The last year of British singer/songwriter Lola Young's life has been a whirlwind of accolades, accomplishments and firsts — especially since her vintage rock inflected pop gem "Messy" went viral on TikTok late last year. But don't call the 24-year-old a TikTok star.

As her No. 1 hit demonstrates, the South Londoner has a penchant for deeply vulnerable and memorable lyrics that capture the challenges of being a young woman dealing with mental health challenges and societal pressures. She joins the ranks of the lovingly rough-around-the-edges women in pop —  Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Remi Wolf — with a powerful, unique voice that is at times feminine, gritty or talky, with plenty of texture and range.

The sixth single from Young's critically acclaimed sophomore album This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway, "Messy" was her first charting single and first No. 1 hit (in the U.S. and the U.K.). Yet Lola Young has been penning gut-punching songs and pursuing a career in music since she was just 14. At 18, she signed with Island Records and began a rather prolific run of releases as she continues to hone her craft.

Even with the wild schedule that comes with viral fame — including a packed run of festival performances beginning with her Coachella debut this year — the "One Thing" singer already has another album up her sleeve. Ahead of her third album, I'm Only F**king Myself, due Sept. 19, let's get to know Lola Young.

Lola Young Is No Overnight Sensation

“Coming from an artistic family was really helpful because they understood that music is a real job, that I can make money from it," Young told The Telegraph in February 2022. "I never had a plan B."

Young grew up in a musical home in Beckenham, South London, with her mother and professional bass player stepfather, who ran salsa nights together. Her mom always played music at home and signed her daughter up for piano, guitar and singing lessons when she was just 6. At 14, the "Good Books" singer enrolled in the BRIT School, the performing arts school attended by Amy Winehouse, who Young is often compared to, and Adele.

This was a momentous time in her burgeoning music career as she began furiously writing and recording music and performing in the local open-mic scene. At 15, she beat 9,000 hopeful singers in the Open Mic UK contest, and soon after met manager Nick Shymansky, who hadn't managed an artist since he worked with Winehouse in her early days. (He stopped working with the late songstress after she wouldn't get sober. Her response was the triple-GRAMMY-winning hit "Rehab.")

In 2019, Young signed with Island Records and released her debut single and EP. She dropped her second EP, Renaissance, about a month into the COVID-19 lockdowns, followed by a string of singles and, finally, her debut album, My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves…, in 2023. During this time, she was building a buzz in the U.K. around her fresh vintage-soul-inflected pop music, and was nominated as a Rising Star at the 2021 Brit Awards. 

She Thinks "Messy" Is One Of Her Best Songs

"'Messy' is a great introduction. It’s raw, honest, and encapsulates a lot of the themes of the album. It’s about embracing imperfections and finding strength in who I am," Young told Atwood Magazine last year. "Those lyrics are, in my opinion, some of my best."

"I'm not skinny / and I pull a Britney every other week / But cut me some slack / who do you want me to be? / 'Cause I'm too messy / and then I'm too fucking clean," Young sings on her massive breakout hit.

"Messy" was a slow burn that exploded and is still aflame. After Sofia Richie Grainge (Lionel Richie's 27-year-old daughter) vibed to the song alongside fellow influencer Jake Shane, the track went viral on TikTok. The video, posted on his account on Nov. 28, has 2.4 million likes at the time of writing.

On the day the video was posted, "Messy" had racked up 3.9 million streams in the U.S. that week. Two weeks later, its weekly stream count was 9.1 million. The song climbed the Billboard charts and eventually hit the No. 1 spot on the Alternative Airplay chart on April 5 and the Pop Airplay chart on May 17. The single hit No. 1 in the U.K. on Jan. 24, where she kept the top spot for four weeks, making her the first British female artist to do so since Adele's "Easy on Me" in 2021.

"You can’t catch the moments between your fingers — they pass too quickly. Honestly, it’s been a dream come true. Having a number one that became one of the biggest songs in the world," she told Elle UK. It’s weird to even talk about."

She won the Rising Star Award at 2025 Ivor Novello Awards because of the hit, which was also nominated for Best Song Musically and Lyrically, alongside a Best Album nod, which made her the most-nominated artist that year. "Messy" also brought her back to the BRIT Awards in 2025 (after her first nomination in 2021), where she performed the song and was nominated for Best Pop Act.

Unabashedly Real Lyrics Are Her Specialty

"Women are standing for what we believe in. We’re saying, 'f— you, we won’t conform to certain ideologies,' and it’s resonating with others — not just other women, but men too," she affirmed to Elle UK.

Similarly to bawdy pop peer Sabrina Carpenter, many of her lyrics pick apart toxic men and relationships, as well as her penchant for them. Young's lyrics are also sharp and memorable, as evidenced on "Conceited," the raucous 2023 lead single to This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway: "Told me that you loved me / you're just talking to yourself."

On "Big Brown Eyes," self-deprecation, set to a chilled '70s surf rock beat, takes center stage: "And I could have anybody else / but I love what I like. / You can call me a bitch / if you say it / with your big brown eyes."

This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway saw Young embrace the messiness of being in your 20s and lean further into vulnerable songwriting. “It’s more confident, more honest, and slightly more unapologetic, although I have always been unapologetic in my writing” Young told Atwood Magazine last year.

"Finding my voice has been a journey of resilience. There have been times when I’ve felt silenced or overlooked, but music has always been my way of expressing my power and reclaiming it to a certain degree," she continued.

Her New Album Came With Healing

She told The New York Times that I’m Only F**king Myself sees her "crawling out of my own self-sabotage."

Young wrote much of it over six months in Paris with producers/songwriters Manuka and Solmonophonic, and recorded it at New York City's iconic Electric Lady Studios. She's worked with the British production duo Manuka since her early releases in 2019, and first linked up with California alt-pop production wizard Solomonophonic (who's also worked with SZA, Remi Wolf and Reneé Rapp) on her sophomore album, a collab she’s found very fruitful and inspiring to her songwriting.

Young was diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder as a teen and severe ADHD more recently, and has used songwriting and performing as a cathartic solace. But she's also struggled with substance use and sobriety, a frequent theme in her music, especially on her upcoming album. In November, before "Messy" went viral and before she recorded  I’m Only F**king Myself, Young spent five weeks in rehab. In the midst of her many big festival gigs, interviews and the promotion of her new singles, she relapsed and returned to rehab in July.

On "Dealer," Young illustrates the fine line between sobriety and relapse as she repeats "Tell my dealer I'll miss him" as if it were a spell. The single got the attention of Elton John, who called it "the biggest smash I have heard in years." (The GRAMMY-winning pop icon famously battled with his own substance use earlier in his career and has been sober since 1990.)

"All the songs connect to me in some way," she told Elle UK about her upcoming album. "It tells the story of everything I’ve been through over the past couple of years — discovering different parts of life and what can threaten you."

She's Cautious About Fame

Young and her manager are mindful of the impacts of fame and a busy schedule on her well-being, and they know she's working with a delicate balance.

"Her work ethic’s amazing and her commitment to herself is amazing but there’s inevitably going to be moments where she can’t keep up with both," Shymansky told NYT about Young.

She is grateful to have found success in music, but she's wary of what comes with fame — the pressure, the haters, and most of all, the adulation.

"People treat you differently. They know who you are before you walk in. I’ve never spoken about this before, but it’s something I’m still grappling with. It’s strange. You have to know who you can turn to — who’ll tell you when you’re being a s—," she told Elle UK.

The bright side is that it gives her a platform for more people to hear and feel seen in her lyrics, to know that they are not alone. Through her music and interviews, she's become an honest mental health advocate — something that feels impossible to have existed in the pop sphere even 10 years ago.

"I’ve tried to be open from the start," she told Elle UK.

"People don’t see what happens behind the scenes. I still have really bad days, but through music I can always find joy. They can coexist. If I picture my inner child, the girl playing guitar at 14, I know she’d be shocked but proud. I try to link it back to that: this is my dream, and I have to continue."

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

At the 2026 Grammys, winning artists took to the stage with much more than gratitude on their minds. Grammy winners such as Lady Gaga and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Cher supported rising artists, particularly women in the music industry. Kendrick Lamar deflected from his own victories to pay tribute to Luther Vandross, namesake of his Record-Of-The-Year-winning tune, and the hip-hop community at large.

In particular, many artists reacted to the ongoing campaign of deportations and anti-immigrant violence happening across the U.S. Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Olivia Dean all spoke movingly in support of immigrants, while many other artists wore "ICE OUT" pins.

Below, revisit some of the most moving acceptance speeches from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch all the 2026 Grammys acceptance speeches in full.

Kendrick Lamar Makes Rap History & Shouts Out The Hip-Hop Community

After dominating the 2025 Grammys with "Not Like Us," Kendrick Lamar took home five Grammys this year and became the rapper with the most Grammy wins ever. After winning three Grammys earlier in the day during the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, the Los Angeles artist won the first Grammy Award of the telecast for Best Rap Album for GNX. With this Grammy win, he topped JAY-Z's 25 wins to snatch the record for most Grammys won by a rapper.

"Every time I tell you this: Hip-hop is gonna always be right here," Lamar said in his Grammy acceptance speech, dedicating his win to the hip-hop movement. "We gonna be in these suits, we gonna be looking good, we gonna be having our folks with us, we're gonna be having the culture with us."

Kendrick also shouted out Clipse, with whom he won Best Rap Performance earlier in the day for their track "Chains & Whips." He would return to the stage once more before the end of the night to take home the Grammy for Record of the Year for his song "luther" with SZA, bringing his career total to 27 Grammy wins.

Bad Bunny Stands Up For Immigrants

Of the many statements made in support of immigrants at the 2026 Grammys, few felt more powerful and resonant than Bad Bunny's, who twice spoke on the issue on the Grammy stage. Accepting the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, the Puerto Rican superstar front-loaded his acceptance speech with a rebuke of the dehumanizing rhetoric faced by immigrants, especially Latin Americans such as himself.

"Before I say thanks to God, I'm gonna say: ICE out," he declared. "We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans."

Later that night, after winning the Grammy for Album of the Year, a visibly shocked and overwhelmed Bad Bunny returned to the stage to deliver another Grammy acceptance speech, though this time mostly in Spanish. It was an appropriate move considering the history-making album is the first non-English-language album to ever win the Grammy for Album Of The Year. But given his stunned reaction, Bad Bunny may have just been too emotional to so quickly translate most of his thoughts. But in a fitting move, he dedicated his Grammy win to "all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams."

Olivia Dean Tearfully Takes Best New Artist

"I never imagined I'd be up here, let alone nominated," Olivia Dean said as she tearfully accepted the Grammy for Best New Artist. Having just performed her U.K. chart-topping single "Man I Need" on the Grammy stage, the British singer used her platform to speak out in support of immigrants, including her own grandmother, who immigrated to the U.K. from Guyana as part of the Windrush generation.

"I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant," Dean said. "I'm a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated."

Lady Gaga Supports Women In Music

As well-known as she is for awards-show spectacles – Remember the meat dress? – Lady Gaga kept things (mostly) low-key and earnest. Following a dynamic performance of "Abracadabra," she returned to the stage to accept the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for MAYHEM.

Thanking her fiancé, Michael Polansky, and her collaborators, including Cirkut, who won the Grammy for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical winner, and Gessaffelstein, the latter of whom won the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording for his remix of "Abracadabra," Lady Gaga offered some encouraging words for women in the music industry.

"When you're in the studio with a bunch of guys, it can be hard," she said. "Always listen to yourself and always fight for your ideas, fight for your songs, fight for yourself as a producer."

"Abracadabra" also won the Grammy for Best Dance Pop Recording, bringing her total career Grammy wins to 16.

Lola Young Swears She Didn't Expect Grammy Win

Though Lola Young certainly had stiff competition in the Best Pop Solo Performance Category, including veterans such as Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, nobody was more shocked at her Grammy win in than Young herself. The singer, also nominated for Best New Artist, had just wrapped an emotional piano rendition of her track "Messy" earlier in the evening, one of her first live performances in four months following a health scare.

"I don't have any speech prepared," a visibly shocked Young said. "I don't know what to say. Thank you so much!" Utterly overwhelmed and searching for words, Young dropped a few less-than-TV-appropriate words before thanking her friends and mother and fleeing the stage while in a state of pure ecstasy.

Billie Eilish Gets Serious During Song Of The Year Speech

Winning the Grammy for Song of the Year for "WILDFLOWER," her 10th Grammy, didn't seem to weigh heavily on Billie Eilish's mind as she took the stage to accept the award. Flanked by her brother and creative partner FINNEAS, both wearing "ICE OUT" pins, as were many of the other attendees, the pop star weighed in on the current anti-immigration policies being carried out in the U.S.

"No one is illegal on stolen land," Eilish said. "It's just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now … I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter."

The more serious tone of the speech contrasted with Eilish's previous wins, but it felt more than appropriate given the current climate.

Cher's Audacious Return To The Grammy Stage

Cher is always a class act. With dozens of hits across a decades-spanning career, she earned the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award deservedly. Her acceptance speech on the Grammy stage quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night.

First, she gave a stirring speech reflecting on her storied yet tumultuous time in show business. "I was famous at 19 and had a top-rated show in my 20s, actually, but it didn't occur to me how rough my career was going to be," she said. "I was either a loser or winning an Oscar. I'm sure a lot of you in the audience know what I'm talking about."

Cher also reflected on her stint in the "elephant graveyard" of Las Vegas in the '80s and her pioneering use of AutoTune on her Grammy-winning hit single "Believe." She closed out her speech by encouraging the audience: "Never give up on your dream, no matter what happens. Live it, be it, and if it's not happening now, it will happen soon."

Then things got a little bit … whacky. Apparently unclear that she would be presenting the Grammy for Record of the Year, the singer nearly walked off the stage before the crowd and host Trevor Noah coaxed her back. Then she mistakenly declared the late Luther Vandross the winner, in reference to the winning song, "luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Oh Cher, don't you ever change!

Jelly Roll Goes Full Country Music

Jelly Roll had already won two Grammys earlier in the day for collaborations with Brandon Lake and Shaboozey, but it wasn't until the evening that he got to ascend the Grammy stage solo. Winning the Grammy for Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, he made his acceptance speech into a sort of country song in its own right, thanking his wife, referencing his Christian faith, and describing the troubles that led him to turn to music.

"I didn't think I had a chance, y'all," he said. "There were days that I thought the darkest things. I was a horrible human … There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big and a radio the same size and a six-by-eight-foot cell. And I believed that those two things could change my life."

The singer wrapped his speech by once again invoking religion: "Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label."

"luther" Wins Record of the Year

Cher may have been a bit off when she confidently misread that the Grammy for Record of the Year was going to "Luther Vandross." But the actual winners, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, made it clear that their chart-topping tune "luther" was a spiritual victory for the legendary R&B star who inspired the song, which prominently samples Vandross' and Cheryl Lynn's 1982 cover of "If This World Were Mine."

"First and foremost, let's give a shout-out to the late, great Luther Vandross," co-producer Sounwave began. "It was very, very, very important to keep the integrity of his record."

Lamar echoed the sentiment. "It's one of my favorite artists of all time, and they granted us the privilege to do our version of it. When we got that clearance, I promise you we damn near all dropped a tear.

"Being able to put our vocals on it, it proves that we were somewhat worthy to be just as great as them individuals," he continued. "They granted us that. They said, 'No cursing,' though."

Finally, SZA struck a note of hopefulness at the end of the speeches. "I know that right now is a scary time. I know the algorithms tell us that it's so scary, and all is lost," she said. "We can go on. We need each other. We need to trust each other and trust ourselves, trust your heart. We're not governed by the government, we're governed by God."

This Grammy win for "luther" puts Lamar in elite territory as a back-to-back Record Of The Year Grammy winner, joining fellow winners like Billie Eilish, U2, and the late Roberta Flack, the latter of whom was tributed in the annual In Memoriam celebration led by Ms. Lauryn Hill earlier in the ceremony.

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

Current Grammy nominees Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and The Marías will perform in a special Best New Artist segment at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

Sabrina Carpenter has also been confirmed to perform. Additional performers at the 2026 Grammys will be announced in the coming days. 

See the full list of performers and hosts at the 2026 Grammys to date (updating in real time).

Learn more about the Best New Artist nominees at the 2026 Grammys below.

Addison Rae is nominated for the first time this year in the Best New Artist category, backed by the success of her debut album Addison.

Alex Warren is also a first-time nominee this year, earning a Best New Artist nomination propelled by the success of his album You'll Be Alright, Kid and record-breaking hit "Ordinary."

First-time Grammy nominees KATSEYE are nominated for two Grammy Awards this year: Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ("Gabriela").

Grammy winner Leon Thomas is nominated for six Grammy Awards this year: Album Of The Year (MUTT), Best New Artist, Best R&B Performance ("MUTT (Live From NPR's Tiny Desk)"), Best Traditional R&B Performance ("VIBES DON'T LIE"), Best R&B Song ("YES IT IS"), and Best R&B Album (MUTT).

First-time Grammy nominee Lola Young is up for two Grammy Awards this year: Best New Artist and Best Pop Solo Performance ("Messy").

Olivia Dean is a first-time nominee this year as well, earning a Best New Artist nomination driven by the success of her acclaimed album The Art Of Loving and multiple charting singles, including "Man I Need."

First-time nominee SOMBR is also up for Best New Artist this year, fueled by the success of his debut album I Barely Know Her.

Rounding out the category, The Marías join this year's Best New Artist nominees following the success of their chart-topping single "Back To Me."

Prior to the 2026 Grammys telecast, the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on live.grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.

Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the episodes airs.

Fulwell Entertainment is producing the 2026 Grammy Awards for the Recording Academy. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, Jesse Collins, and Trevor Noah are executive producers.

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

The Best New Artist Category is one of the most exciting at any GRAMMYS Awards. Every year, it shines a spotlight on emerging talent who are defining music’s zeitgeist.

The nominees might be TikTok-raised stars or late-blooming veterans; what matters most is their musical trajectory and impact in the current year. The Best New Artist nominees for the 2026 GRAMMYS — Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren and Lola Young — have each used their unique artistry to create stand-out work that has left a mark on the music industry.

Learn more about the nominees below and read the full 2026 GRAMMYs nominations list ahead of Music's Biggest Night on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.

Olivia Dean

Olivia Dean’s deep, soulful voice and jazz-inspired pop melodies are a treasure trove, filled with nostalgic gems about love and heartbreak. Her "Man I Need" currently sits at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 after being released this summer; its success a harbinger of global domination to come, but far from an overnight sensation. 

After releasing EPs OK Love You Bye and What Am I Gonna Do On Sundays?, the British singer was named Amazon Music’s breakthrough artist of the year in 2021. Her 2023 debut album Messy led to her selection as BBC Music Introducing's Artist of the Year, a place on the shortlist for the Mercury Prize, and nominated for multiple BRIT Awards.

Since then, Olivia Dean performed at Glastonbury 2024, and supported Sam Fender and Sabrina Carpenter on tour. By the time her second LP, The Art of Loving, came out on Sept. 26, 2025, its three singles "Nice to Each Other," "Lady Lady," and "Man I Need" had already crowned her as a new industry favorite. As the world falls in love with her sensibility, she receives her well-deserved first GRAMMYS nomination for Best New Artist.

KATSEYE

A project between Geffen Records and South Korea’s HYBE Entertainment, KATSEYE is a global girl group born from K-pop’s cutthroat training system. Out of 120,000 applicants, Sophia, Daniela, Megan, Manon, Lara, and Yoonchae were shortlisted along with 14 other contestants to participate in the 2023 survival show "The Debut: Dream Academy." There, they underwent intense practice lessons and weekly eliminations until finally being selected as members of the six-piece group.

Hailing from widely different backgrounds, KATSEYE harness diversity as one of their main strengths. Leader Sophia was born in the Philippines; main dancer Daniela is American with Venezuelan and Cuban roots; all-rounder Megan is from Hawaii with a Singaporean Chinese mother; the charismatic Manon is Swiss Ghanaian; vocalist Lara is Indian American; Yoonchae (the youngest of the group at 17) is Korean. 

Although they have yet to release a full album, KATSEYE’s releases have proved their potential to take over the world. "Touch" — from their first EP, 2024’s SIS (Soft Is Strong) — went viral on TikTok for its addictive drum and bass. KATSEYE's 2025 was marked by the outlandish hyperpop of "Gnarly" and the Latin-inspired "Gabriela," both from their sophomore EP, Beautiful Chaos. "Gnarly" earned them their first Billboard Hot 100 entry, while the EP debuted in the fourth place on Billboard’s 200 chart.

Add to all that a third single, "Gameboy," performances at Wango Tango and Lollapalooza Chicago, and a viral denim campaign for Gap — and you got the recipe for this generation’s most exciting girl band.

The Marías

Formed in Los Angeles by vocalist María Zardoya, drummer/producer Josh Conway, guitarist Jesse Perlman and keyboardist Edward James, The Marías have been active for almost a decade. The indie group have developed a unique blend that melds Zardoya’s Puerto Rican heritage and atmospheric, magical pop grooves to increasing acclaim.

Their 2021 debut album Cinema included the single "Hush," which topped Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart. In the following year, they joined Halsey’s Love and Power Tour and collaborated with Bad Bunny on "Otro Atardecer" — a track from Un Verano Sin Ti, for which they received their first GRAMMYS nomination for Album Of The Year as featured artists.

The Marías' first Best New Artist nomination comes right after a major upheaval in their career. Just before the band started working on their second album, 2024’s Submarine, Zardoya and Conway ended their eight-year relationship. The breakup led to a six-month hiatus, lots of therapy, and, ultimately, their most vulnerable, resonant LP.

From this tumultuous time arose their breakout hit "No One Noticed," which went viral on TikTok as a summertime sadness anthem and reached No. 22 on the Hot 100. Since then, The Marías have opened select shows for Billie Eilish back in December and participated on "Ojos Tristes" off Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s I Said I Love You First. Their nomination in the Best New Artist Category is a well-deserved acknowledgement after years of expressive work across genres.

Addison Rae

Originally  known as one of TikTok’s most famous dancers, Addison Rae has spent the past few years focused on making her own music. The transition wasn’t easy: Her 2021 debut single "Obsessed" was panned by critics, and audiences seemed resistant to the idea that an influencer could be taken seriously as an artist. But Rae didn’t back down.

"I've learned that growth takes time and experience takes time," she told GRAMMY.com. "When 'Obsessed' came out, a lot of people were like, ‘Why are you releasing music? You haven't struggled in music, you haven't put in the years that it takes to become an artist!’" After "Obsessed," Rae decided to put in the years and the work. "I was in the studio all the time. I was writing and forcing myself to feel uncomfortable in writing alone."

Her first EP, 2023’s AR, introduced listeners to Rae’s dreamy soundscape. She was then featured on Charli xcx's remix of "Von Dutch," and her own "Diet Pepsi" broke into Hot 100 in 2024. By the time Rae dropped her first studio album, Addison, in June 2025, the public was more than ready to embrace this new chapter. 

Addison received rave reviews for its impeccable vibes and carefully curated sounds, with themes ranging from money and fashion to introspective, intimate abstractions. It’s a product that only a chronically online influencer like Rae could create. Her fresh artistic vision and confidence in songwriting prove that she was made to be a pop star — and with her first GRAMMYS nomination for Best New Artist, she can expect to soar even higher.

sombr

Like many of his peers, Shane Michael Boose — the 20-year-old New Yorker performing as sombr — chased his dream of being a singer through TikTok. His emotive voice and eager lyrics struck a chord, and before he noticed, he had not one, but two entries on the Billboard Hot 100. "Back to friends" and "undressed" garnered more than one billion streams combined, assuring that whatever Boose was doing, he was on the right path.

His 10-track debut LP, I Barely Know Her, was released in August 2025 and showed that Boose had even more up his sleeve. In addition to the two aforementioned tracks, I Barely Know Her featured singles "we never dated" and "12 to 12" (whose music video features fellow nominee Addison Rae), and an alt-rock brilliancy inspired by the likes of Jeff Buckley, Prince, and the Rolling Stones. Boose is the only credited songwriter on the album, and co-produced it along with his mentor, the GRAMMY-winning producer Tony Berg.

Beyond this sound, Boose is an extremely relatable Gen Zer, self-deprecating and silly on his ever growing TikTok accounts (of course, he has a spam one). His ingenuity is as endearing as his music is compelling, and both will certainly lead him far.

Leon Thomas

A Broadway child actor-turned-songwriter, Leon Thomas has long been in the music scene — just not in the spotlight. He spent years crafting chart-topping hits for artists like Ariana Grande, Post Malone, and Drake, and took home a Best R&B Song golden gramophone at the 2024 GRAMMYS for SZA’s "Snooze," which he co-wrote and produced.

Working with top stars made Thomas realize he had to put his own dreams first. "Writing these records and working with these big artists is such a blessing, but I want to hit stages and see the world through my music," he told GRAMMY.com. Thomas' 2023 debut studio album, Electric Dusk, showed off his R&B prowess and finesse; the following year, he earned his first-ever entry on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the title track from his sophomore LP, MUTT (itself nominated for Album Of The Year). A neat, addictive midtempo, "MUTT" crowned Thomas as a solo star to be reckoned with. One year later, Thomas advocated for creators as Music Advocacy Day's 2025 Artist Ambassador.

"First off, I've had a GRAMMY on my lock screen on my phone for, like, a year and a half. So this has been a one-track-minded thing," Thomas revealed in a backstage interview right after winning his first golden gramophone as a producer last year. Regardless if he’s kept the lock screen or not, the Recording Academy Voting Membership has taken notice, and acknowledged his riveting solo work.

Alex Warren

It sounds like a joke to say that a track titled "Ordinary" would become one of 2025’s most ubiquitous hits. Like its singer, Alex Warren, "Ordinary" is anything but. Fervently devotional and majestically orchestrated, the song compares love to "Something so heavenly, higher than ecstasy," and offers a surge of dopamine to hopeless romantics around the world.

Warren has been through an unusual assortment of highs and lows. By 21, he had been homeless, lost both his parents, co-founded and participated in the TikTok collective Hype House (of which Addison Rae was also a member), and started dating his future wife. Now 25, he is married, saw his life change overnight with the success of "Ordinary," and will add a GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist to his extraordinary history.

Included in his debut studio album, July’s You’ll Be Alright, Kid, "Ordinary" reached No. 1 in more than 30 countries — including the Billboard Hot 100 — and stayed at the top of the charts for weeks. Along with it came fellow hits "Bloodline" with Jelly Roll, "On My Mind" featuring BLACKPINK’s Rosé, and "Eternity." An extension of Warren’s 2024 EP of the same name, You’ll Be Alright, Kid is a 21-track anthology and a statement about Warren’s catapult into superstardom.

Lola Young

It’s hard not to relate to Lola Young’s unapologetic lyricism. Talking about experiences and feelings that many would rather forget, she brings healing in the form of catharsis. That’s what made her 2024 single "Messy" a viral hit, with stinging verses like "And I'm too perfect 'til I show you that I'm not/ A thousand people I could be for you, and you hate the f—ing lot" and "I'm not skinny, and I pull a Britney every other week/ But cut me some slack, who do you want me to be? 'Cause I'm too messy, and then I'm too f—ing clean."

"Messy" is the sixth single from Young’s acclaimed 2024 sophomore album, This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, and became her first entry — and first No. 1 — on the charts in both the U.K. and the U.S. It also earned her the Ivor Novello Rising Star award that same year. But Young’s success didn’t come out of the blue: The 24-year-old South Londoner has been penning fearless lyrics and developing her stirring, raspy vocals since she was just 14.

Following her hard-earned mainstream breakout, Young released her third LP, I’m Only F–king Myself, in September 2025. Led by singles "Not Like That Anymore," "One Thing," and "d£aler," the album established Young as a promising talent to watch. Her nomination for Best New Artist at the 2026 GRAMMYS confirms it.

Do you remember the 21st night of September? The classic date famously referenced by Earth, Wind & Fire is just around the corner, and artists of all types are joining the party with musical offerings of their own.

RAYE kicks off the era for her hotly anticipated sophomore album with the cheeky demand of lead single "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!," while FINNEAS and Ashe make their debut as The Favors with full-length debut The Dream. Several rising country stars also deliver new tunes, with Josh Ross unveiling his debut album, Later Tonight; Lauren Watkins teaming up with John Morgan on "Slippery Slope"; Dasha hopping on the "Train," Corey Kent recruiting Max McNown for "Measure," and Kameron Marlowe yearning to "Let the Lonely" in.

Elsewhere, Jesse McCartney gets Weightless with four smooth tracks on his latest EP and Carly Rae Jepsen continues prepping for the 10th anniversary edition of Emotion with the floaty, synth-driven "Guardian Angel." Plus, Julia Michaels declares "No Heartbreak's Killed Me Yet," Miguel celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month (and his upcoming new album) with "El Pleito," The Chainsmokers  and AppleTV+ drops the jam-packed soundtrack for their new musical series "KPOPPED," which features must-hear collaborations between Kesha and JO1, J Balvin and ATEEZ, Patti LaBelle and Billie, Spice Girls' Emma Bunton and Mel B with ITZY and more.

Below, press play on 11 other new releases to soundtrack your weekend, including new bonus tracks from Miley Cyrus, new albums by ATEEZ, Cardi B and Lola Young and singles from Lewis Capaldi, Aerosmith and YUNGBLUD and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. 

Miley Cyrus — Something Beautiful (Deluxe)

Miley Cyrus isn't quite finished with Something Beautiful. Three months after the album became the eighth Top 5 set of the superstar's career, she has offered up a deluxe edition of the ambitious, high-concept project featuring a pair of seriously major new collaborations. First up is "Secrets," a soft rock anthem she shares with Lindsay Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, which is followed by "Lockdown," a cacophonous, experimental, 13-minute opus between Cyrus and David Byrne.

Read More: The Many Eras Of Miley Cyrus: How 'Something Beautiful' Celebrates Pop's Great Experimenter

Cardi B — AM I THE DRAMA?

Seven years after her GRAMMY-winning debut, Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B's long-awaited sophomore album, AM I THE DRAMA?, has finally arrived. Along with pre-release singles "Outside" and "Imaginary Playerz," Cardi packs the studio set with A-list collaborations with Selena Gomez ("Pick It Up"), Lizzo (the 4 Non Blondes-sampling "What's Goin On"), Janet Jackson ("Principal," which borrows from the superstar's Control-era smash "The Pleasure Principle"), Tyla ("Nice") and more, while "WAP" and "Up" make a surprise appearance at the close of the album's 23-song tracklist.

ATEEZ — Ashes to Light

Building off their trio of Golden Hour EPs — the latest of which dropped just three months ago — ATEEZ comes roaring back with Ashes to Light, their second full-length offering in Japanese. On Sept. 16, the K-pop idols also dropped the music video for lead single "Ash," which finds all eight members dressed in sharp white ensembles against a stark, eerie landscape as they sing, "I'm dancing in the ash/ It's still here, your touch/ You're not here, this hush/ Even if the shape chances forever/ Smoldering love, piling up ash." (English translation courtesy of Genius.)

Read More: K-Pop's Fall Takeover: 17 Tours & Events To Check Out, From TXT To LE SSERAFIM

Lewis Capaldi — "Something In The Heavens"

Lewis Capaldi continues rolling out new music with "Something in the Heavens," a follow-up to his comeback single "Survive" from earlier this summer. Up against the encroaching threat of gathering clouds and "days of permanent gray," the British singer/songwriter's falsetto soars as he vows, "I'll love you till my last breath/ You're gone but/ Something in the heavens tells me that we'll be together again." Corresponding with the track's release, the two-time GRAMMY nominee also recorded a gorgeous take of the song live from the famous Abbey Road Studios.

Read More: 10 Artists Who Are Outspoken About Mental Health: Billie Eilish, Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes & More

Aerosmith & YUNGBLUD — "My Only Angel"

It's official: Aerosmith and YUNGBLUD are joining forces on a joint EP, One More Time. The project — which serves as the Steven Tyler-fronted band's first new music in more than a dozen years — won't arrive in full until Nov. 21, but the rockers have shared a first taste of what to expect with lead single "My Only Angel."

"Would you cry if I called you my angel?/ Gotta leave, gotta leave, gotta leave you one more time," Tyler and YUNGBLUD wail together on the song's arena-ready hook, which came about after Aerosmith was originally supposed to collaborate with the younger rocker on his bombastic Idols opener "Hello Heaven, Hello."  

Read More: 10 Reasons Why 'Get A Grip' Is Aerosmith's Most Iconic Album

Kaash Paige — "GOD SAVE ME"

Kaash Paige dropped her latest EP, the hip-hop-infused KAASHMYCHECKS just last month, and just a matter of weeks later, she delivers a sonic 180 in the form of "GOD SAVE ME," the stripped-down R&B ballad that serves as the first preview of her forthcoming album, 2 Late 2 Be Toxic. In a press release, the versatile artist describes the new track as both her "emotional ground zero" and a musical example of "heartbreak at its most unfiltered, when love turns volatile and confusing."

Watch: Kaash Paige Strips Down Jhené Aiko's "The Worst" In A Raw Solo Performance | ReImagined

Sammy Virji — Same Day Cleaning

It's been quite the summer for Sammy Virji, who kicked off the season by making his debut at Coachella and releasing the Issey Cross collaboration "Nostalgia." The season is bookended by the release of the rising London-born DJ's sophomore album, Same Day Cleaning, which also features guest appearances by the likes of Spice and Flowdan ("Match My Mood"), Giggs (album opener "One For the Books"), Skepta ("Cops & Robbers") and more.

Lola Young — I'm Only F**king Myself

Lola Young clearly believes in striking while the iron's hot, releasing her third album, I'm Only F**king Myself, a mere 15 months after she became one of the U.K.'s next big things with her 2024 breakout This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway. Across 14 chaotic tracks, the 24-year-old TikTok sensation explores nihilism ("who f**king cares?"), sex ("F**K EVERYONE"), drugs ("d£aler"), and a cavalcade of other self-destructive tendencies. Now six months sober, the singer describes the new studio set as "My ode to self-sabotage, my change to claw myself back from the edge of defeat."

Read More: Get To Know Lola Young: Inside The "Messy" Singer's Rise To Fame

YoungBoy Never Broke Again — "Out The Window"

Months after the song first started making the rounds online, YoungBoy Never Broke Again's "Out The Window" finally hits streaming services. The one-off, which follows continues the string of singles including "Shark," "Nussie," "I Forgive Them" and "Sorry Not Sorry," gives the rapper's vocoder-laced singing voice a chance to shine as he shouts out Salt Lake City and warbles, "And I come from the gutter where my brother like my bestie/ Ooh, I'm down bad, I'm not knowing what to say/ Flippin' and whippin' it/ Stackin' up Benjis, look like I'm a bank teller."

Aly & AJ — More Silver

Aly & AJ have More Silver to deliver. The sibling duo, who stopped by the GRAMMY Museum last week for an intimate chat about their latest full-length, build on the sun-drenched harmonies of May's Silver Deliverer with four more B-sides. Recorded in Los Angeles' Topanga Canyon, highlights like the crashing "The Last Town" and the tenderly contemplative "The Deep End" both complement the sonic universe the sisters crafted on Silver Deliverer and stand apart as delicate, precious gems worth mining all on their own.

Read More: 16 Events Happening At The GRAMMY Museum In September 2025: FINNEAS, Yungblud, KATSEYE & More

Atmosphere — Jestures

It's been 30 years since Slug and Ant teamed up to form Atmosphere (as well as their pioneering Minneapolis record label, Rhymesayers) and the duo take a triumphant victory lap with Jestures, their thirteenth album together. The studio effort's 26 songs are arranged alphabetically, with each letter of the alphabet accounted for from "A—hole" to "Zorro" — and even guests like Evidence, Mike The Martyr, Musab and Muja Messiah appearing on the song whose title corresponds with the letter of their own stage name.