"Do people live under a rock or something?": Netizens react to Rolling Stone's 2026 Grammys Best New Artist predictions

Rolling Stone has revealed the list of Best New Artist predictions for the 2026 Grammys. The list includes the following names:

• Lola Young
• Role Model
• Sombr
• Alex Warren
• Yungblud
• Megan Moroney
• Olivia Dean
• The Marías

As per Rolling Stone, Alex Warren, famous for the songs Ordinary and Eternity, will win this category. According to Cecilia Winter, Spotify's Global Hits editorial lead:

"Warren is in a pantheon of male vocalists who are full of love, and yearning, and heartbreak, and pain—and they don’t shy away from those things. [They’ve] historically been well-recognized by the Grammys."

However, the outlet named Lola Young as the artist who should take home the award.

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Social media reacts to Rolling Stone’s 2026 Grammy predictions

While many agreed with the predictions, some critics called out the outlet for including artists like Yungblud, The Marias, and others who have been in the industry for years, saying it felt odd to nominate them for Best New Artist.

Let's have a look at their reactions.

A user, @DevilsLance, wrote:

"How are The Maria's a new artist? Do people live under a rock or something?"

Another user, @davionluvmusic, tweeted:

"The fact that they're considering Yungblud a "new artist" is crazy.... 🤔 I guess the recognition is still appreciated"

Another user, @PoetaSarcasmo, commented:

"Lola bleeds truth. Sombr smolders. Warren croons like it’s 2006 again. The Marías drift between languages and light. 🖤🩶💫 This isn’t a list. It’s a constellation."

One more user, @glindasmagic, added:

"it’s funny, because i’ve been listening to role model since 2017… so like they’re not new? but i’d want them to win out of all the rest… none of these new artists are resonating"

A user, @ThePhishMonger, posted:

"The Maria's have two tracks 100M plus streams on their 2017 debut ep lol"

Another user, @realwfaffles, shared:

"yungbuld and sombr are not new are we serious. sombr's been making music for 4 years and yungblud for 7"

One more user, @lifeofwraith, wrote:

"addison rae ??? girl she released one of the best pop albums of the year she deserved to be nominated at least"

In addition to the Best New Artist category, Rolling Stone has also shared its predictions for Song of the Year, featuring the following tracks:

• Alex Warren - Ordinary
• Bad Bunny - Baile Inolvidable
• Chappell Roan - The Subway
• Gracie Abrams - That’s So True
• Huntr/x - Golden
• Kendrick Lamar - Luther
• Lady Gaga - Abracadabra
• Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild

As per the outlet, Sabrina Carpenter is predicted to win this category, while Gracie Abrams is the artist they believe should take home the award.

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The 2026 Grammys are scheduled to take place on February 1 in Los Angeles. While these names are just predictions, the confirmed list of nominations will be revealed on November 7, leaving fans with one month of waiting.

Also read: "Girl it’s been two minutes": Netizens react as Rolling Stone awards Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ a perfect 5-star rating