The 2018 Juno Awards was some of the best music television Canada has seen in a looong time.

It was short, sweet and to the point, with an impressive smattering of performances from Canadian artists young and old, from a variety of genres and backgrounds. Diverse, kind and inspirational, the show was a true representation of everything admirable about Canada.

Host Michael Bublé opened the show with the sweet news that he and his wife Luisana Lopilato are expecting a third child. “Five years ago, when I hosted the first time in Regina, you brought me luck, and I was pregnant… I mean, my wife was… I mean we were pregnant with our first child,” Bublé joked. “Here I am five years later, and whoops, you did it again! My wife and I are pregnant with our number three!”

The announcement comes months after Bublé shared that his young son Noah, who battled liver cancer in 2017, was in remission. “Going through what I’ve gone through has given me a lot of perspective,” he said on the Juno Awards red carpet. “I know what’s important for me and that’s my family and having integrity in my life.”

Nothing like a good baby-on-the-way announcement to give you goosebumps, right?! The chills didn’t stop there.

Here are five more of the coolest moments from the 2018 Juno Awards.

Daniel Caesar had the most hilarious reaction to winning the Juno for best R&B/soul recording

The Oshawa, Ontario native released his debut album Freudian in August 2017, and it was met with critical acclaim from several celebs, including former U.S. president Barack Obama and model Kendall Jenner. In addition to the Juno win, the album earned two Grammy nods for best R&B performance and best R&B album. However, despite the international recognition, Caesar was totally flabbergasted when presenter (and Olympic snowboarder) Mark McMorris called his name.

Isn’t that SO freakin’ cute?!

Arcade Fire performed a stunning version of “Everything Now” accompanied by Indigenous artists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2DFnxsj4Ag

Despite losing to Shawn Mendes’s “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” for single of the year, indie band Arcade Fire still got lots of loves for “Everything Now.” The five-piece band performed the track at the Junos with two special additions: a string section and a group of Indigenous singers. The performance was stunning, and the band deservedly took home the Juno for album of the year plus the international achievement award for “exemplary success on a global scale.” Arcade Fire is the first band to win this award, with other honourees including Drake, Celine Dion and Shania Twain.

Jessie Reyez invited Daniel Caesar on stage for a new version of her track “Figures”

“You just saw her win [the Juno for] breakthrough artist, and honestly, it’s her year,” Bublé says as he introduces Jessie Reyez, and we’re pretty sure he’s right. The Toronto native brought her pal (and fellow Canadian) Daniel Caesar on stage, and the pair gave us a stunning updated version of Reyez’s song “Figures” in what was likely one of the best performances of the night. Excuse us while we listen to “Figures, a Reprise” on repeat.

Sarah Harmer, Kevin Hearn and Dallas Green came together to honour the late Gord Downie in a chilling tribute performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA3ZNAlaetc

Downie passed in October 2017 after a two-year battle with brain cancer, but not before he and his band, the Tragically Hip, changed the face of Canadian music forever. Downie was awarded three Junos for best artist, best adult alternative album and best songwriter. The tribute to Downie was stunning, with Harmer and Hearn singing “Introduce Yerself” and City And Colour’s frontman Dallas Green taking the stage to cover one of the band’s most well known songs, “Bobcaygeon.” On the screens behind the artists as they sang played old footage of Downie rocking his signature jean jackets and feathered hats.

The Barenaked Ladies—including Steven Page—reunited to close out the show

 

“If I had a million dollars”… I would give it all to the Barenaked Ladies if they promised to permanently reunite and release a new album (or seven). The chemistry was undoubtedly electric as the band rocked two of their biggest tracks from the 1990’s—”One Week” and “If I Had a Million Dollars”—to celebrate their induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Then, in the most Canadian move of all time, several other performers like rapper Kardinal Offishal came on stage to close out the show as a group. The performance left most everyone in tears, including the band’s former frontman, Steven Page.

Filed under: Juno Awards, Junos