{"id":110584,"date":"2025-10-29T16:06:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T16:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/110584\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T16:06:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T16:06:09","slug":"2026-grammy-predictions-for-best-new-artist-olivia-dean-sombr-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/110584\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Grammy Predictions for Best New Artist: Olivia Dean, sombr, More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tFor months, it looked like the Grammy race for best new artist was likely to come down to <a data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/alex-warren\/\" data-type=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/alex-warren\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Warren<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/sombr\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/sombr\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">sombr<\/a>. But a couple of things happened in the past few weeks to make the race more competitive \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/olivia-dean\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/olivia-dean\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Olivia Dean<\/a> exploded with a top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 (\u201cMan I Need\u201d) and a top 10 album on the Billboard 200 (The Art of Loving). And the Recording Academy ruled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/leon-thomas\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/leon-thomas\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Leon Thomas<\/a> eligible, even though he won a Grammy three years ago for co-writing SZA\u2019s \u201cSnooze.\u201d Now, we have a real race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWith the nominations set to be announced next Friday (Nov. 7), all four of these artists certain to be nominated for best new artist, along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/lola-young\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/lola-young\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lola Young<\/a>. After that, it gets harder to choose, but the field will be rounded out with three other nominees, culled from a list of 337 eligible names.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tFinal-round voting begins Dec. 12 and extends to Jan. 5. So Dean has about six weeks for her profile to continue building before the first votes are cast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf Dean (or Young) winds up winning, this will be the ninth year in a row that a solo woman has been named best new artist. The streak started in 2018 with Alessia Cara and has continued with Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Olivia Rodrigo, Samara Joy, Victoria Mon\u00e9t and Chappell Roan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf Warren, somber or Thomas takes the prize, they\u2019d be the first male artist to win since Chance the Rapper in 2017.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<a data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/the-marias\/\" data-type=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/the-marias\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Mar\u00edas<\/a>, which span multiple genres and languages, also have a good chance of being nominated. If they were to win, they\u2019d be the first group (defined as an act with three or more members) to take the prize since fun. in 2013. Three other groups are seen as having a reasonably good shot at a nod: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/sleep-token\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/sleep-token\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sleep Token<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/katseye\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/katseye\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">KATSEYE<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/the-red-clay-strays\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/the-red-clay-strays\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Red Clay Strays<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tSome of the top contenders have already won new artist prizes at other shows. Warren won best new artist at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 7. Thomas won best new artist at the BET Awards on June 9. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/zach-top\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/zach-top\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zach Top<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/ella-langley\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/ella-langley\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ella Langley<\/a> and The Red Clay Strays won the new male, female, and duo\/group prizes at the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 8. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/myles-smith\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/myles-smith\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Myles Smith<\/a> won the rising star award at the Brit Awards on March 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tEven some acts that won new artist awards in 2024 are eligible. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/megan-moroney\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/megan-moroney\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Megan Moroney<\/a> won new artist of the year at the 2024 Country Music Association Awards and new female artist of the year at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards. The Red Clay Strays won emerging artist of the year at the 2024 Americana Music Honors &amp; Awards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t(The Grammys in recent years have erred on the side of being inclusive in this category. In previous eras, they almost seemed to be looking for nitpicky reasons to kick artists out \u2013 just ask the people around Whitney Houston and Richard Marx who are probably still smarting over their exclusions.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tBigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman, who collaborated on the top five Hot 100 hit \u201cAll the Way,\u201d are competing against each other here. Sleep Token and Ken Carson, who both landed No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, are eligible. So is Role Model, who made a vivid impression late in the eligibility year with his irresistible breakthrough hit \u201cSally, When the Wine Runs Out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tOther strong contenders, not already mentioned, include Ravyn Lenae, Mariah the Scientist, Addison Rae, Jessie Murph, Gigi Perez, Riley Green, October London, Sam Fender, Rene\u00e9 Rapp, PinkPantheress, Tucker Wetmore, ATEEZ, Central Cee, Lil Tecca, Parker McCollum and Keke Palmer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe eligibility period for the 68th Grammy Awards is Aug. 31, 2024, through Aug. 30, 2025. While the\u00a0Grammys\u00a0set a minimum number of releases an artist must have to qualify in this category (five singles\/tracks or one album), there is no maximum. Instead, the Grammys\u2019 rules and guidelines booklet says nominations for the honor hinge on when \u201cthe artist had attained a breakthrough or prominence\u201d \u2014 and it delegates that determination to a screening committee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tArtists are allowed to appear on the entry list for best new artist three times, after which they are ruled ineligible for future consideration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHere are the eight leading nominees for best new artist. The artists are shown in alphabetical order, which is how they\u2019ll be listed on the Grammy nominees list.<\/p>\n<p>\tOlivia Dean<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tif ( !window.pmc.harmony?.isEventAdScheduledTime() ) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tpmcCnx.cmd.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpmcCnx({<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsettings: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplugins: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpmcAtlasMG: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tiabPlcmt: 2,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t},<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplayerId: &#8216;4057afa6-846b-4276-bc63-a9cf3a8aa1ed&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaylistId: &#8216;b7dab6e5-7a62-4df1-b1f4-3cfa99eea709&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}).render(&#8220;connatix_contextual_player_div&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\/\/ This should only be get called when page cache is not cleared and it&#8217;s event time.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.pmc.harmony?.switchToHarmonyPlayer();<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHer stats: Her sophomore album, The Art of Loving, has climbed as high as No. 6 on the Billboard 200. Her breakout hit, \u201cMan I Need,\u201d has reached No. 8 on the Hot 100. The single was eligible for record of the year but wasn\u2019t entered. (Oops.) The album was released after the eligibility cut-off, but it will be eligible for album of the year at the 2027 ceremony.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf she wins: She\u2019ll be the first artist from England to win since Dua Lipa in 2019. She\u2019d also become the second artist named Olivia to win, following Olivia Rodrigo.<\/p>\n<p>\tRavyn Lenae<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ravyn-Lenae-press-credit-Remy-Bourdeau-2024-billboard-04-1548.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Ravyn Lenae\"  \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Remy Bourdeau\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tif ( !window.pmc.harmony?.isEventAdScheduledTime() ) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tpmcCnx.cmd.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpmcCnx({<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsettings: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplugins: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpmcAtlasMG: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tiabPlcmt: 2,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t},<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplayerId: &#8216;4057afa6-846b-4276-bc63-a9cf3a8aa1ed&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaylistId: &#8216;b7dab6e5-7a62-4df1-b1f4-3cfa99eea709&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}).render(&#8220;connatix_contextual_player_div&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\/\/ This should only be get called when page cache is not cleared and it&#8217;s event time.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.pmc.harmony?.switchToHarmonyPlayer();<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHer stats: Her second studio album Bird\u2019s Eye reached No. 139 on the Billboard 200. Her breakout single, \u201cLove Me Not,\u201d reached No. 5 on the Hot 100. \u201cLove Me Not\u201d was released in May 2024, but it\u2019s eligible for record of the year this year. Go figure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf she wins: Lenae, rather than Dean, will keep the winning streak alive for women artists in this category.<\/p>\n<p>\tThe Mar\u00edas<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/the-marias-press-cr-Jaxon-Whittington-2025-billboard-1800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"The Marias\"  \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Jaxon Whittington\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tif ( !window.pmc.harmony?.isEventAdScheduledTime() ) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tpmcCnx.cmd.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpmcCnx({<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsettings: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplugins: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpmcAtlasMG: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tiabPlcmt: 2,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t},<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplayerId: &#8216;4057afa6-846b-4276-bc63-a9cf3a8aa1ed&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaylistId: &#8216;b7dab6e5-7a62-4df1-b1f4-3cfa99eea709&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}).render(&#8220;connatix_contextual_player_div&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\/\/ This should only be get called when page cache is not cleared and it&#8217;s event time.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.pmc.harmony?.switchToHarmonyPlayer();<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tTheir stats: Their second studio album, Submarine, debuted and peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200. Their breakout hit, \u201cNo One Noticed,\u201d reached No. 22 on the Hot 100. Both album and single were released in the previous eligibility year, so they\u2019re not eligible this year. (There\u2019s more flexibility in this category for acts that needed a little more time to break through.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf they win: They would be the first group to win since fun. in 2013; the first female-fronted group to win since Evanescence (fronted by Amy Lee) in 2004. The Mar\u00edas consists of lead vocalist Mar\u00eda Zardoya, drummer\/producer Josh Conway, guitarist Jesse Perlman, and keyboardist Edward James.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe Mar\u00edas were nominated for album of the year three years ago as featured artists on Bad Bunny\u2019s Un Verano Sin Ti. They owe their eligibility in this category to a rule change this year that allows artists with previous album of the year nominations to compete for best new artist if they appeared on 20 percent or less of the album\u2019s playing time.<\/p>\n<p>\tsombr<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Sombr-pr-cr-Bryce-Glenn-2025-billboard-1800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"sombr\"  \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Bryce Glenn\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tif ( !window.pmc.harmony?.isEventAdScheduledTime() ) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tpmcCnx.cmd.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpmcCnx({<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsettings: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplugins: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpmcAtlasMG: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tiabPlcmt: 2,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t},<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplayerId: &#8216;4057afa6-846b-4276-bc63-a9cf3a8aa1ed&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaylistId: &#8216;b7dab6e5-7a62-4df1-b1f4-3cfa99eea709&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}).render(&#8220;connatix_contextual_player_div&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\/\/ This should only be get called when page cache is not cleared and it&#8217;s event time.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.pmc.harmony?.switchToHarmonyPlayer();<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHis stats: His debut album, I Barely Know Her, has climbed as high as No. 10 on the Billboard 200. He has had a pair of top 20 hits on the Hot 100, \u201cBack to Friends\u201d and \u201cUndressed.\u201d The hits were concurrent, so sombr neatly sidestepped the one-hit-wonder worry that has bedeviled newcomers since the dawn of record-making. sombr\u2019s impressive songwriting earned a shout-out from Taylor Swift, who was nominated for best new artist 18 years ago. (She lost to Amy Winehouse.) Sombr\u2019s camp entered \u201cBack to Friends\u201d and not \u201cUndressed\u201d for record and song of the year. Sombr may be new to the game, but he knows enough not to risk splitting your votes at awards shows.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf he wins: At 20, he would be the youngest winner since Olivia Rodrigo, who was just 18 when she won in 2023. He\u2019d be the youngest male artist ever to win. (Just by being nominated, he would be the youngest male nominee since Khalid, who was 19 when he was nominated at the 2018 ceremony.)<\/p>\n<p>\tLeon Thomas<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/feature-leon-thomas-billboard-2025-bb13-austin-hargrave-1-1800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Cover Story, Leon Thomas, R&amp;B\/Hip-Hop\"  \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Austin Hargrave\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tif ( !window.pmc.harmony?.isEventAdScheduledTime() ) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tpmcCnx.cmd.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpmcCnx({<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsettings: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplugins: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpmcAtlasMG: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tiabPlcmt: 2,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t},<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplayerId: &#8216;4057afa6-846b-4276-bc63-a9cf3a8aa1ed&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaylistId: &#8216;b7dab6e5-7a62-4df1-b1f4-3cfa99eea709&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}).render(&#8220;connatix_contextual_player_div&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\/\/ This should only be get called when page cache is not cleared and it&#8217;s event time.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.pmc.harmony?.switchToHarmonyPlayer();<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHis stats: His second studio album, Mutt, reached No. 35 on the Billboard 200. The title track, an old-school soul ballad in all its 1970s-evoking glory, has climbed as high as No. 10 on the Hot 100. \u201cMutt\u201d was released in the previous eligibility year, so it isn\u2019t eligible for record of the year, but an alternate take, \u201cMutt (Live From NPR\u2019s Tiny Desk),\u201d is entered.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAt 32, Thomas is the oldest of this year\u2019s top contenders for best new artist, though several other artists with a reasonably good chance of a nod have passed The Big 3-0. They include Sam Fender, 31; Riley Green, 37; and October London, 39.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf he wins: He\u2019ll be the first person who has already won a Grammy to win best new artist since Lauryn Hill in 1999. As noted above, Thomas won best R&amp;B song three years ago for co-writing SZA\u2019s \u201cSnooze.\u201d He was allowed to compete here this year because this was his breakthrough as an artist. Hill was allowed to compete for best new artist even though she had won two Grammys two years earlier as a member of Fugees. (Current rules wouldn\u2019t allow that.)<\/p>\n<p>\tZach Top<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/zach-top-pr-cr-citizen-kane-wayne-2025-billboard-1800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Zach Top\"  \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Citizen Kane Wayne\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tif ( !window.pmc.harmony?.isEventAdScheduledTime() ) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tpmcCnx.cmd.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpmcCnx({<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsettings: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplugins: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpmcAtlasMG: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tiabPlcmt: 2,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t},<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplayerId: &#8216;4057afa6-846b-4276-bc63-a9cf3a8aa1ed&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaylistId: &#8216;b7dab6e5-7a62-4df1-b1f4-3cfa99eea709&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}).render(&#8220;connatix_contextual_player_div&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\/\/ This should only be get called when page cache is not cleared and it&#8217;s event time.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.pmc.harmony?.switchToHarmonyPlayer();<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHis stats: His second studio album, Ain\u2019t in It for My Health, debuted and peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200, 20 notches higher than the peak position of his debut album, Cold Beer and Country Music. \u201cI Never Lie,\u201d from the first album, reached No. 24 on the Hot 100 (and is entered for record of the year).<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf he wins: He\u2019ll be the first country artist to win since Zac Brown Band in 2010; the first male solo country artist ever to win.<\/p>\n<p>\tAlex Warren<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/alex-warren-pr-2025-billboard-1800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Alex Warren\"  \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Jack Dytrych\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tif ( !window.pmc.harmony?.isEventAdScheduledTime() ) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tpmcCnx.cmd.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpmcCnx({<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsettings: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplugins: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpmcAtlasMG: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tiabPlcmt: 2,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t},<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplayerId: &#8216;4057afa6-846b-4276-bc63-a9cf3a8aa1ed&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaylistId: &#8216;b7dab6e5-7a62-4df1-b1f4-3cfa99eea709&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}).render(&#8220;connatix_contextual_player_div&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\/\/ This should only be get called when page cache is not cleared and it&#8217;s event time.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.pmc.harmony?.switchToHarmonyPlayer();<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHis stats: His debut album, You\u2019ll Be Alright, Kid, has reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200. \u201cOrdinary\u201d logged 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100. A follow-up, \u201cEternity,\u201d reached No. 16.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf he wins: He\u2019d be the second best new artist winner whose breakout year included a 10-week No. 1 smash. Debby Boone was the first with her 1977 megahit \u201cYou Light Up My Life.\u201d (Interestingly, both are quasi-religious power ballads.) \u201cOrdinary\u201d was Billboard\u2019s Song of the Summer, even though most agreed it wasn\u2019t very summery. Warren is vying to become the fourth Song of the Summer champ to go on to win the Grammy for best new artist, following Carpenters, Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera. (Their song of the summer winners, as you surely know, were \u201c(They Long to Be) Close to You,\u201d \u201cVision of Love\u201d and \u201cGenie in a Bottle,\u201d respectively.)<\/p>\n<p>\tLola Young<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/lola-young-2025-cr-Conor-Cunningham-billboard-1800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Lola Young\"  \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Conor Cunningham\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tif ( !window.pmc.harmony?.isEventAdScheduledTime() ) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tpmcCnx.cmd.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpmcCnx({<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsettings: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplugins: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpmcAtlasMG: {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tiabPlcmt: 2,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t},<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplayerId: &#8216;4057afa6-846b-4276-bc63-a9cf3a8aa1ed&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaylistId: &#8216;b7dab6e5-7a62-4df1-b1f4-3cfa99eea709&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}).render(&#8220;connatix_contextual_player_div&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\/\/ This should only be get called when page cache is not cleared and it&#8217;s event time.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.pmc.harmony?.switchToHarmonyPlayer();<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHer stats: Her third album, I\u2019m Only F**king Myself, debuted and peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard 200. Her breakout hit, \u201cMessy,\u201d reached No. 14 on the Hot 100. Tyler, The Creator\u2019s \u201cLike Him,\u201d on which she was featured, reached No. 29. \u201cMessy\u201d was released in the previous eligibility year, but it\u2019s entered for record of the year nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIf she wins: She, rather than Dean, will become the first artist from England to win since Dua Lipa in 2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For months, it looked like the Grammy race for best new artist was likely to come down to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":99017,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[6971,67156,13573,93,17365,61,60,278,633],"class_list":{"0":"post-110584","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-awards","9":"tag-best-new-artist","10":"tag-billboard-uk","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-grammys","13":"tag-ie","14":"tag-ireland","15":"tag-music","16":"tag-music-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}