Chappell Roan

Making The Case For Every Album Of The Year Nominee At The 2025 Grammys

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Taylor Swift! Beyoncé! Charli XCX! Many of the biggest names in music — including relative newcomer Chappell Roan and previous winner Billie Eilish — are up for Album Of The Year at the 2025 Grammys. We’re still months away from the ceremony on February 2, 2025 (and over two years from a move to Disney+), so instead of making individual predictions, I’m going to make a brief case for why every Album Of The Year nominee could and/or should win.

Let’s kick things off with arguably the most surprising nomination…

André 3000 – New Blue Sun

If Album Of The Year was given to the most daring album, André 3000 would have this thing locked down. Not every Outkast fan loved his solo debut being a jazz album with more flutes than rapping and track titles like “Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, And John Wayne Gacy,” but you can’t accuse Andre of not following his muse.

Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter

Beyoncé is the most-nominated artist in Grammys history (99!). She also has the most wins (32) — but not the biggest award. Despite her stature as one of the most influential titans of pop and R&B (and now country) in the 21st century, Beyoncé has yet to win Album Of The Year. This could — and if the critical reception to Cowboy Carter is any indication, should — be the time.

Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft

Billie Eilish is the first artist ever to have her first three albums nominated for Album Of The Year. And she’s still only 22 years old! Hit Me Hard And Soft features Eilish’s biggest hit (“Birds Of A Feather”) since her breakthrough single “Bad Guy,” and the album as a whole is quietly confident with some of her strongest vocals. It gets better with every listen.

Chappell Roan – The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess

Chappell Roan had a meteoric 2024. Could her 2025 be historic? Only Christopher Cross and Billie Eilish have won the “Big Four” at the Grammys (Album Of The Year, Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist) in the same year. Roan is up for all four, and a sweep is very possible. She is your favorite artist’s favorite artist, after all.

Charli XCX – Brat

Charli XCX became what I like to call “Mom Famous” this year. As in, my mom now knows who Charli XCX is (the next time I’m in a glum mood, I’ll remember the time she called me to ask, “What is ‘brat’?” and I’ll cheer right up). But Brat is not only a word of the year phenomenon. It’s also a devil-may-care, club-classic album. “kamala IS brat” didn’t turn out so great, but how about “charli IS album of the year winner”?

Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 4

Jacob Collier isn’t a household name like the Taylor Swifts and Beyoncés of the world. But that’s what makes rooting for Djesse Vol. 4, a unique exercise in genre experimentation, to upset the frontrunners so fun. Who doesn’t love an underdog story?

Sabrina Carpenter – Short N’ Sweet

Everyone knows “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” but a lot of people don’t realize that Short N’ Sweet is Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth album. She’s been doing it for a while! But with songs like her first two top-5 hits, as well as “Taste” and the Short N’ Sweet Tour highlight “Juno,” Carpenter has elevated her game. Just imagine the outro to her acceptance speech!

Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department

Taylor Swift has won Album Of The Year four times, more than any other artist or band ever. She’s the frontrunner any time she’s nominated in the category. The Tortured Poets Department isn’t the album many Swifties were expecting, it’s better, and she (and Jack Antonoff) could be awarded once again for it.

The 2025 Grammys air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on February 2, 2025.

Mariah Carey Agrees With Chappell Roan’s Viral Thoughts On Being Famous: It Is ‘Not Fun’

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Not to age her, but Mariah Carey has been a household name since before I was born. Still, the “Always Be My Baby” singer never seemed to express any disdain with her global notoriety.

During a sit down with AP, Carey discussed her continuous domination of the holiday season. But when asked about thoughts on Chappell Roan expressing her frustrations with fame, Mariah Carey shockingly agreed.

“Well, I have been through my share of dramas,” she said. “It’s not fun because you grow up thinking, ‘I want to be famous.’ I mean, really with me, it was always, ‘I want to be a singer. I want to write songs.”

Carey then went on to admit that she was exactly opposed to obtaining fame. “But ‘I want to be famous’ was right there with it,” she said. “I feel like it was probably because I didn’t feel like I was good enough on my own because of the things I went through growing up. And that’s not a good way to feel, you know?”

Although Carey has found a way to balance life both with everyone watching, Chappell Roan hasn’t quite mastered that same skill. On September 27, Chappell Roan decided to cancel her appearance at All Things Go Festival 2024, citing being “overwhelmed” as the reasoning.

Beyoncé Names Some Of Her Current Favorite Artists, Including Victoria Monét, GloRilla, And Chappell Roan

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Between recording, touring, releasing her own whiskey, spending time with her family, and watching clips from Austin Powers In Goldmember on YouTube (oh wait, that’s me), Beyoncé lives a busy life. But the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer still finds time to keep up with contemporary music, as she revealed to GQ.

When asked to name some of her current favorites, Beyoncé replied, “I love and respect all of the female singers-songwriters who are out right now. Raye, Victoria Monét, Sasha Keable, Chloe x Halle, and Reneé Rapp. I love Doechii and GloRilla, and I just heard That Mexican OT, he’s from Houston… he goes hard!”

Beyoncé is also a fan of “Please Please Please” by Sabrina Carpenter, and she thinks “that Thee Sacred Souls and Chappell Roan are talented and interesting. I’m obsessed with my backseat baby…. I’m a Smiler.” (I believe that’s a reference to Miley Cyrus; her fans are known as Smilers, and they worked together on Cowboy Carter standout “II Most Wanted.”)

But when she’s not nodding knowingly to the “and a Jay-Z song was on” lyric in “Party In The U.S.A.,” Beyoncé is sticking with the classics, “like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and music from artists on the Stax label,” she said. “I just watched that documentary [Stax: Soulsville USA]. It’s so good! I highly recommend it.” It’s not her favorite film of 2024, however. “The best movie I’ve seen this year is Inside Out 2,” she said. “I think it’s brilliant, and I’m currently watching House Of The Dragon and The Chi.” Maybe her next album cover will ditch the horse in favor of a dragon.

Who Is Performing At The 2024 MTV VMAs?

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The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards lineup is coming together.

Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello, GloRilla, and Rauw Alejandro were the first announced performers for this year’s VMAs, and now they’ve been joined by a few more acts: Lisa, Halsey, Benson Boone, and Lenny Kravitz. Of those four, Boone is the only one who will be making his VMAs debut: The White Lotus star Lisa was there with Blackpink at the 2022 ceremony, while Halsey teamed up with The Chainsmokers to sing “Closer” in 2016. As for Kravitz, he hasn’t performed during the VMAs since 1998, when he accompanied Madonna on “Ray Of Light.”

Taylor Swift (who is not expected to perform despite her The Eras Tour break) leads with 10 total nominations at the 2024 VMAs, followed by Post Malone with nine; Sabrina Carpenter, Eminem, and Ariana Grande with six each; and SZA and Megan Thee Stallion with five. Katy Perry will also be presented with the Video Vanguard Award and “perform a career-spanning medley.”

You can see the full lineup (so far) below.

2024 MTV Video Music Awards Performers

Chappell Roan
Sabrina Carpenter
Camila Cabello
GloRilla
Rauw Alejandro
Lisa
Halsey
Benson Boone
Lenny Kravitz
Katy Perry (Video Vanguard Award)

The 2024 MTV VMAs will air on September 11 (not September 10) on MTV.

Sabrina Carpenter And Chappell Roan Are Performing At The 2024 MTV VMAs, Which Just Got Rescheduled

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A few months ago, it was announced that the 2024 MTV VMAs were set to take place on September 10. Well, last week, it was revealed that Donald Trump and Kamala Harris had finally agreed to a presidential debate… on September 10. The VMAs would have presumably gotten the short end of that viewership conflict stick, so MTV took action.

Today (August 12), it was revealed that the VMAs will not air live from UBS Arena on September 11 at 8 p.m. ET. As Billboard notes, MTV said in a press release, “Our fans are encouraged to tune in for the 9/10 debate ahead of music’s most iconic night.”

Additionally, MTV also announced the first round of performers: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Camila Cabello, GloRilla, and Rauw Alejandro.

Meanwhile, the list of nominees was unveiled last week, and leading the lineup is Taylor Swift with 10 nods. Other notable nominees include Post Malone (who has nine nominations), Carpenter, Eminem, Ariana Grande (six each), SZA, and Megan Thee Stallion (five each). Fan voting for some categories is currently open until August 30, so find more information about that here.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul previously said of this year’s show, “We are excited to welcome back the MTV Video Music Awards to New York State. From its origins at Radio City Music Hall in 1984 to this September’s event at the UBS Arena, the VMAs continue to captivate millions, showcasing the very best in music video artistry. As we prepare to host this 40th anniversary event, let’s embrace the spirit of creativity and innovation that defines our state’s cultural landscape.”

Luchador Chappell Roan Had The Wrestling World Inviting Her To The Squared Circle

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Chappell Roan’s meteoric rise continued to reach new heights at Lollapalooza on Thursday, with nearly every aspect of her performance capturing headlines.

She commanded the stage, had an audience some called “one of the largest ever seen” at Lollapalooza, and her lucha Libre-inspired attire continued her crossover appeal to both of wrestling top promotions.

Nyla Rose first invited Roan to AEW’s All In show at Wembley Stadium at the end of the month, which happens to take place just days before an upcoming show in Berlin, Germany:

Fellow AEW star Willow Nightingale followed that up with an invite to AEW in general:

WWE’s Bronson Reed also got in on the action, inviting Roan to be the Cyndi Lauper to his Captain Lou Albano:

Following the release of her 2023 debut album, The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, Roan’s rise in popularity comes as no surprise. With the world at her fingertips, there’s endless possibilities for what Roan does next.

Whether the eccentric superstar steps anywhere near the ring remains to be seen, but there’s no question a music performance at one of the big shows of the year, an in-ring cameo, or even showing up next to some of the wrestling world’s most popular luchadors would set the internet on fire.

What’s The ‘Song Of The Summer’ For 2024? The Candidates So Far

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“I love that song. It’s like the hit of the summer. When they play that jam, I’m jamming.”

Those are the words of tennis icon Serena Williams, speaking during a panel at Essence Festival this past weekend. She was talking about Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss “Not Like Us,” but Williams’ crowning of the tune begs the question: What is the “Song Of The Summer” for 2024?

It’s an unofficial distinction (well, Billboard has an official chart for it now) that annually carries some cultural weight. It’s also just a fun thing to think and debate about midway through the year. Technically, we’re only just at the start of summer, as the season officially runs from June 20 to September 22. There’s still so much summer left, so instead of handing out the title now, let’s look at the leading candidates at the moment, making the case for (and against) some of the most obvious contenders.

Kendrick Lamar — “Not Like Us”

The argument for: “Not Like Us” has everybody talking, so much so that Serena Williams is publicly discussing it. Rick Ross got punched (allegedly) over it. The song has reached “referenced in local weather reports” status. Plain and simple, it’s a mainstream hit.

The argument against: The song came on so strong in early May that it’s safe to wonder if it has already peaked. (The song’s recent well-received video demonstrates the track’s staying power, though.) Also, given that the whole thing is a Drake diss, it’s just not very nice! (Some of the following arguments against other songs may be equally flimsy. These are all beloved hits, after all.)

Post Malone and Morgan Wallen — “I Had Some Help”

The argument for: The longest-running No. 1 song on the Hot 100 of the year so far? It’s “I Had Some Help.” Pair that with the fact that this Malone and Wallen collab is currently the most visible crossover hit in the ongoing country music wave and it has a strong case.

The argument against: The main opposing force here is whether the song has enough juice on its own beyond the headline-making collaboration. Wallen and Post are two of music’s biggest stars and that certainly has helped the song’s trajectory. It’s hard to say if that will be enough to carry the tune through the hot months to come.

Shaboozey — “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

The argument for: There’s something about country music that’s routinely perfect for summer, and just like Malone and Wallen’s single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is landing at just the right time. It has had a gradual climb up the Hot 100 and as of yesterday, it’s his first-ever No. 1 single.

The argument against: The biggest reason to say “no” to this one has nothing to do with the song itself, but its competition. “A Bar Song” is fantastic, but it’s just going up against some heavy hitters that have demonstrated bigger and more sustained success. But, maybe its newfound No. 1 status is the start of a run of its own.

Tommy Richman — “Million Dollar Baby”

The argument for: If you’ve been online, you’ve heard “Million Dollar Baby”: In June, the song broke the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart. There’s no debating whether people are into this one.

The argument against: “Million Dollar Baby,” with its April release date, is older than the aforementioned songs. Given that viral hits like this often have relatively short shelf lives, this one very well could be a relic of viral history soon, well before summer is up.

Tinashe — “Nasty”

The argument for: Tinashe got to flex on her former label a bit with this one: The song is originally from April, but it started going viral on TikTok in June. Consequently, it has become her biggest solo hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The argument against: “Nasty” is really more of a viral hit than it is a chart hit so far: Despite its ubiquity online, it has yet to crack the top 40 on the Hot 100. “Nasty” could use some more reach before it truly enters the conversation.

Billie Eilish — “Birds Of A Feather”

The argument for: Billie is one of music’s favorite personalities, and she’s done it all by doing her own thing. She doesn’t chase radio-friendly hits, but that doesn’t mean she’s incapable of them. “Birds Of A Feather” is an example, a bit of romantic pop fun, and the people love when Billie gets a win.

The argument against: It’s still hard to tell the sort of staying power this one will have. It was only just released as a single last week, so at this point, predicting whether this will end up being the summer’s defining song would be a bold call.

Chappell Roan — “Good Luck, Babe!”

The argument for: Roan has been one of the year’s biggest breakout stars so far, so much so that it’s been challenging for her to handle. Leading the way is “Good Luck, Babe!,” which has swelled into her most significant hit to date.

The argument against: Chappell isn’t the most obvious of hit-makers. Sure, the song rules, but we’ve already seen one Kate Bush song top the charts this decade, it’s hard to imagine it happening again. So, who knows how much time this one has left in the summer sun. (It did just hit the Hot 100 top 10 for the first time yesterday, though.)

Sabrina Carpenter — “Espresso”

The argument for: Of course we had to mention “Espresso.” Carpenter was an emerging star before the caffeinated single, but the song absolutely took off and established Carpenter as a no-qualifier-necessary, S-T-A-R star. There’s also the fact that “Espresso” basically sounds like it was made to a summer smash, with its warm vibes and radio-friendly hook. Carpenter’s personality also just makes her a fun person to root for and listen to, which certainly works in favor of “Espresso.”

The argument against: Carpenter has moved onto pushing a new hit, “Please Please Please.” “Espresso” is still doing just about as well as the fresher single, though: “Please Please Please” had more Spotify streams in the US last week, but “Espresso” was No. 1 on the same chart globally. Ultimately, of all the songs on this list, “Espresso” may have the least working against it for “Song Of The Summer” consideration.

Someone Pour Shaboozey A Double Shot Because He Just Scored His First No. 1 Hit On The ‘Billboard’ Hot 100

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Every week, Billboard unveils the top 10 songs on the latest Hot 100 chart. The most recent rankings, for the chart dated July 13, are out now, so let’s run down who had this week’s biggest hits.

10. Chappell Roan — “Good Luck, Babe!”

Chappell Roan doesn’t need luck, babe. Her viral April single becomes her first-ever top-10 placement on the Hot 100. Also this week, Chappell Roan’s 2023 album The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess cracked the top five of the Billboard 200 for the first time.

9. Teddy Swims — “Lose Control”

Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” remains at No. 9 for the fourth consecutive week. The song peaked at No. 1 to end March, and it has charted for nearly 50 weeks total.

8. Benson Boone — “Beautiful Things”

Like Teddy Swims, Benson Boone remains at No. 8, and “Beautiful Things” previously peaked at No. 2 on the chart dated March 30.

7. Hozier — “Too Sweet”

Sorry, another week-to-week repeater.

6. Sabrina Carpenter — “Please Please Please”

Sabrina Carpenter landed his first-career No. 1 on the Hot 100 with “Please Please Please” on the chart dated June 29. Last week, “Please Please Please” slid to No. 5, and now, it’s at No. 6.

5. Tommy Richman — “Million Dollar Baby”

Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby” swapped places with Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” from last week.

4. Sabrina Carpenter — “Espresso”

How “Espresso” wasn’t Carpenter’s first-ever No. 1 is beyond me, but it’s steady at No. 4 week-over-week. Its peak was No. 3 on the chart dated June 22.

3. Kendrick Lamar — “Not Like Us”

Thank you, Drake. Kendrick Lamar hasn’t been this visible between album cycles in ages. Lamar’s ruthless Drake diss track debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart dated May 18, and “Not Like Us” jumped from No. 6 to No. 3 last week. This week, it’s back at No. 3. The song isn’t going away anytime soon, as Lamar released the video on July 4.

2. Post Malone Feat. Morgan Wallen — “I Had Some Help”

Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help” enjoyed its sixth nonconsecutive week at No. 1 last week, but it’s back down to No. 2 this week.

1. Shaboozey — “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

At last! Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has steadily climbed the Hot 100 since its April arrival. The unbelievably catchy country-pop tune leapfrogged from No. 3 (chart dated June 29) to No. 2 (July 6) and now, finally, No. 1. This is Shaboozey’s first-career No. 1 on the Hot 100.

According to Billboard, Shaboozey is now the first-ever Black male artist “to top both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs” and second Black artist overall behind only Beyoncé. The publication also relayed “A Bar Song (Tipsy) is the first song ever to chart in the top 10 across Country Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay, and Rhythmic Airplay. TLDR: It’s everywhere.

Janelle Monáe, Reneé Rapp, And Muna Will Headline The First-Ever All Things Go Festival In New York City

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The DMV area’s All Things Go festival is expanding to New York City. The long-running festival has announced its Big Apple lineup, which will be headlined by Janelle Monáe, Renée Rapp, and Muna. The festival will take over Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on September 28-29 — the same weekend as the usual festival in Columbia, Maryland — with just one stage so there will be no overlapping set times.

The All Things Go festival was founded in 2014 first held at the Union Market in Washington, DC. In 2018, it had its first all-women lineup, and it has continued to pursue the goal of gender parity in the festival industry since, with the 2019 lineup dedicating a full day to women performers and women-led bands. The New York lineup clearly aims to continue that tradition, with a slew of woman-fronted acts, including breakout artists like Chappelle Roan.

The presale starts on Thursday, June 12, at 10 AM. You can find more information at All Things Go festival’s website. See below for the full lineup.

Saturday, September 28

Renée Rapp
Muna
Chappelle Roan
Holly Humberstone
Del Water Gap
Soccer Mommy
Coco & Clair Clair
Towa Bird

Sunday, September 29

Janelle Monáe
Ethel Cain
Julien Baker
Maisie Peters
Samia
Mannequin Pussy
Indigo De Souza
Annie DiRusso

The Best Bets For Best New Artist At The 2025 Grammys

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Yes, the Grammys just happened this past weekend, but it’s never too early to be thinking ahead. On Sunday (Feb. 4) night, Victoria Monét took home the gold for Best New Artist, keeping the trend of solo female artists wins in this category going for a seventh year straight (following Samara Joy, Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Alessia Cara respectively). But who could be in line for next year’s award?

The criteria for Best New Artist eligibility is a bit vague: while two of the requirements are pretty cut and dry (artists must have released a minimum of five tracks and they can only be entered into this category a maximum of three times), the third condition leaves some gray area: the artist “must have achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape during the eligibility period.”

This guardrail was implemented after Meghan Trainor took home the award in 2016 despite seeing her debut single “All About The Bass” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 two years prior, but it makes things murky for artists like Reneé Rapp, Teddy Swims, and Tyla, who had all enjoyed a bit of acclaim prior to the beginning of the eligibility window (Sept. 16, 2023).

We’d place our money on some (if not all) of the aforementioned artists getting in if they are eligible, but we’ve set our sights on ten other promising acts we think could be among next year’s nominees. From a London-born country chanteuse to K-pop’s hottest new boy band, take a look into our crystal ball as we make early bets on the 2025 Grammys Best New Artist nominees.

Chappell Roan

For fans of: Katy Perry, MARINA

Every few months, there seems to be a new pop star wannabe being billed as the “next big thing,” but they almost always fall flat due to the lack of a crucial ingredient: originality. While we navigate a sea of carbon copies all trying to out-vibe each other, Chappell Roan has approached the industry with a secret weapon: a refusal to take herself too seriously. It’s that fearless originality that truly sets her apart and given the fact that female artists have dominated this category, she’s a solid contender for the trophy.

Listen to: “Red Wine Supernova,” “Casual”

Infinity Song

For fans of: The Mamas and the Papas, Lana Del Rey

The story behind Infinity Song’s big break is as wholesome as their music: director Jeymes Samuel (The Book Of Clarence) saw a clip of the family band busking in Central Park and sent it to his mogul buddy Jay Z. The rapper brought them in for an audition and signed them to RocNation, and for good reason: between their breezy arrangements and lush harmonies, they make records that sound right at home between cuts from The Byrds, Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield and other Laurel Canyon legends.

Listen to: “Metamorphosis,” “Slow Burn”

Xavi

For fans of: Peso Pluma, Fuerza Regida

Regional Mexican music is an undeniable force in the industry: the Billboard 2023 Year-End Top Artists Duo/Groups chart’s top two slots were occupied by Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera, outperforming other top ten acts like Fleetwood Mac, Imagine Dragons, and NewJeans. If the Grammys have their finger on the pulse, they’ll take note of Phoenix-born 19-year-old singer-songwriter Xavi, who rang in the new year by crowning Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart with his track “La Diabla.”

Listen to: “La Diabla,” “La Víctima”

RIIZE

For fans of: Boynextdoor, BTS

It’s perplexing that despite K-pop’s chokehold on pop culture, the genre hasn’t seen a single act nominated in the Best New Artist category. In fact, K-pop groups were completely shut out of every category for the 2024 Grammys. Surely the Academy will soon catch up with the rest of the world, and our eyes are on RIIZE as the ones to watch. Not only did the band send a strong message that they’re staking a claim for the U.S. market by releasing an English version of their debut track, but they’ve got SM Entertainment (the geniuses who broke acts like NCT, Red Velvet, and aespa) at the helm. Expect big things.

Listen to: “Get a Guitar,” “Love 119”

Flyana Boss

For fans of: Missy Elliott, Doja Cat

It’s been a long time coming, but female emcees are finally dominating pop culture. While new acts seem to pop up daily, the Los Angeles-based duo Flyana Boss (a play on Diana Ross’ name) set themselves apart with their comedic lyricism and high-energy TikToks. The pair of weirdos may be considered too irreverent for the notoriously stuffy Grammys voters, but that’s part of their charm. Shouldn’t music be fun?!

Listen to: “You Wish,” “UFHO”

Lola Kirke

For fans of: Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves

Despite being in London and raised in New York City, Lola Kirke was always drawn to the gritty glamor of country music. Still, it seems Nashville has caught on: her forthcoming EP Country Curious (out Feb. 16) features folk duo First Aid Kid and Rosanne Cash, and is produced by Elle King.

Listen to: “My House,” “He Says Y’all”

Sudan Archives

For fans of: Janelle Monáe, Kelela

Today’s elite pop stars could take note from the genre-bending, violin-wielding Sudan Archives. Not only did she record her latest album, the critically-acclaimed Natural Brown Prom Queen, in her basement, but she commands the stage with hypnotic, cat-like swagger reminiscent of Gwen Stefani during the early No Doubt days. She’s been teasing new music on social media, and if MTV were smart, they’d book her for a showstopping VMAs performance. (Yes, we’re mixing awards shows, but the point stands!)

Listen to: “Selfish Soul,” “NBPQ (Topless)”

Jhariah

For fans of: Panic! At the Disco, Poppy

Brooklyn-based artist Jhariah can’t be boxed into one genre: while there’s a heavy theatrical lean from emo bands of the early ’00s, influences from artists like System of a Down to Animé to 100 gecs can be heard while skipping through their catalog. The 23-year-old’s upcoming album has been five years in the making, and if the teaser tracks are any indication, it’s going to be massive.

Listen to: “Pin-Eye,” “Risk! Risk! Risk!”

Stephen Sanchez

For fans of: Frankie Avalon, FINNEAS

Let’s be real: no one is more likely for a Best New Artist nomination than Stephen Sanchez. The Nashville-based singer-songwriter made waves last year with his modest hit “Until I Found You,” which he performed alongside Sir Elton John during the icon’s farewell set at Glastonbury. Not only that, but his late-’50s nostalgia vibe is grade-A Grammys catnip.

Listen to: “Until I Found You,” “High”

Emmy Meli

For fans of: Lizzo, Amy Winehouse

The singer-songwriter had a viral moment on TikTok with 2022’s feminist anthem “I Am Woman,” but instead of haphazardly releasing follow-ups to capitalize on her moment, Meli spent the past year developing her craft — a lesson many quick-to-fame sensations should take note of. The result: her forthcoming debut EP (out this spring) is a cohesive jazz-tinged oeuvre, showcasing her intricate, smoky vocals over a horn-forward production that sounds straight out of the ’60s.

Listen to: “I Am Woman,” “Matrix”

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.