Naomi Cowan Elated With First JUNO Nomination for Debut Album Welcome To Paradise

Jamaican singer and songwriter Naomi Cowan is among the nominees for Reggae Recording of the Year at the 55th Annual JUNO Awards, earning recognition for her debut album Welcome To Paradise

Naomi Cowan celebrates First JUNO Nomination

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has unveiled the nominees for the 55th Annual JUNO Awards, with reggae once again represented among the categories.

Among the nominees for Reggae Recording of the Year is Naomi Cowan, whose debut album Welcome To Paradise earned a nod. Reacting to the milestone on Instagram, Cowan shared her gratitude, writing, “1st album, 1st JUNO nomination in Canada. God really surprised me yesterday with this one. Paradise irl. 20 slides are not enough but if you’ve ever been to one of my shows, release parties, dubplate sessions or simply played my music in Canada - THANK YOU.”

She joins fellow nominees including Ready For You by Canadian reggae singer Exco Levi and producer Kheilstone, along with More Reggae (Funk It Up) by Samora and Ammoye, among others.

In total, this year’s JUNO Awards feature 248 nominations across 47 categories. Winners will be revealed during The JUNO Awards Gala Presented by Music Canada on Saturday, March 28, followed by The JUNO Awards Broadcast on Sunday, March 29, live from Hamilton, Ontario. The ceremony will air nationwide on CBC and CBC Gem, with global streaming available via CBC Music’s YouTube channel.

The reggae category remains part of the JUNO Awards after CARAS reversed its decision last year to remove it alongside the children’s and Christian/gospel categories—following strong backlash from artists and the wider music community.