One of the “Big 4” trophies handed out every GRAMMY Awards, Best New Artist stands as the ultimate testament to the impact a rising star had on the music industry in the nomination eligibility year.
Known by many as the “kiss of death” because many of its recipients over the years went on to see their careers stall or derail after capturing the award, former winners like Mariah Carey, Sade, Toni Braxton, and Alicia Keys went on to defy those odds after respectively taking the award home.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)Undoubtedly hoping to keep the latter tradition going, Anitta, Wet Leg, Molly Tuttle, Tobe Nwigwe, Domi & JD Beck, Omar Apollo, Maneskin, Latto, Muni Long, and Samara Joy went head-to-head at the 2023 GRAMMYS on Sunday (February 5) to see who would be named the category’s victor.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)See how Joy’s emergence as winner entered her in a unique class.
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Of the 55 winners who have landed a Best New Artist win since the award’s inception, 27 have been women (a number that previously included 9 Black women).
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)With her win at the 2023 ceremony, Samara Joy became the 10th Black woman to claim the honor – a triumph that puts her in a class with Natalie Cole, Jody Watley, Tracy Chapman, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Esperanza Spalding, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)The victory also continues a unique winning streak as every winner of Best New Artist since 2018 has been a woman.
Video In-Article Ad (Desktop)Click here to see the full list of winners.
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REAL TALENT!!! Congrats Samara!
Ella, Sarah, Nancy and many other black female jazz artists who paved the way are smiling down at you ❤️
So happy for her been listening to her for the last year or so. Amazing, no booty dancing, gyrating on the floor, curse words, or showing her bare behind, just stays in the pocket and delivers beautiful melodies from her microphone. Take note young ladies chasing clout with your but out, Grammy Winner , surprised she was even there in a place that celebrates so much degeneracy,
Discovered her on TikTok….wow! Congrats to her. Jazz is an amazing genre. I’d love to see it revitalized in the mainstream.
She is soooooo talented! I hope to see her in person.
She’s beautiful and her voice is outstanding. I’m hoping to hear more from her in the future. Congrats queen!
Her voice is amazing, so well deserved and so nice to see! She’s really worked on her craft.