Is Olivia Dean ACTUALLY The Best New Artist?

Olivia Dean is our Best New Artist, and I can scarcely believe how right the Grammys got it. In this episode of Queen Things, I’m still sitting with the joy of watching Olivia Dean win—her voice, her ease, her stage presence, and that unmistakable feeling that we’re witnessing the start of something truly special. From there, we’ve got a full pop-culture rundown. I’m talking Grammys performances that delighted me, confused me, and confirmed some long-held suspicions about who gets praised for doing the least. I also reflect on influencer burnout, the identity wobble that comes with your twenties, when cultural commentary starts to feel less funny and more mean-spirited, and why I’m increasingly intentional about where I draw that line. And because things feel heavy right now, I share a few small but meaningful moments that have given me hope lately. Subscribe for monthly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/queenthingspod https://queenthings.substack.com/ ???? SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE???? / @iamkjmiller --- ▬ VIDEO CONTENTS ▬ 00:00 Celebrating Olivia Dean's Grammy Win 00:19 Pop Culture Rundown: Grammys and Influencers 01:17 The Impact of Taylor Swift's Text Messages 03:16 Reviewing Olivia Dean's Album 05:25 Grammys Highlights: Best New Artist Performances 13:02 Lady Gaga's Performance: A Mixed Review 17:21 Justin Bieber's Stripped Down Performance 22:13 Sabrina Carpenter's Grammy Experience 25:14 Trevor Noah's Hosting: A Personal Take 26:43 Family Dynamics and Political Discussions 27:24 Influencer Identity Crisis 32:45 Reality TV and Personal Boundaries 39:47 Cultural Critique and Grace 41:56 Teaching and Communication in Fitness 46:48 Hope Amidst Political Turmoil 52:44 Celebrating Kelly Clarkson's Legacy 54:49 Queen Things Logo.mp4 --- ???? LET'S CONNECT TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@iam_kjmiller https://www.tiktok.com/@queenthingspod ???? JOIN MY MAILING LIST: https://queenthings.substack.com/ ???? EMAIL ME: [email protected] References: Olivia Dean Performing in 2020: https://www.tiktok.com/@barney3000/video/7602310010172984598?_r=1&_t=ZT-93cXKDAsPr3 Mikayla’s Post: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikaylanogueira/video/7600829055474142477?_r=1&_t=ZT-93cXK3wbe7a Real Housewives of Potomac: https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-potomac Aubrielle Smith’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aubriellesmithh/video/7602106196337626382?_r=1&_t=ZT-93cXI4s4plW Protest at Ohio State: https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/01/22/three-people-arrested-while-protesting-customs-and-border-patrol-recruiters-at-ohio-state-university/ The Kelly Clarkson Show’s Final Season: https://people.com/the-kelly-clarkson-show-ending-after-seven-seasons-11898089 KJ’s Top Three Kellyoke Performances: Happier Than Ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8b4cRb6Hl4 All By Myself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao5DdGmOfzk&list=RDAo5DdGmOfzk&start_radio=1 7 Rings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptTiZpCnREY