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.

23rd Annual Grammy Awards • 1981

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

Christopher Cross won the 1981 Grammy Award for Best New Artist

Winners & Nominees 1981

Winner
Nominees

Previous Winners

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