In 2001, who won the MTV Best New Artist Award for "Fallin"?

Alicia Keys won the 2001 MTV Best New Artist Award for “Fallin’.”

“Fallin’” was Alicia Keys’ debut single and the lead release from her first studio album, Songs in A Minor. Built around a prominent piano arrangement and a vocal performance blending soul, R&B, and pop, the song introduced Keys as both a singer and a classically trained pianist.

The 2001 MTV Video Music Awards recognized the song during a breakthrough year for the artist. “Fallin’” became a major international hit and helped establish Keys as one of the most important new voices in early-2000s R&B. The song later earned additional recognition at the Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

A common mix-up is confusing Best New Artist with the ceremony’s other artist and video categories. The MTV award honored Keys’ emergence as a recording artist, while “Fallin’” itself was the specific song associated with the win. Her success also helped Songs in A Minor become one of the era’s defining debut albums.