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Where are these Best New Artist Grammys winners now?

Winning a Grammy Award is the formal mountaintop of music. Winning Best New Artist is supposed to be a musician's coming out party—I have arrived!—and generally, that has been the case. But there have been a few who got a taste of the top and then disappeared for various reasons. Nothing is guaranteed, the world keeps telling us, and especially in the cutthroat music industry.

Here is where some Grammys Best New Artists throughout the years are today.

 

 
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Mariah Carey, 1990

Mariah Carey, 1990
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In 1990, Carey won two Grammys, Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for "Vision For Love." In 2005, she resurged and won three more: Best R&B Song for "We Belong Together," Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "We Belong Together," and Best Contemporary Album for "The Emancipation of Mimi."

Where is she now? After decades of stardom (and all the celebrity trappings that come with) Carey has built an empire topping Billboard Hot 100 a record 18 times and soon can bee on E! with on her new eight-part documentary series Mariah's World.

 
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Bob Newhart, 1961

Bob Newhart, 1961
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The 3rd Annual Grammy Awards on April 12, 1961, saw Bob Newhart becoming to first ever comedian to win a Grammy. He won three that night; Best New Artist, Best Comedy Performance (Musical) and Album of the Year ("The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart").

Newhart went onto even greater fame with his his two eponymous television shows, the 1970s' "The Bob Newhart Show" and the 1980s' "Newhart." Fifty-five years after his Grammy win Newhart still makes occasional TV appearances on "The Big Bang Theory" and most recently, celebrating his beloved Chicago Cubs win the World Series

 
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Marc Cohn, 1992

Marc Cohn, 1992
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Most people won't recognize this name, but he won Best New Artist in 1992 thanks to his most famous hit song "Walking in Memphis," which has been re-recorded and covered by many artists over the years, including Cher.

Since then Cohn has released five more albums and is touring in 2017, a miraculous feat for the singer-songwriter who survived being shot in the head in 2005 during a carjacking attempt

 
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Toni Braxton, 1993

Toni Braxton, 1993
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Toni Braxton mastered the art of taping broken hearts with her voice. She won her Best New Artist Grammy Award at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993, along with another Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female for "Another Sad Love Song." Along with those two awards, Braxton has five other Grammys spanning from 1994 to 2014. She is on the Mount Rushmore of '90s R&B, with a renowned musical working relationship with Babyface, who owned the decade.

Now? After announcing she lupus in 2010, Braxton has appeared on her reality show "Braxton Family Values" with two more new shows announced for January 2017

 
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Sheryl Crow, 1995

Sheryl Crow, 1995
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When Sheryl Crow won Best New Artist on March 1, 1995, she had a piece of paper to read from for her acceptance speech; not only is that adorable, it speaks to just how early in her career this happened. Crow went on to win a total of nine Grammys among her 32 Grammy nominations . You probably remember her best for "Soak Up The Sun," "The First Cut Is The Deepest," or dating Lance Armstrong.

Now? Sheryl Crow's net worth is $40 million. She is 54 years old and has not slowed down a bit, despite her breast cancer diagnosis in 2006. She is a cancer advocate. She even performed back on the Grammys stage in 2015  as a tribute to Bob Dylan. To date she has sold  over 50 million albums worldwide.

 
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The Starland Vocal Band, 1977

The Starland Vocal Band, 1977
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Contrary to popular belief, the cast of "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy" are not the artists behind "Afternoon Delight." That would be The Starland Vocal Band, who won Best New Artist at the 1977 Grammy Awards.

According to The Washington Post in 2011, The Starland Vocal Band are "Washington's most famous one-hit wonders." After launching their own solo projects, the group would reunite in 1998 for a few concerts, riding the nostalgia wave pretty high. Aside from the famous scene in "Anchorman," the cult sitcom "Arrested Development" would pay its own tribute in its own hilariously awkward way.

 
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The Beatles, 1964

The Beatles, 1964
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Flashback to 1964 and the 7th Annual Grammy Awards where The Beatles won Best New Artist. Yes, The Beatles. That iconic English rock band you see in that historic photo crossing Abbey Road; the ones credited with globalizing music and influencing rock and pop music for eternity, they were once "new."

John Lennon was tragically killed in 1980 and George Harrison passed away in 2001. Where are the last two surviving members of The Beatles now? Sir Paul McCartney has consistently been making music  since his departure from The Beatles in 1970 and even recently released a song "FourFiveSeconds" in collaboration with Kanye West and Rihanna in 2015. Ringo Starr is  still touring and most recently released a solo studio album in 2012.

 
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Hootie & The Blowfish, 1996

Hootie & The Blowfish, 1996
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Hootie & The Blowfish took home two Grammys in 1996. One for Best New Artist, and another for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group for their hit "Let Her Cry." After their New Best New Artist win, Hootie & The Blowfish went on to make five more albums under Atlantic and sell over 25 million albums worldwide before their dissolution in 2007. 

Rucker has had the most mainstream success as a solo artist. Rucker has since released five solo albums and one single in 2016. Some of his most popular solo songs have been "Alright," "History In The Making," "Wagon Wheel," and "It Won’t Be Like This For Long." He won a Best Country Solo Performance Grammy Award of his own in 2014 for "Wagon Wheel" as well as a CMA Award for New Artist of the Year in 2009. Full circle.

 
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Lauryn Hill, 1999

Lauryn Hill, 1999
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Ms. Hill cleaned up the Grammys in 1999, winning five awards – including Best New Artist –  thanks to her first full-length solo album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," even though Hill had previously gained fame with The Fugees and their 1996 hit record "The Score."

Reportedly, after winning Best New Artist, Hill turned down a lot of A-list work such as the opportunity to star in "Charlie's Angels." In 2003, Touré wrote for Rolling Stone that "Hill could have been J. Lo with political substance. ... Instead, she disappeared." In 2013, Hill was sentenced to three months in prison for tax evasionNow? Lauryn Hill is back on tour.

 
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Christina Aguilera, 2000

Christina Aguilera, 2000
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Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears? The ever-popular question in the late-'90s and early 2000s. In 2000, Aguilera won definitively with a Best New Artist Grammy Award after her hit "Genie in a Bottle" dominated the charts.

Fast forward on Aguilera is 35 years old and still a queen, earning four more Grammys (and one Latin Grammy) while selling more than 50 million records along the way. She has been featured on multiple seasons as a coach on NBC's "The Voice," and released a special single on dedicated to the victims of the shooting at an Orlando nightclub earlier this year.

 
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Alicia Keys, 2002

Alicia Keys, 2002
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Another one of "The Voice" coaches, Alicia Keys emerged on the scene in 2002 with her Best New Artist Grammy Award victory. Like Lauryn Hill, Keys won four other Grammys on the night she won Best New Artist, Song of the Year for "Fallin'", Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album for "Songs in A Minor." 

Keys has maintained her perch atop of the R&B scene, most recently releasing "Here" on November 4, 2016, the follow-up to her chart-topping 2012 album "Girl on Fire." In addition to Key's musical work, she's recently started a no make-up movement earlier this year to encourage and empower women to feel better about presenting their bare faces to the world. 

 
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Norah Jones, 2003

Norah Jones, 2003
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Norah Jones won a total of five Grammys (we're sensing a theme) when she nabbed Best New Artist in 2003 with "Come Away With Me." The album is threaded with jazz tones and tied together with soulful, heart-wrenching sincerity in her voice.

Thirteen years later and Jones is still making records and gracing the covers of magazines. In late September 2016, Jones was featured by Billboard to discuss her sixth studio album, "Day Breaks." Reviewer Leigh Belz Ray wrote, "Though it has been compared to her debut, she plainly says she sees it as a continued evolution, not a throwback." 

 
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Evanescence, 2004

Evanescence, 2004
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In 2004 the band Evanescence took home the Grammy for Best New Artist (along with Best Hard Rock Performance), breaking a streak that went back to 1997 of solo artists winning the coveted award.

Since then Evanescence has released four albums, most recently in 2011. They have a loyal following and with over 1.3 million Twitter followers, the band is still touring and actively recording despite not seeing mainstream success since its debut.

 
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Carrie Underwood, 2007

Carrie Underwood, 2007
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Arguably one of the most successful winners of "American Idol," Carrie Underwood took home the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2007 after winning season four of the popular FOX show in 2005. 

Since then Underwood has cemented her music royalty status as seven-time Grammy winner, most recently in 2014 and is still actively making music with no signs of stopping. Underwood married Mike Fisher of the Nashville Predators in 2010, but he's not the only sports fixture in the family; fans can see Underwood every Sunday night singing the opening theme for "Sunday Night Football" on NBC. 

 
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Amy Winehouse, 2008

Amy Winehouse, 2008
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When Amy Winehouse took home the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2008, fans on both sides of the Atlantic cheered for the throaty, soulful – and ultimately, tragic singer. Winehouse won five Grammys (again, a trend) that night in 2008; Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 

Winehouse passed away on July 23, 2011, at just 27 years of age. The cause of death was officially ruled alcohol intoxication, but it has also been widely speculated that her long-time struggle with drugs and an eating disorder contributed to her ultimate death. Winehouse posthumous won Grammys for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for with Tony Bennett for their rendition of "Body And Soul" in 2012 and in 2015 for Best Music Film for the documentary "Amy." 

 
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Adele, 2009

Adele, 2009
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Adele took the world by storm winning two Grammys –including Best New Artist – in 2009 for her multiplatinum album "19."

To date, she is a 10-time Grammy winner and is considered one of the most influential artists in the world, selling more than 100 million records worldwide as her albums continue to resonate with fans. This year she toured North America off of her most recent album "25" and will continue her world tour next year. And if you want some fun, check out her cheeky turn on "Carpool Karaoke."

 
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Tracy Chapman, 1989

Tracy Chapman, 1989
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The late-'80s were a good time to be a an intimate singer-songwriter, and in 1989 Tracy Chapman was the best of the bunch as she took home Best New Artist alongside Best Contemporary Folk Recording and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for her classic song "Fast Car." Since then, "Fast Car" has resurfaced in the mainstream music scene thanks to Justin Bieber's very popular cover.

Chapman continues her work as a social activist and has released seven albums since her Grammy win along with maintaining an active touring career. Her official website is set up like a virtual coloring book for you to color any way you like, which is a modern symbol for her career from 1986 to now. 

 
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Cyndi Lauper, 1985

Cyndi Lauper, 1985
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In 1985 it was impossible to miss Cyndi Lauper, with all of the talent to back up her scarlet red hair when The Recording Academy honored her with the Best New Artist award on the heels of her debut album, "She's So Unusual." Classic hits like "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "True Colors," and "Time After Time" helped the artist become a global phenomenon selling over 50 million records worldwide.

In 2008, Laiper co-founded True Colors Residence, a charitable home for homeless LGBT youth. A few years later she would become the songwriting force behind the six-time Tony Award winning musical "Kinky Boots" which started on the Broadway circuit in 2012, earning the songstress another Grammy in 2014. Thirty-one years after her first Grammy win the songstress is still going strong, releasing a country album in early 2016 and maintaining an active tour schedule. 

 
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Esperanza Spalding, 2011

Esperanza Spalding, 2011
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One of the biggest Best New Artist upsets in Grammy history. Esperanza Spalding, then a relatively anonymous jazz bassist and vocalist, beat the likes of Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence & The Machine and Mumford & Sons for the award.

Spalding is now 32 years old and an accomplished four-time Grammy winner, releasing five solo albums and contributing to seven collaborative albums to date. She has two live show dates scheduled for 2017.

 
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Paula Cole, 1998

Paula Cole, 1998
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Paula Cole beat some stiff competition at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards, including the likes of Erykah Badu, Fiona Apple, Puff Daddy and Hanson. After scoring a hit with "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" Cole followed up with "I Don't Want to Wait" or as some people think of it, as the theme song to "Dawson's Creek."

After a brief hiatus to raise her daughter, she released the R&B-influenced "Amen" which failed to match her previous success. Another subsequent album failed to find a wide release, though Cole recorded another five albums from 2007-16, and currently is on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music.

Megan Armstrong (@megankarmstrong) is a writer with previous work appearing in places such as Billboard, Bleacher Report, GQ and others. She's most interested in writing about people and how they live their lives, through the framework of music, entertainment and sports.

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