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Lola Young
Lola Young

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Lola Young — For Your Consideration: Best New Artist

Some artists chase a trend. Lola Young simply told the truth, and the world listened.

Her breakout single "Messy" became one of the defining songs of the year — an unflinchingly honest, vulnerable track that topped the UK Singles Chart and resonated across social media not because it was polished, but because it was real. It's a song built on raw storytelling, the kind that cuts through the noise of dance trends and vlogs to land squarely on genuine emotion.

That authenticity carried through to the Grammy stage itself. After a health scare in the fall — collapsing during a live performance and stepping back from touring to protect her wellbeing — Young made her return to the spotlight at the 2026 Grammys in the most vulnerable way possible: alone, at a piano, delivering a stripped-back rendition of "Messy" in front of her peers. It was a performance that moved the room to tears and reminded everyone why the song became a phenomenon in the first place.

Her night ended in triumph. Young walked away with her first-ever Grammy, taking home Best Pop Solo Performance for "Messy" — beating a field that included Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, and Chappell Roan. It was proof that vulnerability, sung honestly, can stand up against anyone.

From a talent show finalist working under the same team that shaped Amy Winehouse and Adele, to a Grammy winner who turned her hardest year into her most powerful performance — Lola Young's story isn't just messy. It's unmistakably real.

Presented since the 2nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1960 (except in 1967), "for a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist." Eligible artists must have released at least five singles/tracks or one album. Since 2022, the award is presented by the previous year's winner during the televised ceremony

Grammy Award for Record of the Year

Presented to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to sales or chart position." It's one of the "Big Four" General Field categories, alongside Best New Artist, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year. It recognizes the artist, producer, recording engineer, mixer, and mastering engineer for best overall achievement on a single or track — evaluated on performance, production, and engineering.