Just days before music’s biggest night, Elton John is using his voice not to look back but to lift the next generation forward. Premiering exclusively via Rolling Stone, Trust in Your Sound is a short film created in partnership with Spotify that spotlights the 2026 Grammy Awards’ Best New Artist nominees while delivering a timeless message to emerging musicians everywhere: believe in yourself, take risks, and don’t play it safe.
The film opens with intimate, nostalgic footage of this year’s nominees—Olivia Dean, Sombr, Addison Rae, Katseye, the Marías, Lola Young, Leon Thomas, and Alex Warren—capturing their journeys from childhood passion to present-day promise. Viewers see a young Warren strumming an acoustic guitar, María Zardoya smiling into the camera, Thomas immersed in studio sessions, and Young refining her vocals, each moment reinforcing how early belief often becomes lifelong purpose.
“When you start to make music, you just have to follow what’s inside of you… Take a chance. Always be brave. Don’t be cautious. Just go for what you believe in” John narrates.
The short film will air as a commercial during the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, broadcasting live this Sunday from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Hosted by Trevor Noah, the ceremony will feature performances by the Best New Artist nominees themselves, alongside an all-star lineup including Lady Gaga, Rosé, Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Clipse and Pharrell Williams, with Harry Styles set to present.
For John, the moment is deeply personal. Despite his legendary status, he remains passionately invested in the future of music—and the artists shaping it.
“I’m still making records, still involved in music, but it’s the new artists and how far they’ve come that continue to make me so happy,” John shared with Rolling Stone. “You don’t give up on a young artist. Their first or second album might not do well, but if you believe in them, watching them flourish is like watering a plant and seeing it become the most beautiful flower”.
That philosophy is reflected in this year’s nominations. Lola Young earned an additional nod for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Messy,” while Katseye received recognition for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with “Gabriela.” Leon Thomas emerged as one of the most decorated nominees of the year, scoring five additional nominations, including Album of the Year and Best R&B Album (Mutt), alongside honors for Best R&B Song, Best R&B Performance, and Best Traditional R&B Performance.
Spotify echoed the sentiment behind the film’s creation. “We’ve watched the Best New Artist nominees grow on Spotify, from those first moments of discovery to the massive breakthrough years they each had,” said Marc Hazan, Spotify’s SVP of Marketing and Partnerships. “Trust in Your Sound tells that story. It reminds us all that every artist starts the same way: by trusting their sound and taking a chance”.
As the Grammys approach, Trust in Your Sound stands as more than a promotional moment. In fact, it’s a reminder that greatness doesn’t begin with trophies, but with courage. And as Elton John makes clear, believing in young artists isn’t just good for music’s future… it’s what keeps the spirit of creativity alive.