Grammys Best New Artist Curse
Best
New Artist Curse
1990:
Milli Vanilli
In 1990 Milli Vanilli won Best New
Artist. They were an International duo from Germany. They recorded a song
called Girl You Know It’s True and it went #1 worldwide. It got the attention
from Clive Davis who signed them to Arista Records so they can record a proper
album. After this they had #1 hits like “Don’t Forget My Number”, “Blame It on
the Rain” & “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You”. They looked like a qualifying artist
to win the award. Who Did they Beat? Neneh Cherry, who had the song
Buffalo Stance, Indigo Girls who were a folk duo, Soul II Soul was a UK
collective that had the song “Back to Life” and Tone Loc a hip hop artist known
for the song Wild Thing & Funky Cold Medina. Who Should’ve Won? Soul
II Soul would’ve been my pick for Best New Artist but I’m going why when I talk
about that in a bit but for now. Are
They Cursed? This was the worst thing to happen to Milli Vanilli because
some time after this word got out and their manager Frank Farian outed them as
lipsyncers. Milli Vanilli never sang a note on their debut album. Their Grammy
was stripped as a result; the only time this happened in Grammy history.
Questions became who should the Grammy go to, should it go to the second-place
winner? Should it go to the actual singers? The Grammys decided that the 1990
award will have no winner. To answer the question, yes with a capital YES as
they were the inventors of the Best New Artist Curse. And today we are going to
go through every Best New Artist winner since and ask the question are they
cursed?
1991:
Mariah Carey
In 1991 Mariah Carey won Best New
Artist. She’s an artist signed to Columbia under the leadership of Tommy
Mottola. The year before she released her debut and her first four singles went
to #1, those included Vision of Love, I Don’t Wanna Cry, Someday & Love
Takes Time. Her debut album would go 9x Platinum. Who Did they Beat? The
Black Crowes, they had the song Hard to Handle. The Kentucky Headhunters a
southern country rock band. Lisa Stanfield had that one song All Around the
World. And Wilson Philips, a trio who had the biggest single of 1990 in Hold On
and is responsible for one of the biggest videos on this channel. Who
Should’ve Won? With four #1, a high selling debut Mariah was the easy
choice. Are They Cursed? Absolutely
not, she would continue to release high selling albums, she has the most #1 by
a female artist, icon and became a forever figure during the holiday season, so
this is an easy NO.
1992: Marc Cohn
Marc Cohn was 1992 winner and I
know what you are asking. Who? If you ever heard of the song Walking in Memphis
that’s him. A musician singer-songwriter from Cleveland. Who Did they Beat?
These nominees were pretty huge. First was a big one, Boyz II Men, an R&B
vocal group from Philadelphia known for the hit Motownphilly and End of the
Road. C+C and the Music Factory, they Made everyone Sweat in 1993 (for better
and for worse), Color Me Badd a multi-racial R&B group known for “I Wanna
Sex You Up”, “I Adore Mi Amor”, All for Love, & Seal, he released his
self-titled debut in 1991. Who
Should’ve Won? Crazy Marc Cohn won given he was the quiet safest name on
here. But Boyz II Men were right there, they were the much superior choice over
Marc Cohn. Are They Cursed? I
feel bad labeling him cursed given I know very few of him. Marc Cohn was viewed
as a one hit wonder, he never had another major single since Walking in
Memphis. I would say he’s cursed, but it mostly had to do with everyone else
being nominated thriving much better than he did.
1993:
Arrested Development
1993 Arrested Development was the
Best New Artist winner and with this they became the first hip-hop act to win
the award. They won because they were in the era of conscious rap and their
album 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of had a ton of themes, with the
biggest being Tennessee, which member Speech paid tribute to his grandmother
and brother who died on the same week. Who Did they
Beat? Billy Rae Cyrus, Achy Breaky Heart Billy Rae. Sophie B Hawkins, she
had that one song Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover. Kris Kross, known for the song
Jump they were one of the youngest to ever be nominated for the award, they’re
not one hit wonders. Jon Seceda, who would later be known as one of the biggest
selling Latin Artist at the time. Who
Should’ve Won? Honestly I kind of understand why Arrested Development won,
they would’ve been my pick, better than Billy Rae Cyrus. Are They Cursed?
Another poster child of the curse. Their second album landed on Todd in the
Shadows Trainwreckords and by the time that record came out, the group was
barely hanging on and they got consumed by gangsta rap. Easy choice, they were
cursed.
1994:
Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton was our winner for
1994. LaFace recording artist, her debut album was a high seller contain hits,
Another Sad Love Song and Breathe Again, some say she was a product of Babyface
songwriting but vocally she carried her own. Who Did they Beat? Belly,
Rock band and I don’t have much to go off of. Blind Melon, you know the song No
Rain. Digable Planets, another one hit wonder, know for the song Cool Like
That, but like Arrested Development they too got lost when gangsta rap took
over. SWV, Weak was a massive single and their album It’s About Time had some
bops. Who Should’ve Won? As much as I am a fan of SWV, I can’t oppose
giving Toni Braxton the win. Are They
Cursed? Best was yet to come, people don’t talk about her Secrets era, You
Makin Me High, Let It Flow, and the big one Unbreak My Heart were all #1 hits.
She still racking up Grammys with her most recent win coming in 2015 and most
recent nomination was in 2019. So Toni is not cursed, legend in R&B.
1995:
Sheryl Crow
1996:
Hootie & the Blowfish
Hootie and the Blowfish won Best
New Artist in 1996. They were a country band lead by frontman Darius Rucker
best known for the song “Only Wanna Be With You”, “Hold My Hand” & “Let Her
Cry” but their album Cracked Rear View was MASSIVE, one of (if not the) best
selling albums in country. Who Did they Beat? Brandy, cousin of Snoop
Dogg, started her career on TV but desired to do music. She just Wanna be Down
with the whole thing. Alanis Morsette, Little Jagged Pill was the album that
beat Daydream, other than that it was a massive breakthrough for Alanis. Joan
Osborne known for the song “One of Us”. And there was one big name, Shania
Twain, a Canadian country singer her breakthrough album The Woman in Me was the
start of her impressive run. Overall another strong class. Who Should’ve Won? Shania Twain may
wound up having the bigger career but understood by Hootie won, I mean their
album was MASSIVE, but Shania Twain is still my pick Are They Cursed? They
struck when the iron was hot but it cooled down after this. Their second album
followed the same sounds as Cracked Rear View and it wasn’t as successful,
still sold well. Darius Rucker would go solo and he would have a solid career
as a soloist but overall, the group is cursed. But at least they got a charting
song in 2025, but let’s be real that came with an asterisk as the only reason
they were credited was because it was a sample. Getting off topic, on to 1997
1997:
LeAnn Rimes
1997 winner was LeAnn Rimes, and
with this she became the youngest Best New Artist winner at 14. While she
released albums in the past 1996 was her breakout year, thanks to the song Blue
and had other major songs in the Nashville scene. Who Did they Beat? Garbage,
rock band who music doesn’t match the name. Jewel a folk artist who had the
song Who Will Save Your Soul. Another ska/rock band named No Doubt who had
their breakout singe Just a Girl go crazy. And The Tony Rich Project, a one hit
wonder who had the song Nobody Knows. Who Should’ve Won? This was a
tricky one because while LeAnn Rimes was good, Jewel’s Who Will Save Your Soul
was inescapable at the time and normally Grammy isn’t that fond of kid acts so
that’s why I’ll say Jewel would’ve been my pick. Are They Cursed? To be
honest with you, the best was yet to come for LeAnn, the next year she would
release her big single “How Do I Live”. She would consistently put out album
and churn out more hits in the country genre while also having some success in
the pop world, despite some hiccups LeAnn Rimes isn’t cursed.
1998:
Paula Cole
Who is Paula Cole? She was the
Dawson Creek singer she had the song I Don’t Want to Wait and Where All the
Cowboys Gone. She was heavily nominated in 1998, which included her
breakthrough album being nominated for Album of the Year. Who Did they Beat?
This class was stacked. Starting things off Fiona Apple, it was Criminal to see
her not win but I could’ve sworn that she had more hits. Erykah Badu was part
of the rise of neo-soul. I go on and on on her impact to the genre, her debut
went triple platinum. Hanson brothers, “Mmm Bop” was literally inescapable in
1997 and it help usher in the American crossover of teen-pop bubblegum pop.
Shout out Zac as at 12 became the youngest nominated for said award. One more,
Puff Daddy the guy who’s (okay I get it). But outside of his other activities
No Way Out was his solo debut and Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down and especially All
About the Benjamins are labeled as hip-hop anthems. Not to mention I’ll Be
Missing You was massive. Who Should’ve Won? Paula Cole was the typical
safe pick but come-on Erykah Badu was right there. Are They Cursed? Paula Cole released
one more album before disappearing until 2007. But 1997-98 was her peak but she
is cursed. She doing well in other ventures. But as whole, she is cursed but I
don’t think she cares.
1999:
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill was the Best New Artist
winner for 1999. This added on to her big night as she won Album of the Year
for her Miseducation album, an album many people claim as the greatest piece of
work ever made. She did break away from the Fugees and her nominations were
carried from that Miseducation album. Who Did they Beat? Andrea Boecelli
an Italian opera singer, don’t have much else to say after that. The Chicks
(formerly Dixie), sure their debut album was in 1990 but it wasn’t until 1998
when Wide Open Spaces took over as that served as their major label debut.
Natalie Imburglia an Australian singer who had that one single Torn which went
global. Then we have BSB, they had an odd start their debut came out in 1996
but that was released internationally, but the next year that debut came out
and was reshaped. 1997-1999 was BSB-mania. Everything they did sold not to
mention that US debut went 14x Platinum.
Who Should’ve Won? Even though I am a HUGE BSB fan, when compared
to the Miseducation it’s hard to contest. Are They Cursed? This would
wind up being her only album. Sure, she had an unplugged but that also landed
with Todd in the Shadows Trainwreckords. Then she disappeared, dealt with
mental issues and would only perform here and there (can we get her on Tiny
Desk). As a whole, she is a poster child of the Curse goes to show you Freedom
Isn’t Free.
2000:
Christina Aguilera
The new millennium saw Christina Aguilera win the award. She was a pop singer who got her start on MMC but once the show ended, she decided to branch out a fulltime music career. 1999 she released her debut album that had hits like “Genie in a Bottle”, “What a Girl Wants”, “Come on Over”, & “I Turn to You”. She was someone who had a big voice. Who Did they Beat? Macy Gray, who tried her best to get the win. Kid Rock, despite release many albums throughout the 90s broke through with his album Devil Without a Cause, Susa Tedeschi a blues artist who I don’t know much about. Her most notable competition was Britney Spears, she had a high selling debut Baby One More Time. Fellow mouseketeer she was Christina’s biggest competition during the teen pop era of music. Who Should’ve Won? While Britney Spears was inescapable, Grammys got this one right as Christina is the better vocalist. Are They Cursed? Someone recently did a big video explaining why Christina had the voice but not the sound for her music. But Christina still won Grammys after this, and her next two albums Stripped and Back to Basics were critical darlings. This one is a clear, NO.
2001:
Shelby Lynne
Shelby Lynne won the 2001 award.
But there were some shenanigans because during her speech she said it took her
13 years and 6 albums to get here. That does not spell Best New Artist to me. Reason
was a shift, she started off in country in 1988 but Nashville politics got in
the way in the 90s and when the late 90s hit she shifted to pop rock and I Am
Shelby Lynne album was an example of that shift. Who Did they Beat? Brad
Paisley, a country singer who broke out thanks to “He Didn’t Have to Be”. Papa
Roach, rock band known for the banger “Last Resort” and that helped their album
Infest to Multiplatinum status. Sisqo, lead singer of Dru Hill, decided to
breakout solo and drop two summer jams with “Incomplete” & “The Thong Song”
and those single help propel his solo debut to multiplatinum status. Jill
Scott, an R&B artist who mostly made waves in the Contemporary department,
her debut album went double platinum. Who Should’ve Won? Even though the
names here are notable, this wasn’t as strong of a class otherwise. I know the
Grammys would change their new artist rules in the next decade but Shelby Lynn
would not be my first choice. If they want to play it safe why not give it to
Jill Scott, at least her album was a debut. Are They Cursed? Tough one, one will
say she’s cursed because she never got nominated again. But if you understand
her early country career and what she had to overcome, she’s satisfied in her
lane. Adult contemporary became her stick even till this very day. But at the
same time, there were better options for the win. So I’m classify her as CURSED
but I don’t she nor the Shelby Lynne stans would care. Let’s move on…
2002:
Alicia Keys
2002 Alicia Keys was this year’s Best New Artist winner. Keys dropped her debut album Songs in A Minor. Spawned three huge singles, the biggest included her debut single Fallin, which was one of the biggest singles of 2001. Who Did They Beat? India Aire, another R&B singer who had a big debut single in Video, problem was she went up against Alicia Keys. Nelly Furtado started her career with the song I’m Like a Bird, David Gray UK singer don’t know much about him and a rock/alternative band we all know and love Linkin Park. Who Should’ve Won? Tough beating an artist who would later win SOTY that same night so Grammys got this one right. Are They Cursed? Alicia Keys had a run in the 2000s, she still won Grammys, hell she hosted the show TWICE, and her influence is still felt to this very day. She definitely not cursed.
2003:
Norah Jones
2004:
Evanescence
In 2004, Evanescence won Best New
Artist. From Arkansas of all places the broke out due to the song “Bring Me to
Life” and “My Immortal”. Like Norah Jones, their debut album Fallen went
Diamond. Who Did they Beat?
Fountains of Wayne, name may not sound familiar but they had one hit “Stacey’s
Mom” and she got it going on. Heather Headley, an adult R&B she had the
song “I Wish I Wasn’t” but would later be more known for her stage career. Sean
Paul, he was a product of dancehall that had crossed over to the urban crown
and Get Busy was massive worldwide. One more, 50 Cent, a rap artist from Queens
who made an album about how he survived getting shot 9 times. He became the
bully of rap in just his “debut” year. Who Should’ve Won? Grammys were
still not ready to embrace gangsta rap but 50 would still be my choice for this
spot. Sure, Fallen outsold Get Rich (for now), but 50 was a phenomenon, he was
everywhere in 2003. In da Club and 21 Questions were #1 hits, he had the
streets and the mainstream audience at the palm of his hands. No wonder he was
(and still is) salty about this. Are They Cursed? The group was barely
hanging on even before their win. One of the main members Ben Moody left the
group after a disagreement over management. Amy Lee became the face of the
group. This ended up members leaving as well, but Amy Lee was the face of
Evanescence so the band soldiered on and released their second album in 2006,
which did well but not the same their debut. Lineup change will still take
place til this very day but they still putting out albums and seeing
nominations since the VMAs but what could’ve been had they not self-destruct.
They are cursed according to 50 Cent.
2005: Maroon 5
Maroon 5 was 2005 Best New Artist
winner. They released an album Songs About Jane in 2002, however it was
re-released one year later. This when songs This Love and She Would Be Loved became
big singles in 2004. Who Did they Beat? Los Lonely Boys, name don’t
sound familiar but once you hear the open guitar on Heaven you’ll be familiar.
Joss Stone, an English artist that I don’t have much to on I might need to get
on that. Gretchen Wilson, the Redneck Woman, a country artist and with a debut
single like that, yikes. Gotta be someone I know, safe, decent [Kanye West],
THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT. To be fair College Dropout was one of the most
important albums of 2004 and it was the start of a great three album run. He
took over when the southern rap scene was emerging. Leave this here, because
you know how I feel about Kanye West. Who Should’ve Won? Best New Artist
category was a two-person race, As obnoxious as he might have been Kanye
should’ve been the proper winner. I’m going to go wash my mouth out with soap
after saying that. Are They Cursed?
This is a case where I can hear it from both sides. Maroon 5 still churned out
hits even till this very day. Where does the curse debate comes from. Simple,
when they sold out and start making soccer mom music and the quality dip
bigtime. Basing this on their near two decade run, they are NOT cursed quality
wise, they were. They are not cursed, let’s move on
2006:
John Legend
In 2005, John Legend was the
winner. He’s been behind the scenes as early as 1999 when he worked with Lauryn
Hill. But 2005 he broke out on his own, and he released his breakthrough Get
Lifted and that album had the song “Ordinary People”. Who Did they Beat?
This class was all over the place. Ciara, the princess of crunk-N-B, Goodies
was a solid debut album anchored by the title track and 1,2 Step. Fall Out Boy,
could’ve sworn they debuted earlier, 2005 saw their breakthrough Under the Cork
Tree had two major singles Sugar We’re Going Down and Dance Dance and pushed
emo rock into the mainstream. Keane, unfamiliar UK band, don’t have much to go
off of. Just like Sugarland a Country duo. Who Should’ve Won? Not the
greatest class, but John Legends debut album is pretty good and the time, a
perfect male counterpart to what Alicia Keys was bringing at the time, I guess
his win make sense Are They Cursed? Another case where I can here both
sides, because John Legend he too started to make soccer mom music. But he’s an
EGOT, and his most recent Grammy win was in 2025. Mainstream career has died
down but he has enough quality and some relevance. He’s NOT Cursed and that was
a safe pick for that.
2007:
Carrie Underwood
In 2006, Carrie Underwood was our winner and she became the first, and only, Idol winner to win the award. Her idol win lead to a highly anticipated debut album which set the record for highest seller debut country album. Jesus Take the Wheel, Before He Cheats, Wasted & Don’t Forget to Remember Me, she was massive in 2006. Who Did they Beat? Not a bad class unless you start of with James Blunt, known for the song You’re Beautiful. Chris Brown, before his downfall as a human being, he was a teenage singer positive role model for the youth with songs like “Run It” “Yo Excuse me Miss” & “Gimme That”. Imogen Heap, is it kind of sad that I know them from the song “Headlock”, a song that went viral 20 years after it’s release. Corrine Bailey Rae, another UK artist known for Putting Your Records ON (shame her song was ruined by Ritt Monmey). Who Should’ve Won? Chris Brown was the biggest name I recognized but looking at Carrie Underwood’s debut era. I understood why she took the award. Are They Cursed? She spent the next decade being the go-to female country artist. Awards after awards, record sales on top of record sales, she might be the second most if not the most successful American Idol winner of all-time. Sure her political beliefs came into question in recent years but that don’t take away how decorative her career had been. So easily not cursed.
Amy Winehouse
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In 2008 Amy Winehouse won the 50th
Best New Artist Award ever. She’s already released an album in 2003 Frank, but
2007 she released Back to Black, a critically acclaimed album and had the song
rehab. She herself could not attend the ceremonies due to Green Card
Complications. But the Grammys did let her perform via satellite. Who Did they Beat? Feist, she a
Canadian singer like Amy Winehouse her second album was her breakthrough album
in The Reminder. Ledisi she was contemporary R&B singer not a whole lot but
her later career was interesting. Paramore, a pop-punk band with a surprising
urban audience, seriousness Misery Business was a bop in 2007. And there was
one more name, an artist who started off as Americas Sweetheart but wind up
being the most in-your-face, industry dependent, mega superstar who’s cat is
richer than I am, Taylor Swift. She dropped her debut album that and was set up
to be the next biggest country star, but would wind up pivot. Who Should’ve
Won? If this was based off of artist who actually debuted in 2006-07 then
maybe Taylor but she wasn’t seasoned yet to take that throne and Back to Black
is an important album in music it’s hard seeing Taylor beat Amy in this
situation. Are They Cursed? This
might be one of the hardest curses to talk about. Throughout Amy’s career she
struggled with substance abuse and her music highlights those struggles. She
tried to keep it together when performing live but she was often berated by the
paparazzi for her poor performances. 2011, 50th Best New Artist
Winner joined the 27 Club. So it’s sadly Amy Winehouse is cursed, but at least
she’s at peace.
2009:
Adele
2009 Adele took home the Best New
Artist; back-to-back years the UK took home the trophy. She dropped her debut
album 19 and the song Chasing Pavements was a critical darling. Who Did they
Beat? Duffy, a singer from Wales mostly rode the success of Mercy but would
undergo a traumatic event that ended her music career. The Jonas Brothers, from
the Radio Disney camp they been around since 2005 but in 2008 Burnin Up was
Burnin Up the charts. Lady formerly Antebellum, a country trio who released
their debut album in 2008. Jasmine Sullivan, an R&B artist who broke
through with a platinum seller in Fearless Who Should’ve Won? I would
say Adele would’ve taken this, but in my honest opinion, it was closer than you
think since Adele wasn’t as massive in America, yet. I think Jasmine Sullivan
had a shot but over Adele, not going to complain that she got the win. Are They Cursed? Sweeping the General
Fields twice, the accolades, #1s, four albums and seems content on preserving
her legacy instead of adding on to it. Might be one of the easiest answers
yet.
2010: Zac Brown Band
After a streak of women, the Zac
Brown Band won for 2010. Country pick might’ve been the boring route, but
2009-2010 they had a run of singles with a few of them landing in the top 40. Their
album the Foundation was a multiplatinum smash. Who Did they Beat? This
category had the most duo/group nominees for any Best New Artist category but I
sadly don’t recognize any of them. MGMT a band from Connecticut who rode the
success of Kids, Silverson Pickups an alt band from LA, Tings UK duo who
re-released a song called That’s Not My Name okay I recognized that song. The
only artist I was familiar with was the only non-band nominated and that was
Keri Hilson, someone I’ve met in person. She had two big singles with Turnin Me
On (w/Lil Wayne) & Knock You Down (w/Ne-Yo & Kanye West) and her debut
album went Gold. Who Should’ve Won? My bias would’ve easily said Keri
Hilson, hell she might’ve been the popular pick and career would’ve changed if
she would’ve won. But after looking at the Zac Brown Band’s discography for the
Foundation, I understood why they won. Are They Cursed? Zac Brown band
was a staple in 2010s country, they won two more Grammys afterwards and even
though it seems that their run is ending, I can safely say they are not cursed.
2011:
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding, it’s another
who? She a jazz artist whose first album came out in 2006. Her album Chamber
Music Society was a charter on the 200, but this one where I am drawing a
blank. Who Did they Beat? Justin Bieber, girls favorite heartthrob &
guys biggest headache, he released his debut My World 2.0 and his song baby was
popular, just not on YouTube. Drake, former Degrassi actor turned rapper,
released his debut album Thank Me Later, his breakthrough was long incoming.
Florence + the Machine, sure the song Dog Days Over came out in 2008 but it got
popular in 2010. Mumford & Suns, an indie rock band from the UK. Who
Should’ve Won? I sense some shenanigans, we got two artist from Canada, two
from the UK, and the lone American won, not going to jump into this theory, but
do I sense American bias. Of the four, I said Drake’s breakthrough was long
coming, I said he’ll win. Are They Cursed? You know what, she’s quietly
not cursed. Since winning Best New Artist, she won 4 Grammys since and her most
recent came in 2022. I’m going to say she’s not cursed.
2012:
Bon Iver
I thought Bon Iver was a solo act,
what’s wrong with me but they won in 2012. There an indie folk band and this is
another one where I am scrapping for any information. Who Did they Beat?
Band Perry, they were a sibling country band, that had that song If I Die Young.
J Cole, rapper from Fayetteville, NC, released his debut album Cole World
buoyed by the song Work Out. Nicki Minaj, female rapper from New York been on a
mixtape circuit for years until joining Young Money and released her debut
album Pink Friday. Skrillix, a DJ & EDM artist. Who Should’ve Won? This
was another year where I sense shenanigans. There was a big controversy
involving Nicki Minaj during that award show. She was in-line to perform at the
Grammy but then Whitney Houston unexpectedly passed away. Grammys had to shift
their show to make room for tributes, and they asked Nicki to remove her
performance. She declined and performed anyway. Who knows her name might’ve
been on the ballot to win Best New Artist, but she said no so the Grammy
replaced her with Bon Iver as the winner. That just a theory of mine and please
don’t run with it. Are They Cursed? Bon Iver is still in the indie
circuit, some of their recent credits include exile with Taylor swift. While
they haven’t won a Grammy since that night, they still manage to chart on the
Rock Charts. I’m cautiously say they were not cursed. Let’s move on.
2013:
fun.
A group name fun won Best New
Artist in 2013. Their most recognizable hits was We Are Young, Some Nights
& Carry On and their album Some Nights went Triple Platinum. Who Did
they Beat? This was another class where I don’t have much to work with.
Alabama Shakes, rock band from Alabama but have a recognizable member in
Brittany Howard that’s interesting, Frank Ocean drop a revolutionary R&B
album in channel orange and his music has aged extremely well. Hunter Hayes, he
was a young country singer racked up a few accolades. The Lumineers had one
huge hit Hey Ho that was a top 10 hit in 2012, and I have never heard of this
song. Who Should’ve Won? Same for 2010 applies here, Frank Ocean
would’ve been the biggest competitors but given how massive We Are Young was
hard to contest. Are They Cursed?
Little did we know, this was fun’s peak. They always would say that their
success was an accident but by 2015, fun was no more. But for Jack Antonoff, he
would find success as a producer most notably with Taylor Swift. He would win
Grammys thanks to Swift and he himself would win Producer of the Year in
2022-2024. But as a whole fun is cursed (just not Jack Antonoff).
2014:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
This might get heavy but Macklemore
& Ryan Lewis won in 2014. Thrift Shop was one of the biggest songs in the
world in 2013 and The Heist won Best Rap Album (somehow). They became the new
face of Pop Rap Who Did they Beat? Finally we got a strong class. James
Blake a UK singer who found success with his album Overgrown. Kacey Musgrave,
dropped Same Trailer Different Park this year and was on the way to country
superstardom. Ed Sheeran, sure + dropped two years ago, but the song The A Team
crossed over in American and him opening for Taylor Swift would start his
dominance. There was one more name, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, good kid mad city
shifted hip-hop. Wait a minute, you mean to tell me he didn’t win. Kung Fu
Kenny, K-Dot, The Certified Boogeyman, Duckworth, he didn’t win. Who
Should’ve Won? Like I said this class was stacked, but K-Dot Kenny really
lost, already explained this in my Grammy controversy video, so you should know
how I feel about this. Are They
Cursed? Macklemore did everything a Best New Artist winner shouldn’t do. I
think I said something like this…Yeah he’s cursed let’s move on.
2015:
Sam Smith
2015, Sam Smith won Best New Artist
and with this Sam became the first non-binary artist to win the award (even
though Smith didn’t identify at the time to my knowledge). Sam Smith rode 2014
with the song Stay with Me (and a Darkchild remix featuring Mary J Blige). But
Sam had other singles, I’m Not the Only One & Lay Down Beside were solid
hits. Who Did they Beat? Another year where I don’t have enough to work
with. Brandy Clark a country singer who is more known for her songwriting than
actual music. Bastille an indie group with a lot of Bad Blood (see what I did
there), HAIM a sister group with a lot of acclaim despite minimal mainstream
success. Iggy Azalea, an Aussie rapper who became Fancy with Charli xcx and had
a problem with Ariana Grande. Who Should’ve Won? This was a weak class
Sam Smith won by a country mile. Are They Cursed? This is tough one. Sam
Smith still had some hits but they weren’t the same. But Sam did win an Oscar.
So you can’t say success never fleeted Smith. But something happened, Sam never
saw another nomination/win until “Unholy” (which I still stand by saying it’s
one of the worst songs to ever win a Grammy). I don’t want to use the word
blackballed but Sam performance on that show caused Smith’s career to go down.
Sam got a Grammy and a #1 hit in America, but at what cost. This is one case
where I can hear it from both sides but got to say it, Sam Smith is cursed.
2016:
Meghan Trainor
Oh, oh, oh. Meghan Trainor won in
2016 despite being nominated for ROTY last year. You would think she would
compete with Sam Smith the year prior but really, you let this get by. Look at
this picture, this is a face of a woman who stole a Grammy but who did she
steal from. Who Did they Beat? What do you know this class isn’t good
either. Courtney Barrett an indie artist from Australia, won several ARIA
awards, James Bay a UK singer who had the song Hold Back the River, Sam Hunt
the pioneer of pop country and owning the second worst song of the 2010s and
Tori Kelly an American Idol reject who was slowly building her career. Who
Should’ve Won? A weak year, I understand Meghan Trainor was the biggest
mainstream artist, Tori Kelly might be the best of the bunch. Major none, but
one of the most underrated vocalists of the 2010s. Are They Cursed? Everyone’s
patience had worn thin after this. Again she had charting singles after this
but after Me Too, she would go remote silent until having a mini-revival with
Made You Look. Everyone tolerance of Meghan Trainor has worn thin very quickly
after the win. So yes she is cursed. You don’t know how much I despise this
Best New Artist category.
2017:
Chance the Rapper
2017 Chance the Rapper became the first solo male rapper to win the Best New Artist. This was huge because he didn’t have a major studio album at this point. Instead, he independently been dropping mixtapes with Acid Rap and Coloring Book being some of his biggest. Who Did they Beat? This is a solid cast of Best New Artists, Kelsea Ballerini a country artist, The Chainsmokers and say whatever you want about them, Closer with Halsey was inescapable at the time. Maren Morris, she started off on pop, then country until going back to pop due to Nashville politics. Anderson paak, a future Grammy darling whose breakthrough album Malibu was a critical success. Who Should’ve Won? It was gutsy to say the least on giving Chance the Rapper a chance on winning this award, but this class was promising this category could’ve gone in any direction and because of that I’m okay with Chance winning. Are They Cursed? His audience turned on him when he dropped his debut album in 2019 and how poor it was received. Also he hasn’t been nominated since winning 2017. And after how poorly The Big Day was received his buzz died down fast. He still maintain relevance in other endeavors so it wasn’t like he disappeared. But he’s still cursed and to add on to the curse he is the last male artist to win this award as we enter the Me-Too/Pop Girly/Women rules era of music.
2018:
Alessia Cara
2018 Alessia Cara won Best New
Artist even though I felt like her nomination was one year overdue. Her win was
historic as she became the first Canadian to receive the honor. 2017 saw her
song Scars to Your Beautiful become a pop staple, but she was more known for
her collabs, most notably with Zedd & Logic. Who Did they Beat? The
second class in a row where I recognized the other nods. Khalid, where his song
Location was everywhere in 2017. Julia Michaels, she was most known for the
song Issues. Lil Uzi Vert, rapper from Florida who’s was pushing the new wave
of mumble rap but XO Tour Life was a big single at the time. One more, a
R&B singer who was pushing a new wave/era for R&B, her name SZA. Her
album Ctrl was one of the best of that year. Who Should’ve Won? This
brings me to this because Alessia was carried by her features, I would rather
see this award be given to Khalid or SZA, and I am a fan of Alessia. A lot of
SZA fans did attack her on social media for something she had little control
of. Are They Cursed? I don’t know
what happened, she dropped a follow up album Growing Pains and it was not as
successful. Sure SZA fans turned on her but she had little to no controversy to
her name. My biggest guess, while TikTok was rising in the music industry, she
chose not to compete with those trends. If that what she wants to do, cool. She
still drop music but no one is checking for it. Hurt doing but Alessia is
cursed, but check out her album she released this year, good piece of art.
2019:
Dua Lipa
2019 Dua Lipa won Best New Artist,
this breakthrough was coming as she saw success thanks to her song No Rules,
IDGAF. Who Did they Beat? This would be the first Best New Artist
Category where the nominees get expanded to 5-8. Because of this change I’m not
going to go through all of these names from here and out. But in this situation
I am going to name them all since I do recognized most names; Chloe x Halle (a
R&B sister duo signed with Parkwood entertainment), Luke Combs (NC born
country artist), Greta Van Fleet (a rock band from Michigan), HER (another
R&B artist who entered a rebrand and some ties to the Recording Academy), Margo
Price (another country artist who’s more known for her songwriting), Bebe Rexha
(she broke out thanks to the song Meant to Be) & Jorja Smith (another
R&B singer from the UK). Who Should’ve Won? I remember watching the
Grammy show, I honestly was rooting for HER only because I didn’t know who Dua
Lipa, But revisiting her catalog and realizing what she became I’m not going
thoroughly complain she won. Are They Cursed? The best was yet to come,
her album Future Nostalgia is one of the best pop albums of the decade, 2021
she had the biggest hit on Billboard that year in Levitating (that’s despite
never reaching the top on said charts). But she did have a setback during her
Radical Optimism due to a management change when her father took over. But
despite that, I can say after dealing with six cursed artists in a row, she’s
not cursed just hoped Radical Optimism was just a road block and she could get
back to what she does best.
2020:
Billie Eilish
2020 saw Billie Eilish win Best New
Artist and as we all know, she would have one of the best nights in Grammy
history by sweeping the General categories. Her win was stocked by her breakout
Sleeping album, and her #1 Bad Guy. Who Did They Beat? This would’ve
been a case where you would’ve been better off with 5 names and it’ll be a
stack lineup. Let’s talk about the names I recognized starting off with Black
Pumas (a soul band they’ll have some Grammy success), Lil Nas X (Old Town Road
was a record breaker and Nas X proved that he isn’t a one hit wonder), Lizzo
(she’s been an artist since 2016 but she started to become viral in 2019 thanks
to Truth Hurts and Good as Hell), Maggie Rogers (she had an album Heard it in
My Past Life that debuted at #2 on the 200), and Rosalia (a Latin artist from
Spain) Who Should’ve Won? Lizzo was probably Billie Eilish biggest
competition, but given the year Billie Had, hard to go against that. Are
They Cursed? She literally won ROTY the next year, and while her next two
studio albums resulted in 0 wins likely due to Grammy fatigue (but she won
Grammys for What Was I made For), she still one of the pop girlies of 2020s.
Not only that she is a two-time Oscar winner. Easily not cursed but I do think
her next album era has to get a Grammy win.
2021:
Megan Thee Stallion
2022:
Olivia Rodrigo
2022 was the year spent in
recovering from the pandemic. The winner was easily Olivia Rodrigo. She was a Disney star most known for appearing
on the Disney+ show High School Musical. 2021 she had her breakthrough out of
nowhere with the song “driver’s license” going #1 in the beginning of the year.
She would follow up with “déjà vu”, “good 4 u” (also went #1), & “traitor”.
Then she released her album SOUR in May that same year going multiplatinum. Who
Did they Beat? This year saw an expansion on 10, so I’m just going to talk
about the names I recognized; Arooj Aftab, Jimmie Allen (a country artist), Baby
Keem (a rapper with family ties to Kendrick Lamar), Finneas (a producer who won
previous Grammys but had started to put out his own works), Glass Animals
(alternative group best known for the song Heat Waves), Japanese Breakfast,
Arlo Parks, Saweetie (female rapper who had a huge duet with Doja Cat in Best
Friend, despite her releasing My Type & Tap In in 2019 and 2020 respectively).
Who Should’ve Won? Number 1 hit, one of the highest selling albums of
2021, Olivia Rodrigo was the easy choice for this. Are They Cursed? Sure Olivia hasn’t
won a Grammy since 2022, but she did release a respectable sophomore album in
GUTS, goes to show that Olivia still got it. It’s early but her path to stardom
is still there. She is not cursed and I hope her third album performs well
2023:
Samara Joy
2024:
Victoria Monet
2024 winner was Victoria Monet. A
vet in the game, she has been releasing music for over a decade. But her album
Jaguar II received long overdue praise most you can thank the song “On My
Mama”. Who Did they Beat? This class was kind of all over the place at
least they cut it back down to 8. Gracie Abrams (daughter of JJ Abrams released
her breakthrough album Secrets of Us and got a Swifty cosign), Fred Again (he’s
a UK dance producer), Ice Spice (rapper from New York broke out due to her
collabs, affiliation and a Swifty cosign), Jelly Roll (former rapper turned
country singer who needed a favor), Coco Jones (R&B vet who broke through
thanks to the song ICU), Noah Kahan (the album Stick Season was his
breakthrough), War & Treaty (African American couple who sings country
music) Who Should’ve Won? Ice Spice wasn’t getting this win you all know
this, but thanks to Jaguar II, Victoria Monet was the best option for this
award. Are They Cursed? This is too early to tell as her Best New Artist
win is still fresh, let’s hope she’s able to follow up Jaguar II.
2025:
Chappell Roan
This leads us Chappell Roan, the
most recent Best New Artist Winner. She been in the music scene since 2017 but
have been struggle dealing the politics in the industry. She tried again with
2023 album Rise and Fall Midwest Princess. But it was a slow grower but then
something clicked. The song Good Luck Babe (which is NOT on this album) started
to take off and led to songs from the Midwest album to also take off. Who Did they Beat? This was a stacked
class this year. Benson Boone (he broke out thanks to Beautiful Things),
Sabrina Carpenter (despite being a vet in music for a decade her Short n Sweet
album blew up thanks to the song Espresso), Doechii (dropped the mixtape
Alligator Bites Never Heal felt like her nomination was one year overdue), Khruangbin
(a psychedelic band probably the least known name here), RAYE (singer from the
UK, whose nomination was one year overdue), Shaboozey (A Bar Song Tipsy, need I
say more?), Teddy Swims (Lose Control, need I say more?) Who Should’ve Won? Let’s
be real, it was a two way race between her and Sabrina Carpenter. But I think
the SC fans wouldn’t have a problem if Chappell had won given that Sabrina is a
vet. Are They Cursed? This is another too early to tell, as her Best New
Artist win is still fresh, but I will say she has displayed curse like behavior
when the Giver debut high but flopped & The Subway doing the same (and both
are great songs) and then saying her next album might not come until five years
later. But again it’s still early, come back years later and I’ll give a proper
answer.
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