
Although the Grammys Best New Artist award is the highest honor a performer can earn, some observers believe that it can be more of an affliction than a blessing.
In particular, many victors had relatively short careers after being awarded the Best New Artist prize in 1970s and 80s. After the 1990 Grammy Awards, Best New Artist winners Milli Vanilli had their trophy revoked after they admitted they didn’t sing on their own album.
However, the curse was broken in the following year. Mariah CareyThe award was won by the singer “Fantasy”. The “Fantasy” singer went on to become one of the most successful pop artists in history, racking up 19 No. 1 hits and more than 220,000,000 copies worldwide. She holds the record for the most No. 1 singles by a solo artist beat out Elvis Presley. Rihanna, MadonnaWhitney Houston and Michael Jackson. (The only artist with more No. Carey has more No.
In the 2000s, the curse was gone. From 2000 to 2009, hitmakers were crowned by the Recording Academy. Alicia Keys, Christina AguileraMaroon 5, John LegendAmy Winehouse Carrie UnderwoodAnd Adele.
“I’m gonna cry,” the “Easy on Me” songstress said in February 2009 while accepting her trophy. She also gave a shout-out to some of her fellow nominees, saying: “Duffy, I love you, I think you’re amazing. Jonas Brothers, I love you as well!”
The U.K. native is also the first female artist (and second performer ever) to win all four of the “big four” Grammys throughout her career: Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. Adele is the only person to achieve this feat. Billie Eilish, who won all four categories in 2020.
“That s–t was f–king crazy,” the “Bad Guy” singer told VogueHer big wins in February 2020. “If anything, it’s an exciting thing for the kids who make music in their bedroom. We’re making progress, I think, in that place — kids who don’t have enough money to use studios.”
In 2021 Megan Thee StallionThe first female rapper to win Best Artist since 1993 Lauryn HillThe award was taken home by the winner in 1999. When the “Body” musician walked on stage to accept her statue in March of that year, she was initially speechless.
“Thank you to my mama,” Megan later said, referring to her mother, Holly Thomas, who died in 2019. “She’s not here with me today, but I know she’s here with me in spirit, and she always believed I could do this.”
Scroll down to see past Best New Artist winners.