Leon Thomas Is More Than a 'MUTT'

"It's become somewhat of a running joke in recent years how loose the definition of "new" is when it comes to the Grammy's "Best New Artist" category, but even then, it's still rare for an artist who's already won a Grammy to snag a nomination. At the 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday, Leon Thomas, who took home the distinction for Best R&B Song in 2024 for co-writing SZA's "Snooze," will find himself in this unlikely position."

"It's one of six awards he'll be up for on the evening, most notably Album of the Year for his breakthrough release, MUTT. He'll also take the stage as a performer, capping off his transformation from behind-the-scenes collaborator to a star in his own right. But unlike a lot of songwriters who find themselves in this position, being the center of the spotlight won't feel so foreign to him."

"Thomas was born in Brooklyn in a musical family and got his start in entertainment at just 10 years old, playing the role of Young Simba in The Lion King on Broadway. After continuing to find success on Broadway in productions of Caroline or Change and The Color Purple, he found his way into the Nickelodeon ecosystem, where he starred as Andre Harris in Victorious alongside another little known talented actor-musician named Ariana Grande."

Leon Thomas, previously a Grammy winner for co-writing SZA's "Snooze," earned six nominations at the 2026 Grammys, including Album of the Year for MUTT and a Best New Artist nod. Thomas will perform at the ceremony, marking a shift from behind-the-scenes songwriter to front-facing artist. He began performing at age ten on Broadway, playing Young Simba in The Lion King, and later appeared in Caroline or Change and The Color Purple. Thomas acted on Nickelodeon's Victorious as Andre Harris and co-wrote four songs on Ariana Grande's debut Yours Truly. He subsequently wrote and produced for Zendaya, Post Malone, Kehlani, Drake, and Jack Harlow while releasing mixtapes.

Read at Vulture