Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance
View on Wikipedia
| Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance | |
|---|---|
"Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter is the most recent recipient | |
| Awarded for | quality vocal and instrumental pop recordings |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |
| First award | 2012 |
| Currently held by | Sabrina Carpenter – "Espresso" (2025) |
| Most wins | Adele (4) |
| Most nominations | Taylor Swift Billie Eilish (5 each) |
| Website | grammy.com |
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards.[1] According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guides, the Best Pop Solo Performance Award as being designed for a solo performance pop recording (vocal and instrumental) and is limited to singles or tracks only.[2]
The category was introduced at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012 and combined the previous categories for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Instrumental Performance. The restructuring of these categories was a result of the Recording Academy's wish to decrease the list of categories and awards and to eliminate the distinctions between male and female (and in some cases, solo instrumental) performances.
The award goes to the performing artist. The producer, engineer and songwriter can apply for a Winners Certificate.[3]
Adele has the most victories (with four wins), and is the only act so far to win this category for consecutive years. Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish lead all performers with five nominations. The current holder of the award is Sabrina Carpenter for "Espresso", which won at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.
Recipients
[edit]2010s
[edit]








2020s
[edit]Artists with multiple awards
[edit]Artists with multiple nominations
[edit]
|
|
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Grammy Awards at a Glance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Category Mapper". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "AWARDS, CERTIFICATES, AND GRAMMY TICKETS" (PDF). Grammy.com. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ "2011 – 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners". The Recording Academy. November 30, 2011.
- ^ "2012 – 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners". The Recording Academy. December 5, 2011.
- ^ "56th GRAMMY Awards: Full Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
- ^ "57th Grammy Nominees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ "2014 Nominees" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ "Grammys 2017: Complete list of winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. February 12, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Grammy Awards Winners List: Updating Live". Variety. January 28, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ "61st GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominees List". Grammy. December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "Grammy Awards Nominations: The Complete List". Variety. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- ^ Williams, Chris (November 24, 2020). "Grammy Awards Nominations 2021: The Complete List". Variety. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- ^ "2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List". November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List". November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "Grammy Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here". Pitchfork. November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (November 8, 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Full List Here". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
External links
[edit]Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance
View on GrokipediaHistory
Establishment
The Recording Academy announced a major overhaul of the Grammy Awards categories on April 6, 2011, introducing the Best Pop Solo Performance as a new gender-neutral category to modernize the structure and reduce distinctions based on performer gender.[3] This change was part of a broader effort to consolidate categories from 109 to 78, aiming to streamline the awards process and eliminate gender-specific separations in fields like pop, R&B, rock, and country, thereby promoting inclusivity in recognition.[6] The rationale emphasized adapting to evolving music industry practices, where gender divisions were seen as outdated and limiting for solo artists.[7] The new category merged the existing Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Instrumental Performance awards, allowing both vocal and instrumental solo pop recordings to compete together without gender or format biases.[8] This consolidation reflected the Academy's goal to focus on artistic excellence in pop solo works, regardless of the performer's gender or whether the entry was vocal or instrumental, thereby simplifying submissions and voting.[9] Prior to this, the gender-specific categories had been in place since the 1950s, but the merger addressed criticisms of inherent biases by creating a unified platform for pop solo achievements. The Best Pop Solo Performance category debuted at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 12, 2012, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.[10] Adele became the inaugural recipient, winning for her vocal performance on "Someone Like You" from the album 21, marking a significant moment in the category's launch as it highlighted the emotional depth of contemporary pop solo artistry.[10] This first award underscored the category's immediate impact in celebrating standout individual pop contributions.[11]Evolution and Changes
Following the category's introduction in 2011 for the 2012 Grammy Awards, subsequent adjustments began to refine its scope to better accommodate evolving recording practices. Live recordings were eligible provided they met commercial release standards, as demonstrated by Adele's win for "Set Fire to the Rain" (live) at the 2013 awards.[12] Entering the 2020s, the category saw increased emphasis on digital singles and streaming platforms for eligibility, aligning with industry shifts toward non-physical releases. A pivotal update announced in 2016—effective for the 2017 awards and carrying forward—made streaming-only recordings fully eligible, provided they were commercially available during the eligibility period and adhered to solo pop performance standards.[13] This adaptation broadened access for contemporary pop artists relying on digital distribution, with ongoing refinements in subsequent years to incorporate metrics like streaming data in evaluations. By 2025, these changes had solidified the category's relevance to modern pop trends without major structural overhauls.[14] The Recording Academy continues to conduct periodic reviews of pop categories, including Best Pop Solo Performance, to assess alignment with emerging music consumption patterns and artistic innovations as of November 2025. These evaluations ensure the award remains adaptive while preserving its core emphasis on solo excellence.[15]Award Overview
Category Description
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance recognizes artistic achievement, technical proficiency, and overall excellence in a solo pop performance from new vocal or instrumental recordings released during the eligibility period.[16] Limited to singles or individual tracks, the category highlights standout contributions within the pop genre, focusing on the performer's vocal or instrumental delivery, melodic structure, and lyrical expression.[1] Established at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012, this category unified the prior separate honors for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance into a gender-neutral solo recognition.[3] It distinguishes itself from related pop categories, such as Best Pop Vocal Album, which awards full-length releases, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, which celebrates collaborative works.[1]Eligibility and Submission
The eligibility period for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance encompasses new vocal or instrumental solo pop recordings released during a specified timeframe, currently set from August 31 of the prior year through August 30 of the award year—for instance, August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025, for the 2026 Grammys.[17] Entries must consist of singles or tracks only, focusing on solo performances in the pop genre, and qualify only if they have been commercially released or made available for purchase or streaming to the general public in the United States during this period.[17][14] Submissions are handled exclusively through the Recording Academy's Online Entry Process (OEP) portal, accessible to registered media companies—such as record labels—and Recording Academy members, including both voting and professional members.[17] Independent artists without affiliation to a registered media company or Academy membership cannot submit entries independently and must partner with an eligible entity to enter their work.[17] The OEP window typically opens in mid-July and closes in late August of the year preceding the awards ceremony.[17] While the Grammy trophy is awarded solely to the eligible solo performer in this category, producers, engineers, and songwriters credited on a winning recording receive honorary participation certificates from the Recording Academy, recognizing their contributions without granting the statuette.[18][19] These certificates are available to all appropriately credited individuals involved in Grammy-winning or nominated works from the past five years.[18]Selection Process
Nomination Procedure
The nomination procedure for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance begins with first-round voting, conducted exclusively by Recording Academy voting members in the Pop Field, comprising experts in vocal and instrumental pop music production and performance.[20] These members, who must be in good standing, are directed to vote only in categories within their areas of expertise to maintain voting integrity.[20] Up to five nominees are selected per category, determined by the top-voted eligible entries, with ballots tabulated by an independent firm like Deloitte to ensure accuracy.[20] Prior to voting, the Academy's awards and nominations committee, along with field-specific screening committees, reviews all submissions for eligibility disputes, proper genre classification, and compliance with rules, such as release dates and format requirements; however, the final nominees are decided solely by the member votes.[21] The first-round voting period typically occurs in early to mid-October, with nominations announced the following November—for instance, the 2026 Grammy nominations were revealed on November 7, 2025.[22]Voting and Presentation
The final round of voting for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance, like all categories, is conducted exclusively by voting members of the Recording Academy, who number nearly 15,000 as of 2025.[23] These members, comprising music professionals across various disciplines, are eligible to vote once per category in the final round, which typically occurs from mid-December to early January—such as December 12, 2024, to January 3, 2025, for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.[24] Voting is conducted online through a secure platform provided by the Academy, with members required to base their selections on artistic merit and eligibility criteria, without influence from solicitation or external pressures.[25] The winner is determined by the nominee receiving the most votes in the category, with no minimum threshold required beyond a plurality.[26] In the event of a tie, all tied nominees are recognized as co-winners, and the results are kept confidential until the ceremony, with vote tallies verified by an independent firm like Deloitte to ensure integrity.[26] This process applies uniformly to the Best Pop Solo Performance category, emphasizing the collective judgment of the Academy's diverse membership. The award is presented during the annual Grammy ceremony, a high-profile event held in February— for instance, the 67th Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 2, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.[27] Winners receive a golden gramophone trophy onstage, often accompanied by acceptance speeches that highlight the solo artist's contributions to pop music. The ceremony is broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, reaching millions of viewers worldwide and amplifying the visibility of the Best Pop Solo Performance recipients.[27] Nominees in this category frequently perform live during the telecast, showcasing their winning or nominated tracks to a global audience and enhancing the award's cultural impact.[28]Recipients
2010s
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance was introduced in 2012 to honor outstanding solo vocal or instrumental pop recordings.[29] Over the decade, the category highlighted diverse pop styles, from soulful ballads to upbeat anthems, with winners often reflecting chart-topping hits and critical darlings. In 2012, Adele won for her emotive ballad "Someone Like You" from the album 21, marking the category's debut.[2] Key nominees included Bruno Mars for the explosive "Grenade" and Rihanna for the dance-pop hit "We Found Love." The 2013 award went to Adele again for her live rendition of "Set Fire to the Rain" from Live at the Royal Albert Hall.[5] Notable nominees were Katy Perry for the introspective "Wide Awake" and Taylor Swift for the country-pop crossover "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." Lorde claimed the 2014 prize for her minimalist breakthrough "Royals," a defining track from her debut studio album Pure Heroine.[30] Among the nominees were Bruno Mars with the heartfelt "When I Was Your Man" and Justin Timberlake for the sweeping "Mirrors."[31] In 2015, Pharrell Williams took home the award for the live version of his ubiquitous feel-good single "Happy."[32] Key contenders included Sam Smith for the soul-stirring "Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)" and Taylor Swift for the synth-driven "Blank Space."[33] Ed Sheeran won in 2016 for "Thinking Out Loud," a romantic acoustic pop standout from x.[34] Prominent nominees featured Taylor Swift's narrative "Blank Space" and Meghan Trainor's body-positive "All About That Bass."[35] Adele secured her third win in 2017 with the piano-led epic "Hello" from 25.[36] The field included Beyoncé's bold "Hold Up" and Bruno Mars' funky "24K Magic."[37] For 2018, Ed Sheeran repeated as winner with "Shape of You," a global dance-pop phenomenon from ÷.[38] Standout nominees were Kesha's empowering "Praying" and Lady Gaga's vulnerable "Million Reasons."[39] The decade closed in 2019 with Lady Gaga earning the award for the title track "Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin'?) " from her fifth studio album.[40] Key nominees comprised Camila Cabello's Latin-infused "Havana" and Ariana Grande's moody "The Light Is Coming."[41]2020s
The 2020s have seen the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance increasingly recognize tracks that achieve massive streaming success and viral popularity on digital platforms, reflecting shifts in eligibility rules that accommodate online releases and social media-driven hits.[42] In 2020, Lizzo won for "Truth Hurts," a empowering anthem from 2017 that surged via TikTok in 2019, beating nominees including Billie Eilish for "Bad Guy," Ariana Grande for "7 Rings," Beyoncé for "Spirit," and Taylor Swift for "You Need to Calm Down."[43][42] Harry Styles took the award in 2021 for "Watermelon Sugar," a summery track from his 2019 album Fine Line, with nominees such as Billie Eilish for "Everything I Wanted," Dua Lipa for "Don't Start Now," Doja Cat for "Say So," Justin Bieber for "Yummy," and Taylor Swift for "Cardigan."[44][45] The 2022 ceremony honored Olivia Rodrigo's "Drivers License," a raw breakup ballad that launched her to stardom, over contenders like Ariana Grande's "Positions," Billie Eilish's "Happier Than Ever," Justin Bieber's "Anyone," and Brandi Carlile's "Right On Time."[46][47] Adele claimed the prize in 2023 for "Easy on Me," the lead single from her album 30, defeating nominees including Harry Styles for "As It Was," Lizzo for "About Damn Time," Bad Bunny for "Moscow Mule," Doja Cat for "Woman," and Steve Lacy for "Bad Habit."[48][49] Miley Cyrus won in 2024 for "Flowers," an uplifting self-empowerment song from Endless Summer Vacation, with key nominees Taylor Swift for "Anti-Hero," Billie Eilish for "What Was I Made For?," Doja Cat for "Paint the Town Red," and Olivia Rodrigo for "Vampire."[50] Sabrina Carpenter received the 2025 award for "Espresso," a catchy debut single from her album Short n' Sweet, surpassing nominees like Taylor Swift for "Fortnight," Billie Eilish for "Birds of a Feather," Beyoncé for "Bodyguard," and Charli XCX for "Apple."[1][51]| Year | Winner | Song | Key Nominees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Lizzo | "Truth Hurts" | "Bad Guy" (Billie Eilish), "7 Rings" (Ariana Grande), "You Need to Calm Down" (Taylor Swift) |
| 2021 | Harry Styles | "Watermelon Sugar" | "Everything I Wanted" (Billie Eilish), "Don't Start Now" (Dua Lipa) |
| 2022 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Drivers License" | "Positions" (Ariana Grande), "Happier Than Ever" (Billie Eilish) |
| 2023 | Adele | "Easy on Me" | "As It Was" (Harry Styles), "About Damn Time" (Lizzo) |
| 2024 | Miley Cyrus | "Flowers" | "Anti-Hero" (Taylor Swift), "What Was I Made For?" (Billie Eilish) |
| 2025 | Sabrina Carpenter | "Espresso" | "Fortnight" (Taylor Swift), "Birds of a Feather" (Billie Eilish) |
