Something rather peculiar happened at the 2025 Grammys. During the Best New Artist medley, a 21-year-old in a shimmering jumpsuit began performing a tender piano ballad.
Then, mid-song, he casually executed a backflip before launching into a powerful rock chorus.
That was Benson Boone, and if you weren’t familiar with him then, you certainly are now.
The Accidental Pop Star
Monroe, Washington isn’t typically known for producing global pop phenomena.
But for Benson James Boone, born 25 June 2002, this small town set the stage for one of music’s most improbable origin stories.
The only boy among four sisters Kaylee, Natalee, Emma, and Claire, Boone’s path to stardom began not with childhood dreams of fame, but with a high school diving team and a friend’s last-minute dropout from a talent show.
Unlike the typical child prodigy narrative, Boone had never sung before his junior year at Monroe High School.
When his friend asked him to fill in on piano for their battle of the bands, something extraordinary happened.
“It’s just like I unlocked something I didn’t know I had,” he told MTV, recalling the moment.
“I stopped halfway through the first verse and just looked around, shocked that I had just sung.”
This accidental discovery sparked something profound. A Jon Bellion concert later inspired him to take singing seriously, leading to his first TikTok posts that would eventually amass 1.7 million followers before he’d even released a single.
The Beautiful Things Phenomenon
Beautiful Things, Boone’s current chart-dominating single, perfectly encapsulates his artistic evolution.
Written during a sleepless night on his grandmother’s old piano after moving to LA, the song almost didn’t exist as we know it today.
Originally conceived as two separate pieces, it found its final form through collaboration with producer Jack LaFrantz.
The song’s impact has been staggering. Beyond topping charts in eight countries including the UK, Australia, Canada, Norway, France, Germany, Ireland, and New Zealand, it has earned multiple certifications: 5× Platinum in the US, 11× Platinum in Australia, 3× Platinum in the UK, and Diamond in Canada.
The track’s recent Grammy performance led to a 514% surge in sales, jumping from 2,300 to 14,400 copies in days.
It maintains strong positions across multiple radio formats with No. 3 on Adult Contemporary, No. 10 on Radio Songs, and No. 12 on Pop Airplay.
The song’s structure mirrors Boone’s own artistic evolution, starting with intimate piano work before exploding into an arena-ready anthem.
Its production draws from both classic singer-songwriter traditions and modern pop rock, with a mid-song transition that has become one of 2024’s most discussed musical moments.
The American Idol Paradox and Industry Evolution
Boone’s most fascinating career decision came early. After earning a standing ovation from Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on American Idol in early 2021, with Katy Perry boldly predicting his victory, he withdrew during Hollywood Week.
This wasn’t a moment of uncertainty, it was a calculated risk that revealed his understanding of modern music industry dynamics.
His trajectory took an unexpected turn when he caught the attention of Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, who signed him to Night Street Records in partnership with Warner Records.
“We sign artists so rarely at Night Street, it was one of those moments where you know you have no choice,” Reynolds told Billboard.
The 15 October 2021 deal immediately yielded results with Ghost Town, a debut single that would chart in 16 countries and earn multiple platinum certifications.
The Sonic Evolution
Examining Boone’s discography reveals a rapid artistic development.
His debut EP Walk Me Home... introduced his piano-based style, while 2023’s Pulse EP showed his growing comfort with different genres.
His music spans pop rock, traditional pop, and alternative rock, with his multi-instrumental talents (vocals, keyboards) adding depth to his recordings.
Ghost Town (now certified Platinum in multiple territories) and In the Stars (2× Platinum in the US, Diamond in France) showcase his early piano-based style.
These tracks have amassed impressive streaming numbers with 336 million and 617 million Spotify streams respectively.
But it was Beautiful Things that fully realised his artistic vision, earning him his first top-five entry on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number two.
Beyond Music: The Multi-Disciplinary Artist
Boone represents a new model of musical artist, one who views creativity as a holistic practice.
He designs his own artwork, as evidenced by his self-designed cover for Ghost Town, and integrates physical performance into his musical expression.
This multi-disciplinary approach has earned him recognition across the industry, including MTV Video Music Award wins for Best Alternative and Best New Artist.
His stage presence has become legendary in its own right. That backflip during his Grammy performance wasn’t just showmanship, it is a skill he’s been honing since age four, inherited from his father who still performs backflips at 49.
“My dad is 49 years old and still backflips, I get it from him,” Boone told The Project. “I’ve been flipping since I was, like, four and it’s just always been my thing.”
The Road Ahead
As Boone prepares for his Fireworks & Rollerblades World Tour in 2024-2025, his trajectory suggests an artist still discovering his full potential.
His debut album Fireworks & Rollerblades (April 2024) has already achieved Platinum status in the US and multiple certifications worldwide.
Beyond traditional touring, he is set to open for Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium, marking another milestone in his meteoric rise.
The Washington native who once briefly attended Brigham Young University-Idaho before choosing music has become one of pop’s most intriguing voices.
His nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards (Best New Artist) and Brit Awards (International Artist of the Year, Best International Song) suggest an artist who is not just climbing charts, but reshaping expectations of what a modern pop star can be.
“I’m very prepared for this moment, and I haven’t been in the past,” Boone told Billboard.
“My two other songs that have done well, I wasn’t prepared for them… But this one, I’m ready. I’ve been ready for this one.”
In an industry often criticised for manufacturing stars, Benson Boone represents something different, an artist whose success feels both earned and somewhat accidental, whose biggest moments come from genuine artistic exploration rather than calculated moves.
He has crafted a narrative that is as compelling as his music: the competitive diver who discovered his voice by chance and turned that discovery into global resonance.
