People’s Choice Awards: The Musicians Nominated for Female Artist of 2021, From Adele to Olivia Rodrigo
The People’s Choice Awards differ from every other major award show in one big way: the voting is left entirely up to viewers — the people — rather than industry insiders, as is the case with awards such as the Grammys and the Oscars. At the 2021 People’s Choice Awards, hitmakers including Adele, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and Cardi B are nominated for the Female Artist of 2021 award.
Adele
After a nearly six-year hiatus from the music industry, Adele came back in full force in 2021 with her highly anticipated fourth album, 30. She stated in her first-ever Instagram Live that the album would be about divorce, but all of the album’s tracks were written before she separated from Simon Konecki, the father of her son, Angelo. The album’s release was delayed as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and arrived in November 2021 to critical acclaim and commercial success.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish also made a highly-anticipated return to the music scene this year. She released her sophomore album Happier Than Ever in July, and has embraced a lighter tone both in her music and in her daily life.
Cardi B
Cardi B has been teasing her sophomore album since before the outbreak of the pandemic, releasing one-off singles that make a big splash on the Billboard charts. Last year, it was her and Megan Thee Stallion’s raunchy “WAP”; this year, Cardi released her double-platinum single “Up” and teamed up with the likes of Lizzo and Normani on their hit singles, “Rumors” and “Wild Side,” respectively.
Doja Cat
Doja Cat broke into the mainstream in 2020 with her breezy summer song “Say So.” In 2021, she continued to solidify her spot in the music pantheon as a rapper who can easily straddle the line between hip-hop and pop. In
Halsey
2021 has been a busy year for Halsey. She gave birth to her first child in July 2021; a month later, she released her fourth album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, complete with the singer holding her newborn baby on the album cover.
Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion ended 2020 strong with the release of her first studio album Good News. She kept that energy going in 2021, teaming up with the likes of BTS for a remix of their hit song “Butter” and working alongside artists such as Maluma, Ozuna, and Lisa of BLACKPINK. In October 2021, she released the album Something For Thee Hotties, which contained never-before-heard freestyles and other tracks from her archive of songs.
Olivia Rodrigo
After rising to fame on the hit Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Olivia Rodrigo made a name for herself as a new Gen Z pop star to watch. Her debut album Sour was well-received by teens and twentysomethings alike, thanks to hit singles such as “good 4 u” and “drivers license.”
Saweetie
If you ate McDonald’s in 2021, you already know about Saweetie’s influence beyond just music. She kicked off the year with her smash single “Best Friend” with Doja Cat, and on top of launching her successful Saweetie Meal at the popular fast food chain, she released an EP, Pretty Summer Playlist, and is gearing up to release her debut album, Pretty B*** Music, in early 2022.
