The Awardist Grammys Best New Artist Grammy winners: Where are they now? How many artists have lived up to the promise of the coveted award? Find out who they beat and what they are working on these days. By Marcus Jones Marcus Jones Marcus Jones is a former digital news writer at Entertainment Weekly. He left EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines and Lester Fabian Brathwaite Lester Fabian Brathwaite Lester Fabian Brathwaite is a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, where he covers breaking news, all things Real Housewives, and a rich cornucopia of popular culture. Formerly a senior editor at Out magazine, his work has appeared on NewNowNext, Queerty, Rolling Stone, and The New Yorker. He was also the first author signed to Phoebe Robinson's Tiny Reparations imprint. He met Oprah once. EW's editorial guidelines Updated on February 14, 2023 08:20AM EST Close Photo: David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images; Michael Loccisano/Getty Images; Jeff Spicer/BFC/Getty Images Superstars in waiting Frank Micelotta/Getty Images; Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Kevin Winter/ImageDirect Multiplatinum artists, multiple judges on The Voice, indie darlings, a master jazz improvisationalist, and even an EGOT winner all started their careers with one important Grammy win: Best New Artist. No matter the talent, the winners in this category have had wildly different careers. See every Best New Artist winner from 1990 through 2021 and where they are now, ahead. 1990: Milli Vanilli (revoked in 1990) CBS via Getty Images; BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images Who they beat: Neneh Cherry, Indigo Girls, Tone Lōc, and Soul II Soul Technically, there was no winner of Best New Artist in 1990 since the Recording Academy, in an unprecedented move, rescinded the award given to Milli Vanilli's Fab Morvan and Rob Piltaus once it was revealed the duo was lip-syncing for their lives. Morvan and Pilatus tried to rehabilitate their tarnished reputation with a comeback album, but that was derailed when Pilatus died of an accidental drug overdose in 1998. Morvan has kept busy as a session musician and DJ, trying his hand at a solo career. A biopic about the duo, Girl You Know It's True, is expected to be released in 2023. John Davis, one of the real voices behind Milli Vanilli, dies at 66 1991: Mariah Carey Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty Images; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Who she beat: The Black Crowes, the Kentucky Headhunters, Lisa Stansfield, Wilson Phillips Since winning Best New Artist, Mariah Carey has gone on to become one of the most consistent and successful hitmakers of her (or any) generation. In 2019, the elusive chanteuse garnered her 19th No. 1 hit, the most by a solo artist, and second only to the Beatles. In addition to a slew of other awards and accolades, Carey has five Grammys and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. Her enduring holiday song "All I Want for Christmas Is You" surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify in 2021. Mariah Carey's best songs: Ranking her No. 1 hits 1992: Marc Cohn Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images; Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Who he beat: Boyz II Men, C+C Music Factory, Color Me Badd, and Seal Best known for "Walking in Memphis," Marc Cohn was never able to replicate the success of his breakthrough single and eponymous debut album. Cohn recorded steadily throughout the '90s and the '00s, releasing four more albums. In 2005, he survived an attempted carjacking in which he was shot in the head. Cohn, a Cleveland-born artist, popped up in an SNL musical sketch in 2021 with Pete Davidson and Method Man extolling the virtues of Staten Island. Marc Cohn shares his secret 1993: Arrested Development Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic Who they beat: Billy Ray Cyrus, Sophie B. Hawkins, Kris Kross, and Jon Secada The first hip-hop act to win Best New Artist, Arrested Development's brand of socially conscious rap was a response to the gangsta rap that dominated the 1980s and early-1990s. Their debut album, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of… was a critically acclaimed, multiplatinum success, but their 1994 follow-up, while also garnering strong reviews, didn't perform nearly as well, leading the group to break up in 1996. However, though their lineup has changed over the years, AD continues to record and tour with original cofounder Speech still fronting the group. 1994: Toni Braxton TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images; Steve Granitz/WireImage Who she beat: Belly, Blind Melon, Digable Planets, and SWV Following the success of her self-titled debut album, which earned her three Grammys including Best New Artist, Toni Braxton released the even more successful Secrets in 1996, winning another two Grammys in the process. After a much-publicized bankruptcy filing, Braxton came roaring back with The Heat, and another Grammy, in 2001. Braxton filed for bankruptcy again in 2010. But, since then, the songstress has rebounded. She has a total of seven Grammys, has recorded and toured regularly, and even been on Broadway. She also ventured into reality television with her sisters, in addition to competing on Dancing With the Stars and The Masked Singer. What the Grammys looked like in 2001 1995: Sheryl Crow DAN GROSHONG/AFP via Getty Images; Noam Galai/Getty Images Who she beat: Ace of Base, Counting Crows, Crash Test Dummies, and Green Day Sheryl Crow had sung backup for a number of artists including Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder before hitting it big with her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club, and her breakout hit "All I Wanna Do." After her initial Grammy success, Crow has gone on to earn a total of 32 nominations so far, winning nine over her lengthy career. In 2019, Crow released what she teased might be her final, full-length album, Threads, a collection of duets, to instead focus on releasing singles and EPs. She was the subject of a 2022 Showtime documentary, Sheryl. 14 famous songs you didn't know are covers 1996: Hootie & the Blowfish S Granitz/WireImage; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images Who they beat: Brandy, Alanis Morissette, Joan Osborne, and Shania Twain In a field of women from a myriad of genres, Hootie & the Blowfish took home Best New Artist, despite fellow nominee Alanis Morissette winning Album of the Year. Thus was the power and influence of the Blowfish, whose debut, Cracked Rear View, became one of the best-selling albums of all time. That kind of runaway success is nearly impossible to replicate, as the band found out with their subsequent albums. Hootie himself, Darius Rucker, launched a successful solo country music career, winning a Grammy of his own in 2013 for his single "Wagon Wheel." Rucker reunited with the Blowfish for their sixth album, Imperfect Circle, in 2019. Hootie & the Blowfish hit it big 1997: LeAnn Rimes Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Who she beat: Garbage, Jewel, No Doubt, and the Tony Rich Project At 14, LeAnn Rimes became the youngest solo Grammy winner ever, as well as the first country musician to win Best New Artist. Despite this impressive feat, Rimes had actually released her debut album three years prior. After her Grammy win in 1997, she experienced pop success with her rendition of "How Do I Live." Over the years, Rimes would flirt with pop while remaining faithful to her country roots, releasing a stream of albums, including God's Work in 2022. Meanwhile, in 2020, Rimes won the fourth season of The Masked Singer. The Masked Singer winner Sun fought to perform that stunning Billie Eilish cover a cappella 1998: Paula Cole TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images; Alison Buck/WireImage Who she beat: Fiona Apple, Erykah Badu, Hanson, and Puff Daddy Though fellow nominees Fiona Apple and Erykah Badu have gone on to long, critically-acclaimed careers, Paula Cole's "I Don't Want to Wait" has been ingrained in pop culture thanks to its use as millennial touchstone Dawson's Creek's theme song. It was Cole's "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?," however, that earned her three Grammy noms, including Record of the Year. Cole's follow-up album, 1999's Amen, under the moniker "The Paula Cole Band," was too much of a stylistic departure for fans and was met with mixed reviews by critics. Still, Cole has recorded steadily over the years, releasing seven additional albums since Amen, her most recent being 2021's American Quilt. Flashback to the 1998 Grammy Awards 1999: Lauryn Hill S Granitz/WireImage; Victor Boyko/Getty Images Who she beat: Backstreet Boys, Andrea Bocelli, the Chicks (previously known as the Dixie Chicks), and Natalie Imbruglia The 41st Grammys was really Lauryn Hill's night, not only winning Best New Artist but taking away a then-record five trophies in total, including Album of the Year for her landmark The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, a first for a hip-hop album. Following a court battle and subsequent settlement over that album's credits, however, Ms. Hill shied away from the spotlight, never recording a follow-up to her masterpiece, save for an MTV Unplugged double album and the occasional single. She continues to perform and occasionally reunites with her fellow Fugees, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel. Artists who left bands for successful solo careers 2000: Christina Aguilera J. Vespa/WireImage; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Who she beat: Macy Gray, Kid Rock, Britney Spears, and Susan Tedeschi Christina Aguilera, after famously beating out fellow Mickey Mouse Club castmate Britney Spears for the Grammy, showed a knack for evolution. She would go through a dirty era, a pinup era, and a bionic era before becoming a longtime judge on the reality show competition The Voice. After releasing a new album in 2018, Aguilera had a Las Vegas residency at the Planet Hollywood resort and casino. In 2022, she recorded her first Spanish-language album in 22 years, titled Aguilera. Christina Aguilera on her new album and comeback: "I was a little asleep at the wheel" 2001: Shelby Lynne Steve Granitz/WireImage; Angela Weiss/Getty Images Who she beat: Brad Paisley, Papa Roach, Jill Scott, and Sisqó Singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne had a leg up on her country-rock peer Brad Paisley, having launched her career over a decade prior on cable talent show Nashville Now. Since her breakthrough album, I Am Shelby Lynne, the artist has spent the past two decades steadily releasing albums, most notably her critically-acclaimed 2017 record Not Dark Yet with sister Allison Moorer. 2002: Alicia Keys Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; LEE CELANO/Getty Images Who she beat: India Arie, Nelly Furtado, David Gray, and Linkin Park One of the most successful Best New Artist winners there's ever been, Alicia Keys won five out of six of the Grammys she was nominated for in 2002, and has since won 10 more. Another former judge of The Voice, Keys' latest album, Santa Baby, was released at the end of 2022. Alicia Keys: The stories behind the songs 2003: Norah Jones Scott Gries/Getty Images; Rick Kern/WireImage Who she beat: Ashanti, Michelle Branch, Avril Lavigne, and John Mayer Breakthrough jazz artist Norah Jones beat out pop mainstays like Avril Lavigne and John Mayer at the 2003 Grammys, even winning Album of the Year for her debut. While she hasn't matched the phenomenon of Come Away With Me, Jones put out seven albums since then, the most recent being in 2021. She even tried her hand at acting, starring in the 2007 film My Blueberry Nights. Norah Jones on new song "Wintertime" and her next chapter: "That whole album cycle push, I'm not up for it" 2004: Evanescence Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images; Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Who they beat: 50 Cent, Fountains of Wayne, Heather Headley, and Sean Paul Even as they were accepting the Grammy for Best New Artist, Evanescence already had an ever-changing lineup that excluded founding member Ben Moody and David Hodges. Lead singer Amy Lee has always remained the throughline of the band, who released another album, The Bitter Truth, in 2021. Evanescence's Amy Lee reveals stories behind the songs 2005: Maroon 5 Carlo Allegri/Getty Images; Trae Patton/NBCU Who they beat: Los Lonely Boys, Joss Stone, Kanye West, and Gretchen Wilson Much to the chagrin of rapper Kanye West, Maroon 5 won the Best New Artist Grammy nearly three years after their debut album Songs About Jane was released. The band hasn't received much love from the Recording Academy since, but has skyrocketed in popularity, consistently staying atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and even performing the Super Bowl halftime show in 2019. Their lead singer, Adam Levine, is another winner who sat in The Voice judge chair for 16 seasons — the longest of any of the other winners–turned–Voice judges from the past 20 years. Three rounds with Maroon 5 2006: John Legend Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Trae Patton/NBC Who he beat: Ciara, Fall Out Boy, Keane, and Sugarland The last of these winners to serve time as a judge on The Voice, John Legend has put out an album about every three years. The musician's real success though has been as producer for film, TV, and theater, becoming an EGOT winner in 2018. Legend has taken home 12 Grammys, in addition to winning an Emmy for producing Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, an Oscar for co-writing the song "Glory" from 2014's Selma, and a Tony for producing the revival of the play Jitney. John Legend: Darkness and Light LP might "help people heal" 2007: Carrie Underwood GABRIEL BOUYS/Getty Images; Paul Morigi/Getty Images Who she beat: James Blunt, Chris Brown, Imogen Heap, and Corinne Bailey Rae Amongst all the reality TV judges on this list is a reality TV competition winner, Carrie Underwood. The American Idol star is the only finalist from the show to have won or even been nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy, and has since become one of country music's biggest superstars — though she's also tried her hand at Christmas music and gospel, too. Carrie Underwood on making a leap with Cry Pretty and taking women on the road: "I hate being put in a box" 2008: Amy Winehouse Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images; Brian Rasic/Getty Images Who she beat: Feist, Ledisi, Paramore, and Taylor Swift Trailblazing British neo-soul singer Amy Winehouse is one of music's great tragedies. Her second album Back to Black netted her five Grammys in one night, and sustained her career for years to come, but was sadly the last one she'd ever release while still alive. Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning at age 27 in 2011. Amy, an Oscar-winning documentary about her life, was released in 2015. Amy Winehouse: A tumultuous life 2009: Adele Dan MacMedan/WireImage; Kevin Winter/Getty Images Who she beat: Duffy, Jonas Brothers, Lady A (previously known as Lady Antebellum), and Jazmine Sullivan Before her albums were musical events, Adele won the Best New Artist Grammy for her work on the album 19, representative of her age when she made it. Since then, the vocalist released her 2011 album 21 and became arguably one of the most successful female artists in the world. She has won a slew of Grammys since her Best New Artist win, including Album of the Year for both 21 and 2015's 25, plus an Oscar for writing the title song to Skyfall (2012) and an Emmy for her 2021 variety special Adele One Night Only. Adele broke her Grammy in half 2010: Zac Brown Band Dan MacMedan/WireImage; Who they beat: Keri Hilson, MGMT, Silversun Pickups, and the Ting Tings Country act Zac Brown Band hit big with their single "Chicken Fried," originally recorded in 2003, but re-released in 2008. After the band won Best New Artist at the 2010 Grammys, they have put a new album out on average every two years. They won the Grammy award for Best Country Album for 2013's Uncaged. Zac Brown breaks down his band's rootsy new album 2011: Esperanza Spalding GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images; Jim Spellman/Getty Images Who she beat: Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence + the Machine, and Mumford & Sons Esperanza Spalding, one of the most famous Grammy upsets in years, won her Best New Artist Grammy over pop mainstays like Drake and Justin Bieber. The prodigy has continued to thrive in the jazz world, since winning four more Grammys, with the most recent being in 2022 for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Who is Esperanza Spalding? Jazz singer talks surprise Best New Artist Grammy nomination, being friends with Prince, and more 2012: Bon Iver Kevin Winter/Getty Images; RMV/Shutterstock Who they beat: The Band Perry, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, and Skrillex Fronted by Justin Vernon, the Wisconsin indie rock band Bon Iver overcame rappers J. Cole and Nicki Minaj to win the Best New Artist Grammy in 2012 with their eponymous second album. The band is still together, albeit with fewer members, having released the 2016 album 22, A Million, and 2019's i,i. They also featured on the Taylor Swift single "exile" in 2020. Bon Iver's Justin Vernon talks about his new album, Kanye, and why home is where the heart is 2013: fun. Larry Busacca/WireImage; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic Who they beat: Alabama Shakes, Hunter Hayes, the Lumineers, and Frank Ocean The band fun. — consisting of Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff, and Andrew Dost — beat out acts like Frank Ocean and Alabama Shakes that were beloved by critics. However, the "We Are Young" hitmakers went on hiatus in 2015, never releasing another album since their Grammy win. Now, it is mainly fun. bassist Antonoff still in the spotlight for writing and producing songs for artists like Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, and Lorde. Loved the cover of "We Are Young" on Glee? Meet the NYC indie rockers who wrote it, and hear their original 2014: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Stacey Newman/Shutterstock Who they beat: James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, Kacey Musgraves, and Ed Sheeran Not even in hindsight, that same night, Macklemore admitted that he and Ryan Lewis were a major upset over Kendrick Lamar. While other 2014 Best New Artist nominees like Kacey Musgraves and Ed Sheeran have gone on to win Album of the Year and Song of the Year respectively, the duo has not been nominated for a Grammy since. After releasing the album This Unruly Mess I've Made in 2016, the duo went on hiatus. Macklemore's solo career includes the albums Gemini (2017) and Ben (2023). Macklemore on "Thrift Shop" video 2015: Sam Smith Dan MacMedan/WireImage; Karwai Tang/WireImage Who they beat: Iggy Azalea, Bastille, Brandy Clark, and Haim Sam Smith's road to the Best New Artist Grammy started in 2012 with the slow burn of their single "Latch," a collaboration with electronic duo Disclosure. Their debut album In The Lonely Hour would come in 2014, netting them four Grammy wins including Best New Artist. A 2016 Oscar win for the theme to the James Bond movie Spectre would follow. They have since released two albums, Love Goes (2017) and Gloria (2023), the latter of which features the Grammy-winning single "Unholy." Sam Smith responds to Oscars acceptance speech criticism 2016: Meghan Trainor Dan MacMedan/WireImage; Mike Marsland/WireImage Who she beat: Courtney Barnett, James Bay, Sam Hunt, and Tori Kelly In the relatively short time Meghan Trainor has been a Best New Artist Grammy winner, she has already released four studio albums and been a reality TV judge on the short-lived Fox singing competition The Four. Trainor also is now happily married to Spy Kids star Daryl Sabara, with the couple welcoming their first child in February 2021. Pop phenomenon Meghan Trainor talks her viral hit "All About That Bass" 2017: Chance the Rapper Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Kevin Winter/Getty Images Who he beat: Kelsea Ballerini, the Chainsmokers, Maren Morris, and Anderson .Paak Chance the Rapper has the distinction of being the only Best New Artist winner of the past few decades to have won without ever having released a studio album. The indie rapper finally released The Big Day in 2019, the same year he appeared as a judge on Netflix reality competition show Rhythm and Flow. The Big Day is Chance the Rapper's ode to marital bliss 2018: Alessia Cara Dan MacMedan/WireImage; George Pimentel/Getty Images Who she beat: Khalid, Lil Uzi Vert, Julia Michaels, and SZA Alessia Cara had big competition in fellow successful pop-R&B acts Khalid and SZA. The singer-songwriter, who broke through with her introvert anthem "Here," released her second studio album The Pains of Growing the same year of her Grammy win. Her third album, In the Meantime, was released in 2021. Alessia Cara previews her empowering second LP: "It's a good time to be positive" 2019: Dua Lipa FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images; David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images Who she beat: Chloe x Halle, Luke Combs, Greta Van Fleet, H.E.R., Margo Price, Bebe Rexha, and Jorja Smith The 2019 Best New Artist winner is also the one who had the most competition. Dua Lipa bested Beyoncé protégées Chloe x Halle, musical prodigy H.E.R., and country phenom Luke Combs, and has since had a slow burn toward pop domination. Her critically-acclaimed album Future Nostalgia netted multiple top 10 singles and won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2020. Dua Lipa offers up high-octane pop bliss on Future Nostalgia 2020: Billie Eilish Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Who she beat: Black Pumas, Maggie Rogers, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Rosalía, Tank and the Bangas, and Yola Winning Best New Artist was just an appetizer for the teen phenom on Grammys night. Billie Eilish ended up winning the other three big three awards (Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year) too, making her the first woman to sweep all four major categories. The singer had an Apple TV+ documentary about her meteoric rise in 2021, the same year she was heard singing the title track for No Time to Die. Like previous Best New Artist winners Adele and Sam Smith with their own Bond themes, Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell went on to win the Oscar for Best Original Song. Extremely loud and incredibly close: An inside look at the new era of music documentaries 2021: Megan Thee Stallion Kevin Mazur/Getty Images; Mike Coppola/Getty Images Who she beat: Ingrid Andress, Phoebe Bridgers, Chika, Noah Cyrus, D Smoke, Doja Cat, and Kaytranada Megan Thee Stallion became only the second female rapper to win Best New Artist, 22 years after Lauryn Hill. The same year she released her debut album, Good News, her collaborations with Beyoncé and Cardi B landed her two chart-topping singles, "Savage" and "WAP," respectively. The rapper's second album, Traumazine, was released in 2022. She has also expanded into acting, appearing on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and costarring in the A24 movie musical F*cking Identical Twins. Hot girl court is in session: How She-Hulk got Megan Thee Stallion for that ah!-mazing cameo