Nelly Furtado emerged a multiple winner at Saturday night's Juno industry event, capturing artist of the year as well as pop album of the year for Loose.

"Wow, this is exciting," said Furtado, who climbed the charts in 2006 with a sexed-up look and sound, working with producer Timbaland on hits such as Promiscuous and Maneater.

Nelly Furtado, seen here in February at a Hollywood event, is up for another three Junos on Sunday night. The singer is hosting the televised gala.
(Danny Moloshok/Associated Press)

"I'm just humbled. I'm happy to be here and really want to keep making music and keep making albums and keep writing songs."

Furtado beat out Chantal Kreviazuk (Ghost Stories), k-os (Atlantis:Hymns For Disco), Sarah McLachlan (Wintersong) and Tomi Swick (Stalled Out In The Doorway) in the pop album category.

"I've worked pretty hard over the last eight years," said Furtado, who now has three albums under her belt, including 2003's Folklore and 2000's Whoa, Nelly!

The sultry singer could be collecting more trophies at the big gala to be televised on Sunday night, which she is hosting. The Victoria native is up for best album, best single and the fan choice award.

Dixie Chicks triumph again

The private industry event on Saturday in Saskatoon handed out 32 out of 39 Junos. Hip-hop artist k-os and rockers Billy Talent also topped the Juno list for most nominations with five. 

K-os lost out in four categories — songwriter of the year, producer of the year and video of the year — on Saturday but is still up for single of the year with his catchy tune Sunday Morning.

George Canyon, seen performing in 2006, captured the Juno for top country recording.
(Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

Other winners on Saturday included Diana Krall for vocal jazz album of the year (From This Moment On); Jim Byrnes's House of Refuge took home blues album of the year; Swollen Members were tops with the rap recording of the year, Black Magic; Jim Cuddy's solo effort — The Light That Guides You Home — won in the adult alternative album category, while George Canyon captured country recording of the year (Somebody Wrote Love ).

Cuddy, who got an ovation as he went up to accept his award, said winning was humbling and overwhelming.
 
Nova Scotia's Gordie Sampson continues his winning streak with the songwriter of the year award for his work, which includes American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's Jesus Take the Wheel. Sampson took home a Grammy in February co-writing the No. 1 hit.

JUNO WINNERS
Artist of the Year	Nelly Furtado
Songwriter of the Year	Gordie Sampson
New Group of the Year	Mobile
International Album of the Year	Dixie Chicks
Country Recording of the Year	George Canyon
Rap Recording of the Year	Swollen Members
Adult Alternative Album	Jim Cuddy
Alternative Album	City and Colour
Pop Album	Nelly Furtado
Vocal Jazz Album	Diana Krall
Traditional Jazz Album	Jon Ballantyne
Instrumental Album	Sisters Euclid
Aboriginal Recording of the Year	Leela Gilday
Francophone Album	Antoine Gratton
Blues Album	Jim Byrnes

The Dixie Chicks were champions in the international album category for Taking The Long Way, an album that earned them five Grammys this year. And international music star Hilario Duran and his Latin Jazz Big Band nabbed contemporary jazz album of the year.

Montreal five-member rock band Mobile garnered new group of the year as Saskatchewan's Jon Ballantyne took home the traditional album trophy (Avenue Standard) and Antoine Gratton's Il était une fois dans l'est captured francophone album of the year.

Humanitarian work honoured

Reggae recording of the year honours went to Korexion for Xrated; Leela Gilday got aboriginal recording of the year for Sedzé; folk mainstay Stephen Fearing grabbed the solo roots and traditional album of the year (Yellowjacket), while The McDades took the group trophy in that same category for Bloom.

Actor and singer Tom Jackson, seen in this promotional photo, was honoured for his humanitarian work.
(Canadian Press)

Other notable winners include City and Colour for alternative album (Sometimes), a solo endeavour by Alexisonfire singer Dallas Green; Sisters Euclid for instrumental album of the year (Run Neil Run); Jack Grunsky in the children's album category (My Beautiful World) and Les Violons du Roy/Jean-Marie Zeitouni for classical album — solo or chamber ensemble (Piazzolla).

Saturday's five-hour event was hosted by Montreal singer Gregory Charles, with performances by Colin Linden, Jim Byrnes, George Canyon, Carolyn Dawn and Northern Cree.

The celebration also paid tribute to actor and musician Tom Jackson with the Humanitarian Award.

Other winners on Saturday:

• Classical Album of the Year (large ensemble or soloists): Mozart: Violin Concerti, James Ehnes, Mozart Anniversary Orchestra.
• Classical Album of the Year (vocal or choral): Mozart: Arie e Duetti, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Michael Schade, Russell Braun, Canadian Opera Company Orchestra/Richard Bradshaw.
• Classical Composition of the Year: Clere Vénus, Denis Gougeon.
• Dance Recording of the Year: Sexor, Tiga.
• Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Wide-Eyed And Mystified,  Downhere.
• World Music Album of the Year: Kaba Horo, Lubo Alexandrov.
• Jack Richardson Producer of the Year: Brian Howes.
• Recording Engineer of the Year: John Bailey.
• CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year: Chloe Lum & Yannick Desranleau for Seripop.
• Video of the Year: Bridge to Nowhere, Duplex.
• Music DVD of the Year: Escarpment Blues (Andy Keen, Sarah Harmer, Patrick Sambrook).

More than 13,000 fans are expected at Sunday's gala, which will include performances by nominees Alexisonfire, The Tragically Hip and Patrick Watson.

Bob Rock, who co-founded the Payolas, will be honoured for his work producing and engineering albums for superstars such as Metallica, Bon Jovi, Cher, Aerosmith, Motley Crue and Bryan Adams.

The Juno Awards broadcast will air live at 5 p.m. CT in Saskatchewan; 7 p.m. ET in Ontario and Quebec; 8 p.m. AT in Atlantic Canada and 8:30 NT in Newfoundland and Labrador. It will be seen in British Columbia at 9 p.m. PT and in Manitoba at 9 p.m. CT. Albertans can see it at 7 p.m MT.

With files from the Canadian Press