'Insensitive' Jann Named To Canadian Music Hall Of Fame

By David Farrell

Jann Arden, the prolific Alberta-born singer-songwriter, memoirist, satirist, actress and television star, discovered in 1985 by Calgary manager Neil MacGonigill and first signed to a record label by Allan Reid—who went on to become the Junos’ CEO and President — is named Canada’s 57th Hall of Fame inductee, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced on Tuesday.

To date, Arden has been nominated for 19 Juno awards, winning 8 and, in 2016, she hosted the Juno television broadcast. She is also the recipient of 10 SOCAN awards, 4 Western Canadian Music awards, a Much Music Video award, 3 Prairie Music awards, and an Alberta Recording Industry Association award.

Additionally, Arden’s star appears on Canada’s Walk of Fame; inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, received the Vantage Women of Originality Award, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and, in 2013, inducted into the Western Canadian Music Alliance Hall of Fame. Topping these, in 2017, she was honoured with the Order of Canada.

She has also released 14 albums (inclusive of greatest hits packages and a live symphonic recording) and chalked up 19 top 10 singles. Hit songs in Ardenn’s discography include Insensitive (written by Anne Loree), I Would Die for You, and Could I Be Your Girl?

Established in 1978, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame was created to recognizes Canadian artists that have attained commercial success while having an artistic impact on the Canadian music scene, at home and abroad, for a minimum term of 20 years.

Eligible inductees are determined from a long list compiled from CARAS member suggestions and the general public. The determining decision as to who receives the award is chosen by the CARAS Board of Directors.

Arden is the 11^th female to earn the honour, joining Shania Twain, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, k.d. lang, Shania Twain, Anne Murray, Sylvia Tyson (in tandem with then-husband, Ian), Maureen Forester, and Joni Mitchell.

In a statement released yesterday, Arden states: "I am so honoured to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. I've spent my career creating and performing music that I hoped would resonate with others. I feel incredibly humbled to be recognized with this award and to join such an esteemed group of past honourees whose art has helped connect us to one another as Canadians."

In the same media release, CARAS CEO Allan Reid states: "Jann is a multi-dimensional artist who has been entertaining and captivating audiences for over 25 years .I've had the great pleasure of working closely with Jann over the years and I have so much respect for her as a songwriter and as a performer but equally for her tenacity and grit. She's respected and adored for her catalogue of heartfelt music, unapologetic honesty and entertaining quick wit, (and) we are thrilled to welcome her into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame."

These days, Arden is managed by Bruce Allen and booked by The Feldman Agency.

Several more inductees are to be announced in the coming weeks.

The 49th annual Juno Awards will be broadcast and streamed live on the CBC network and affiliated GEM streaming service on March 15 from Saskatoon’s SaskTel Centre.

A global feed is to be available at cbcmusic.ca/junos. It will also air as a live radio special on CBC Radio One, CBC Music, and the CBC Listen app. Tickets are available starting at $39.95 (plus fees) online at www.ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 1-800-970-SEAT (7328) and in-person at the SaskTel Centre box-office.