Samara Joy, a 23-year-old jazz singer from the Bronx, New York, won best new artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards on Sunday night. There were 10 artists nominated in the category, including Anitta, Omar Apollo, Muni Long and Latto.
Olivia Rodrigo, who won the award in the category at last year’s show, presented the award, describing it as “an award that has gone to heroes of mine, from The Beatles to Billie Eilish. … It will always be a shining moment in my life.”
Upon hearing her name as winner, Joy was visibly surprised and excited; when accepting the award on stage, she acknowledged the talent in the room, thanking everyone for their contributions to the music industry, saying “all of you are so inspiring to me.”
“I’ve been singing all my life. … Thank you so much for this honor, thank you to everyone who has listened to me and supported me,” Joy said, adding: “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.”
The singer, who was born into a musical family, also thanked her grandparents and her father; her paternal grandparents, Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, were founders of Philadelphia gospel group The Savettes.
Joy wore a red leather dress and a braided updo to accept her award Sunday night.
