Charli XCX has solidified her Brat dominance at the BRIT Awards, taking home five accolades, including Album of the Year. As the most nominated artist this year, she kicked off the night by winning Best Song, expressing her delight to the audience: “I’m really happy that a song about underwear now has a Brit award, very important stuff and I’m sure that that proves something about songwriting but I’m not quite sure what.” The 32-year-old, whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison, also secured the titles of Best Dance Act and Artist of the Year, humorously addressing complaints about her sheer top by stating, “free the nipple.”
Upon receiving the top honor of the night, Best Album, she reflected, “I used to tell myself awards weren’t important, and that was easy to do as until last year I wasn’t nominated for anything. I always felt like an outsider, particularly in the British music industry; it feels really nice to get recognition for this album. I’ve not changed anything… I guess culture caught up with us and wanted to be on this journey.”
Earlier in the week, she had already been awarded BRIT Songwriter of the Year. Her recent success follows a Brat Summer, during which her sixth album, featuring “slime green” artwork, went viral, influencing the U.S. presidential campaign of Kamala Harris and earning a spot in the Collins Dictionary as the word of the year.
The ceremony, held at London’s O2 arena and hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall for the fifth time, featured live performances from artists including Sabrina Carpenter, who opened the event, Myles Smith, and Sam Fender. Former Little Mix member JADE received her first solo award for Best Pop Act, presented by the Sugababes. She expressed gratitude to her fans, her parents for encouraging her dreams of becoming a pop star, and her former bandmates who changed her life.
Myles Smith, whose single “Stargazing” became one of the UK’s biggest hits of 2024, was recognized as this year’s Rising Star. He received his award from last year’s winners, The Last Dinner Party. The singer-songwriter, hailing from what has been dubbed “the worst town in Luton” and raised by a single mother, questioned the government about its treatment of the British music industry as “an afterthought” and urged major music venues to support grassroots venues.