Drake, The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes and Alessia Cara lead the race for the 2017 Juno Awards, topping the list of nominees announced today for Canada's annual music prize.
Rapper Drake, R&B singer The Weeknd and singer-songwriter Mendes garnered five nominations each, while singer Cara and the late Leonard Cohen followed with four nods.
The Tragically Hip also earned multiple nominations, including for group of the year and rock album of the year for Man Machine Poem.
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Hip frontman Gord Downie earned separate nods as songwriter of the year and for best video, while his solo project, Secret Path, is up for best adult alternative album and recording package of the year.
The Tragically Hip and frontman Gord Downie, centre, earned a host of Juno nominations. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
Contenders in select categories include:
Single of the year: Wild Things, Alessia Cara; One Dance, Drake; Treat You Better, Shawn Mendes; Spirits, the Strumbellas; Starboy, The Weeknd.
Group of the year: Arkells; Billy Talent; Tegan and Sara; the Strumbellas; the Tragically Hip.
Artist: Alessia Cara; Drake; Leonard Cohen; Shawn Mendes; The Weeknd.
Fan's Choice: Alessia Cara; Belly; Drake; Hedley; Justin Bieber; Ruth B.; Shawn Mendes; the Strumbellas; The Weeknd; Tory Lanez.
Video of the year: Kill V. Maim, Grimes; Killa, Wiwek/Skrillex; The Stranger, Gord Downie; Lite Spots, Kaytranada; R.E.D., Yasiin Bey, Narcy & Blackbear, A Tribe Called Red.
International album: Dangerous Woman, Ariana Grande; A Head Full of Dreams, Coldplay; Made in the A.M., One Direction; Anti, Rihanna; This Is Acting, Sia.
#ICYMI: @atribecalledred, @alessiacara @itsruthb & @thestrumbellas will join @ShawnMendes as 2017 #JUNOS performers! 🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/IWf2VExUyQ
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@TheJUNOAwards
Organizers have also tapped some of this year's high-profile nominees to perform, including Cara, Mendes, the Strumbellas, Ruth B and A Tribe Called Red.
The annual awards show is in Ottawa this year. A week of festivities will precede the live awards broadcast on April 2.
Michael Bublé was announced last fall as the 2017 ceremony's host, and is returning to the gig he first took on to rave reviews in 2013.
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However, his participation has been in question since it was announced his toddler son was undergoing cancer treatment.
