'I Don't Even Want That': Zara Larsson Rejects Grammy Plan for a Category She Is Ineligible To Win

Zara Larsson is drawing a firm line between a career breakthrough and being treated like a newcomer, after her former record label floated a Grammy plan she had no interest in pursuing.

The 28-year-old Swedish pop star revealed that executives at Epic Records discussed submitting her for Best New Artist following the international success of her fifth studio album, Midnight Sun. But Larsson quickly pushed back, arguing that the category would erase more than a decade of work.

Zara Larsson Rejects Label's Grammy Plan

Larsson told Perfect Magazine in an interview published on 27 August that her former label had discussed trying to put her forward for Best New Artist at the Grammys.

'I was speaking to my former label about this, and they were like, "Yeah, we're going to see if we can put you in Best New Artist for the Grammys." And I'm like, I don't even want that,' she said.

'That would downplay the 13 years of me being an artist. I'm not a new artist.'

Larsson said she sees Midnight Sun as a genuine breakthrough, but not the start of her career.

The singer explained that previous hits, including Uncover, Lush Life and Never Forget You, found success at different times and in different markets. By contrast, she said her current music has created a stronger sense that audiences around the world are discovering her at once.

'It feels like the whole world is looking at me at the same time,' she said.

The album has also represented a greater degree of creative control for Larsson. She wrote all of its songs and selected the collaborators involved in shaping its musical and visual identity.

Why Is Zara Larsson Ineligible for Best New Artist?

There is another complication behind the proposed Grammy submission: Larsson is already ineligible for Best New Artist at the 2027 Grammy Awards.

The Recording Academy's rules state that artists who have previously received a Grammy nomination as a performer cannot generally compete for Best New Artist, although limited exceptions exist.

Larsson received her first Grammy nomination at the 2026 ceremony, where Midnight Sun was nominated for Best Dance Pop Recording. Lady Gaga won the award for Abracadabra.

Best New Artist does not necessarily mean an artist has never released music before. The category is intended to recognise an artist who achieves a significant breakthrough into the public consciousness during the relevant eligibility period.

However, previous Grammy recognition as a performer can make an artist ineligible. Because Larsson received her first nomination in 2026, she cannot enter the Best New Artist field for 2027 regardless of her renewed commercial momentum.

Zara Larsson's 13-Year Music Journey

Larsson's objection reflects a career that began when she was a child. She won Sweden's Talang, the country's version of Got Talent, at 10 and signed her first record deal shortly after turning 13.

She went on to establish an international profile through songs such as Lush Life, Never Forget You and Symphony with Clean Bandit, while releasing five studio albums.

For Larsson, Midnight Sun may represent the moment when her career finally feels cohesive on a global scale. But she wants that moment recognised as a breakthrough rather than a debut.

What's Next for Zara Larsson at the 2027 Grammys?

Although Best New Artist is off the table, Larsson remains eligible for other Grammy categories if her recordings are submitted and advance through the Academy's voting process.

The 2027 Grammy eligibility period covers recordings released between 31 August 2025 and 28 August 2026. Nominations are scheduled to be announced on 16 November, with the ceremony set for 7 February 2027.

For Larsson, the message is clear: her latest success may be a new chapter, but it is not the beginning of her story.