Olivia Dean Won Best New Artist at the Grammys But Lost in That Category at the BRITs. Who Else Has Done That?

Few were surprised when Olivia Dean won best new artist at the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday Feb. 1. But here’s something that may surprise you: Dean lost in that category at the BRIT Awards nearly two years ago. She was nominated at the BRIT ceremony on March 2, 2024, but lost to RAYE.

This got us to wondering: What other English artists have won the Grammy for best new artist but lost in that category (or a predecessor category) at the BRITs? There have been just two others. Adele lost British breakthrough act to Duffy at the BRITS on Feb. 18, 2009, 10 days after Adele won two awards – best new artist and best female pop vocal performance – at the Grammys. The two singers were both highly-touted. Adele bested Duffy in both of those Grammy categories, but Duffy’s debut album, Rockferry, won the Grammy for best pop vocal album. Adele’s debut album, 19, though eligible, wasn’t nominated.

Culture Club lost British breakthough act to Yazoo at the BRITs on Feb. 8, 1983. More than a year later, on Feb. 28, 1984, the Boy George-led group won the Grammy for best new artist. (Yazoo wasn’t nominated.)

Both Dean and Culture Club continued building in the year-plus between their BRITs losses and their Grammy wins.

Two artists – Sam Smith and Dua Lipa – have won best new artist (or a predecessor award at the BRITs) on both sides of the pond. The BRITs introduced an award for new artists (initially called most promising new artist) at their award show on Oct. 18, 1977. The inaugural winners were Graham Parker and Julie Covington.

Lola Young, who was a Grammy best new artist nominee this year, is also nominated in that category at this year’s BRITs, set for Feb. 28. She is competing with Barry Can’t Swim, EsDeeKid, Jim Legxacy and Skye Newman. Though Young didn’t win the Grammy for best new artist, she did win best pop solo vocal performance, a highly-competitive category, for her hit, “Messy.”