Naomi Cowan Secures 2026 JUNO Nomination
Jamaican singer Naomi Cowan has secured her first-ever JUNO Award nomination, landing a spot in the “Reggae Recording of the Year” category for her debut album, Welcome To Paradise.
The nomination, announced this week, pits the Paradise Plum singer against some of the Canadian reggae scene’s heaviest hitters for the 2026 awards.
Uniquely, Cowan is nominated for a complete body of work in a recording category otherwise dominated by standalone tracks this year. The other nominees are:
- Exco Levi: The defending champion (who also won in 2012–2015 and 2017) is nominated for Ready For You (with Kheilstone).
- Kirk Diamond: A three-time winner (2018, 2023, 2024), nominated for his track Deh Yah.
- Samora & Ammoye: The duo is in the running for More Reggae (Funk It Up).
- Dagga Riddim Cypher: A collective track featuring Jojo You Made That, Yung 2nuff, Erin B, Topman Meeko, One Don & Enzooo.
Cowan took to Instagram on Wednesday (January 28) to share her excitement.
“❤️🇨🇦🤍 1st album, 1st JUNO nomination in Canada,” she began. “God really surprised me yesterday with this one. Paradise irl. 20 slides are not enough but if you’ve ever been to one of my shows, release parties, dubplate sessions or simply played my music in Canada. THANK YOU.”
Released in October 2025 via Cowan’s 7th C Records and Easy Star Records, Welcome To Paradise is described as a fusion of reggae, dancehall, and soul, exploring themes of self-worth, healing, and emotional evolution.
The 12-track project was produced by Toddla T and was funded by a grant from FACTOR Canada under the organisation’s Juried Sound Recording program. Standout tracks include Version featuring Johnny Osbourne, True Lies, Cherry On Top, and Up To Di Time.
According to 7th C, the grant “provided a foundation to allow Naomi Cowan and Toddla T to explore creating a listening experience that we hope will remain a staple in reggae music history.”
Although born to Jamaican music royalty—her father is Tommy Cowan (minister, producer and former Bob Marley road manager) and her mother is gospel vocalist Dr. Carlene Davis-Cowan—Cowan’s connection to Toronto runs deep.
The singer is an alumnus of Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). According to Ron Fanfair, she also spent over a year working in the city’s corporate sector before returning to Jamaica in 2017 to launch her music career.
Beyond her recording career, Cowan has also made waves on the big screen, portraying Marcia Griffiths (one-third of the I-Threes) in the 2024 biopic Bob Marley: One Love.
The Reggae Recording of the Year award has been a staple of the JUNOS since 1985, though not without recent controversy. In September 2024, the category was set to be placed on “hiatus” for the 2025 awards. However, following immediate backlash from the reggae community, the award committee reversed the decision just eight days later.
The winners for 2026 will be announced at the JUNO Awards ceremony on March 28.