Singer-songwriter Victoria Monét emerged victorious at the 66th annual Grammy Awards, taking home the coveted Best New Artist award. The 34-year-old artist triumphed over strong contenders including Gracie Abrams, Fred Again.., Noah Kahan, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, and The War and Treaty. Monét's win was not entirely unexpected, as she had already established herself as a frontrunner in The Associated Press' Grammy predictions. What set her apart from the other nominees was her dual nomination in one of the top three general field categories: Record of the Year.
During her acceptance speech, Monét took a moment to express her gratitude to the champagne servers before acknowledging her team, fellow nominees, and most importantly, her mother – a single mom who raised 'this really bad girl.' Monét aimed to inspire dreamers with her win, stating, 'I want you to look at this as an example.' She likened her journey to that of a plant, with her roots growing unseen beneath the ground for 15 years before finally sprouting and receiving recognition.
The Best New Artist award holds considerable significance as it often serves as a crystal ball for future success in the music industry. Previous winners include renowned artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish, and Dua Lipa, alongside legends like Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Chance the Rapper.
The award is bestowed upon an artist who releases their first recording during the eligibility period, establishing their 'public identity' according to the Grammys' guidelines. For Monét, this came in the form of her debut solo album, 'Jaguar II.' The album's breakout hit, 'On My Mama,' peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was recognized as one of the best songs of 2023 by The Associated Press.
Monét's talent and artistry were evident in her impressive seven Grammy nominations this year, tying with Phoebe Bridgers and trailing only behind SZA. Her nominations broke records as her 2-year-old daughter, Hazel, became the youngest nominee in Grammy history for her appearance on 'Hollywood,' which was nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
Speaking to the AP at the Black Music Action Coalition dinner prior to the awards ceremony, Monét shared the joy of celebrating with her daughter. They organized a toddler extravaganza, complete with Hazel's friends dressed in tuxedos, and even had a mock red carpet. However, Hazel wasn't particularly thrilled, providing some humorous moments for Monét. Despite her daughter's current indifference, Monét hopes that they captured at least one good photograph to create cherished memories when Hazel grows older.
While the Grammy Awards were Hazel's debut at the prestigious event, Monét had previously been nominated in 2020 as a producer on Ariana Grande's 'thank u, next' album and record of the year categories. In a 2020 interview with the AP following those nominations, Monét expressed her ambitious dreams, saying, 'Naturally when I wrote my goals list, I wanted to be just as successful as Kanye in the Grammy category, or as Bey, or as the greats. I was like, 'I want 16 Grammys.' It was a big number.'
Victoria Monét's triumph as the Best New Artist at the 66th annual Grammy Awards signifies a remarkable milestone in her 15-year-long pursuit of recognition. Her talented songwriting and distinct sonic style have contributed to the success of numerous artists, and now, as a soloist, Monét has cemented her own place in the music industry. With this win, she encourages aspiring artists to persevere and follow their dreams, knowing that with dedication, their time to shine will come.
