Furtado, k-os, Billy Talent score top Juno nods

Pop singer Nelly Furtado, rock quartet Billy Talent and hit rapper k-os led the list of this year's Juno Award nominees, announced in Toronto on Tuesday afternoon.

All three acts earned five nominations each for the upcoming music awards gala, set to hit Saskatoon on April 1.

The award-winning Furtado stormed back onto international music charts last year with her blockbuster, the Timbaland-produced album Loose and its infectious first track, Promiscuous.

The Victoria-born singer, also host ofthis year's gala, has won nominations in several of the most prominent Juno categories, including album of the year, artist of the year and single of the year.

"Nelly Furtado is going to show a side of herself that no one has seen before," said John Brunton, the executive producer of Canadian Idol who will also helm this year's Juno show.

"Strap your seatbelts on. It's going to be sexier than you've ever seen her before."

Juno favourite k-os is once again a leading contender, this time for his album Atlantis: Hymns For Disco and its hit single Sunday Morning. The Toronto-based rapper's nominations include songwriter of the year, producer of the year and single of the year.

Punk-pop rockers Billy Talent earned five Juno nods for their sophomore effort, Billy Talent II, receiving nominations in categories such as album of the year, group of the year and single of the year for Devil in a Midnight Mass.

Rounding out the single of the year nominees are singer-songwriter Chantel Kreviazuk's All I Can Do and Pull Me Through by Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy.

Vying against Furtado and Billy Talent for the best album trophy will be Quebec superstar and TV personality Gregory Charles's I Think of You, rock quartet Hedley's self-titled album and Three Days Grace's second album, One-X.

Rock dominated the nominees for group of the year, with four younger ensembles set to compete against a Canadian veteran for the title: the aforementioned Billy Talent, Hedley and Three Days Grace are up against Alexisonfire and The Tragically Hip.

On the other hand, singers representing a variety of genres will compete for the artist of the year Juno: in addition to Furtado and Quebec's Charles, Diana Krall, Loreena McKennitt and Pierre Lapointe are nominees.

International artists whose albums are up for Junos this year include controversial country trio Dixie Chicks (Taking the Long Way),classical-crossover quartet Il Divo (Ancora), pop star Justin Timberlake (FutureSex/LoveSounds), dance diva Madonna (Confessions on a Dance Floor) and California rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers (Stadium Arcadium).

Classical competition

After a year's worth of Mozart celebrations, the maestro's name turned up multiple times among Juno's classical music categories.

One of these categories classical album of the year, vocal or choral performance will see an especially tough competition between established Canada opera stars and acclaimed up-and-comers.

The nominees are: soprano Adrianne Pieczonka for Adrianne Pieczonka Sings Wagner and Strauss; acclaimed tenor Ben Heppner and Staatskappelle Dresen for Wagner: Arias; soprano Isabel Byrakdarian, tenor Michael Schade and baritone Russell Braun with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra for Mozart: Arie e Duetti; soprano Karina Gauvin and Les Borades Montreal for Purcell; and soprano Measha Brueggergosman and the Orchestra symphonique de Qubec for Extase.

Many of the Canadian recording artists nominated for next weekend's Grammy Awards also scored Juno nominations on Tuesday, including Furtado, folk rock legend Neil Young (adult alternative album), crooner Michael Bubl (fan choice), singer Sarah McLachlan (fan choice, pop album), jazz singer Diana Krall (best artist, vocal jazz), East Coast songwriter Gordie Sampson (songwriter), Prairie troupe Northern Cree (aboriginal recording) and Winnipeg country group The Duhks (roots and traditional album, group).

Lead nominees to take Juno stage

April's Juno ceremony will include performances by many of the leading nominees, including Billy Talent, k-os, Three Days Grace, Gregory Charles and the Tragically Hip.

The gala will also include a tribute to Winnipeg-born, Victoria-raised music producer Bob Rock, who will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and is also a nominee in the producer of the year category for his work on the Hip's new album, World Container.

An original member of the 1980s band The Payolas, Rock is now based in Hawaii and is best known as the longtime producer of heavy metal icons Metallica. He has also produced or served as recording engineer on albums by Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, David Lee Roch, Bryan Adams, Michael Bubl, Our Lady Peace, Aerosmith, Cher, Loverboy and The Cult.

The Juno Awards will be presented April 1 at Saskatoon's Credit Union Centre.