MUSIC
– Alanis Morissette won Album of the Year at the 38th Grammy Awards, becoming the youngest Canadian to win the top prize. The achievement resonated across North America, elevating her profile and drawing attention to a rising wave of Canadian talent on the global stage. The moment helped push Canadian pop rock into wider radio rotation, sparked conversations about national artistry, and inspired a new generation of artists to aim high on the international stage. – Kiss reunited its original lineup and performed on the American Music Awards in full costume, delivering a blast from the past that rekindled arena energy for a modern audience. The spectacle drew crowds, refreshed memories of the band’s peak years, and reinforced how nostalgia can drive contemporary conversations about pop culture. – Spice Girls, Oasis and The Fugees dominated the charts, proving that pop, Britpop, and hip hop could share prime radio real estate. Their cross border appeal shaped fashion, sparked media moments, and propelled tours that kept North American audiences energized across both sides of the border. – New rock voices emerged as 3 Doors Down and Good Charlotte formed, signaling a wave of accessible anthems and energetic live shows that would influence bands entering the next decade. The formation mirrored a broader trend toward catchy, postgrunge-inflected rock that resonated with teens and adults alike. – Celine Dion added another landmark moment by winning Album of the Year at the Grammys, a testament to her global appeal and Canada’s lasting impact on the international music stage.
MOVIES
– Home Alone 3 and Disney’s 101 Dalmatians arrived in theatres, continuing the family entertainment tradition and presenting a mix of slapstick humor and live-action adventure that appealed to broad audiences in Canada and the United States. The releases reflected a year of strong box office performance for family-oriented fare. – Mission: Impossible and The Nutty Professor dominated the year’s box office, drawing large crowds with high-octane action and broad-appeal comedy. Their success underscored the appetite for recognizable IP and charismatic leads. – Babe charmed audiences across North America and earned the Oscar for Best Motion Picture, a heartwarming win that underscored the strength of grounded storytelling and universal nostalgia. The film’s appeal crossed age lines, making it a memorable awards-season touchstone. – Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas won Best Original Song at the Golden Globes, highlighting Disney’s enduring ability to blend music with cinematic storytelling and to resonate with a wide audience base.
TV
– Dragon Ball Z premiered in the U.S. in an English-dubbed version, igniting a devoted fan base and expanding the reach of anime on mainstream television. The show’s energy and serialized plots helped grow a new generation of viewers and transformed late-90s TV culture. – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the cartoon, ended its run with the final episode, marking the close of an era for fans who had grown up with the turtles and influencing future animated adventures. – Sabrina, the Teenage Witch arrived on the small screen with Melissa Joan Hart in the title role, blending humor with magical mischief and appealing to family audiences across North America. – 7th Heaven premiered on The WB, delivering wholesome family values into homes and establishing itself as a durable staple of late-1990s television culture.
OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS
– Dolly, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, was born in Scotland, marking a watershed moment in genetics and sparking ongoing discussions about science, ethics, and the future of biotechnology. – Michael Johnson shattered sprint records at the 1996 Summer Olympics, crossing the finish line in the 200 meters in 19.32 seconds and redefining speed on the world stage. – Abigail Breslin was born on April 14, a future star who would later gain prominence in Little Miss Sunshine and Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl. – Eastern North America was hit by a severe blizzard, with snowfalls reaching nearly four feet in some areas and causing widespread travel disruptions and school closures across communities.