Billie Eilish

Alternative pop singer Billie Eilish has become a musical sensation with the Grammys, securing her place as the Best New Artist of the Year. Eilish’s introduction into stardom began somewhere around the ages of 13 and 15, when her brother Finneas asked her to record his song. Fast forward three years, Eilish won Song of the Year with her song “bad guy,” which also placed number one on the Billboard’s Hot 100. At age 18, she became an unprecedented phenomenon by winning five of her six Grammy nominations and becoming the first female artist to sweep all four general field categories at the Grammys. With these wins, Eilish has proved that younger artists in the music industry are not necessarily overlooked for success, making her an inspiration for many other young musicians and music-oriented students. While Eilish has encountered some of the typical struggles of stardom such as the immense pressure and high expectations—which had prompt her to state recently in a Vogue interview that she fears an intense public breakdown—Eilish will always have the unwavering support of her family and her army of “eyelashes.”

Lizzo

Rising to fame with her most recent album “Cuz I Love You” is singer, songwriter, rapper, and flutist Lizzo. Lizzo was the most nominated artist of 2020, with a total of eight potential gramophones. She took the chance to show off her classical flute training in her live Grammy performance, which glamorously combined hip-hop with the classical touch of an orchestra in the background. However, Lizzo’s life was not always filled with glamour. Ten years ago, when her father died, she spent a year living in her car sleeping on her friends’ couches for a period of time. Although Lizzo still struggles with depression, she refuses to let it hold her back. Becoming involved with body positivity projects, Lizzo hit her commercial break in 2016. Her single Truth Hurts sat at the top of Billboard’s Top 100 list for seven weeks and made history when she claimed the top spot on the Hot 100 as the first black solo female R&B singer since Rihanna in 2012. Lizzo’s songs provide the chance for listeners to enjoy her melodies while for listeners to enjoy her melodies while also hearing positive messages about self love: a powerful concept that has been gradually gaining recognition, especially in recent years.

Tyler, the Creator

Full of neo-soul melodies while incorporating a wide array of styles, Tyler, the Creator’s most recent album, Igor, reached number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, making it his first number one album. As a child, Tyler spent his time imagining covers for his own albums before he could even make music. In school, he never really fit in, as he moved around alot, resulting in him attending 12 different schools throughout his 12 years of schooling. However, things took a turn for Tyler when he founded the alternative hip hop group Odd Future. His fourth album, Flower Boy, received incredible reviews and was nominated for “Best Rap Album” in 2018. However, Tyler would not receive his Grammy until two years later, when he would also be a featured performer in the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. Tyler was thrilled with his gilded gramophone, but backstage he spoke about his frustration with his album being categorized as rap, and his distaste for the word “urban” in terms of his and other black musicians’ music. The remark isn’t unfamiliar in the industry, as other black artists—such as Frank Ocean and Kanye West—also raised concerns in regard to racial bias in the music industry. On the bright side, the Recording Academy announces new diversity initiatives as a response to the criticism of the exclusiveness of the ceremony; Tyler’s comments surely rode with the tide for a transformation towards inclusion for all in the industry.

Lil Nas X

Pushed into the spotlight by the viral video-sharing app TikTok, singer/songwriter/rapper Lil Nas X recently rose to fame for his single “Old Town Road,” released in December of 2018. Growing up, he struggled with his sexuality. hoping the “phase” would pass. But he eventually came out as gay and became the only artist ever to do so while having a song at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100. The song remained number one for 19 weeks, the longest amount of time for any song since the chart was created over 60 years ago. Lil Nas X was also nominated for six Grammys this year, making him the most highly nominated male at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. “Old Town Road” initially went viral because of TikTok, an app frequently seen being used in the halls of PHS. In July of 2019, he was named one of the top 25 most influential people on the internet, because of an active presence on social media. From all of this, Lil Nas X left the Grammys with two awards, one for Best Music Video, and the other for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. He said that moment was just another part of what felt “like a never-ending dream.”