Who is Alex Warren, the ‘Ordinary’ singer, Nashville resident, MTV VMA best new artist?

Alex Warren‘s claim to fame is far from ordinary.

This year, the 24 year-old singer-songwriter clinched the award for best new artist at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. After releasing his debut studio album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid” July 18, he received three nominations at this year’s VMAs including best pop and song of the year for his song “Ordinary.”

“I don’t even know what to say right now,” he said after being told he won the best new artist award. “This is insane to me.” The rising star also took the stage during the show, performing his breakout single.

Born in California, Warren lost his father to kidney cancer at just 9 years old — only the beginning of a turbulent adolescence. During his high school years he was bullied and was forced to navigate his adolescence on his own after his mom, who struggled with alcoholism, kicked him out at 17. In 2021, she passed away.

Warren says his album, was birthed from those challenges, especially as a kid who had been “badly bullied” and was “just trying to be liked” during his younger years.

“My struggles made me who I am today,” he told The Tennessean in an earlier interview. “The trajectory of my arrival at who I am, who I know and what I’m going to be allows me to write songs that feel like they’re meant to teach others how to endure their lives.”

What songs does Alex Warren sing?

Warren is best known for his hit song “Ordinary,” which has spent 29 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at No. 1. Some of his other popular tunes include “Eternity,” “Carry You Home” and “Bloodline” (featuring Jelly Roll).

Last year, he released the first half of his two part project “You’ll Be Alright, Kid.” The second half was released July 18.

What are Alex Warren’s ties to Nashville?

In June 2024, Warren married Kouvr Annon. They met on Snapchat when Warren was 18, homeless and living in his car. Now the two live in Nashville’s suburb.

Warren said his wife was a major source of inspiration for the song “Ordinary,” which celebrates the joy he’s found in marriage after grappling with grief and trauma.

“It’s a special song that I couldn’t sit on because it reminds people of an emotion they can’t quite put their finger on, because it’s one they’ve had, forgotten, then thought they could never experience themselves,” he told the Tennessean.

Contributing: Marcus K. Dowling

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Alex Warren: The ‘Ordinary’ singer, MTV VMA best new artist