54th GRAMMY Awards (2012)
BEST NEW ARTIST: Bon Iver
WHO HE BEAT: Nicki Minaj, Skrillex
Bon Iver's second studio album was showered with nominations two years ago, including record of the year and song of the year nods for "Holocene"; still, few expected Justin Vernon to trump artists like Nicki Minaj, Skrillex and the Band Perry, especially after he refused to perform at the ceremony. Bon Iver's hushed folk stylings did indeed snag the best new artist trophy in the end, and Vernon's speech started with, "Hi… uh, it's really hard to accept this award."
