Charli XCX, who has been releasing music since 2013, has earned her first-ever Brit Award, being named Songwriter of the Year. This recognition signals her potential dominance at this year’s Brit Awards, which will take place on Saturday.
With five nominations in total, Charli led the pack in nominations this year, thanks to the success of her genre-defying album Brat, which captured global attention. This songwriting honor marks a major milestone in her 12-year career, though she has been nominated for Best Female and Best Pop Act in the past, without taking home a win.
In 2023, Charli made headlines by criticizing the BRITs for overlooking female artists in the Artist of the Year category. “We’re doing everything right, I don’t think it’s our fault, I think it might be theirs,” she remarked, hinting at the voting academy’s practices.
At 32, Charli is now a frontrunner in several categories this year, including Best Artist, where she faces tough competition from seven-time Brit winner Dua Lipa, rap sensation Central Cee, and indie favorite Sam Fender. Charli is also up for Album of the Year, Best Dance Act, Best Pop Artist, and Song of the Year for her collaboration with Billie Eilish, “Guess.”
Her longtime collaborator, AG Cook, was also honored with the Producer of the Year award earlier this week.
This recognition caps an extraordinary year for Charli, whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, as she transitioned from a cult pop icon to a mainstream sensation without losing her creative edge. Her seventh album Brat has topped numerous end-of-year lists, with critics hailing it as “pop music for the future” and praising its raw, relatable lyrics that delve into Charli’s insecurities, anxieties, and obsessions.
Describing the record as “chaos and emotional turmoil set to a club soundtrack,” Charli’s Brat resonated deeply with listeners, especially thanks to its bold, lime-green cover art and the viral dance craze tied to the track “Apple,” which led to what fans dubbed “Brat summer.”
Earlier this month, Charli made history at the Grammy Awards, winning Best Dance Album and Best Packaging, marking her first solo victories at the prestigious ceremony. She also stole the show with a wild performance of “Von Dutch” and “Guess,” which ended in a shower of underwear, later donated to the charity I Support Girls.
The star will be attending the 2025 Brit Awards, but has chosen not to perform at the event.
Taking place on Saturday, 1 March at the O2 Arena in London, the awards ceremony will be hosted by Jack Whitehall. The event will feature performances from artists such as Lola Young, Sam Fender, Sabrina Carpenter, Jade, Myles Smith, The Last Dinner Party, and Teddy Swims.
In addition to the Songwriter and Producer of the Year categories, two special awards have already been announced. Pop newcomer Myles Smith will be honored with the Rising Star Award, while Sabrina Carpenter, known for her hit “Espresso,” will receive the Global Success Award.
The nominees for the major categories are as follows:
Artist of the Year
- Beabadoobee
- Central Cee
- Charli XCX
- Dua Lipa
- Fred Again
- Jamie xx
- Michael Kiwanuka
- Nia Archives
- Rachel Chinouriri
- Sam Fender
Group of the Year
- Bring Me The Horizon
- Coldplay
- The Cure
- Ezra Collective
- The Last Dinner Party
Album of the Year
- Charli XCX – Brat
- The Cure – Songs of A Lost World
- Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism
- Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
- The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy
The full list of nominees can be found [here].
The ceremony will be broadcast live on ITV at 20:15 GMT, and MULTINATIONAL News will provide full coverage with live updates, including red carpet interviews.