Best New Artist Megan Thee Stallion Thanks Her Mom In Tearful Grammys Speech

By Deepa Lakshmin


Taking the stage at her first-ever Grammy Awards, Megan Thee Stallion was at a loss for words accepting her award for Best New Artist at the 63rd annual ceremony tonight (March 14). This was her second win — the initial being Best Rap Efficiency for her “Savage” remix with Beyoncé — yet as soon as three-time Grammy winner Lizzo reported the Houston rapper’s victory outdoor Los Angeles’s Staples Center, it was time to soak it all in.


“I don’t aspire to cry,” Megan, who’s nominated for four awards total, mentioned right after a number of long moments of silence beyond the microphone. She went on to applaud her fellow Best New Artist nominees for being “so amazing”: Ingrid Andress, Phoebe Bridgers, Chika, Noah Cyrus, D Smoke, Doja Cat, and Kaytranada.


“I really desire to mention thank you to my mama,” she later added. “She’s not here with me today, nevertheless I know she [is] here with me in spirit, and she routinely considered I might do it, so thank you all so much.”


Megan Thee Stallion’s mom — Holly Thomas, a rapper referred to as “Holly-Wood” — died in 2019 soon after decades of assisting her daughter do what she loves most. Though “Savage” is the song that catapulted her to stardom by means of the TikTok, with this win, it’s clear Megan Thee Stallion has several more hits to write. Ahead of the show on the red carpet with E!, She gave her fans, a.K.A. Hotties, a fast tease of big things to come: “I will mention y'all just better be ready for Hot Girl Summer part two.”


You heard her. Prepare yourself!


Find all of the 2021 Grammys winners right here.