Benson Boone: The Backflipping Singer and Grammy-Nominated Best
Singer-songwriter Benson Boone was barely 22 when he rocketed to stardom after a breakout year in 2021. At this point, his soulful voice, loaded with vibrato and acrobatic live shows, has landed him on Billboard charts since his debut single “Ghost Town” hit the stores.
Boone’s debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, has catapulted him to even greater heights. His 2024 amphitheater tour was a dynamic stage presence and will continue through January 2025 in Australia and New Zealand. In addition, Taylor Swift, who called him “such a showman,” invited Boone to open for her on her record-breaking Eras Tour in London.
Boone’s talent and dedication earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, a major milestone in his career.
He became popular due to his singing clips going viral on TikTok, and his friends encouraged him to audition for Season 19 of American Idol in 2021. Through Hollywood Week, Benson Boone made it into the Top 24 but surprisingly dropped out of the competition.
“It was a very hard choice,” Boone explained in a press release for his debut single. “I didn’t want to show the world someone I’m not.”
Idol judge Lionel Richie had some very high praise for Boone, calling him “gifted” and predicting a bright future. Richie’s instincts were spot on: Boone soon signed with Dan Reynolds’ Night Street Records, where he released Ghost Town. The song, showcasing Boone’s skills on guitar, drums, and piano, became a hit and established him as an emerging artist.
His inspirations come from legends like Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, and Elvis Presley; contemporary artists Adele, Sam Smith, and Shawn Mendes; and others.
“I began listening to artists in high school who had a huge impact on my artistry today,” Boone revealed in a 2023 MTV Asia interview. His sound—a combination of pop, rock, and soul—has been influenced by those inspirations.
Having successfully found his way with Ghost Town, which came out on his 2022 EP Walk Me Home… and finally on Fireworks & Rollerblades, Boone continued his rise with chart-toppers like Beautiful Things, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Additional fan-favorite hits include Slow It Down and Pretty Slowly, and thus he was a star on the rise.
Interestingly, Boone discovered music by chance. A high school sports junkie, he found his hidden talent in vocal performance during a battle of the bands. “I started singing and it was like I unlocked something I didn’t know I had,” he shared with MTV. “It was the best feeling of my life.”
Boone’s live shows are flashy with acrobatics, including impressive flips and aerial stunts. His gymnastic skills date back to his childhood watching his father flip.
Boone started practicing flips at age three. At first, he used to jump from the couch. Later, he advanced outside. His rule? “I never do flips in boots,” he joked during a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Benson Boone is nominated as Best New Artist. He faces stiff competition for the coveted prize from other excellent artists such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, RAYE, Shaboozey, Khruangbin, Doechii, and Teddy Swims.
The 2025 Grammys will take place on Sunday, February 2, in Los Angeles. Fans are anxiously waiting to see if this backflipping sensation will bring home his first golden gramophone.
