One Named Artists
This British singer wrote her first debut single, "Hometown Glory", when she was just 16. Other songs on her debut solo album, 19, gained more traction though, such as "Chasing Pavements".
Adele
Aubrey Graham
Drake
This 2024 song about the complexities of loving someone who might not always make the best decisions was rumored to be about the singer's boyfriend, Barry Keoghan, who starred opposite her in the tune's music video. Ironically, they broke up later that year, despite the singer's requests.
Please, Please, Please
Adam Levine, Jesse Carmicheal, Mickey Madden, and Ryan Dusick started this band under the name Kara's Flowers in high school before changing the name in 2001. One year later, they would release their first album Songs About Jane, featuring hits like "This Love".
Maroon 5
This artist won Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards for her debut album "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess"
Chappell Roan
This famous 80s/90s singer was famous for being a multi-instrumentalist, his androgynous fashion sense, and his impressive falsetto. He comes from Minneapolis and sang hits like "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry"
Prince
Marshall Mathers
Eminem
The boyband singers in this song talks about breaking up with their girlfriend after getting their emotions played with, with the lyrics "Don't wanna be a fool for you, just another player in your game for two"
Bye Bye Bye
This British 2010s synth-pop rock band got its name from scribbles written in the lead singer's copy of a book dated "1 June, ____". Their self-titled album has singles such as "Chocolate" and "Robbers". The lead singer is rumored to be the subject of several songs on Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department.
the 1975
This singer was nominated for Best New Artist 2024, but first gained prominence starring in Girl Meets World in 2014. She has released 6 studio albums--the two most recent being "Short and Sweet" and "Emails I Can't Send"
Sabrina Carpenter
This New Zealand singer-songwriter came to fame in 2013. One year later, she released a single for the Mockingjay: Part 1 soundtrack. 4 years later, she released her sophomore album Melodrama, featuring songs such as "Green Light" and "Liability".
Lorde
Robin Fenty
Rihanna
Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)
The Jackson 5
This 2024 Best New Artist nominee has risen to fame quickly after the release of her third mixtape. She has since won a number of awards such as 2025 Billboard Women in Music Woman of the Year Award as well as the 2024 Best Rap Album Grammy Award for Alligator Bites Never Heal. She has been featured on several tracks as well, such as Tyler the Creator's "Balloon".
Doechii
This Colombian singer was born in 1977 and has won 4 Grammy Awards and 15 Latin Grammy Awards, including 3 Song of the Year wins.
Shakira
Dwayne Carter Jr.
Lil Wayne
This Taylor Swift hit off the album Red chronicles an imaginary relationship where the speaker and her boyfriend work out their issues rather than breaking up. The lyrics include "____, ____, ____, / I've been loving you for quite some time time time / you think that it's funny when I'm mad mad mad"
Stay Stay Stay
This pop-punk band formed in 1992 when band members Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus met through a battle of the bands. Their popular singles include "All the Small Things", "I Miss You", and "What's My Age Again"
blink-182
This 2024 Best New Artist recently performed at Coachella along Queen guitarist Brian May and debuted two songs for his upcoming album American Heart--one of which the public has referred to as the "moonbeam icecream" song.
Benson Boone
This singer is one of two female artists to achieve both a number 1 single and an Oscar for Acting (alongside Barbara Streisand). In the late 70s, she had a one woman show (____... Special) where she did a 12 minute rendition of West Side Story and controversially played all of the parts.
Cher
Farrokh Bulsara (hint: lead singer of rock group from 1970s)
Freddie Mercury
This 1999 Destiny's Child hit has a music video that starts with Beyoncé arguing with her boyfriend and being fed up with him asking for her car keys. In another setting, Destiny's Child are wearing black and white, zebra-like patterned outfits while so-called "broke", "tired", and "good for nothin'" men are seen in the room behind them
Bills, Bills, Bills
This band's album "Songs of Innocence" was automatically downloaded onto the devices of all iTunes users in 2014. Lead singer, Bono, described this as the band's most personal album.
U2
This artist won the 2023 Best New Artist Award after releasing her debut album Jaguar II. She first gained popularity ghostwriting songs for Ariana Grande, Blackpink, Brandy, and others. Her hit "On My Mama" reached top 40 in the Billboard Hot 100.
Victoria Monet