CELINE DION, 'Taking Chances'

From humble beginnings in the rural French-Canadian town of Charlemagne, the youngest of 14 children has risen to international superstardom, selling 180 million albums. The premiere contemporary pop vocalist of the 90s, she continues to draw adoration, respect and fans well into this millennium. Her five-year engagement in Las Vegas for her 'A New Day' extravaganza was an enormous success. She then released Taking Chances, her first album since 2003's One Heart, and a DVD of her Vegas show, appropriately titled, Live In Las Vegas. (Columbia*Sony)

DIVINE BROWN, 'Lay It On The Line'

For years, musical powerhouse Divine Brown has been quietly carving out her own history on the Canadian R&B and soul circuit. Brown paid her dues on the exhausting Toronto club circuit before she was old enough to legally hang out in bars, then honed her skills as a live performer with stints in musical theatre productions as Ain't Misbehavin' and Rent. Her self-titled debut in 2005 yielded the gorgeous retro single 'Old-School Love.' Three years later, Brown has returned with a tour-de-force album, a virtual trip through both the last half-century of soul music and the roller-coaster ride of love appropriately dubbed, The Love Chronicles. (WEA*Warner)

KARDINAL OFFISHALL, 'Dangerous' WINNER

Jason Harrow, better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall, is a hip-hop artist and producer. He is often credited as Canada's 'hip-hop ambassador,' and is well known for his reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop. Indeed, Kardinal's latest album Not 4 Sale is a rash of untamed melodies. Signed to hip-hop star Akon's label, together the dynamic duo kicks in the door with lead single 'Dangerous,' produced by Vanguards. Akon's satiny, sheet-creasing vocals waft above Kardinal's fluid, flexible, flossing rhymes. The song became a massive hit. (Kon Live*Universal)

MICHAEL BUBLÉ, 'Lost'

As with his previous two bestselling albums, 2003's self-titled debut and 2005's multi-platinum follow-up It's Time, Call Me Irresponsible boasts more of Bublé's buoyant, modern interpretations of standards from a variety of eras, including songs by such greats as Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, Cy Coleman, Gamble and Huff, as well as two self-penned originals, including the singles 'Lost' (which Jann Arden co-wrote, along with Bublé and Alan Chang) and 'Everything.' He calls the CD 'my remark on the state of love. To me, what's different about this CD is that it has a certain raw emotion because I recorded many of these songs live in the studio.' (Reprise*Warner)

NICKELBACK, 'Gotta Be Somebody'

Since they formed out of Alberta some 13 years ago, Nickelback has been a hit-making, multi-platinum band whose last album, 2005's All The Right Reasons is one of the most successful of the century. For the BC-based quartet's sixth album, Dark Horse, the 11-tracks continue the fist-pumping anthems, grinding rockers, soaring power ballads, grinning sexual innuendo, heart-wringing romanticism, and hooks so big they practically boomerang through the songs. It marks the first time Nickelback has worked with an outside producer since 2001's Silver Side Up, with none other than Robert John 'Mutt' Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard). (EMI)