The easiest thing in the world is to root for the critically-acclaimed darling Olivia Dean; the hardest — and perhaps more honest — path for the masses is admitting that Addison Rae didn’t just participate in the pop landscape last year; she commanded it.
Her recent loss in the Best New Artist category at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards ignites a larger debate: can an influencer become a true artist? In short, Addison Rae deserved the award, not merely because of her hits, but for her brilliant pivot from the annoying TikTok influencer to the next pop princess.
Five years ago, it felt like no one took Addison Rae seriously, including myself — despite building a community of over 120 million fans. She was incessantly labeled as “talentless” or a “try-hard amateur,” yet with every attempt at evolving, in acting or music, she was mocked and criticized even further.
From her first-ever single, “Obsessed,” to her starring role in Netflix’s critically derided “He’s All That,” she was written off as a flash-in-the-pan influencer whose career felt like more of a punchline than her creative prologue.
But dare I say that Addison Rae pulled off the greatest rebrand in history. The sentiment surrounding Addison Rae in the past year could not be more different; she has, as a result, become the new “it girl.” Her reintroduction to the world parallels the sonic reinvention of “Ray of Light” by Madonna or the career-defining grit of “Blackout” by Britney Spears.
Last year, Addison released her debut album “Addison” — an audacious burst of experimental pop maximalism. From the Y2K dance-floor grit of “Diet Pepsi” to the avant-garde, deep house textures of “Aquamarine,” the record was a masterpiece of sonic curation. While fellow musicians leaned into the “sad girl” acoustic trend or safe, radio-ready R&B, Addison took a sharp turn: she delivered a high-concept, dance-heavy production that felt both nostalgic and futuristic.
This is where the divide between her and Olivia Dean becomes clear. Dean is an undeniable talent, but she operates within the traditional, comfortable boundaries of soulful pop. “The Art of Loving,” Dean’s second studio album, epitomizes how she’s a representation of the “correct” choice for the Recording Academy membership that values safety.
Addison, however, represents the exciting choice: successfully embracing the camp, the glamour, and the meticulous artifice of pop music.
There is a specific kind of bravery in championing the artist everyone is prepared to dismiss; while Dean entered the race with the shield of critical acclaim, Addison had to fight through the noise of her own fame to prove she deserved a place in music.
As Addison would say, fame is truly a gun. Pursuing stardom is intoxicating, messy, and a naive welcome to the double-edged sword reality of fame.
The Best New Artist award is not an honor for the most technical vocal run or a recognition of commercial success; it’s intended to recognize the artist who achieved a definitive breakthrough and fundamentally shifted the cultural zeitgeist. By the Recording Academy’s own metrics of impact, identity and influence, Addison Rae was the most viable contender.
I agree, vocal ability is a critical skill — one that Addison has mastered within her own sonic niche. But artistry is a vision. Olivia Dean’s talent is timeless, but Addison Rae’s 2025 was transformative beyond measure. Her artistic ascent, as a result, forced the industry to reconsider her “influencer” trope as a legitimate springboard for entering the music scene.
Her ascent was legitimized by earning the respect of the industry’s pop vanguard: Charli XCX, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Arca, and more. This wasn’t just social climbing, though; it was a strategic path to collaborate with the architects of underground music, subvert the influencer stigma, and silence the debate about her authenticity to build a cohesive, but genuine pop identity.
If the award is meant to celebrate the pioneer who most redefined what it meant to be an authentic artist last year, it was meant to be put in the hands of Addison Rae.
Addison’s breakthrough arc was too powerful for the Best New Artist award, but not for the pop history books.
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