Who Is Samara Joy? Singer Bags Best New Artist Award At Grammys 2023

Samara Joy has been named the Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards. The jazz singer unexpectedly won the coveted prize on Sunday over performers like Latto, Anitta, and Maneskin. She accepted it from Olivia Rodrigo, the winner from the previous year.

When Joy's name was announced as the winner, she was visibly surprised and happy. Joy was wearing a red leather dress and an updo to accept her award. She thanked everyone for their contributions to the music industry and said, "All of you are very amazing to me," as she accepted the award on stage.

She said, "I've been singing my entire life. To be here because of who I am... to be here by just being myself, by just being who I was born as, I'm so thankful. Thank you so much for this honour, thank you to everyone who has listened to me and supported me," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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Who Is Samara Joy?

Joy, who was raised in a musical family in the Bronx, New York, started out as an Ella Fitzgerald Scholar at SUNY Purchase and Fordham High School for the Arts.

Her first album was titled Samara Joy and while she was still a college student, she released her acclaimed follow-up to her album, Linger Awhile, in July 2021.

She also expressed gratitude to her father and paternal grandparents, Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, who founded the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes.

Joy joins Alessia Cara, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, and Olivia Rodrigo as the sixth consecutive female performer to win Best New Artist. She also won Best Jazz Vocal Album earlier in the evening for Linger Awhile.

Joy spoke on the Grammy carpet and expressed her eagerness to possibly see Jay-Z and Beyonce at the ceremony. She laughed a bit and said, "Thankfully, I'm not performing tonight; there are so many great artists that I'm going to have a seat and watch and learn.  I'm just looking forward to everything about it."

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards were scheduled for Sunday, February 5, 2023.