Zara Larsson Says She Didn't Submit for Best New Artist Grammy — But She Couldn't Win It Anyway

Zara Larsson recently set pop culture feeds ablaze after an interview clip circulated online showing the Swedish pop star talking about the Grammy Awards. In the clip, the hitmaker indicated that she opted out of submitting her music for consideration in the highly coveted Best New Artist category. The statement quickly went viral, with fans celebrating her nonchalant attitude toward music industry prestige. However, the behind-the-scenes reality tells a completely different story. Despite Larsson's suggestion that skipping the category was a personal decision, official Recording Academy rules reveal that she was actually ineligible to compete for the award in the first place.

Watch

Clips tied to this story.

▶Watch on TikTok

The Recording Academy maintains rigorous criteria when determining who qualifies for the Best New Artist trophy. While the title suggests the award is reserved for fresh faces making their initial breakthrough in the music industry, technical rules go far beyond how long an artist has been releasing songs publicly. A fundamental rule governing the category states that any performer who has already received a Grammy nomination in a previous year is strictly barred from entering the Best New Artist race. Because Larsson has previously been recognized as a Grammy nominee for her collaborative work, her eligibility for the category had already expired long before the current awards cycle opened.

BUZZBEAT

The Best New Artist category has long been one of the most scrutinized and complex fields in the Grammy lineup. Over the years, the Recording Academy has adjusted its guidelines regarding release limits and feature credits, but the restriction regarding prior nominations remains a hard boundary. Once an artist crosses the threshold of landing a nomination in any major category, they can no longer claim "new artist" status in future years. Reports clarify that while artists and their management teams do make strategic choices about which categories to target during the submission process, ineligible submissions are simply filtered out by the Academy. So while Larsson's viral comments gave the impression of a conscious pass, the official handbook ensured her name could not be on that specific ballot regardless. Ultimately, the singer continues to enjoy massive streaming success and a dedicated global fanbase. But when it comes to taking home the Best New Artist statuette, the opportunity had already passed her by.