Joni Mitchell was honored with the lifetime achievement award on the 2026 Juno Awards final evening. Through the ceremony, held on the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Mitchell made a uncommon public look to simply accept the award and to hitch Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell as they carried out a medley of her songs.
McLachlan opened the efficiency with Mitchell’s 1971 tune “A Case of You. Russell joined for a duet of “Each Sides Now.” The singers welcomed Mitchell to the stage for a rousing rendition of “Huge Yellow Taxi,” which additionally included most of the different musicians current.
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney was readily available to current Mitchell together with her award. “Joni’s music didn’t simply present the soundtrack to our lives,” Carney famous. “She shifted tradition, impressed generations and redefined what songwriting could possibly be.”
Throughout her acceptance speech, Mitchell mirrored on Carney’s management, telling the viewers, “I’m dwelling within the States, and you already know what’s taking place there.” She added of Carney, “This man is a blessing. You guys are so lucky.”
She additionally shared how a lot has shifted for her in her later years. “I had a [brain] aneurysm, which modified my life — oddly, for the higher,” she mentioned. “I went right into a coma, which helped me to stop smoking. And my home crammed up with essentially the most fantastic nurses. I used to be, on the highway with males for years and years; now I stay with a home full of girls. So my life has modified for the higher, out of a disaster, like a phoenix who grows a greater life.”
The Juno Awards are Canada’s model of the Grammys. Through the ceremony Tate McRae received album of the 12 months and pop album of the 12 months for So Near What and single of the 12 months for “Sports activities Automobile,” in addition to artist of the 12 months. Cameron Whitcomb received breakthrough artist or group of the 12 months.
The awards present additionally noticed Nelly Furtado being inducted into the Canadian Music Corridor of Fame with pre-taped video tribute by Drake. “Being a girl within the music trade, in any period, is one thing that I’ve to tip my hat to,” Drake mentioned. “The lads on this enterprise don’t make it any simpler. I feel what was most spectacular to me is the respect that each one males had once they spoke about you.”
