Memphis hip-hop star GloRilla is going for Grammy gold once again.
The 25-year-old rapper is up for two awards — her second and third nominations — and is hoping to pick up her first trophy during “Music’s Biggest Night.”
The ceremonies — which take place in Los Angeles — will be broken into two parts on Sunday: the daytime Grammy Premiere Ceremony, which begins at 2:30 p.m. CST and can be viewed at Grammy.com or on the Recording Academy’s official YouTube channel, and the televised Grammy ceremonies at 7 p.m. CST on CBS and Paramount+.
It has been a whirlwind 12 months for GloRilla, who has become one of the fastest-rising and hottest acts to emerge from the Bluff City in years. As she looks to notch her first Grammy win, here’s a look back at how “Big Glo” made it to the big time.
How did GloRilla get famous?
GloRilla began her rap career just seven years ago. In late 2018, she put out her first video, “146 Freestyle,” and followed with a pair of indie EPs, “Most Likely Up Next” in 2019 and “P Status” in 2020. Eventually, in spring 2021, she caught the attention of top Memphis producer HitKidd who teamed GloRilla with a group of other emerging female rappers for an EP called “Set the Tone.”
She would embark on a solo career in 2022, releasing the EP “Anyway, Life’s Great,” featuring the single “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” — another collaboration with HitKidd — which became viral hit then a chart success, getting her signed to Yo Gotti’s CMG label that year.
Her debut album, “Glorious,” was released this past October and hit No. 5 on the Billboard album charts and made it to No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts. In 2024, she had five songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100: “Wanna Be” with Megan Thee Stallion at No. 11, “Whatchu Kno About Me” with Sexyy Red at No. 17, “TGIF” at No. 22, “Yeah Glo!” at No. 28 and “Hollon” at No. 48.
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GloRilla also graduated to full-blown celebrity status in the past 12 months, as she visited the White House and met then-President Joe Biden in March, was a featured performer at the MTV Video Music Awards in September, earned a pair of Grammy nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance in November, made the best album and song of the year lists from Rolling Stone magazine, was named one of the Associated Press’ “Breakthrough Entertainers,” and appeared as the musical guest on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”
GloRilla performed in Memphis several times in 2024, playing a concert at FedExForum in May as part of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hot Summer Girls Tour.” In September, she performed at the 901 Day Celebration event on Beale Street, and in November, she made a surprise appearance during a FedExForum concert headlined by Rod Wave, where she joined her CMG labelmate Moneybagg Yo during his set.
What is GloRilla’s net worth?
It’s hard to gauge GloRilla’s financial success so far. Websites that offer projections about celebrity income and assets put her empire at $2 million, but those are generally not very reliable.
The subject of Glo’s net worth did come up in an interview in October with Complex’s Speedy Morman. When he quoted the reported $2 million figure to her, GloRilla responded: “Why Google be always thinking they know people net worth?”
Morman then suggested she calculate her net worth by subtracting her liabilities from her assets, to which GloRilla replied, “Oh s***, I need a pencil and paper for that huh? I got to get to doing some algebra,” she said, laughing.
What is GloRilla’s real name?
GloRilla was born Gloria Hallelujah Woods on July 28, 1999.
Where did GloRilla grow up?
GloRilla was raised in Memphis’ Frayser neighborhood. In September, when she was presented with an honorary key to the City of Memphis during an event on Beale Street, GloRilla said: “Memphis made me, Frayser raised me.”
What high school did GloRilla graduate from?
GloRilla attended Westside Middle School, as well Martin Luther King Jr. College Preparatory High School, before eventually graduating from Melrose High.
In December, GloRilla paid a visit to her alma mater, surprising Melrose High School with a personal appearance and a $25,000 donation to build a new media center as part of its library. In recognition of her philanthropic efforts, Melrose officials announced they would be naming the media center after her. She had previously made similar donations to MLK and Westside in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
What Grammy Awards is GloRilla nominated for?
GloRilla is up for two Grammy Awards on Sunday.
GloRilla and her song “Yeah Glo!” were nominated in the Best Rap Performance category. She will face some stiff competition for the award, as she goes up against Cardi B for “Enough (Miami)”, Common & Pete Rock featuring Posdnuos for “When The Sun Shines Again,” Doechii for “Nissan Altima,” Eminem for “Houdini,” Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar for “Like That” and Lamar on his own for “Not Like Us.”
GloRilla and “Yeah Glo!” received a second nomination in the Best Rap Song category. “Yeah Glo” is again in another tough category, going up against “Asteroids” by Rapsody featuring Hit-Boy, “Carnival” by Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign featuring Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti, “Like That” by Future & Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar and “Not Like Us” by Lamar.
Has GloRilla won a Grammy?
No, but she has been nominated before. In 2022, she and her producer HitKidd were nominated for “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” as Best Rap Performance. They ultimately lost the award to Kendrick Lamar.
