Drake Inducts Furtado into Juno Hall of Fame, Revives 2011 Snub

At the Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ontario, on March 29, 2026, rapper Drake delivered a prerecorded video tribute inducting longtime friend Nelly Furtado into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, while reigniting a long-standing grievance against the awards organization over a perceived snub from 15 years earlier.

Drake, speaking from what appeared to be a recording studio, praised Furtado's influence on his career and Canadian music at large. "You were our North Star, the proof that it was possible," he said, describing her as "the Portuguese princess who could go from spitting 16s with Swollen Members to dropping Maneater and Promiscuous with Timbaland." He highlighted her resilience in a male-dominated industry and recalled shared performances, including a 2022 concert where they sang hits like "Promiscuous" and "I'm Like a Bird." Furtado, visibly emotional, wiped away a tear during the message. The tribute featured a live medley of her songs performed by artists including Alessia Cara, Jully Black, Shawn Desman, and Tanya Tagaq.

As he concluded, Drake turned his attention to the Junos, hosted by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. "To the Junos, because you are...