Tate McRae, Josh Ross lead nominees for country-loving 2025 Junos
Alberta pop sensation Tate McRae and Nashville rising star Josh Ross are leading the pack of nominees for the 2025 Juno Awards, showcasing the growing influence of country and Punjabi music in the Canadian music scene. Both artists have been making waves with five nominations each, solidifying their status as rising stars in the industry.
McRae, who has been a consistent presence at the Junos since her first nomination in 2021, has seen a meteoric rise to fame in a short period of time. With her 2023 album “Think Later” and hit single “Exes,” she is in the running for top awards including fan choice, single, artist, album, and pop album of the year. Competing against a diverse group of nominees in the album category, McRae is up against French-language releases, Punjabi music, and Indigenous language albums.
On the other hand, Josh Ross, a country artist, has garnered attention with his single “Single Again” and album “Complicated,” earning nominations in the same categories as McRae, with a focus on country music. Ross’s success reflects the growing popularity of country music at the Junos, with four out of the 10 fan choice nominees being country artists or country-adjacent.
Shawn Mendes, known for his country-influenced single “Why Why Why,” is also a prominent nominee this year, receiving nods for single, artist, and pop album of the year. He is tied for the second-most nominations with The Weeknd, who is up for fan choice, artist, songwriter, and single of the year.
Beyoncé’s country album “Cowboy Carter” has made a significant impact on the Junos shortlist, with four Canadians nominated for their contributions to the Grammy-winning album. Lowell and Nathan Ferraro are up for songwriter of the year, while Jack Rochon and Shawn Everett are competing for producer of the year for their work on the album.
This year’s Junos feature new categories like “South Asian music recording of the year,” highlighting homegrown talent inspired by Punjabi and Bollywood music. Artists like AP Dhillon, Jonita Gandhi, and Karan Aujla are among the nominees in this category, showcasing the diversity of Canadian music.
Overall, the 2025 Juno Awards promise to be a celebration of Canadian talent across various genres, from pop and country to Punjabi and Indigenous music. With a lineup of talented artists and exciting new categories, the Junos are set to showcase the best of Canadian music on March 30 in Vancouver.
