Taylor Swift, Drake, and 16 other famous musicians who lost best new artist at the Grammys

Taylor Swift, Drake, and 16 other famous musicians who lost best new artist at the Grammys
  • The Grammy award for best new artist is considered a high honor in music.

  • Famous names like The Beatles, Adele, and John Legend have all taken home the award.

  • Stars like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Britney Spears were nominated for the award but didn't win.

Winning the Grammy for best new artist is considered a high honor in music.

With iconic musicians like The Beatles, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, John Legend, and Adele all taking home the award, it's easy to see why this particular Grammy is so sought after.

But many of the biggest names in the music industry went on to launch successful careers even though they didn't take home the award.

Here are 18 of the biggest stars who were nominated for — but lost — the Grammy for best new artist.

Elton John lost to The Carpenters.

Elton John, wearing pink-tinted sunglasses and a velvet tux with floral detailing and an embroidered EJ, poses on the red carpet.
Elton John was nominated for best new artist in 1971.Samir Hussein/Getty Images

He's now one of the most famous names in the music industry, but in 1971, Elton John lost the award for best new artist to The Carpenters.

John has since won five Grammys. He's also one of few stars to reach EGOT status, meaning he's won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.

Boyz II Men won their first Grammy the same night they lost the award for best new artist.

Boys II Men on the red carpet of the CMT awards in 2019.
Boyz II Men were nominated for best new artist in 1992.Jason Kempin/Getty Images

In 1992, Boyz II Men lost the award for best new artist to singer-songwriter Marc Cohn.

However, they didn't leave empty-handed, as they took home the award for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal that same night.

The group has earned four Grammys and 15 nominations.

Green Day lost to Sheryl Crow.

Green Day posing on the red carpet of the 2016 American Music Awards.
Green Day were nominated for best new artist in 1995.Kevin Mazur/AMA2016/Getty Images

At the 1995 ceremony, Green Day was nominated for best new artist alongside Ace of Base, Counting Crows, Crash Test Dummies, and Sheryl Crow.

Although the award went to Crow, Green Day's album "Dookie" took home the prize for best alternative music performance that same night.

The band has since won four Grammys.

Shania Twain didn't win the award for best new artist, but now has five Grammys.

Shania Twain attends the CMT Music Awards in Austin, Texas, on April 2, 2023.
Shania Twain was nominated for best new artist in 1996.Rick Kern/Stringer/Getty Images

Known for iconic songs like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" and "Still the One," Shania Twain's music has sold millions of copies worldwide.

But when she was up for best new artist at the 1996 Grammys, Hootie & the Blowfish took home the award.

Today, Twain has five Grammys.

Britney Spears lost the award for best new artist to Christina Aguilera.

Britney Spears wearing a silver strappy dress on the GLAAD Awards red carpet.
Britney Spears was nominated for best new artist in 2000.J. Merritt/Getty Images

In 2000, Britney Spears was making a name for herself in pop music, coming off the success of her hit debut single "...Baby One More Time."

That same year, Spears missed out on the Grammy for best new artist, which went to her "Mickey Mouse Club" costar Christina Aguilera.

Spears won her first and only Grammy in 2005 for her song "Toxic."

Avril Lavigne has had success despite missing out on the title of best new artist.

Avril Lavigne poses on the red carpet in a leopard-pring hoodie and a leather vest.
Avril Lavigne was nominated for best new artist in 2003.Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Avril Lavigne was nominated for best new artist after the success of her debut album, which included hits like "Complicated," "Sk8er Boi," and "I'm With You."

During the February 2003 ceremony, Norah Jones took home the award

Although Lavigne has not yet won a Grammy, she's been nominated eight times.

John Mayer now has multiple Grammys but did not win best new artist in 2003.

John Mayer poses on the red carpet.
John Mayer was nominated for best new artist in 2003.Gilbert Flores/Getty Images

Like Lavigne, John Mayer lost out on the title of best new artist in 2003.

He has since taken home seven Grammys, including song of the year.

Ciara lost the award for best new artist to John Legend in 2006.

Ciara.
Ciara was nominated for best new artist in 2006.AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

In 2006, Ciara was nominated for best new artist alongside Fall Out Boy, John Legend, Keane, and Sugarland.

Legend left with the award, but Ciara didn't go home empty-handed. That night, she won the best short-form music video award for her feature on Missy Elliott's song "Lose Control."

Taylor Swift never won best new artist, but she's got many other Grammys.

Taylor Swift wearing a blue floral dress at the premiere of her Eras Tour movie.
Taylor Swift was nominated for best new artist in 2008.VALERIE MACON/Getty Images

After kicking off her wildly successful Eras Tour and being named Time's Person of the Year in 2023, it's hard to imagine a time when Taylor Swift didn't win the title of best new artist at the Grammys.

However, when she was nominated in 2008, the award went to the late Amy Winehouse.

Since then, Swift has won 12 Grammys — including multiple for album of the year.

The Jonas Brothers lost to Adele.

The Jonas Brothers pose on the red carpet of the 2020 Grammys.
The Jonas Brothers were nominated for best new artist in 2009.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

In 2009, the Jonas Brothers were in a tight race for best new artist alongside names like Adele, Duffy, Jazmine Sullivan, and Lady A.

Adele took home the prize, but the Jonas Brothers have gone on to have an extremely successful career.

Although they've yet to win a Grammy, they've been nominated for two.

Drake lost the title in 2011 but has since won five Grammys.

Drake, wearing a black sports coat and a pearl necklace, poses on the red carpet.
Drake was nominated for best new artist in 2011.Dave Benett/Getty Images

Although Drake now has five Grammys under his belt, he lost best new artist to jazz musician Esperanza Spalding in 2011.

Justin Bieber lost the award for best new artist to Esperanza Spalding.

Justin Bieber dressed in black on the Grammys red carpet.
Justin Bieber was nominated for best new artist in 2011.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Like Drake, fellow Canadian singer Justin Bieber lost the award for best new artist to Esperanza Spalding.

However, he has since taken home two Grammys and earned 23 nominations.

Despite being one of the most successful female rappers, Nicki Minaj lost best new artist in 2012.

Nicki Minaj, wearing chunky earrings and a purple crop top, poses on the red carpet of the Barbie premiere.
Nicki Minaj was nominated for best new artist in 2012.Rodin Eckenroth/Stringer/Getty Images

In 2012, Nicki Minaj lost out on the title of best new artist to indie-folk band Bon Iver. However, that same night, Minaj made history as the first female rapper to perform solo at the Grammys.

Despite being nominated 12 times, Minaj has yet to win a Grammy.

But 2024 could be the year she does — two of her nominations are for the upcoming ceremony.

Kendrick Lamar has won 17 Grammys but lost the award for best new artist in 2014.

Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar was nominated for best new artist in 2014.Arturo Holmes/MG23/Getty Images

Although Rolling Stone's Brian Hiatt called Kendrick Lamar "the greatest rapper alive" in 2018, the musician didn't take home the award for best new artist in 2014.

The award instead went to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. But since then, Lamar has a whopping 50 Grammy nominations and 17 wins.

Ed Sheeran also lost the title in 2014.

Ed Sheeran wears a white t-shirt and  leather jacket on the red carpet premiere of his movie "The Sum of it All."
Ed Sheeran was nominated for best new artist in 2014.Variety/Getty Images

Like Lamar, Ed Sheeran was up for the award for best new artist in 2014.

He then went on to win two of his four Grammys in 2016.

SZA didn't win the award in 2018, but has continued to grow her career.

SZA in a sparkly light-pink dress on the Grammys red carpet.
SZA was nominated for best new artist in 2018.Presley Ann/Getty Images

In 2018, SZA was up against Khalid, Alessia Cara, Lil Uzi Vert, and Julia Michaels for best new artist. The honor went to Cara.

SZA won her first Grammy in 2022 for collaborating with Doja Cat on the hit song "Kiss Me More."

Rosalía has won Grammys and Latin Grammys, but missed out on best new artist at both ceremonies.

Rosalia poses in a black off-the-shoulder dress at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards.
Rosalía was nominated for best new artist at the Latin Grammys in 2017 and the Grammys in 2020.Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

In 2020, Rosalía was nominated for best new artist alongside names like Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, and Maggie Rogers.

Although Eilish walked away with the award, Rosalía made history that night as the first Spanish-language singer to be nominated in that category.

She was nominated in the same category at the 2017 Latin Grammys but didn't win.

She's since won two Grammys and 11 Latin Grammys.

Doja Cat lost the award for best new artist, but won her first Grammy the following year.

Doja Cat poses on the red carpet of the 2023 MTV VMAs.
Doja Cat was nominated for best new artist in 2021.John Nacion/Getty Images

In 2021, Doja Cat was nominated for best new artist alongside Megan Thee Stallion, who won.

She didn't wait long for a Grammy win, though. She won her first Grammy in 2022 for "Kiss Me More."

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