Teyana Taylor Breaks Her Silence Following Major Awards Recognition

After years of feeling overlooked, Teyana Taylor is finally having her moment — and she’s not taking a second of it for granted.

The singer, actress and creative powerhouse is closing out 2025 with her first-ever Grammy and Golden Globe nominations, marking a long-awaited turning point in a career defined by persistence, reinvention and creative control. In an exclusive interview with People, Taylor reflected on the recognition for her album “Escape Room,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album, calling the moment “one answered prayer after another.”

“All I ever wanted was to feel appreciated, and I wanted to feel utilized,” Taylor said. “I didn’t want to be stuck or put into one box.”

The milestone comes after a complicated journey with music. In 2020, Taylor announced she was stepping away following the release of “The Album,” citing frustration with feeling “super under-appreciated as an artist.” She shifted her focus to acting, landing roles in projects like “Coming 2 America” and the critically acclaimed film “A Thousand and One,” while also navigating major personal changes, including divorce and motherhood.

A Creative Rebirth on Her Own Terms

Music eventually called Taylor back, but this time on her terms. Released in August, “Escape Room” marked a creative reset, blending vulnerability, healing and cinematic storytelling. Taylor described the return as deeply personal and freeing.

“I love to create and direct, so being able to come back to music in such a vulnerable way was very healing for me,” she said, per People.

The album explores themes of survival, rebirth and emotional release, though Taylor has been clear that the songs are not meant to be read as literal retellings. “I just want to show people that I’m here, and I get it,” she explained. “We all want to be seen, and we want to be heard, and we want to be felt.”

Taylor also enlisted a powerful group of women to deliver monologues throughout the project, including Sarah Paulson, Kerry Washington, Taraji P. Henson and Niecy Nash-Betts. She said those voices represented women who showed up for her during some of her hardest moments, helping shape the emotional core of the album.

Leonardo DiCaprio Praise and a Career Full Circle Moment

Beyond music, Taylor’s awards momentum continued with her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2025 film “One Battle After Another.” The performance also earned her Critics Choice recognition and praise from her co-stars.

Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred alongside Taylor in the film, had nothing but admiration for her work. “She’s got the best sense of humor,” he told E! News. “I knew when she was brought into this movie, I was like, ‘This girl is gonna bring the heat.’ And she did. She’s an amazing hang. She’s awesome.”

Taylor echoed the sentiment, calling DiCaprio both a mentor and a leader on set. “Leo is a good time,” she told E!. “He’s so much fun. That’s my brother. He’s a mentor and a great leader on set.”

As Taylor balances music, acting and creative leadership through her collective The Aunties, the recognition feels less like an arrival and more like a confirmation. Reflecting on the long road to this moment, she put it simply: “That wait is not punishment. It’s preparation for what’s already written for you.”

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