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Best New Artist

The Grammy Award for Best New Artist recognizes an artist whose eligibility-period release(s) achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape. Eligible artists must have released at least five singles/tracks or one album.

1981 • 23rd Annual Grammy Awards

Honoring recordings released between Aug 31, 1979 and Aug 30, 1980

1981 Winner is Christopher Cross with ""

Nominees 1981

Winners

Year	Winner	Work
2026	Olivia Dean	Nice To Each Other
2025	Chappell Roan	Chappell Roan The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess
2024	Victoria Monét	Jaguar II
2023	Samara Joy	Linger Awhile
2022	Olivia Rodrigo	Sour
2021	Megan Pete	Suga
2020	Billie Eilish	When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
2019	Dua Lipa	IDGAF
2018	Alessia Cara	How Far I'll Go (From "Moana"/Alessia Cara Version)
2017	Chancelor Bennett	Coloring Book
2016	Meghan Trainor	Title
2015	Sam Smith	In The Lonely Hour
2014	Ben Haggerty, Ryan Lewis	The Heist
2013	Fun.	Best New Artist
2012	Bon Iver
2011	Esperanza Spalding
2010	Zac Brown
2009	Adele
2008	Amy Winehouse
2007	Carrie Underwood
2006	John Legend
2005	Maroon 5
2004	Evanescence
2003	Norah Jones
2002	Alicia Keys
2001	Shelby Lynne
2000	Christina Aguilera
1999	Lauryn Hill
1998	Paula Cole
1997	LeAnn Rimes
1996	Hootie & The Blowfish
1995	Sheryl Crow
1994	Toni Braxton
1993	Arrested Development
1992	Marc Cohn
1991	Mariah Carey
1989	Tracy Chapman
1988	Jody Watley
1987	Bruce Hornsby
1986	Sade
1985	Cyndi Lauper
1984	Culture Club
1983	Men At Work
1982	Sheena Easton
1981	Christopher Cross
1980	Rickie Lee Jones
1979	Taste Of Honey
1978	Debby Boone
1977	Starland Vocal Band
1976	Natalie Cole
1975	Marvin Hamlisch
1974	Bette Midler
1973	America
1972	Carly Simon
1971	Carpenters
1970	Crosby, Stills And Nash
1969	Jose Feliciano
1968	Bobbie Gentry
1966	Tom Jones
1965	The Beatles
1964	Ward Swingle
1963	Robert Goulet
1962	Peter Nero
1961	Bob Newhart
1960	Bobby Darin