Grammys 2022: Is Olivia Rodrigo the Youngest Best New Artist Winner?
Grammy Award-winning singer Olivia Rodrigo took home the honor for Best New Artist at the 2022 Grammy Awards. One of Gen Z’s hottest breakout stars, Rodrigo burst onto the scene in 2021 with hit songs like “driver’s license” and “good 4 u.” And like some of her Best New Artist predecessors, she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
OIivia Rodrigo won Best New Artist at the 2022 Grammy Awards
2021 was a massive year for Olivia Rodrigo. She was first introduced to audiences everywhere as the star of the Disney+ show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, but went on to show that she was a talented musician as well as actor.
Rodrigo’s debut single “driver’s license” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and she became one of music’s biggest new stars practically overnight. Her single “good 4 u” became her second No. 1 on the Hot 100. She released her debut album Sour in May 2021 and continued to establish herself throughout the year.
Rodrigo’s music dominated 2021, so it’s no surprise that she won Best New Artist at the 2022 Grammy Awards. Rodrigo beat out some stiff competition for the award, including The Kid Laroi, Saweetie, and Finneas.
LeAnn Rimes won Best New Artist at 14 years old
At just 19 years old, Rodrigo has already experienced more career success than what many other musicians only dream of. But despite her young age, she’s a mature artist ready to handle what fame throws at her.
While Rodrigo’s age has been a topic of conversation, she’s not the youngest artist to ever take home the Grammy for Best New Artist. That honor belongs to country singer LeAnn Rimes, who took home the Best New Artist award in 1997.
Rodrigo’s Gen Z counterpart Billie Eilish won Best New Artist in 2020 when she was 18 years old.
Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Megan Thee Stallion have broken the ‘Best New Artist curse’
For years, a cloud hung over the Best New Artist category at the Grammys in what was often referred to as the “Best New Artist curse.” According to the theory, many artists who receive the honor from the Grammys are often not spoken about years later, and some are all but forgotten entirely.
However, the past four years have broken the pattern of Best New Artist winners fading from the spotlight. From Dua Lipa in 2019 to Billie Eilish in 2020 to Megan Thee Stallion in 2021 and now Olivia Rodrigo in 2022, the latest four winners all have been at the top of their game since they first debuted.
