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From left to right: Taylor Swift in a blue dress, Drake in a gray shirt and black sports jacket, and Britney Spears in a strappy silver dress.
Taylor Swift, Drake, and Britney Spears all lost the award for best new artist when they were nominated.

VALERIE MACON/Getty Images; Dave Benett/Getty Images; J. Merritt/Getty Images

  • The Grammy Award for best new artist is considered a high honor in the music industry.
  • Marquee 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 the music industry.

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 Grammy is so sought after.

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

Here are 19 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.

Samir Hussein/Getty Images

He's now one of the most famous names in the music industry, but in 1971, 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.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

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

The trio didn't leave empty-handed, as they took home the award for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals 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.

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 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 attends the CMT Music Awards in Austin, Texas, on April 2, 2023.

Rick Kern/Stringer/Getty Images

Known for iconic songs like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" and "You're Still the One," 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.

J. Merritt/Getty Images

In 2000, Spears was making a name for herself in pop music, coming off the success of her 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 Aguilera.

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

Avril Lavigne has had success despite missing out on the Grammy for best new artist.
Avril Lavigne poses on the red carpet in a leopard-pring hoodie and a leather vest.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

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.

Gilbert Flores/Getty Images

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

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

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

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

In 2006, Ciara was nominated for best new artist alongside Fall Out Boy, 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 won many other Grammys.
Taylor Swift wearing a blue floral dress at the premiere of her Eras Tour movie.

VALERIE MACON/Getty Images

After her hugely successful Eras Tour, it's hard to imagine a time when Swift didn't win the title of best new artist at the Grammys.

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

Since then, Swift has won 14 Grammys. She is the only artist in history to win album of the year four times.

The Jonas Brothers lost to Adele.
The Jonas Brothers pose on the red carpet of the 2020 Grammys.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

In 2009, the Jonas Brothers were in a tight race for best new artist alongside 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.

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.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Like Drake, Bieber also lost the award for best new artist to Esperanza Spalding.

He's since taken home two Grammys and earned 27 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.

Rodin Eckenroth/Stringer/Getty Images

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

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

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

Arturo Holmes/MG23/Getty Images

Although Rolling Stone's Brian Hiatt called Lamar "the greatest rapper alive" in 2017, the musician didn't take home the award for best new artist in 2014.

The award went to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. But since then, Lamar has earned a whopping 66 Grammy nominations and 22 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

Variety/Getty Images

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

He later 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.

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." She has since won a total of five Grammys.

Rosalía has won both 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.

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 all-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.

John Nacion/Getty Images

In 2021, Doja Cat was nominated for best new artist. She lost to Megan Thee Stallion.

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

Despite dominating pop charts, Sabrina Carpenter didn't win the award in 2025.
Sabrina Carpenter poses at the 2025 Grammys.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

In 2025, Sabrina Carpenter was nominated for the award alongside artists like Chappell Roan, Benson Boone, Doechii, and Raye. However, the honor went to Roan.

Carpenter still went home with two Grammys that night, including best pop vocal album and best pop solo performance.

This story was originally published in February 2024 and most recently updated on January 28, 2026.

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Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, and 17 other famous musicians who were nominated …