Nelly Furtado害羞草研究所檚 pop music comeback is making its way to the Juno Awards.

Organizers named the 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 Like a Bird害羞草研究所� hitmaker as host of next year害羞草研究所檚 celebration of Canadian music during a press conference Tuesday in Halifax, where the event will air live on CBC from the city害羞草研究所檚 Scotiabank Centre on March 24.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be spicy. It害羞草研究所檚 going to be sexy,害羞草研究所� Furtado promised in a recent phone interview ahead of the big reveal.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 going to bring my A-game of keeping the festivities rolling along and bringing the fun, fashion and energy.害羞草研究所�

It will be the second time Furtado oversees the televised bash, following her stint at the 2007 Junos in Saskatoon where she won five awards including album of the year and artist of the year.

That year, she enthusiastically embraced her wackier side in an evening of comedic hijinks that started with her floating from the rafters in a bird-like, black feathered costume.

The goofiness continued as she appeared in a series of taped skits as her elder 害羞草研究所渁unt害羞草研究所� Tia Maria who flirted with singer Michael Bubl茅 and appeared in a mock music video for her song 害羞草研究所淧romiscuous.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淥h yeah, I really went there,害羞草研究所� Furtado laughed in reflection.

害羞草研究所淚t was really extra, but it was great.害羞草研究所�

The Victoria native is in the midst of a return to the spotlight after several years spent laying low 害羞草研究所� and with that comes a very calculated strategy.

Over the summer, the 44-year-old appeared as a vocalist on DJ/producer Dom Dolla害羞草研究所檚 pounding club track 害羞草研究所淓at Your Man,害羞草研究所� which saw her spitting subtle lyrical references to her past hits 害羞草研究所淪ay It Right害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淢aneater.害羞草研究所�

She followed it up with the sunshiny pop single 害羞草研究所淜eep Going Up害羞草研究所� which reteamed her with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, the powerhouse producer of her 2006 smash album 害羞草研究所淟oose.害羞草研究所� The trio previously recorded the hit 害羞草研究所淕ive It to Me害羞草研究所� together.

Furtado is also putting the finishing touches on a new album which she害羞草研究所檚 certain to tease on the Junos where she害羞草研究所檚 also slated to perform.

The show lineup includes Toronto rock quartet the Beaches, who recently found popularity on social media with their ex-boyfriend anthem 害羞草研究所淏lame Brett害羞草研究所� and Montreal singer Charlotte Cardin, a breakout Junos star two years ago when she picked up four wins.

The 害羞草研究所渟pontaneity害羞草研究所� of a live broadcast is already fuelling Furtado, who said she loves the improvisation that comes from unexpected moments.

害羞草研究所淟iterally, if someone from the audience wanted to host, I害羞草研究所檇 probably let them have at least 10 seconds of spotlight,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚 love a good jam 害羞草研究所� I害羞草研究所檓 a hippie at heart. I am from Vancouver Island. So come one, come all.害羞草研究所�

Furtado didn害羞草研究所檛 backtrack when reminded that the 2023 Junos broadcast was crashed by a topless environmental activist who interrupted presenter Avril Lavigne, who fired off some expletives as security escorted the woman away.

害羞草研究所淚 thought Avril was great,害羞草研究所� Furtado said.

害羞草研究所淪he did her thing. She kept it under control. But for me, I害羞草研究所檇 probably be like, 害羞草研究所榃hat do you want to say?害羞草研究所� Give them the microphone. Cause I害羞草研究所檓 just a little bit wild like that.害羞草研究所�

Aside from the unpredictable, Junos organizers are planning at least one historic moment.

Hip-hop pioneer Maestro Fresh Wes will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, becoming the first rapper to receive the honour.

The Toronto-raised performer, born Wes Williams, landed on the scene with his 1989 single 害羞草研究所淟et Your Backbone Slide害羞草研究所� and went on to win the first rap recording of the year Juno in 1991 for his debut album 害羞草研究所淪ymphony in Effect.害羞草研究所�

He scored further Canadian chart hits in the late 1990s, including the Guess Who-sampled track 害羞草研究所淪tick To Your Vision.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he bottom line is this is big for Canada, this is big for Canadian hip-hop, this is big for Black music in Canada,害羞草研究所� Williams said at the Halifax event where he was also confirmed Tuesday as one of the show害羞草研究所檚 performers.

害羞草研究所淚 had a slogan: Don害羞草研究所檛 make records, make history. And we are making history, definitely.害羞草研究所�

Calgary sisters Tegan and Sara will be given the humanitarian award from actor Elliot Page for their work as advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. The twin sisters created the Tegan and Sara Foundation, which supports grassroots organizations and social causes.

Juno organizers have other serious questions to consider ahead of next year害羞草研究所檚 broadcast.

A recent CBC News report that raised doubts about Buffy Sainte-Marie害羞草研究所檚 Indigenous ancestry has pressured the organization to address whether the five-time winner qualified for her trophies, mostly won in categories reserved for Indigenous musicians.

害羞草研究所淲e really want to take the time to process the information we害羞草研究所檙e receiving,害羞草研究所� Juno president Allan Reid said at the Halifax press conference.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a complex thing to understand about her Indigneiety and her Canadian citizenship.害羞草研究所�

He said the Junos is consulting with its Indigenous Music Advisory Committee, other stakeholders in the Indigenous community and the Junos board.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l have some more information on that in the days to come,害羞草研究所� said Reid.

Tickets for the Juno Awards go on sale to the public Friday.

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