Sound the cannons from The Hunger Games, we the nominees have fallen and a victor emerges: Chappell Roan is best new artist at the VMAs 2024.
In her speech, Roan dedicated her win to “all the drag artists who inspire me,” as well as the “queer and trans people that fuel pop [and] to the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love…or hate.” Roan also added a special thank you to her fans, and shouted out her fellow midwesterners. “And to all the kids in the Midwest who are watching right now, I see you and I hear you because I am one of you,” she said. “And don’t let anyone tell you you can’t be exactly who you want to be, bitch.”
Her hits this year included “Hot to Go,” “Pink Pony Club,” and “Good Luck Babe,” which she performed on stage at the show.
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The 2024 nominees were Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, Tyla, Gracie Abrams, and Benson Boone. On the day of the awards, MTV announced that the category had been narrowed down to Roan, Abrams, and Tyla. Absolutely no offense to any of the talented artists, but is it a little funny the boy half of the category got knocked out early? Yeah. A little.
Last year, Ice Spice beat out fellow newcomers GloRilla and PinkPantheress, but she lost the same award at the Grammys to Victoria Monét, who also beat out Noah Kahan and Jelly Roll. The Grammys rules have been a topic of discussion lately, as they allow Sabrina Carpenter to potentially submit, but not Tate McRae, who is arguably “newer,” (McRae has submitted three times previously, whereas Carpenter has only submitted twice). MTV’s rules for who qualifies as “new” aren’t as well known or understood, but Roan’s win certainly seems like it’ll give them a good chance at getting a nom, at least.
