Olivia Dean: Best New Artist win, Grammys performance, and the “Man I Need” breakout

Olivia Dean’s name moved from rising-star chatter to mainstream confirmation on February 1, 2026, when she won Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The moment landed because it followed a high-profile performance of “Man I Need,” a song that helped push her from U.K. favorite to global pop-soul fixture over the last year.

With viewers asking who she is, where she’s from, and what she actually sings beyond the viral hook, here’s what’s confirmed right now about Olivia Dean, her background, her music, and what happened at the Grammys.

Who is Olivia Dean

Olivia Dean is a British singer-songwriter known for a warm, modern pop-soul sound that leans on classic R&B phrasing without feeling retro-locked. She has been building for years—through early singles, EPs, and touring—before a mainstream acceleration in 2025.

Her biggest breakthrough has been tied to her second album era, when a run of singles gained traction across radio, streaming, and short-form video. That momentum put her in the Best New Artist field for the 2026 Grammys—and she ultimately won.

Where is Olivia Dean from and what nationality is she

Olivia Dean was born in Haringey, in North London, and grew up in East/Northeast London (including Highams Park). Her nationality is British.

Her heritage is mixed: her mother is Jamaican-Guyanese, and her father is English. Dean has spoken publicly about her family’s immigrant roots on her maternal side, including her grandmother’s journey to the U.K. as part of the Windrush generation.

Olivia Dean parents: what’s public

Dean’s mother is Christine Dean, who is publicly identified and has been described as a barrister. Her father’s name has not been publicly shared in widely available reporting, though Dean has discussed both parents as major early musical influences at home.

That influence shows up in her songwriting approach—emotion-forward but controlled—and in her vocal taste for soul and classic pop structure. She’s also noted extended family ties in entertainment, including actor Ashley Walters as a cousin.

Olivia Dean songs, including “Man I Need”

If you only know her from “Man I Need,” it’s worth hearing the rest of the arc. Her catalog mixes intimate, diary-like writing with grooves that translate well live.

A quick starter set of Olivia Dean songs:

• “Man I Need”

• “Dive”

• “The Hardest Part”

• “Ok Love You Bye”

• “Nice to Each Other”

• “So Easy (To Fall in Love)”

• “Rein Me In” (collaboration)

“Man I Need” was released in 2025 and became the signature track of her second-album cycle. It’s built for movement—bright rhythm, clear hook—while still carrying the emotional thesis that runs through her work: naming needs plainly and not apologizing for them.

Olivia Dean Grammys: nominations, Best New Artist, and performance

Olivia Dean received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and won the category at the 2026 ceremony on February 1, 2026 (ET). She also performed “Man I Need” during the show, as part of the Best New Artist spotlight/medley segment that has become a marquee moment for introducing new names to the broad TV audience.

If you’re searching “is Olivia Dean performing at the Grammys,” the answer for 2026 is yes—she did perform, and it happened before her Best New Artist win was announced.

Sombr Grammys and the Best New Artist class

“Sombr” is one of the artists who drew attention in the same Best New Artist cohort. He also appeared in the Best New Artist performance segment and performed his track “12 to 12” during the show.

The shared stage time mattered because it framed the category as a real class of breakout stories rather than a single runaway. Dean’s win ultimately signaled that her 2025 run—especially the “Man I Need” surge—was not just a hit moment but a broader arrival.

Sources consulted: The Recording Academy, Associated Press, People, Encyclopaedia Britannica