Rita MacNeil passed away this week at the age of 68. (John Felstead/Canadian Press)

Beloved Canadian singer/songwriter Rita MacNeil passed away on April 16 at the age of 68 after suffering complications from surgery.

This morning, a statement was released on her website that beautifully captures her essence:

“A gentle soul with a heart of gold and the voice of an angel, Rita’s music spoke of her love of home and family, the courage to rise above life’s challenges and the hardworking men and women that tie this country together.”

The Big Pond, N.S., chanteuse will be greatly missed. To celebrate her life, here are a few things that you might not know about her.

Read More »from Rita MacNeil: Five things you didn’t know about the legendary Canadian singer

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Mission, B.C., singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen has earned the most Juno Award nominations this year, with mentions in five categories like Juno Fan Choice, Single of the Year, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Pop Album of the Year.

The 27-year-old former “Canadian Idol” contestant will go up against some stiff competition in each of these major categories, and unfortunately for her, we think that Jepsen has the chance of walking away with less than half of the awards she’s nominated for.

Read More »from Will Carly Rae Jepsen come out on top at the 2013 Juno Awards?

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After hearing the tragic news of Monday's Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and left over 100 injured, Canada’s musical community began to reach out offering their words of support.

Taking to her Twitter account, Alberta singer/songwriter Jann Arden was quite vocal about the event.

Why would anybody bomb the Boston Marathon? Unbelievable.

— jann arden (@jannarden) April 15, 2013

I feel absolutely sick about what is happening right now in Boston. Surreal. Terrorists are broken evil souls.

— jann arden (@jannarden) April 15, 2013

no matter what the world throws at me, US, I STILL have faith in people. I still believe in Good- honest, decent people.

— jann arden (@jannarden) April 15, 2013

flipping through the news. amazed at the kindness and helpfulness of the good people of Boston. folks banding together, solid, hopeful.

— jann arden (@jannarden) April 16, 2013

Tonight we may swim in a sea of despair- but the morning will surely bring solid ground. Steady on people.

Read More »from Canadian musicians react to Boston Marathon bombings

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Justin Bieber was completely snubbed at the 2013 Grammy Awards, and even though he's nominated in four categories at this Sunday’s Juno Awards, we foresee that the future looks murky for the Canadian pop music prince.

The 19-year-old singer has been named in categories like the Juno Fan Choice Award and Artist of the Year. In addition, his record “Believe” has picked up nominations for Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.

When it comes to the Fan Choice Award, Bieber has beaten the competition two years in a row, and since the category is determined based on sales and the public’s vote, we think that his over 37 million Beliebers will help him achieve a three-peat. The singer is also likely to win in the category of Album of the Year because, as the Ottawa Citizen points out, it goes to “the best-selling album of the year,” and Bieber’s “Believe” was the highest Canadian seller of 2012.

However, the Fan Choice Award and Album of the Year might be the only categories that the “All Around the World” hitmaker has on lock.

Read More »from Will Justin Bieber redeem himself at the 2013 Juno Awards?

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Canadian crooner Michael Bublé has blossomed before our eyes and finally discovered who he really is. In an interview with Billboard last week, the singer opened up about the musical journey that led to his latest album "To Be Loved" (out today) and his new sense of certainty.

“What's funny is it took me up to ‘Crazy Love’ to figure out who I was,” Bublé said. “I was trying to pull from so many places it took me that long to find out what Michael Bublé’s distinct voice was.”

He continued: “A lot of stuff I did, I was honestly just trying to do an impersonation. Listen, I started when I was 26, so by the time I was in my 30s I started to feel like I had finally put together who I am. I also felt like I had the power for the first time to say, ‘This is how I'm gonna do it.’"

On Sunday, the soon-to-be dad will host the Juno Awards and we expect that this new air of confidence will only add to the charming, charismatic and captivating aspects of his personality that we have come to know and love.

Read More »from Michael Bublé: Our high hopes for the 2013 Juno Awards host

Candice stuns with her "Lovesong" coverUp until literally the final seven minutes of Wednesday's "American Idol" top six show, things were looking pretty dire. Frontrunner Angie Miller tanked in her first performance. Lazaro Arbos's butchering of a much-loved Carpenters hit had Randy Jackson shouting "NOOOOO!" in slasher-flick-style horror. The babbling and rambling critiques by Mariah Carey, the top-earning talent show judge on television, proved that she must get paid by the word. And Ryan Seacrest's announcement of the first hour's fuddy-duddy theme, "Songs Of Burt Bacharach & Hal David," elicited little more than golf-claps from the unimpressed studio audience. (Way to court the youth demographic, "Idol.") But then, in the second hour, when the theme changed to "Songs I Wish I'd Written"…Candice Glover covered the Cure. And all was right with "Idol" once more. Candice's "Lovesong" was exactly what Wednesday's episode--nay, this entire "Idol" season--really needed.

Read More »from ‘Idol’ Top 6 Night: Candice Glover Is The Cure For The Season 12 Blues

On March 16, Bruce Springsteen brought an 11-year-old boy up to perform “Waitin' on a Sunny Day" with him during The Boss's “Wrecking Ball World Tour” stop in Brisbane, Australia. The unlikely pair looked like they had a blast together on stage!

After they finished singing, Springsteen led the boy upstage and helped him prepare for an awesome knee slide in front of the entire Brisbane Entertainment Centre audience.

Read More »from 11-year-old boy joins Bruce Springsteen on stage in Australia

Taylor Swift and Nelly took the stage together during the country/pop singer’s “Red Tour” stop in St. Louis on March 19, teaming up to perform the rapper’s new tune “Hey Porsche” in his hometown.

These two sharing a stage might seem like an unlikely combination, but the end result is fantastic.

Read More »from Taylor Swift performs ‘Hey Porsche’ with Nelly on stage