Benson Boone

A pop singer and songwriter with a powerful, soulful delivery, Benson Boone counts Billy Joel, Adele, Queen, and Jon Bellion among his musical inspirations. After withdrawing during the televised audition stage of American Idol in 2021 to cut his own path, he debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 later the same year with his first single, "Ghost Town." Another song, 2022's "In the Stars" from his debut EP Walk Me Home, fared even better in the U.S. and charted internationally. He went all the way to number one on several charts abroad while peaking at number two on the Hot 100 with the fiery power ballad "Beautiful Things" from his 2024 full-length debut, the global hit Fireworks & Rollerblades.

A native of Washington State, Boone discovered his musical ability only after being asked to join a band for a high school talent show. He auditioned for the 19th season of American Idol just a year later, making the difficult decision to withdraw despite televised praise from the judges, because he wanted to be known for his own music. Along the way, he found a mentor in Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds, who signed Boone to his label, Night Street Records (Warner Records). Meanwhile, Boone had racked up hundreds of thousands of followers with his social media posts and enrolled at Brigham Young University-Idaho.

In October 2021, he released his debut single, "Ghost Town," a poignant breakup ballad based on a friend's relationship. It cracked the Hot 100 at number 100, faring better in Canada, the U.K., New Zealand, and European countries including Norway, where it hit number one. He performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February 2022, the same month he released "Room for Two." A succession of singles arrived in the front half of 2022, the most successful of which, "In the Stars," hit number 82 in the U.S. and performed even better internationally. It was included on Boone's debut EP Walk Me Home in July of that year. More singles arrived in the form of 2022's Norway-charting "Before You" and 2023's "Sugar Sweet," the latter of which appeared on 2023's Pulse EP.

In early 2024, Boone entered the upper echelons of the charts worldwide with the release of the powerhouse single "Beautiful Things." Peaking at number two on the Hot 100, it went to number one in places including the U.K., Canada, Australia, Norway, and France. Its accompanying full-length, Fireworks & Rollerblades, arrived on Night Street that April. Featuring the input of a plethora of producers -- JT Daly, Imad Royal, and Captain Cuts, to name a few -- the album charted in dozens of countries, hitting number six in the U.S. and Canada and number one in Norway. Its success helped earn Boone a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. ~ Marcy Donelson