Every year, the Best New Artist Category at the “Grammy Awards” is one of the most talked about awards, but artists in that category face varying levels of success in their future musical endeavors.
In 2025, the eight nominees were Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, Raye, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims, with Chappell Roan winning the category. Six out of the eight artists are nominated for Grammys in 2026.
Benson Boone is a name I first became familiar with from TikTok, but at this point in his career, it wouldn’t be controversial to call him a mainstream pop star. This past summer, his song “Mystical Magical” was inescapable, whether you liked it or not. While he didn’t garner any new nominations this year, I’m sure this will not be the last we see of Benson Boone.
Sabrina Carpenter is arguably the most successful out of these eight artists. Her most recent albums “Short ‘n Sweet’ and “Man’s Best Friend” were extremely successful and her “Short n’ Sweet Tour” sparked plenty of viral moments. In 2026, Carpenter was nominated for six Grammys for her album “Man’s Best Friend” and her song “Manchild.” I hope to see her continue to deliver strong pop music in the future and based on her current success, she could be one of this generation’s main pop stars.
Doechii’s presence in the rap scene earned her the Best Rap Album award for “Alligator Bites Never Heal” in 2025. Her hit single “Anxiety” earned her five nominations in 2026, with the song winning “Best Music Video.” While “Anxiety” and “Mystical Magical” share a similar mixed reaction from the internet, Doechii is reaping the benefits of the attention she gained from the song. Her unique sound will cement herself in the music industry and in future editions of the Grammys.
Khruangbin is definitely the most niche nominee from the category in 2025, as it would be unlikely to hear one of their songs on the radio. They got their 2025 nomination from their album “A La Sala,” but have not obtained any further nominations in 2026. As of now, I don’t expect Khruangbin to be back at the Grammys soon, but I’d be open to seeing what this band can bring in the future.
Raye is an artist who knows how to put on a show. Her performance of “Oscar Winning Tears” at the “67th Grammy Awards” was one of the best Grammy performances that I can remember. She then followed this with a performance at the “97th Academy Awards,” where she performed Adele’s “Skyfall.” She has produced multiple viral hits, with the most recent being “Where Is My Husband?” In 2026, she was nominated for Best Music Film. I certainly hope we get to see Raye on the Grammys stage in the near future, both performing and with an award in her hand.
Chappell Roan left her mark on the music industry with the success of her debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess.” After winning the Best New Artist award in 2025, she went on a short tour called “Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things.” After attending this tour myself, I can say that her Grammy win was definitely deserved. In 2026, she was nominated for two Grammys for her newest single “The Subway.” This definitely won’t be the last we see of Chappell Roan, both on and off the Grammys stage.
Shaboozey brought the country scene to the Best New Artist category. His song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” was one of the most viral country songs of 2024 and it brought him to the “Grammy Awards” for the first time. In 2026, he’s nominated for three Grammys for “Good News” and “Amen,” the latter of the two winning “Best Country Duo/Group Performance.” I’m sure this new face in the country scene will continue to bring us more hits in the near future.
Teddy Swims brought us popular radio tracks, including “Lose Control” and “The Door.” This year, he’s nominated for Best Vocal Pop Album for “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2).” While Swims may not be as viral as some of the other pop artists from this category, his success has secured his place in the mainstream pop world. 2026 probably won’t be the last time we see Swims at the “Grammy Awards.”
From pop, to rap, to country, 2025’s Best New Artists have given us a variety of hit singles and albums and will likely continue for years to come. 
