Celine Dion nabs 6 Juno nominations to lead field

TORONTO (Billboard) - Celine Dion leads the Juno Award nominations, announced Tuesday, with six nods, while punk pop queen Avril Lavigne, crooner Michael Buble and the eclectic Feist each received five shots at awards.

Dion's "Taking Chances" and her French-language album "D'elles" were both nominated for album of the year. She received additional nominations in the categories of Juno fan choice award, artist of the year, pop album of the year and francophone album of the year.

Lavigne is also up for the Juno fan choice award, as well as single of the year for her hit "Girlfriend." Her latest effort, "Best Damn Thing," is up for album of the year, and she also is named in the categories of artist of the year and songwriter of the year.

Feist's hit "1234," which has brought her both critical acclaim and commercial success around the world, was nominated for single of the year.

Her album "The Reminder" is nominated as album of the year, while she also received nods for artist of the year, songwriter of the year and pop album of the year.

Crooner Buble, a frequent nominee in Canada's top music awards, adds five nominations. He is already the recipient of five Juno Awards.

Others nominated include rock group Burlington, Ontario's Finger Eleven, Montreal's Arcade Fire, Toronto-based Blue Rodeo and Vancouver's Hedley. Breakout artists Belly, Jeremy Fisher, Justin Nozuka, Serena Ryder and Suzie McNeil are nominated for new artist of the year, while nominees for new group of the year include Dragonette, Faber Drive, illScarlett, State of Shock and Wintersleep.

U.S. chart-toppers Bon Jovi, Fergie, Josh Groban, Rihanna and Timbaland all received nominations for international album of the year.

Winners will be announced at the Juno Awards ceremony on April 6 in Calgary, Alberta.

Reuters/Billboard