Naomi Cowan’s Welcome to Paradise breaks through the noise and lands firmly in the awards race. The Jamaican songbird has earned her first-ever JUNO Award nomination, with her debut album now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Canadian reggae heavyweights in the fiercely competitive Reggae Recording of the Year category.
Announced this week, the nomination sees Cowan recognised for a full body of work in a field largely dominated by standalone singles. It is a rare and significant achievement for a first-time nominee, especially as she goes up against proven champions of the Canadian reggae circuit. Among the contenders are multi-time JUNO winners Exco Levi, nominated for Ready For You with Kheilstone, and Kirk Diamond, a three-time winner returning with Deh Yah. Also in the mix are Samora & Ammoye’s More Reggae (Funk It Up) and the collaborative Dagga Riddim Cypher, featuring a roster of emerging voices.
Cowan marked the milestone with a heartfelt Instagram post on Wednesday, January 28, writing: “❤️🇨🇦🤍 1st album, 1st JUNO nomination in Canada. God really surprised me yesterday with this one. Paradise irl.” She went on to thank the Canadian supporters who have shown up for her shows, release parties and dubplate sessions, underscoring the community that has helped fuel her steady rise on the international reggae scene.
Released in October, Welcome to Paradise signalled a new chapter for Cowan, blending reggae, dancehall and introspective storytelling into a project rooted in self-worth and emotional growth. Now, with a JUNO nod validating that vision, the album’s journey has shifted from promising debut to awards-season contender. The winners for 2026 will be revealed at the JUNO Awards ceremony on March 28, where Cowan will look to turn a breakthrough nomination into a defining career moment on one of Canada’s biggest music stages.
View this post on Instagram
