The 25 breakout stars of 2023

For those looking for some new, pure, unabashed metal, look no further than Los Angeles' Agriculture. This four-piece outfit sparked some solid interest with 2022's The Circle Chant EP, then took it up more than a few notches with its self-titled debut album released in the summer of 2023. The band's sound has been described as white-knuckle, black metal that is well-organized and free-flowing but complete with the mayhem that gives hope the future of extreme metal is alive and well. Looking for a full-on assault of the ears, dare to take in the album's closer "Relier." Then, hold tight.

It can be argued that Bailey was a well-known commodity before 2023. However, that was usually for being one half of the pop/R&B/hip hop sister duo Chloe x Halle. When it came to truly showcasing her versatile, individual talent there wasn't a bigger moment than 2023. On the musical front, Bailey's solo debut single "Angel" earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Song. While on the big screen, the Grown-ish actor earned serious praise as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, and appeared in the highly anticipated film version of the stage musical adaptation of The Color Purple.

Netflix found another success with this year's The Night Agent. Much of that acclaim can be traced to the lead performance from Basso, who plays Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent thrust into finding a traitor in the United States government while working as an evening telephone operator. It produced a nice professional adult moment for Basso, who fans of a certain age might remember as the "Young Freddie" from the Nickelodeon tween favorite iCarly.

The Chicago Blackhawks felt like they hit the jackpot last summer when landing the first overall draft and the right to take budding superstar Bedard. At just 18 years old, Bedard has long been branded the NHL's next megastar, an idol to many and a marketing dream. As of Dec. 20, Bedard led all rookies with 28   points (12 goals, 16 assists) and his popularity has even transcended into other sports and pop culture. Kansas City Chiefs star and Taylor Swift's current beau Travis Kelce apparently wants to take the ice with Bedard for a friendly game.

To those close, he's known as Gonzalo Julian Conde, but the 24-year-old Argentinian continues to gain acclaim as Bizarrap. Gaining ever-growing fame as a DJ and EDM producer of the widely popular "BZRP Music Sessions -- a part of the YouTube music series. In addition to drawing the attention of some of the world's budding Latin music artists, Bizattap won three Latin Grammy Awards in 2023, two of which came for working with Shakira on the Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52. The pair also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

At 23 years old, Carroll seemingly has his entire Major League Baseball life ahead. However, it might be hard to top his first full season of 2023 for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Carroll became the first rookie to post at least 25 home runs and 50 stolen bases, while helping the upstart Diamondbacks reached the World Series and win the NL Rookie of the Year. Carroll was also named a starter for MLB's annual All-Star Game.

The fact that HBO's The Idol  lasted just one season should not reflect poorly on Depp, who, yes, for those not in the know, is the daughter of Johnny Depp (whose mother is French singer/actress   Vanessa Paradis). Co-starring alongside rapper The Weeknd, Depp is really the only real reason to watch the show, which thought its over-the-top reliance on strong sexual content was somehow making it all work. Though even Depp's grounded and realistic performance, as a  pop star looking for a resurgence, could not save the project, her television debut is something to personally build from going forward.

Prior to her stellar performance in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, Montana's Gladstone might have been familiar to television and streaming fans for her appearances on Billions and Reservation Dogs. However, she officially arrived via her performance as the subtly powerful Mollie Burkhart in the aforementioned real-life tale about the Osage Indian murders. Gladstone's work in Killers of the Flower Moon earned a Golden Globe Award nomination, and should the same happen at the Oscars, she would become the first Native American to take home such a competitive honor.

Even with mega-stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in tow and America Ferrera stealing the show at times, Greenblatt showed her own promise amid the cast of Barbie. Playing anti-establishment teen Sasha (daughter of Ferrera's corporate Gloria), Greenblatt served as an important part of the plot, changing her tune while seeing the importance of female self-worth and belief that the Barbies of the world have a place to thrive. The 16-year-old Greenblatt is no stranger to blockbusters, appearing in Avengers: Infinity War and In The Heights, but her star certainly rose in 2023, which also included working alongside Adam Driver in the sci-fi film 65.

Ice Spice broke in 2022 with "Munch (Feelin' U)", which made her a TikTok mainstay. Then in early 2023, Ice Spice released her debut EP, and highliy acclaimed, Like..?.  She also collaborated with Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj. Teaming with the latter for " Barbie World," which was featured on the Barbie film soundtrack, went top 10 in more than 15 countries and was nominated for Grammy Awards in the categories of Best Song Written for Visual Media and Best Rap Song 

Long gone from her days with Disney, Jones is proving to be a true, versatile force of an entertainer. In addition to delivering consistently strong work as the 2.0 version of Hillary Banks on Bel-Air, Jones has seen her musical career reach rather astronomical heights. After achieving her first notable success with 2022's single "ICU," Jones received two Grammy Award nominations for the song. Then, in January 2023, the deluxe version of her 2022 EP What I Didn't Tell You was nominated for another Grammy.

One is dating Taylor Swift and the other was named one of PEOPLE's Sexiest Men Alive of 2023. Yes, the Kelces, standout NFL performers -- the two have a combined four Super Bolw rings and nine first-team All-Pro nods -- also happen to be pretty popular in the realm of pop culture. A big reason for their social prominence is their massively successful podcast -- New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce. And, it's not just two brothers talking football. They also tackle serious topics, like what is the best Thanksgiving dinner side dishes, shark attack stories, and Saturday Night Live

These Chicago teens have built a solid following with their indie rock vibe that is starting to branch out beyond the Windy City. Formed in 2019, the band put out the promising debut album DIVE in 2021. Then this year, it made strides by signing to Matador Records, where it put out a pair of EPs -- a re-release of 2022's Crowd Can Talk and the original Dressed in Trenches. The band is comprised of bassist/vocalist Asher Case, drummer Isaac Lowenstein, and guitarist/vocalist Kai Slater, and certainly seems to have a bright future 

Lynch was a bruising NFL running back, who gained more than 10,000 career yards, made five Pro Bowls, and won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. However, he also continues to excel in what's become a second career as an actor. From his small, but hilarious appearance on Brooklyn Nine-Nine to playing himself in The League to the raves he generated from his appearance in the acclaimed 2023 satirical teen comedy Bottoms. For the latter, Lynch received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance as Mr. G, a lazy and crass high school teacher, whose advice, guidance and views, especially of women, are controversial -- at best.  

Starring alongside Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman can be quite daunting. But, it was Melton who arguably delivered the most memorable performance from May December, a story about an actress (Portman) researching the character of an adult woman (Moore) who, back in the 1990s, had sex and forged a relationship with a 13-year-old Joe Yoo. In this dark comedy, inspired by the real-life tale of Mary Kay Letourneau,  Melton, who initially drew raves while starring on the CW series Riverdale, delivers a stellar performance as the emotionally turn adult Joe. He received a Golden Globe Award nomination in the process.

After putting out several EPs since 2014, Monét finally delivered her first studio album. And, was it ever worth the wait. The R&B singer-songwriter's Jaguar II, released in August 2023, was the culmination of her Jaguar series of works, and produced notable singles "Smoke" (with Lucky Daye), "Party Girls" (with Buju Banton) and "On My Mama". And just how well received was the project? Monét's record was nominated for Grammys in the categories of Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

Upon the release of her second studio album, The Good Witch, from June 23, this English pop/dance rock singer reached No. 1 on the UK Charts. An extremely personal album, Peters dug deep to produce a record that continues to build momentum as we head into a new year. The first two singles from the record, "Body Better" and "The Last Breakup," remain the highlights of the album. She also has a big fan in Ed Sheeran, which isn't too shabby.

Ramsey made her name as Lyanna Mormont from Game of Thrones, then took it up a notch with her co-starring role in the ridiculously popular zombie drama The Last of Us. The 20-year-old Elle is a confident and self-reliant character who is able to hold her own amid an uncertain post-apocalyptic time and place. Ramsey can also handle some of the more controversial aspects of Elle that might rub some viewers the wrong way. It also earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

It's a wonder Rapp was able to sleep, eat or even breathe in 2023. Following a successful run as Regina George in the Broadway musical version of Mean Girls, Rapp continued to gain praise as Leighton Murray in HBO's The Sex Lives of College Girls. Oh yeah, Rapp also released her debut studio album, Snow Angel, in August. This was all an amplified example of just how versatile and the type of potential force to be reckoned with that Rapp poses going forward.

Perhaps we're ahead of ourselves, but fans of the stage might be hearing plenty about the 23-year-old Rogers, who is set to hit Broadway in the lead role of BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical, a production directed by Jerry Mitchell and music from multi-Grammy Award winner David Foster. Rogers earned mounds of praise for her performance while the show premiered in Chicago this fall, with a stint on Broadway waiting in the wings. The suburban Chicago Daily Herald noted audiences are witnessing "the birth of a star" when watching the iconic character come to life via Rogers, who was previously lauded while on the national tour of Mean Girls.

As a young child, Fortson melted hearts in the Ant-Man series of films. And then when it was time to step into the forefront and take her turn in a leading role with the film adaptation of Judy Blume's 1970 coming-of-age classic novel Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret., the now-15-year-old Fortson delivered one of the most lauded performances of the year. Fortson is endearing and lovably skittish about her ever-developing body, all the while bringing the beloved literary character Margaret Simon to life for a new generation of audiences to appreciate. 

Talk about making a great first impression. In his first film appearance of any kind, the 21-year-old Sessa drew rave reviews for starring alongside Paul Giamatti in Alexander Payne's The Holdovers. A story about Sessa's Angus Tully, a boarding school student left behind over winter break and forced to spend most of it with a surly professor (Giamatti). Discovered for the role during open auditions at Massachusetts' Deerfield Academy, where he attended, Sessa more than held his own opposite of the venerable Giamatti. 

Regardless of what audiences thought of Priscilla, good or bad, the unanimous take of the picture should be the breakout performance by Spaeny, who superbly morphed into the role of Elvis Presley's young bride.  It's hard to take your eyes off Spaeny for the way she portrays the innocence and hidden strength of Priscilla. And she has rightfully been lauded for her effort. Spaeny, who flew under the radar in a rather small but impactful role in the celebrated HBO miniseries Mare of Easttown (2021), starring Kate Winslet, received a Golden Globe nomination for Priscilla. 

We touched on who potentially will be the NHL's next young hero. Well, the NBA isn't void of a similar talent. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4, 19-year-old sensation from France, has certainly lived up to the massive hype that surrounded the San Antonio Spurs, taking him No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. As of Dec. 20, Wembanyama averaged team highs of 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks through the first 24 games of his NBA career. He also happens to be a favorite with Gen Zers, which goes beyond the basketball court.

Jason Segal might be the undisputed star of the Apple TV+ comedy drama Shrinking. However, if there is a waiting-in-the-wings uber talent ready to break out truly, it's Williams. As a therapist colleague of Segal's Jimmy Laird, Williams' Gaby is the ideal calming yet honest influence to the show's protagonist. Of course, it's not wise to cross Gaby, especially when it comes to receiving the credit she deserves -- professionally or personally. Because that makes her even more entertaining, and a big reason she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.