Corey Hart害羞草研究所檚 sizzling contributions to pop music will be in focus at the Juno Awards on Sunday, but the hitmaker says this year he害羞草研究所檒l be recognizing another significant personal milestone at the event.

Nearly 26 years ago, Hart was introduced to his wife, Quebecois singer Julie Masse, when they handed out the Juno for group of the year together live on the broadcast.

But it wasn害羞草研究所檛 originally supposed to happen that way 害羞草研究所� an 11th-hour scheduling snafu is how the stars aligned for the couple back in 1993.

害羞草研究所淚f I hadn害羞草研究所檛 been pig-headed, opinionated or following my inner voice, I never would害羞草研究所檝e met her,害羞草研究所� said Hart, ahead of his induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

The performer was initially set to hand out album of the year, but Juno producers shuffled presenters and asked him to announce video of the year instead.

Hart was on his way to the dress rehearsal when he got the call about a change of plans.

The 害羞草研究所淪unglasses at Night害羞草研究所� singer-songwriter says he rejected the idea on the spot, thinking it 害羞草研究所渨as a demotion害羞草研究所� for a musician to hand out a visual prize.

害羞草研究所淭hat just doesn害羞草研究所檛 feel right,害羞草研究所� he remembered telling the producers. 害羞草研究所淪o, no problem I just won害羞草研究所檛 present this year.害羞草研究所�

A few minutes after hanging up, the producers called back with another offer 害羞草研究所� he could pair up with Masse, a rising francophone star, to pass out the group of the year award.

Hart was immediately on board.

Masse was coming off her sophomore album that night and picked up best new female artist.

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When host Celine Dion welcomed the pair onto the stage, their casual banter was magnetic. They announced the Barenaked Ladies as the winners of the Juno.

As Hart made his way back to his seat, Masse害羞草研究所檚 manager stopped him to gush about their stage presence.

害羞草研究所淗e quickly garbled out to me that Julie was going to be pursuing a career in English,害羞草研究所� Hart said.

害羞草研究所淗e thought we looked like we had great chemistry together. I don害羞草研究所檛 think (this) is what he imagined when he made that comment.害羞草研究所�

Months later, Hart wound up in the studio working alongside producer Tom Lord-Alge on Masse害羞草研究所檚 single 害羞草研究所淥ne More Moment.害羞草研究所� More songs followed as production moved to Morin-Heights, Que.

The pair was in love by the following year, he said.

害羞草研究所淟iterally from the time we started seeing each other in the summer of 1994 we害羞草研究所檝e never been apart for more than a few days,害羞草研究所� he said.

Both Hart and Masse were in crumbling marriages at the time, he said, and those quickly dissolved.

害羞草研究所淚t was complicated,害羞草研究所� he added.

The couple had three daughters before they wed in 2000, and a son after they tied the knot.

When Hart began to ease out of Canada害羞草研究所檚 music industry the family settled in Barbados.

In more recent years, Hart, now 56, and Masse have collaborated on each other害羞草研究所檚 work. She appears as a backup singer on his upcoming EP 害羞草研究所淒reaming Time Again,害羞草研究所� due for release on May 3.

Masse, 48, will also join him on stage when he closes out the Juno broadcast performing some of his biggest hits.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 an empathy and an understanding that only another artist can relate to,害羞草研究所� Hart said.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e very simpatico together.害羞草研究所�

The Juno Awards air Sunday on CBC-TV.

David Friend, The Canadian Press

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