Most musicians spend years or even decades working towards mainstream fame. However, these six artists found themselves in the spotlight virtually overnight. Let’s take a look at six musicians who became famous out of nowhere or basically overnight!
1. Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan absolutely blew up in what seemed like just a couple of weeks in June of 2024. The synth-pop singer/songwriter had been in the industry for about a decade before she hit it big with her song “Good Luck, Babe!” and subsequent album The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess.
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Roan went from being a relatively obscure indie artist to a mainstream darling in a very short amount of time. Today, she has sold out virtually every concert and festival she’s performed at.
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2. Brian Johnson of AC/DC
AC/DC was already getting big before they released the album Back In Black in 1980. However, band leader Bon Scott tragically and suddenly passed away before the album was finished and released. Instead of breaking up, the band decided to go ahead and release it; and doing so catapulted them into mainstream stardom.
Finding a replacement for Scott was no easy feat. The band ended up going with Brian Johnson, and the new AC/DC vocalist became a virtually overnight sensation.
3. Lil Nas X
This modern example of musicians becoming famous overnight is a real rags-to-riches story. Lil Nas X hit it big with the 2018 song “Old Town Road”. The first version of the song was an independent release. However, Billy Ray Cyrus wanted to get involved, and that version was released in 2019 to international acclaim.
Lil Nas X said that at the time, he was couch surfing and unsure of where his life was headed. The sudden popularity of “Old Town Road” shot him into international fame. He’s since continued to release pop/hip-hop music and earned a number of Grammy, Billboard Music, and American Music awards.
4. Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters
The late great Taylor Hawkins became a staple member of Foo Fighters until his untimely passing in 2022. Before he joined the band, he worked as the touring drummer for Alanis Morissette. That’s a pretty big gig, but it was just that: a session gig.
Hawkins was brought into Foo Fighters in 1997 and became an overnight sensation with the already-established powerhouse rock band. All it took was a phone call to Dave Grohl, and Hawkins went on to become one of the most recognized drummers in rock history.
5. Susan Boyle
The talented Susan Boyle appeared as a contestant on Briain’s Got Talent back in 2009. Many judged her from the get-go and were shocked when she performed an absolutely jaw-dropping rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream”. She became one of the most recognizable voices of the late 2000s with just that single television episode.
Boyle shockingly didn’t win her season of the show, but she did go on to launch a successful music career. Her cover of “I Dreamed A Dream” hit the top of the Billboard 200. She went on to sell millions of albums and even performed in front of the Queen.
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