2025 Juno Awards host Michael Bublé kicked off the Sunday evening broadcast with a supersized performance, reimagining his biggest hits with the help of Canadian musicians Maestro Fresh Wes, Jonita Gandhi, Elisapie, and Roxane Bruneau.
Together, they sang a medley of Bublé’s songs—Feeling Good, Haven’t Met You Yet, and Home—in English, Inuktitut, French, and Punjabi. This year marks 20 years since he released Feeling Good and Home.
Watch his performance below.
Bublé set the tone for the evening with a heartfelt tribute to Canada, sharing his pride for his home country during his opening monologue.
“We are the greatest nation on Earth,” he told the audience. “And we are not for sale.”
Other musicians celebrated Canadian culture in their own ways, most notably East Coast legend Anne Murray.
The retired singer accepted a lifetime achievement award while dressed in a sequined red hockey jersey with “Canada” emblazoned across the front. In her speech, she reflected on the early pressures to move to New York or Los Angeles.
“I just couldn’t do it,” she said.
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“I knew instinctively I needed a place to go, to escape when my work was done. Canada is my safe haven. My safety blanket. My light at the end of the tunnel—it still is.”=
Backstage, Murray revealed that the jersey was a suggestion from a friend. She completed the look with her Order of Canada pin.
“All I have to do is wear this,” she said. “I don’t even have to say anything. It says it all.”
Throughout the night, winners shared personal reflections and gratitude.
Fan choice winner bbno$ expressed his shock at beating out major pop names like Tate McRae and Shawn Mendes for the prize.
Josh Ross had a more reserved message for his fans after winning Country Album of the Year for Complicated.
“I think it’s time to get back to our Canadian roots and remember that friends are better than enemies,” he said from the stage.
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Not everything was about big statements. Bublé’s patriotic opening came after he delivered a vibrant medley of his hits.
He was joined on stage by an eclectic lineup of artists, including Maestro Fresh Wes, Elisapie, and Roxane Bruneau, performing Bublé’s songs in multiple languages before closing with Home.
The Junos broadcast marked the culmination of a weekend celebrating Canadian music, with McRae emerging as the big winner.
At a Saturday industry gala, the Greedy pop singer picked up four Junos, including Album, Artist, and Single of the Year.
On the Sunday broadcast, Toronto band The Beaches was selected as Group of the Year.
Palestinian-Canadian artist Nemahsis was named Breakthrough Artist, adding to the Alternative Album win she earned for her debut Verbatim a night earlier.
“I’ve been wearing a hijab for 20-plus years,” she said.
“All I ever wanted was to turn on Family Channel or YTV and just see somebody who looks like me. I didn’t think it would take this long.”
Sum 41 delivered an electrifying performance of Fat Lip, In Too Deep, and a medley of their other hits as they were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
The Ajax, Ont., pop-punk band marked the Junos as their final performance together after a yearlong farewell tour, celebrating the induction as a career high.
“This moment is surreal for us because we’re not really an award show band,” lead singer Deryck Whibley said.
“We’ve always just focused on being our best, not paying attention to anyone else. Well, except for Iron Maiden, of course.”
Producer Boi-1da, born Matthew Samuels, accepted his International Achievement Juno Award with a heartfelt reflection on his journey in music, from his early days to working with Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.
He also gave a special shoutout to rapper Drake, a longtime friend and collaborator, whom he called “the greatest artist of all time.”
“Drake’s my brother,” he added backstage, brushing off industry speculation and emphasizing their strong connection.
