In a remarkable career turnaround, social media star Addison Rae has been crowned the Guardian's Artist of the Year for 2025, capping off a period that saw her transform from an industry punchline into a Grammy-nominated critical darling.
From Viral Flop to Cult Favourite
The 25-year-old's journey to acclaim was far from instantaneous. Her 2023 debut single, Obsessed, produced by Benny Blanco, was met with harsh criticism and commercial failure, largely dismissed due to her background as the fifth most-followed creator on TikTok. Rae now views that setback with relief, stating she wasn't ready to articulate her artistic vision. The tide turned dramatically with her AR EP later that year, which featured a guest verse from Charli XCX and established her as a cult favourite within pop circles.
Her debut album, simply titled Addison, released in June 2025, became the breakthrough that redefined her. The dreamy, dance-pop record earned comparisons to Lana Del Rey, Britney Spears, and Madonna's Ray of Light era. Its success is underscored by a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards and placements in the Guardian's year-end lists.
Reclaiming Control in a Collaborative Space
A significant factor in her artistic evolution was the uniquely collaborative environment she fostered. Rae, alongside producers Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser of Max Martin's MXM stable, created the entire album as a trio—a rare feat in a male-dominated industry. A 2025 report highlighted that just 5.9% of production credits belonged to women. The trio's first session yielded the breakout single Diet Pepsi, a track Rae says was born from a "safe space" rarely found in traditional writing rooms.
Rae's approach is intensely deliberate. She famously walked into her first meeting with Columbia Records armed not with music, but a folder containing her complete visual and thematic vision for the album, which she says ended up being "shockingly present" in the final product.
The Loneliness and Luxury of Fame
Lyrically, Addison distinguishes itself through directness, exploring themes of luxury, fame, and introspection. When asked about a Washington Post critique asking "Why does this woman sound so alone?" Rae agreed with the assessment. "The album was [from] a very lonely perspective," she explained. "Life is lonely, and there's something really powerful about taking that into your own hands."
She is unusually candid about her relationship with celebrity. "I enjoy fame," Rae states plainly. "I think fame is very exposing and raw... I enjoy the luxury of it all, though of course there is a price you pay." That price has included intense public scrutiny of her personal life, from her parents' tumultuous relationship to baseless political allegations, which she has denied.
Her debut tour in 2025, which began in Ireland in August, became an exercise in surrendering control. Opting for smaller theatre venues often without large screens, she forced a more vulnerable, direct connection with her audience. "You could see every transition, every breath," she noted, discovering she loved the raw authenticity it demanded.
As for the future, Rae's resolution for 2026 is "to share less." While she has been writing new material in Sweden, there are no immediate plans for a follow-up album. She concludes by embracing the mystery that surrounds her artistry: "I trust that the people who indulge in my artistry treat it with kindness... Other people won't, and that's honestly the dream, that I'm never fully understood."
