British singer Olivia Dean confirmed her status as one of pop’s biggest breakout stars by winning the Grammy Award for best new artist in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Dean went into the ceremony as the frontrunner, thanks to joyful, soulful romantic pop songs like Man I Need and So Easy (To Fall In Love), which became transatlantic hits last year.
Despite competition from fellow Brit Lola Young and R&B artist Leon Thomas, she came out on top, making her the first Brit to win best new act since Dua Lipa in 2019.
“I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” the 26-year-old noted while accepting her award. “I’m a product of bravery and I think those people ought to be celebrated.”
The star also performed a buoyant version of her UK chart-topper Man I Need, in the week it reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Her golden gramophone trophy crowned her as one of pop’s biggest new names, joining former best new artist winners like Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, Adele and Olivia Rodrigo.
She was presented with her award by last year’s recipient Chappell Roan.
The moment marked the culmination of a slow-burn success that began with Dean’s first EP, OK Love You Bye, in 2019.
Since then, she has experimented with numerous genres and sounds before settling on the pillowy, jazz-toned sounds of her second album, The Art of Loving.
Dean’s Grammy win comes just weeks after she – along with Lola Young – dominated the nominations for this year’s Brit Awards, with five nods, including artist of the year.
On Sunday, the singer fended off Young as well as influencers-turned-pop stars Addison Rae and Alex Warren, girl group Katseye, rock star Sombr and US indie pop band The Marías to win the best new artist category.
For the second year in a row, all eight nominees performed during a special segment at Sunday night’s ceremony – dubbed the biggest night in music.
That will have allowed her to win over yet more fans who may not have known her before.
“I think what Olivia has is charm,” said Stuart Worden, principal of the Brit performing arts school, which Dean attended from the age of 15.
“She’s a real hard worker, so she would have worked really hard on her stage presence, really hard on her stagecraft, she would have worked really hard on her songwriting,” he said.
Broadcaster Abbie McCarthy told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Dean “oozes this superstar charm”.
McCarthy promoted one of Dean’s early gigs in 2020, and “even then she had that star power”, she said.
“The classic styling and the elegance that she brings on stage, she’s going to go down as a classic legend, I think,” McCarthy added.
“She’s no longer the best-kept secret. She is the star that she’s always deserved to be.”
