The 34-year-old R&B singer followed up a series of frustrating career setbacks with one of the most successful nights of her life, taking home three Grammy awards on Feb. 4. She won best new artist, best R&B album and best non-classical engineered album for her debut record "Jaguar II." I was an independent artist with no team and I just thought, maybe my music would stand for itself," she said, tearing up. The song resonated with listeners, some of whom launched a social media campaign for her to perform it at the then-upcoming MTV Video Music Awards in September. "My team was told it is 'too early in my story' for that opportunity so we will keep working!"

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Persons: Victoria Monét, who's, Monét, MTV didn't Organizations: MTV, CNBC