Alex Warren's Extraordinary Year: The Grammys Take Notice

New York — A song that captured the essence of 2025, "Ordinary" by Alex Warren, has become a defining track of the year. It began as a winter anthem, bloomed in spring, ruled the summer, and ultimately achieved three-times platinum status in the fall. What makes this ballad unique is its slower tempo compared to traditional summer hits, its glossy production, an uplifting hook, and lyrics that are subtly religious but not overtly so.

The success of "Ordinary" has propelled the 25-year-old singer/songwriter into the spotlight, culminating in his first Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. This recognition came just four months after the release of his debut album, "You’ll Be Alright, Kid." Warren described the moment he found out about the nomination as emotional, saying he "bawled in my wife's arms." For those who doubted his musical career, the nomination was the ultimate validation.

While many know Warren for "Ordinary," his journey to fame wasn't straightforward. Before becoming a chart-topping artist, he gained attention as part of the TikTok collective "Hype House." His past as a social media prankster might seem at odds with his current persona, but Warren's experiences have shaped him. He shared that his childhood was marked by hardship, including the death of his father from cancer when he was 9 and his mother's struggles with alcoholism. A period of homelessness followed during his teenage years before his TikTok fame.

Despite these challenges, Warren has maintained a sense of curiosity and playfulness. During a visit to The Associated Press headquarters in New York, he engaged with staff and made self-deprecating remarks. One example: preparing to meet singer Shawn Mendes, he joked about dousing himself in cologne to "smell as good as Shawn Mendes looks."

While social media success doesn't always translate to a creative career, it did prepare Warren for his current life. He credits his past experiences for enabling him to pursue music. "Everything that I went through back then definitely allowed me to do this," he said.

Growing up online and presenting different versions of himself on social media has helped Warren embrace his true self. "It definitely allowed me to now be unequivocally myself," he explained.

A Not So "Ordinary" Track

Warren wrote "Ordinary" a year ago at a writing camp. He felt the song had potential, though others were skeptical. "A lot of people were like, 'Oh it’s a ballad, it’s a love song ballad. That’s not a single, that’s a song on the album. That’s a feature, you should give it to someone else,'" he recalled. Despite the doubts, he promoted the song on TikTok, and it gained traction quickly. "The TikToks got it to do 4 million streams in a day, which was crazy," he said.

He later performed the song on Netflix's "Love Is Blind" and with artists like Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, and the Jonas Brothers. The track's popularity grew, becoming a cultural phenomenon.

Warren believes the song's success stems from its anthemic chorus and a mix of "hopefulness and urgency." Some listeners have compared it to Christian music, though it isn't worship-focused. "We drew a lot of inspiration from that," he said about the song's composition.

This spirit is reflected throughout his debut album, "You’ll Be Alright, Kid." Warren often revisits the record and discovers new insights with each listen. "To me, these songs are just real, and I hope that people listen to this record and learn something about themselves," he said. "That’s the biggest thing. That was for me. It was me finding out who I was, and who I wanted to be as a husband, as a friend, as a father, and that’s kind of what I got out of it. And I hope someone gets something else out of that, you know?"

For now, he's enjoying the momentum created by "Ordinary" and his success. "How often is someone gonna be in this position?" he asked. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to take advantage of a cool moment that I’ve had, and I’m hoping that it can continue. And I hope that my songs continue to do well, and I continue to be able to write about the things that go on in my life. And if not, at least I can say I took full advantage of everything."

In February, Warren will take the stage at the Grammys.