TORONTO - Drake and Michael Buble have a combined seven nominations heading into next month's Juno Awards, but neither Canadian star will be able to attend the show in Ottawa.
Drake -- who hosted the show last year and is tied for the lead with four nods including album and artist of the year -- has a performance scheduled in Manchester the same night as the April 1 gala, while Buble is set to perform in Brazil.
But Melanie Berry, head of the organization that runs the Juno Awards, said the absence of those stars wouldn't hurt the show.
"I don't see it as a blow," said Berry, president of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, in a telephone interview Wednesday.
"We've got a star-studded lineup and we've got some amazing acts. We have international superstars -- you can only expect them to be on the road. We have to share them, we can't have them every year.
"So you know, we're happy when they're here."
Berry also pointed out that of the 162 people nominated in the Junos' 41 categories, 114 are expected to attend the show -- roughly 70 per cent of nominees.
But another Canadian's potential absence still looms large.
Eighteen-year-old teen-pop sensation Justin Bieber -- nominated for two Junos -- is not among the confirmed guests for the show, and while Berry says it's not a "100 per cent" certainty that the Stratford, Ont., native will skip the Junos, organizers aren't counting on his presence.
"He's had a long year (and) I know the Kids' Choice Awards are the night before us," Berry said.
But Berry stressed that the Junos have had a good relationship with this trio of homegrown pop stars -- all of whom are up for album of the year -- even if they can't make it this year's bash.
"All three have been amazing to us," she said. "They've supported the Junos a lot, so that's fantastic."
The Juno Awards will be broadcast on CTV.
