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'The Sweetest Country in the World': Katy Perry Praises Canada At First ‘Lifetimes’ Toronto Concert

At last night’s Scotiabank Arena show, the pop singer thanked the nation for “believing in humanity and sticking to decency.”

Katy Perry

Katy Perry

Louisa Meng

Katy Perry is becoming Canada’s No. 1 fan.

Last night (August 5), at the pop singer’s first of two Lifetimes shows at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, she expressed immense affinity for the country in a video shared on TikTok.


After one fan requested her Teenage Dream bop “Peacock,” Perry quipped that she wouldn’t be performing the track because her daughter, Daisy, was in the crowd — but it prompted a story for the popstar to share with concertgoers.

“I found it really, really adorable when Daisy said, ‘Mom, look, that flag has maple syrup on it,’” said Perry, which incited the crowd to cheer. “And I was like, yes, it is the maple syrup flag. It’s the sweetest country in the world,” prompting even more cheers.

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“I like you for a medley of reasons, Toronto,” she shared. “Because Canada, you’re progressive. You guys are the role models for all of us right now. So thank you so much for believing in humanity and sticking to decency.”

@iheartradioca

“You guys are the role models for all of us right now” - @Katy Perry on Canada and our maple syrup flag! 🇨🇦 #katyperry #lifetimestour #livemusic #toronto #canada

Tonight’s concert marks Perry’s last Canadian show after a series of dates across the country, which included Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City.

During Perry’s western Canada run, she had a small geography lesson courtesy of a fan hailing from Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Despite the Canadian leg wrapping up, this might not be the last time Perry crosses the border. Last week, she was spotted grabbing dinner with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — the former PM later showed up to Perry’s Montreal show and was passionately singing along to the pop star’s performance of “Firework.”

Last year, she shared the importance of making many Canadians stops on her tour with MuchMusic. "The Canadian fans have been incredible and I've been on this journey with them for a long time, so I owe it to them."

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Charlotte Day Wilson
Jessica Foley
Charlotte Day Wilson
Concerts

CNE 2026 Bell SOUNDSTAGE Lineup: Charlotte Day Wilson, JoJo, Finger Eleven and More

As part of its partnership with NXNE and a renewed focus on live music, CNE will also welcome a special soon-to-be revealed global headliner presented by Billboard Canada on Aug. 28.

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is embracing its musical roots with a high-profile lineup for 2026.

The beloved long-running fair, baptized The Ex by Torontonians, has unveiled the full list of artists who will be headlining the newly-named Bell SOUNDSTAGE at the Bandshell to celebrate the event's 147th edition. Canadian stars like Charlotte Day Wilson and Finger Eleven as well as international pop star JoJo have been added to this year's programming, which reflects a diverse mix of renowned names and rising stars across a multitude of genres including pop, hip-hop, Punjabi music and soca, among others. They join previously announced acts like Lights, Lupe Fiasco, Shaggy and more.

This year, the exhibition is partnering with Toronto music festival NXNE, to modernize its musical programming with chart-topping artists and newer acts, and revamping the Bandshell as the Bell SOUNDSTAGE. “Music is such a massive part of who we are,” Mark Holland, CEO of the CNE, told Billboard Canada in April during his Executive of the Week interview. "Connecting everybody to that is a democratic mission that we are really invested in."

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