Canadian chart-topper Nelly Furtado has signed on to host the 2007 Juno Awards, eTalk's Ben Mulroney revealed Monday night during the Golden Globes Awards telecast.
The internationally renowned singer-songwriter will take the stage as host of the night's festivities, which will air live from Saskatoon Sunday, April 1 on CTV.
"The Juno Awards are part of the Canadian fabric and to be asked to host is a privilege I'm charmed to accept," commented Nelly Furtado in an exclusive eTalk interview that aired Monday on CTV. "Hosting The Juno Awards is a dream come true and I look forward to carrying on this rich Canadian tradition. See you in Saskatoon!"
The five-time Juno-award winning Furtado has taken the world by storm again with the release of her third CD "Loose."
The album has been certified platinum in the United States, U.K. and Australia, two times platinum in Germany and Switzerland, and three times platinum in Canada, where it became the top-selling album of 2006.
The hit album also rocketed up the charts with three number-one hit singles, including "Promiscuous featuring Timbaland," "Maneater" and the current single "Say it Right."
Furtado, 28, is the third child of Portuguese immigrants and was born in Victoria, B.C.
Furtado was catapulted to fame with the release of her debut album "Whoa, Nelly!" and her Grammy-winning breakout hit "I'm Like a Bird."
Furtado released her sophomore album "Folklore" in 2003, just before she gave birth to her daughter Nevis.
In November 2006, Furtado was named "Best Pop/Rock Artist of the Year" at the World Music Awards in London.
Furtado, who has sold more than 10 million albums around the world, begins an eight-city Canadian tour on March 21 in Victoria.
"She wowed millions on last year's Canadian Idol finale, so I can't wait to see what Nelly Furtado has in store as host of the Juno Awards," said Susanne Boyce, CTV president of programming and chair of the CTV Media Group.
"With her continued world-wide success, she is the perfect host for an awards broadcast that continues to gain prestige on the international stage."
Melanie Berry, President of CARAS and an executive producer of the broadcast, echoed Boyce's sentiments.
"The Juno Awards have been recognizing Nelly Furtado's diverse talents since her award-winning debut album in 2000," she said.
"She is a very proud Canadian and we are tremendously excited to have her as our host this year."
The announcement comes on the heels of the news that Furtado will co-star on CTV's hit television show "CSI: NY" on February 7. Furtado will play the role of Ava Grant, a shoplifter accused of murder.
Later in February, she will also appear on the daytime drama "One Life to Live."
Last year, Furtado kicked off her acting career with a guest appearance on a popular Portuguese soap opera, "Floribella."
Furtado takes over the job from last year's host Pamela Anderson. Other high-profile hosts have included Brent Butt in 2005; Alanis Morissette in 2004; Shania Twain in 2003 and the Barenaked Ladies in 2002.
Last year, 1.7 million viewers watched the 2006 Junos, surpassing the 48th Grammy Awards broadcast in Canada by 26 per cent and making it the most-watched music awards program of the year.
The 2006 Juno Awards climaxed with 2.1 million viewers and attracted almost 30 per cent more viewers than the previous year, making it the second-most watched awards telecast since they were broadcast from Ottawa in 2003.
