Ginette Reno doesn’t think it’s an honour to be nominated for fan choice Juno

TORONTO – There’s probably no bigger awards show cliche than a contender uttering the old standby: “It’s an honour just to be nominated.”

You definitely won’t hear that from beloved Quebec music star Ginette Reno at this weekend’s Juno Awards in Ottawa.

In fact, despite being nominated for the fan choice award alongside a number of homegrown international superstars – including Justin Bieber, Michael Buble and Nickelback – a spokesman says the 65-year-old chanteuse won’t make the trip to the show.

Pierre Raiche says the nomination shows the Juno organization doesn’t really understand what’s happening in Quebec’s music world.

“We have absolutely no chance of winning and that’s why it’s a bit of a joke,” added Raiche, who noted that Reno isn’t interested in speaking publicly about the award.

“She wasn’t really happy (about the nomination) because she truly feels she’s in the wrong category … and it’s simply not fair.”

If Reno was to be recognized, her latest album “La musique en moi” should have been nominated in the francophone album of the year category, said Raiche, instead of having her compete against a group of well known English artists, which also include Arcade Fire, Avril Lavigne, City and Colour, Deadmau5, Drake and Hedley.

Get breaking National news

Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won't miss a trending story.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Get Started

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Reno’s camp has long been frustrated with the Junos, even though she’s a four-time winner and was also up for the fan choice award in 2010.

“In 2009, we celebrated her 50th year in the industry with a big album, a big comeback … and here in Quebec we got nominated in four categories for the ADISQ awards, which is a similar, smaller (French) Junos,” Raiche said.

“We won all four. And at the Junos? We were not nominated. That happened once, we didn’t say anything, no fuss, nothing.

“And then in 2011, the exact same thing happens. We release (‘La musique en moi’) in March, we win (ADISQ) best album of the year, top-selling album. And we’re not even nominated at the Junos (this year for that album). So it’s obvious there’s something weird about this.”

Melanie Berry, president of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, said Reno is deserving of the fan choice nomination.

“The nominees used to always be determined by sales and this year it was actually 50 per cent sales, which Ginette Reno is extremely high in,” Berry said, adding that the other 50 per cent is based on things like print media coverage and social media interest, which she also ranked highly in.

Online fan voting determines the ultimate winner.

Nominees for the francophone album of the year category are chosen by a panel of judges.

Montreal radio host and newspaper columnist Sylvain Menard said Reno is a huge star at home and would probably win the fan choice award if only Quebecers were voting.

“She’s a popular figure, as popular with the young Quebecers as any big star in English Canada. She’s a part of our cultural scene and has been for so long, she’s like part of the family,” Menard said.

“The personality she has is really the girl next door – now she’s maybe the mother next door.”

Raiche added that Reno is not terribly upset about her Juno nomination – and the perceived best francophone album snub – and is focused instead on an upcoming series of concerts in Montreal.

___

– With files from reporter Nick Patch