Joni Mitchell compared herself to a phoenix while accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Juno Awards

Dear Gossips,

The Juno Awards are Canada’s most prestigious music awards, the event happened in Hamilton last night, hosted by Mae Martin, where Joni Mitchell received the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Prime Minister Mark Carney who said she was one of the best of all time. No argument anywhere.

During her acceptance speech, Joni talked about the aneurysm and subsequent coma in 2015 – and talked about the good that came from it (quitting smoking, the support staff who helped her recover, living “with a houseful of women”), which only underscored the lyrics that the Prime Minister quoted in his introduction:

“Well, something's lost, but something's gained

In living every day”

She compared herself to a phoenix, that her life is better… and isn’t that exactly what it means to “look at clouds from both sides now”?

That song was part of the performance tribute, led by Sarah McLachlan and the exquisite Allison Russell. Dare you not to cry and then smile through your tears when Joni herself joins in for “Big Yellow Taxi” and Jully Black tells her to “come on, mama!”

Nelly Furtado was also inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame with a rousing medley featuring Lido Pimienta, Tanya Tagaq, Shawn Desman, Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, and Alessia Cara. I love these arrangements, blending so many of the sounds that reflect the mosaic of Canadian music.

Nelly reflected on that mosaic when she accepted the honour, noting that it shaped her artistry, specifically expressing her gratitude for the Black music community for embracing her and encouraging her, emphatically ending on the reminder that she lives in Canada, and has always made music in Canada with Canadian creatives. And she also made us feel old because what do you mean Nevis, her daughter, is 22 now and looks exactly like her?!