With seven GRAMMY nominations at the 2024 GRAMMYs, Victoria Monét has officially entered her pop star era in epic fashion. But the singer/songwriter is far from an overnight sensation — she's been laying the groundwork for her breakthrough success for over a decade.   

With the 2023 release of her debut album, Jaguar II, Monét materialized years of writing blockbuster hits for Ariana Grande, Chloe x Halle, Selena Gomez and more into an acclaimed artist career of her own. Along with her GRAMMY nominations — including Best New Artist — she embarked on her first headlining tour and scored her first No. 1 hit. 

It's the kind of success Monét has been working toward her entire life, and particularly since attending a performing arts program during high school in her hometown of Sacramento. Whether writing for herself or others, Monét has a relatability that resonates with any listener; her introspective lyricism touches on everything from love, heartache and sexuality to empowerment and friendship. Her sleek, instrument-driven R&B stylings feel familiar yet fresh, bringing elements of dancehall, old-school slow jams, upbeat pop, reggae, hip-hop, trap, alternative R&B and country into the genre. 

"She really puts in the work and she is being rewarded now more than ever for it," producer  D'Mile, who has known Monét since the beginning of her career, tells GRAMMY.com. "She grows more and more confident and sure about what she's aiming for as she continues her journey."

D'Mile worked with Monét on her 2020 project, Jaguar, one of six EPs Monét had released before Jaguar II. While she garnered buzz for Jaguar, its sultry and dreamy follow-up took her artistry and acclaim to another level. Along with Jaguar II garnering hundreds of millions of streams, Monét saw legendary artists like Anita Baker and mega producer Jimmy Jam singing her praises, and both Jay-Z and former President Barack Obama included "On My Mama" on their favorite songs of 2023 playlists.

"I'm hoping that people who do find me now are along for the ride for the long run, or stay around until I do a Vegas residency when I'm 70 or something," the Georgia-born singer told Variety in December. "I'm just excited for the journey. I feel like it's definitely uphill right now."

Back in the late 2000s when Myspace reigned supreme, Monét's long-held dreams of becoming a professional singer were finally realized. After sending a friend request to Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins — the GRAMMY-winning producer behind countless iconic tracks like Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" and Destiny's Child's "Say My Name," and one of Monét's biggest influences — he invited her to audition for a girl group, Purple Reign, he was putting together for Motown Records.

Monét packed her bags and headed to L.A. to join the group, but they were dropped before releasing any music. Stuck in L.A. and needing to make ends meet, the singer turned to songwriting — and little did she know, her backup plan would change everything.  

In just a few years, she had helped pen songs for the likes of Diddy Dirty Money, Nas, T.I., and Coco Jones (the latter of whom is now a fellow Best New Artist nominee). Along the way, she met Ariana Grande during the pop star's stint at Nickelodeon, and the two have been close collaborators since. After working together on two songs for Grande's debut, 2013's Yours Truly, Monét has co-written a majority of the superstar's subsequent albums through 2020's Positions and featured on 2019's "Monopoly."

In fact, Monét's first GRAMMY nominations were for her work with Grande. In 2020, her songwriting on Grande's 2019 LP, Thank U, Next, earned a nod for Album Of The Year as well as Record Of The Year for its braggadocious single "7 Rings." (Monét notched her third nomination as a songwriter the following year, for Best R&B Song for Chloe x Halle's "Do It.")

"Victoria is a brilliant collaborator, musician, writer and just as brilliant of a friend. She is a very pure person and I think that's why we connect the way we do," Grande told Billboard in 2019.  "She is a timeless writer and vocalist and one of the nicest people I know and truly deserves the world. I'm so proud of the work we've done together and so excited to watch her grow as an artist."

Though her success with Grande was abundant, Monét admitted that there came a point where she felt her songwriting overshadowed her artistry. She had released four EPs from 2014 to 2018, all of which showcased a more exploratory sound than Jaguar II, but remained rooted in R&B. In 2020, she decided it was time to honor, as she put it, "what the little girl in me wanted to do": perform.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for Monét's fifth EP, 2020's Jaguar; first, a five-month delay of the release, and second, the inability to perform it live. Yet, her star was on the rise: Jaguar became Monét's first charting project, landing in the top 20 of the Hip-Hop/R&B charts in both the U.S. and the UK as well as No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart in August 2020. 

The following February, she welcomed her first child, a daughter, Hazel. After experiencing postpartum depression, she decided to channel her struggles into music — and it resulted in her breakthrough hit.

"On My Mama," the third single from her debut full-length album, Jaguar II, is a brassy throwback to the sultry, head-bopping R&B jams of the late '90s/early '00s, with luscious stacked harmonies and self-affirming lyrics ripe with a mix of sexy innuendos and clever wordplay ("They say, 'Ooh, she smell good'/ That's just 'cause I'm Heaven-sent").

The catchy bop — which samples Chalie Boy's 2009 Dirty South anthem, "I Look Good" — was an instant radio hit and earned the singer her first two No. 1s on Billboard charts (she topped the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay tally for 2 weeks in November 2023 and the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay list in December). The song's feel-good music video, which has racked up over 33 million views on YouTube as of press time, features Chali Boy, Hazel and, of course, her mom.

The swaggy ode to self-empowerment scored two GRAMMY noms, Record Of The Year and Best R&B Song. Along with those and her Best New Artist nod, Jaguar II helped Monét earn seven nominations in total, including Best R&B Album, Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, Best R&B Performance ("How Does It Make You Feel") and Best Traditional R&B Performance ("Hollywood").

After a long and winding road, Monét has proven that her artistry is as impactful as her songwriting. As D'Mile notes, a big reason she's now seeing success is because she's done her homework as much as she's laid her groundwork.

"She studies the greats. Janet, Beyoncé..." D'Mile says. "We went to see the 'Renaissance' film. Mind you, she already saw it at the premiere. But this time, I was next to her and I can literally feel her watching the movie with different eyes than probably everyone else in the room." 

This dedication is on full display in her music videos and in her live performances. She hit the road for her first-ever headlining tour in 2023, dazzling fans with high-energy choreography and elite vocal control reminiscent of Bey herself — and selling out all 22 shows minutes after tickets went on sale.

Amid the final dates of the tour, the 2024 GRAMMY nominations arrived. And not only did Monét receive her first nominations as an artist in her own right, but she earned perhaps her biggest validation to date: a Best New Artist nomination. 

"I had something to prove. It wasn't just handed to me," Monét recently told Variety. "So it's all a part of why I think things are coming to fruition now: It's just time. It's almost like, 'Alright girl — you didn't give up. We're going to give you something.'"

Monét's career trajectory continues to skyrocket as she prepares for Music's Biggest Night. In the weeks leading up to the 66th GRAMMY Awards, Monét has earned nominations from ASCAP and the NAACP Image Awards, and she's set to receive the Rising Star award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards in March. And while she hasn't announced tour plans for 2024, she is on the bill for two massive festivals; Monét is set to make her Coachella debut in April and play Governor's Ball in New York City in June.

And whether or not she scores a golden gramophone on Feb. 4, Monét already feels like a winner. 

"I feel now is the time to stand my ground, and be proud of what I am, and who I am," she told CBS News on Jan. 30, days before the 2024 GRAMMYs. "This is one step closer to a really big dream."

How R&B Took Over The 2024 GRAMMYs: From Best New Artist Nominees To The GRAMMY Stage

The Recording Academy has partnered with leading online learning platform Coursera on GRAMMY GO, a new online initiative to offer classes tailored for music creators and industry professionals.

This partnership empowers the next generation of the music community with practical, up-to-the moment digital content that provides wisdom for both emerging and established members of the industry. Continuing the Academy’s ongoing mission to serve all music people, courses cover a variety of specializations tailored to creative and professional growth. 

GRAMMY GO on Coursera includes courses taught by Recording Academy members, featuring GRAMMY winners and nominees and offers real-life lessons learners can put to work right away.

Starting today, enrollment is open for GRAMMY GO’s first Coursera specialization, "Building Your Audience for Music Professionals," taught by Joey Harris, international music/marketing executive and CEO of Joey Harris Inc. The course features Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and five-time GRAMMY winner Jimmy Jam, 10-time GRAMMY nominee Janelle Monáe and three-time GRAMMY winner and the 2024 GRAMMYs Best New Artist Victoria Monét. This foundational specialization will help participants gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to build a strong brand presence and cultivate a devoted audience within the ever-changing music industry. 

The partnership’s second course, launching later this summer, aims to strengthen the technological and audio skills of a music producer. "Music Production: Crafting An Award-Worthy Song" will be taught by Carolyn Malachi, Howard University professor and GRAMMY nominee, and will include appearances by GRAMMY winner CIRKUT, three-time GRAMMY winner Hit-Boy, artist and celebrity vocal coach Stevie Mackey, five-time GRAMMY nominee and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., and 15-time GRAMMY winner Judith Sherman. Pre-enrollment for "Music Production: Crafting An Award-Worthy Song" opens today.

"Whether it be through a GRAMMY Museum program, GRAMMY Camp or GRAMMY U, the GRAMMY organization is committed to helping music creators flourish, and the Recording Academy is proud to introduce our newest learning platform, GRAMMY GO, in partnership with Coursera," said Panos A. Panay, President of the Recording Academy. "A creator’s growth path is ongoing and these courses have been crafted to provide learners with the essential tools to grow in their professional and creative journeys."

"We are honored to welcome GRAMMY GO, our first entertainment partner, to the Coursera community," said Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. "With these self-paced online specializations, aspiring music professionals all over the world have an incredible opportunity to learn directly from iconic artists and industry experts. Together with GRAMMY GO, we can empower tomorrow's pioneers of the music industry to explore their passion today."

GRAMMY GO also serves as the music community’s newest digital hub for career pathways and editorial content that provides industry insights for members of the industry; visit go.grammy.com for more. For information and enrollment, please visit the landing pages for "Building Your Audience for Music Professionals" and "Music Production: Crafting An Award-Worthy Song."

Meet 5 GRAMMY Nominees Who Started At GRAMMY U: From Boygenius Engineer Sarah Tudzin To Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying

Ludwig Göransson's captivating composition for Oppenheimer has triumphed in the Best Original Score category at the 2024 Oscars.

Göransson's victory represents his exceptional talent and innovative approach to film scoring, as one of the youngest composers to ever receive the Best Original Score Oscar. It marks his second win in the category — he took home his first Oscar in 2019 for Black Panther. Göransson's work on Oppenheimer also won at the 2024 GRAMMYs for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (Includes Film And Television).

Göransson's work stood out among the competition, going up against the scores of American Fiction, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Poor Things. His ability to convey deep emotional narratives and complex historical contexts through his scores has established him as one of the most innovative and sought-after composers in Hollywood.

Göransson's composition for Oppenheimer serves as the heartbeat of the movie, underpinning the film's exploration of the moral complexities and monumental impact of J. Robert Oppenheimer's work on the atomic bomb. Through his music, Göransson invites audiences into the internal and external conflicts faced by the "father of the atomic bomb," providing a sonic backdrop that is as thought-provoking as it is visceral.

Read more: Watch: Ludwig Göransson Discusses His GRAMMY Win For 'Oppenheimer' At The 2024 GRAMMYs 

The award was presented by fellow GRAMMY winners, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who will star together in the Wizard of Oz big screen adaptation of the musical Wicked as Glinda and Elphaba respectively, premiering on the silver screen later this year. Speaking to the power of music to leave an indelible mark on the viewer through film, Grande said, "a great film score can leave a handprint on our hearts forever. It can ignite wonder and astonishment, make us feel sadness and longing and even transport us to new worlds." 

Göransson achieved just that. In his acceptance speech, Göransson thanked his colleagues,  and stars of the film for contributions to his distinctive vision. "Christopher Nolan, it was your idea to use a violin in the score and it allowed me to work and collaborate with my wonderful wife and acclaimed violinist, Serena Göransson," he said.

Göransson ended his speech by acknowledging his parents, "Thank you for giving me guitars and drum machines and not buying me video games." 

2024 Oscars: Billie Eilish And FINNEAS Perform A Heartrending Version Of "What Was I Made For?" From The 'Barbie' Soundtrack

Sibling duo Billie Eilish and FINNEAS are taking home more awards "What Was I Made For" [From The Motion Picture *Barbie*], this time at the 2024 Oscars, winning the prestigious Best Original Song award for their heartfelt ballad.

Once again, they've proven their unparalleled talent crosses effortlessly between the realms of music and film. Billie Eilish and Finneas won their first Oscar in 2022 for Best Original Song with "No Time to Die," the theme for the James Bond film of the same name.

Fittingly, the award was presented by two GRAMMY-winning musical performers, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who star as Glinda and Elphaba in the Wizard of Oz big screen adaptation of the musical Wicked, premiering on the silver screen later this year. 

Eilish, who admitted to having a nightmare the night before receiving the award, burst into laughs before thanking the Academy and Barbie director Greta Gerwig, "Thank you to Greta, where did you go? I love you. Thank you for this. I'm so grateful for this song and this movie and the way that it made me feel."

The pair contended for the award against a diverse group of nominees: Diane Warren with "The Fire Inside" from "Flamin' Hot," Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt for "I'm Just Ken" also from Barbie, Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson with "It Never Went Away" from American Symphony, and Scott George for "Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)" from Killers of the Flower Moon.

Ahead of the win, Eilish and O'Connell gave a stirring paired back performance that highlighted their power as a pair.

Read more: 2024 Oscars: Billie Eilish And FINNEAS Perform A Heartrending Version Of "What Was I Made For?" From The 'Barbie' Soundtrack

"What Was I Made For?" captivated audiences and critics alike with its poignant lyrics and emotive composition, underscoring the siblings' ability to tap into universal feelings of identity and purpose.

This Oscar win is a significant milestone for both artists, reinforcing their status as multifaceted talents capable of storytelling that resonates across different mediums. At the 2024 GRAMMYs, they had already made waves with the same song, winning Song Of The Year and Best Song Written For Visual Media.

Eilish and Finneas's journey from the music studios to the glitz of the Oscar stage is a testament to their hard work, creativity, and the deep connection they share as siblings. Their ability to collaborate and push the boundaries of music, now recognized by both the Recording Academy and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, sets a high bar for artists striving to make their mark across multiple industries.

Eilish and FINNEAS are not just a powerful duo in music but also formidable talents in film music composition. Their Oscar victory tonight is not just a win for them but a win for the incredible synergy between music and storytelling in cinema.

2024 Oscars: Watch Ryan Gosling And Mark Ronson Perform A Soaring, Hilarious Version Of "I'm Just Ken" From The 'Barbie' Soundtrack

Ariana Grande's seventh album, eternal sunshine, begins with a single question: "How can I tell if I'm in the right relationship?"

The superstar has always been known for wearing her heart on her sleeve in her music — just look to 2018's Sweetener and especially 2019's thank you, next for a catalog of examples — and eternal sunshine is a mature evolution of that same level of transparency.

Grande's life has turned upside down since she released 2020's woozy, lovestruck Positions. She divorced husband Dalton Gomez after two years of marriage, and seemed to quickly move on to a new relationship with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. The huge changes created a firestorm of drama in the tabloids and across social media with fans left confused about timelines and even accusations of downright infidelity leveled against the singer.

Though she stayed largely quiet at the time, when Grande released "yes, and?" as her first new single in three years, the pop star was standing in her truth. "Now I'm so done with caring/ What you think, no, I won't hide/ Underneath your own projections/ Or change my most authentic life," she sings on the second verse.

While cleverly positioning the project as a concept album inspired by the 2004 drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Grande uses the rest of eternal sunshine to add to the unapologetic statements of "yes, and?", affirming through the music that there's much more to her story than tabloid headlines and internet rumors. 

In a multitude of ways, eternal sunshine showcases immense growth on Grande's part as a pop star, musician, and songwriter — but most of all, as a human being. Below, take a look at five takeaways from Ari's most self-actualized album to date.

She's Learned That Ignorance Isn't Bliss

Grande chose not to release a second single ahead of the album's March 8 unveiling, telling fans she wanted them to experience eternal sunshine in its entirety as a full body of work. Instead, she dropped second single "we can't be friends (wait for your love)" and its accompanying music video in tandem with the LP's release, and the ethereal banger perfectly encapsulates the themes of love lost — and the pain of moving on — that tie eternal sunshine to its cinematic source material starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.

In the "we can't be friends" video, Grande elects to have her memories of a past relationship erased, much like Joel and Clementine in the beloved Oscar winner. "I don't wanna tiptoe, but I don't want to hide/ But I don't wanna feed this monstrous fire/ Just wanna let this story die/ And I'll be alright," she intones on the opening verse. 

However, by video's end, she, too, learns that it's better to live with the memories (and boundaries!) than to forget the love ever existed. 

Grande explores the same theme even more acutely on the album's title track, directly referencing the plot of the film as she tries "to wipe my mind/ Just so I feel less insane." (Though unlike Joel and Clementine's story, the pop star and her ex have both clearly moved on, as evidenced by the eyebrow-raising refrain: "Hope you feel alright when you're in her/ I found a good boy and he's on my side/ You're just my eternal sunshine, sunshine.")

Glinda The Good Witch Has Transformed Her

In numerous interviews ahead of the album's release, Grande spoke at length about the ways playing Glinda in the upcoming Wicked movies impacted her internally, recentered her priorities and healed her relationship with music. She had been adamant about not releasing new music while spending all her energy in the Good Witch of the North's magic bubble, but the impact the character's assured and confident nature had on her is evident throughout the entire body of work.

"Something that Glinda has is this very sure sense of self," Grande said in late February on The Zach Sang Show. "And she's not very apologetic. She's very good, she's very kind, but she's very certain. She takes up a lot of space unapologetically. And I think I, maybe before knowing Glinda and spending a lot of time with her, would cram myself into tiny little spaces and be kind of apologetic about what I come with and who I am." 

That same unapologetic kindness runs through virtually every song on the album, from the self-assured confidence of "yes, and?" to the disco-tinged heartbreak fantasia of "bye."

She's Just Fine Being Labeled The Villain

Being a concept album, eternal sunshine allows Grande to inhabit new roles and toy with perceptions of her pop star persona, and nowhere is that more evident than on "true story" and "the boy is mine," a one-two punch filled with '90s-inflected R&B and lyrical sass.

"I'll play the bad girl if you need me to…and I'll be good in it too," she pronounces on the former, clapping back at the media narrative swirling around the timeline of her split and new relationship with Wicked costar Ethan Slater. On the latter, as its title suggests, Grande taps into the feisty vibe of Brandy and Monica's 1998 smash while making it crystal clear she isn't competing with anyone for her new love's affections. 

Taken together, the two tracks affirm that Ari really is feeling more resolute in her truth than ever — regardless of what the masses have to say or what other narratives may be running rampant. 

She Remains A Master Of Vocal Production

Whether she's layering harmonies over a melody line or vocal arranging an entire bridge on the fly, the superstar's mastery over her instrument only continues to grow with each new album — evolving from a singer with a once-in-a-generation voice into a powerhouse who can ably execute her own vision from behind the mic.

eternal sunshine proves that point again and again, from the sumptuous extended whistle tone intro on "yes, and?" and the transcendence of the floating harmonies on "don't wanna break up again" to the ways she punctuates her dreamy, staccato vocal delivery on "i wish i hated you."

She Knows Love Is "Imperfect"

After making peace with the end of her marriage, Grande spends the tail end of eternal sunshine giving listeners valuable insight into where her head is at these days, relationship with Slater included. She addresses the unexpected start to this new love story head-on in the off-kilter melody of "imperfect for you" as she coos, "My love, they don't understand/ But I'll hold your heart in the box here beside me/ How could we know we'd arrange all the cosmos?/ We crashed and we burned/ Now I just can't go where you don't go."

And by the album's end, she finally finds the answer she's been searching for since the first track — in a nugget of wisdom from her beloved Nonna, who serves as the only guest credited on the album's 13-song tracklist. "Never go to bed without kissin' goodnight, it's the worst thing to do, don't ever, ever do that," the Italian matriarch advises. "And if you can't and if you don't feel comfortable doing it, you're in the wrong place, get out."

Not only does Nonna's advice wrap eternal sunshine up in a bow, it also speaks to the hard-earned lessons Ari has learned over the past few years — but also that she's come out on the other side stronger, wiser and more unapologetic than ever.

Ariana Grande's Musical Growth In 15 Tracks, From "The Way" To "Positions"