Top 10 Best Acts Nominated for the "Best New Artist" Grammy Award that Didn't Win

The Top Ten

Elton John (1971, lost to The Carpenters)

Sir Elton Hercules John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, is an English singer, pianist, and composer. He has collaborated with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums. John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.... read more

He was nominated in 1971 but lost to The Carpenters. By then, he had scored a hit with "Your Song," which became his first of many classics. I don't know The Carpenters very well but still feel like he would have deserved it more than them.
Ed Sheeran (2014, lost to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)

Edward Christopher "Ed" Sheeran is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was born on February 17, 1991, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk. He's known for hit songs such as "The A Team" (2011) and "Shape of You" (2017).... read more

One of the many cases of the Grammys deciding someone is a new artist years after they first release music commercially and gain some following.
Taylor Swift (2008, lost to Amy Winehouse)

Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter, born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania. She developed a strong interest in country music around the age of nine after watching a Faith Hill documentary. Swift moved to Nashville as a teenager and, after signing with RCA Records, began... read more

Although she is one of my favorite music artists, her self-titled album isn't exactly a significant reason why. I would say Amy Winehouse deserved to win that year.
Linkin Park (2002, lost to Nelly Furtado)

Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), Emily Armstrong (vocals), and Colin Brittain (drums). Linkin Park... read more
Led Zeppelin (1970, lost to Crosby, Stills & Nash)

Led Zeppelin was an English hard rock band formed in London in 1968 as the New Yardbirds. The group consisted of Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass, keyboard), and John Bonham (drums). The band was largely the brainchild of Jimmy Page, who even financed their first tour... read more

They were nominated in 1970 but lost to Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Paramore (2008, lost to Amy Winehouse)

Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro. They rose to fame with albums like Riot! (2007) and Brand New Eyes (2009), known for blending pop-punk and alternative... read more
Avril Lavigne (2003, lost to Ashanti)

Avril Ramona Lavigne (born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. At age 14, she won a radio contest singing with Shania Twain, performing before a large arena crowd. By age 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records, reportedly worth over $2 million.... read more
Eurythmics (1984, lost to Culture Club)

Eurythmics were a British music duo consisting of Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart. Stewart and Lennox were previously in the band The Tourists, which split up in 1980. Eurythmics were formed that same year in London and became known for hits such as Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) and Here Comes the... read more

They lost to Culture Club in 1984. Although both groups were becoming household names, I still feel like Eurythmics would have deserved it more since their music was more groundbreaking.
Green Day (1995, lost to Hootie & the Blowfish)

Green Day are an American pop punk and punk rock band formed in East Bay, California, in 1987. The core members are Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass), and Tré Cool (drums), with Jason White often performing live on guitar. They blend punk rock, pop punk, and alternative rock, drawing... read more
Florence and the Machine (2011, lost to Esperanza Spalding)

Florence and the Machine are an English indie rock band that formed in London in 2007. The band consists of lead singer Florence Welch, keyboardist Isabella Summers, and a collaboration of other musicians. Their debut album, Lungs, received critical acclaim and commercial success.

Lost to Esperanza Spalding in 2011. I can't really judge because I don't know her music but still think other nominees, including Florence and the Machine, deserved it more.

The Newcomers

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No Doubt (1997, lost to LeAnn Rimes)

No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California, that formed in 1986. Since 1994, the group has consisted of vocalist Gwen Stefani, bassist and keyboardist Tony Kanal, guitarist and keyboardist Tom Dumont, and drummer Adrian Young. Their 1995 album Tragic Kingdom brought them mainstream success... read more
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The Cars (1979, lost to A Taste of Honey)

The Cars were an American rock band that emerged from the new wave scene in the late 1970s. Formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1976, the lineup included singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, lead guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson... read more

The Contenders

Cream (1969, lost to José Feliciano)

Cream was a 1960s British rock supergroup power trio consisting of bassist and vocalist Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger Baker, and guitarist and vocalist Eric Clapton. The band was known for its blend of blues, psychedelic rock, and hard rock. Cream is often regarded as one of the first supergroups and was... read more
Kendrick Lamar (2013, lost to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter from Compton, California. He began his career under the stage name K-Dot, releasing mixtapes that gained local recognition and led to his signing with Top Dawg Entertainment. Lamar has become one of the most critically... read more

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis infamously stunned Kendrick in 2014, not only for Best New Artist, but also for Best Rap Album and two other categories. As Macklemore stated, Kendrick got robbed that year, and he wasn't wrong. Macklemore's success sharply declined while Kendrick became one of the greatest rappers of his generation.
Alanis Morissette (1996, lost to Hootie & the Blowfish)

Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American alternative rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She gained international fame with her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill, which included hit singles like You Oughta Know and Ironic. The album won five Grammy Awards and was later... read more

Lost to Hootie and The Blowfish in 1996. Even though Hootie's smash success in the mid-90s was undeniable, they were quickly forgotten. Meanwhile, Alanis Morissette became known as the Queen of Alt-Rock Angst, and either she or Shania Twain would have deserved the award more.
Shania Twain (1996, lost to Hootie & the Blowfish)

Shania Twain (born Eilleen Regina Edwards on August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, she is the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Her 1997 album Come On Over remains the... read more

Lost to Hootie & The Blowfish in 1996. Shania Twain was already becoming a superstar at the time, while Hootie & The Blowfish's success sharply declined after the mid-90s.
Eagles (1973, lost to America)

The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner.
The band achieved major success in the 1970s with hits like Hotel California, Take It Easy, and Desperado. They broke up in 1980 but reunited in 1994 for the Hell Freezes... read more

Lost to America in 1973. Considering the legends the Eagles later became, it seems unfair.
Michelle Branch (2002, lost to Nelly Furtado)

Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper. She also collaborated with Santana on the Grammy Award-winning single The Game of Love.
Kanye West (2005, lost to Maroon 5)

Ye (born Kanye Omari West. June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. He is regarded as one of the most influential and controversial artists of the 21st century.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West initially gained fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella... read more

Lost to Maroon 5 in 2005. In retrospect, Ye deserved it more, although Maroon 5 were still a good band back then.
Blind Melon (1994, lost to Belly)

Blind Melon is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in March 1990. The original lineup included musicians who had moved from Mississippi and Indiana. The band became known for their neo‑psychedelic alternative rock style and achieved mainstream success with their hit song No Rain... read more
Fiona Apple (1998, lost to Backstreet Boys)

Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and record producer. She gained widespread acclaim with her debut album Tidal in 1996, which included the hit single Criminal. Apple has won several Grammy Awards and is known for her introspective lyrics and distinctive musical style... read more

Lost to Paula Cole in 1998. Fiona Apple would have deserved it way more considering her precocious talent and her subsequent artistic evolution.
Drake (2011, lost to Esperanza Spalding)

Aubrey Drake Graham (born October 24, 1986) is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor from Toronto. He first gained public attention as an actor on the Canadian series Degrassi: The Next Generation before launching a music career. Drake's become one of the world's best-selling... read more

Lost to Esperanza Spalding in 2011.
Counting Crows (1995, lost to Hootie & the Blowfish)

Counting Crows is an American rock band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1991. The band consists of Adam Duritz, David Bryson, Charlie Gillingham, Dan Vickrey, David Immerglück, Jim Bogios, and Millard Powers. They gained widespread recognition with their debut album August and Everything After.
MGMT (2010, lost to Zac Brown Band)

MGMT is an American rock band formed in 2002 by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their debut album, additional members Matthew Asti, James Richardson, and Will Berman joined the band for live performances and later contributed in the studio. The group gained widespread... read more
Foreigner (1978, lost to Debby Boone)

Foreigner is a British-American arena rock band, originally formed in New York City in 1976 by veteran English musician Mick Jones and fellow Briton and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, along with American vocalist Lou Gramm. The band became known for hits like I Want to Know What Love Is and Cold... read more

Lost to Debby Boone ("You Light Up My Life") in 1978. Considering Debby was presumably a one-hit wonder, it seems unfair to Foreigner, who have become legends and a rock-radio staple.
Elvis Costello (1979, lost to A Taste of Honey)

Declan Patrick MacManus, better known by his stage name Elvis Costello, is an English musician, singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, author, television presenter, and occasional actor. He emerged during the punk and new wave movements of the late 1970s and is known for his clever lyrics and... read more

Lost to A Taste of Honey in 1979. Either he or Toto would have deserved it way more.
Toto (1979, lost to A Taste of Honey)

Toto is an American rock band that was formed in 1977 in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. The current lineup includes Joseph Williams, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, and Steve Lukather, along with touring members Leland Sklar and Shannon Forrest. The band is known for hit songs such as Africa, Hold the Line, and... read more

Lost to A Taste of Honey in 1979, which is unfair because A Taste of Honey are pretty much one-hit wonders while Toto became a household name in the 1980s.