Joni Mitchell was honored with the lifetime achievement award at the 2026 Juno Awards last night. During the ceremony, held at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Mitchell made a rare public appearance to accept the award and to join Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell as they performed a medley of her songs.
McLachlan opened the performance with Mitchell’s 1971 song “A Case of You. Russell joined for a duet of “Both Sides Now.” The singers welcomed Mitchell to the stage for a rousing rendition of “Big Yellow Taxi,” which also included many of the other musicians present.
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney was on hand to present Mitchell with her award. “Joni’s music didn’t just provide the soundtrack to our lives,” Carney noted. “She shifted culture, inspired generations and redefined what songwriting could be.”
During her acceptance speech, Mitchell reflected on Carney’s leadership, telling the audience, “I’m living in the States, and you know what’s happening there.” She added of Carney, “This man is a blessing. You guys are so fortunate.”
She also shared how much has shifted for her in her later years. “I had a [brain] aneurysm, which changed my life — oddly, for the better,” she said. “I went into a coma, which helped me to quit smoking. And my house filled up with the most wonderful nurses. I was, on the road with men for years and years; now I live with a house full of women. So my life has changed for the better, out of a catastrophe, like a phoenix who grows a better life.”
The Juno Awards are Canada’s version of the Grammys. During the ceremony Tate McRae won album of the year and pop album of the year for So Close to What and single of the year for “Sports Car,” as well as artist of the year. Cameron Whitcomb won breakthrough artist or group of the year.
The awards show also saw Nelly Furtado being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame with pre-taped video tribute by Drake. “Being a woman in the music industry, in any era, is something that I have to tip my hat to,” Drake said. “The men in this business do not make it any easier. I think what was most impressive to me is the respect that all men had when they spoke about you.”
