Best New Artist Grammy Curse Explained — Win Best New Artist and watch your career vanish — or so the legend goes. For decades, fans have pointed to faded winners as proof the Best New Artist Grammy curse is real.

Starland Vocal Band won in 1977 after Afternoon Delight, then dissolved. A Taste of Honey beat Elvis Costello and Men at Work in 1979 — and never matched that peak.

Milli Vanilli won in 1990 — then became the only Best New Artist recipient to have the trophy revoked after lip-sync fraud. No scandal better fueled the curse narrative.

Hootie & the Blowfish won in 1996 after Cracked Rear View sold millions — then became shorthand for mainstream backlash. Critics cite them as peak Best New Artist Grammy curse evidence.

Macy Gray won in 2001 after I Try, then faded from pop radio — modern curse fuel. Norah Jones, Evanescence, and Esperanza Spalding get labeled too, fairly or not.