Dion leads the Juno pack

On the local scene, P.J. Perry and Corb Lund pick up nominations
Francois Marchand, The Edmonton Journal; Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, February 06
Celine Dion emerged as the big winner when the 2008 Juno Award nominations were announced Tuesday morning in Toronto.

The Quebec chanteuse led the pack with six nominations, while indie darling Feist, pop-punk starlet Avril Lavigne and crooner Michael Buble each scored five.

The winners will be announced in Calgary on April 6. Comedian Russell Peters, who'll host that ceremony, says he's a choice organizers will come to regret.
This is a show I generally would never have watched," he deadpanned.

For those who do watch the event, artists slated to perform include Feist,

Lavigne, soprano Measha Brueggergosman and Anne Murray. The latter has the most Juno nominations of all time, and scored another for pop album of the year for Duets: Friends & Legends.

A handful of Alberta artists were among those cited. Not surprisingly, most were in the country recording of the year category, where four out five nominees are from this province. Calgary's multiple Juno recipient Paul Brandt, Hobbema's Shane Yellowbird, Lacombe's Gord Bamford and Aaron Lines of Fort McMurray will all be vying for the coveted statue.

Edmonton's Corb Lund has also been nominated. His latest album, Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier!, was cited in the roots and traditional album of the year, solo category. Lund won the Juno in the same category in 2006 for his critically acclaimed breakthrough, Hair In My Eyes Like a Highland Steer.

Alberta jazz legend P.J. Perry garnered a nomination in the traditional jazz album of the year category for his performance alongside jazz greats Oliver Jones, Ian MacDougall, Terry Clarke and Michel Donato on their Live Jazz Legends album.

Journalists, artists and industry types packed the Royal York's Imperial Room to hear the learn the nominees in 39 categories.

Dion added to her 53 previous nominations with nods for the Juno Fan Choice Award, artist of the year, francophone album of the year (for D'elles) and pop album of the year (Taking Chances), while both her albums were nominated for album of the year. Feist scored nominations for single (1234), album (The Reminder), artist, songwriter and pop album of the year. Lavigne was nominated for the Juno Fan Choice Award, single (Girlfriend), album (The Best Damn Thing), artist and songwriter of the year. Buble earned nominations for the Juno Fan Choice Award and single (Everything), album (Call Me Irresponsible), artist and pop album of the year.

Montreal collective Arcade Fire, rockers Finger Eleven and alt-country veterans Blue Rodeo all earned three nominations apiece.