Youngest winner of Best International Artist of the Year at the BRIT Awards

Billie Eilish (USA, b. Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell, 18 December 2001) was 20 years 52 days old when she won Best International Artist of the Year at the 42nd BRIT Awards on 8 February 2022. It was the third year in a row that Eilish had won an international award at the BRITs after being named Best International Female Solo Artist in 2020 and 2021 – the final year of separate international female and male awards before the categories reverted back to a combined single-gender award for the 2022 ceremony.

Fellow nominees Lil Nas X (USA, b. Montero Hill, 9 Apr 1999 – 22 years 305 days) and Olivia Rodrigo (USA, b. 20 Feb 2003 – 18 years 353 days) would both have taken the title of youngest winner had they scooped the trophy at London’s O2 Arena. Taylor Swift and Doja Cat, who had to pull out of a planned performance at the awards show due to COVID-19 concerns, were also nominated in the Best International Artist category.

Best International Artist of the Year was previously known as Best International Solo Artist (1986–88, 1990, 1992–93) and was resurrected in 2022 after a hiatus of 29 years. Neneh Cherry (USA, b. Neneh Karlsson, 10 March 1964) was 25 years 345 days old when she won the award on 18 February 1990. The other previous winners were Bruce Springsteen (1986), Paul Simon (1987), Michael Jackson (1988) and Prince (1992–93).