city's rich musical history and the excitement surrounding the event.

Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs' Organization praised the Junos for recognizing Indigenous artists, while Chief Gordon Bluesky of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation expressed anticipation for the event. Manitoba Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Nellie Kennedy highlighted the event's economic and cultural benefits, with the province contributing $1.5 million towards the cost.

Tickets for the April 4 Juno Awards telecast will be available for purchase on Ticketmaster starting Friday, with proceeds going to MusiCounts, an organization that supplies instruments to schools across Canada.