First introduced at the 2nd annual Grammy Awards in 1960, the best new artist category has given rising stars their proper flowers.
Some winners have gone on to become music icons, others have enjoyed consistent careers, and a few have quietly left the industry. In 2025, eight stars are up for the coveted prize: Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, Raye, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims.
Before the next best new artist is crowned at the 67th Grammy Awards on Feb. 2, revisit some of the category’s most notable winners, including Billie Eilish, Christina Aguilera and more.
Victoria Monét
Mostly known for co-writing Ariana Grande’s chart-toppers “thank u, next” and “7 rings,” Victoria Monét had been grinding in the music industry for 15 years before scoring her first solo Billboard hit with “On My Mama.” That breakthrough put her in the limelight, earning her the Grammy for best new artist in 2024 — along with wins for best r&b album and best engineered album, non-classical for Jaguar II.
Samara Joy
The jazz singer joined the best new artist club at the 2023 awards, rising to the top in a stacked category of 10 acts. “I’ve been watching y’all on TV for so long,” she said tearfully as she took the stage, thanking her family and team for their support.
Olivia Rodrigo
Good 4 u, Olivia! The 2022 superstar earned a staggering seven Grammy nominations for her breakout album Sour — winning best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album in addition to best new artist. “This is my biggest dream come true,” she said in her acceptance speech.
Megan Thee Stallion
The 2021 champ already was a superstar when she earned her trophy, breaking out in 2019 with her hit “Hot Girl Summer.” The next year, her “Savage” took off thanks to the viral #SavageChallenge on TikTok and a remix with none other than Beyoncé.
And by August 2020, she was officially everywhere, thanks to her hot-button collaboration with Cardi B, “WAP.” She also became the first woman ever to hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Rap Songwriters chart.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish not only won best new artist at the 2020 awards, but also all four major categories: album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist (she also won best pop vocal album). The then-18-year-old was the youngest person to do so, and only the second person ever to sweep “the big four” in one night (Christopher Cross was the first, at age 29, in 1981).
And to prove she’s sticking around, she’s since picked up two more Grammys each in 2021 and 2024, and has become the youngest two-time Oscar winner by earning the Best Original Song award in 2022 and 2024.
Dua Lipa
In a crowded, trendy 2019 field that included acts like H.E.R., Bebe Rexha and Chloe x Halle, English pop star Dua Lipa led the pack. She continued the year by dropping new singles, performing around the world and dating Anwar Hadid.
Alessia Cara
Once Alessia Cara’s viral track “Here” hit the radio waves, the singer became a household name. The same year she won best new artist, she was also nominated three times in other categories: song of the year and best music video for “1-800-273-8255” with Logic and best pop duo/group performance for “Stay” with Zedd.
Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper made Grammy history by being the first artist to win without ever selling physical copies of his music. In 2017, he won best new artist, best rap performance for “No Problem” and best rap album for Coloring Book.
Meghan Trainor
After her song “All About That Bass” was heard on repeat on every station throughout the country in 2015, it was only fitting that Meghan Trainor took home the award for best new artist the following year.
Sam Smith
Sam Smith swept the Grammys in 2015 — winning record of the year and song of the year for “Stay with Me (Darkchild Version),” best pop vocal album for In the Lonely Hour and the coveted best new artist award.
In 2023, they made Grammy history alongside Kim Petras by winning best pop duo/group performance for “Unholy” — with Smith becoming the first nonbinary artist to clinch an award and Petras the first transgender woman to win in a major category.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Rap duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis took home the Grammy for best new artist, best rap performance and best rap album in 2014 thanks to a little song called “Thrift Shop.” The song took on a life of its own, staying at No. 1 on the Billboard charts for weeks and surpassing 1.9 billion views on YouTube.
Bon Iver
The indie folk band won best new artist and best alternative music album for Bon Iver in 2012. Since then, Bon Iver has gone on to play at some of the biggest music festivals, like Bonnaroo and Coachella — and collaborated with artists like Taylor Swift and Kanye West.
Zac Brown Band
After their single “Chicken Fried” became a hit in 2008, the band found itself at No. 1 on the country charts. Two years later, they earned their spot as best new artist at the Grammys.
Adele
In 2009, British singer Adele took the music world by storm with her debut album, 19, earning her a win for best new artist and best female pop vocal performance (“Chasing Pavements”).
Amy Winehouse
The year of Amy Winehouse was 2008. She won five Grammys, including three for her hit song “Rehab” and one for best pop vocal album for Back To Black. She also beat out Taylor Swift and Paramore to win best new artist.
Carrie Underwood
She won America’s hearts when she was crowned American Idol in 2005, but it wasn’t until 2007 that the Grammys recognized Carrie Underwood as the best new artist. She’s the only American Idol winner to have nabbed the award.
John Legend
The singer cleaned up at the 2006 Grammy Awards, winning best new artist, best R&B album (Get Lifted) and best male R&B performance (“Ordinary People”).
Maroon 5
The band, which experienced huge success with their debut album Songs About Jane, was among a very competitive group of nominees back in 2005, including Kanye West, Los Lonely Boys and Joss Stone.
Norah Jones
Norah Jones’ 2002 album Come Away with Me launched her career thanks to her mega-hit song “Don’t Know Why.” After a whirlwind year, her album went to No. 1 and earned her five Grammys.
Alicia Keys
In addition to winning best new artist at the 2002 Grammys, Alicia Keys also won the song of the year for “Fallin’.”
Christina Aguilera
How could we have ever forgotten that Xtina bested Britney Spears in 2000 to win best new artist? That must have been the tightest race in history. (Fact: “Genie in a Bottle” is still a banger.)
Lauryn Hill
In 1999, Hill became one of only four musicians at the time to win best new artist and album of the year (for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill) in the same year. (Billie Eilish became the fifth in 2020.)
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes still holds the title of being the youngest individual Grammy winner in history: She was only 14 when she won best new artist and best female country vocal performance for “Blue” in 1997.
Sheryl Crow
In 1995, the singer beat out Counting Crows and Green Day to take home the prize for best new artist.
Toni Braxton
In 1994, Toni Braxton claimed her first-ever Grammys for best new artist and best r&b vocal performance (for “Another Sad Love Song”). Little did the world know that this was just the beginning, as she became one of the best-selling female artists of all time — with more than 70 million records sold.
Mariah Carey
While it’s almost impossible for us to remember Carey as an up-and-comer, 1991 was one of her biggest years yet: Her album Emotions debuted at No. 4 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 and her first five singles all hit No. 1 on the charts.
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman took home best new artist at the 1989 Grammy Awards — along with best contemporary folk album for her self-titled LP and best female pop vocal performance for her hit song “Fast Car.” In 2024, she returned to the Grammys stage to perform the iconic track alongside country singer Luke Combs (himself nominated for best new artist at the 61st annual ceremony).
Sade
At the 28th Grammy Awards, Sade made history as the first Nigerian-born artist to win a Grammy when her eponymous band won best new artist — though none of them were in attendance to accept the honor.
Cyndi Lauper
At her very first Grammys in 1985, Cyndi Lauper received four nominations, including song of the year for “Time After Time” and record of the year for “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Ultimately, she took home the prize for best new artist. Not too shabby.
Bette Midler
Bette Midler walked away with the gramophone for best new artist in 1974 — the same year she was nominated for album of the year for The Divine Miss M and best female pop vocal performance for “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
Carly Simon
Carly Simon won the award in 1971, thanks to her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
At the 12th Grammy Awards in 1970, the band won best new artist in a very competitive group that included some rock-and-roll greats. “You know, it’s nice to win something when the other guy’s Led Zeppelin. That’s fun! None of us were there that night so [Atlantic Records co-founder] Ahmet Ertegun accepted it on our behalf,” Graham Nash later said in a 2017 interview with the Recording Academy.
The Beatles
Arguably the most legendary music act to receive the honor, the Beatles took home best new artist in 1965 after leading the charge in the British Invasion. That night, the Fab Four also nabbed the award for best performance by a vocal group for their hit single, “A Hard Day’s Night.”
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