Juno Awards 2012: The leading men and women

Grace Stanisci

Every year, a few front-runners emerge from the Canadian music scene and dominate the Juno Award nominations. This year, a few choice artists have risen above the pack and shown us that it's okay to be different.

This year Nickelback is among the most recognized artists earning four nominations, including the Fan Choice Award, Single of the Year, Album of the Year and Group of the Year. They've stood strong against their harshest critics and always respond to their haters with witticism and cool detachment. After all, 50 million fans can't be wrong.

See more: Seven reasons not to miss the Junos

Avril Lavigne is another artist that has lasted through her trials and tribulations and emerged on the other side with the same spunk that she started with. When she burst onto the music scene in 2002, she was labelled the "anti-Britney". Today, she is a multi-platinum artist and is nominated for three Juno Awards, including the Fan Choice Award, Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.

Another artist that screams individuality is singer/songwriter and four-time Juno nominee this year, Feist. Born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, the indie pop icon has made a career out of being original. Her unique music has been rewarded with eight Juno Awards and she shows no signs of slowing down. Her album, "Metals," is nominated for Adult Alternative Album of the Year and in her words was "partly about regaining [her] self-respect."

See more: Best and worst Juno Awards hosts

Even though Drake will not be in attendance at this year's award show, he certainly has made a name for himself in the hip-hop community. In the past, he has been nominated for 10 Juno Awards and only taken home two prizes. Last year, he served as host for the awards, was nominated six times and lost every single time. Since then he has gone on to release a Billboard Hot 100 single, "Take Care," and maybe this year the Junos will show him some love in one of the four categories that he holds a nomination in.

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Tune in this Sunday as the Juno Awards air live from Ottawa and check in with Yahoo! Canada Music daily for all your Juno news!

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