Billie Eilish Says 2023 Was 'Supposed to Be an Off Year' Despite 6 Grammy Noms for 'What Was I Made For?'

Mar. 15, 2025

Billie Eilishis up for six awards at the66th annual Grammys— and that’s far from what she intended. In fact, the singer intended to take much of 2023 off.Eilish, 22, and her brotherFinneas O’Connell, earned half a dozen nods at this year’s show for their hit from theBarbiesoundtrack,“What Was I Made For?”— which has already won for best song written for visual media — and Eilish said it’s “insane” to be so recognized for just one track.“We put one song out this whole year. And did not think it would get — maybe one, even, let alone six. Which is really, really crazy,” she toldAmanda Klootsand Alina Vission at the GRAMMY Live! from the Red Carpet pre-show.David Fisher/Shutterstock“This was supposed to be an off year. Didn’t put an album out, didn’t do anything. We really made one song and we were like, ‘Here you go.’ ”She continued of the nominations, which include record of the year, song of the year, best pop solo performance, best song written for visual media, and best music video: “It’s just insane. It’s so surreal and amazing.”FINNEAS and Billie Eilish attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Kevin Mazur/GettyKloots praised Eilish and her brother, Finneas, 26, for “capturing the heart” ofBarbiein the song, to which Finneas replied,  “That movie was so meaningful to the two of us and we loved it so much and the sort of honor of writing something to participate in it was like, immense, for us.”He continued, “To be in any of these rooms, on ‘TeamBarbie,’ has been really fun. I was saying that toGreta [Gerwig]recently. I feel like we’re honorary members of the Barbie entourage and it’s very cool.”Eilish added, “It’s a cool group to be a part of.”Billie Eilish attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Getty ImagesThe song also earned a nomination at this year’s Academy Awards, as it was included for Best Original Song. The nod comes two years after the songwriting duo won their first-ever Oscar in 2022 for“No Time to Die”for theJames Bondfilm of the same name.The pairtook home the Golden Globe Awardin January for the song, too.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.See PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 66th annualGrammy Awardsas they’re broadcasting live on CBS from theCrypto.comArena in Los Angeles.

Billie Eilishis up for six awards at the66th annual Grammys— and that’s far from what she intended. In fact, the singer intended to take much of 2023 off.

Eilish, 22, and her brotherFinneas O’Connell, earned half a dozen nods at this year’s show for their hit from theBarbiesoundtrack,“What Was I Made For?”— which has already won for best song written for visual media — and Eilish said it’s “insane” to be so recognized for just one track.

“We put one song out this whole year. And did not think it would get — maybe one, even, let alone six. Which is really, really crazy,” she toldAmanda Klootsand Alina Vission at the GRAMMY Live! from the Red Carpet pre-show.

David Fisher/Shutterstock

“This was supposed to be an off year. Didn’t put an album out, didn’t do anything. We really made one song and we were like, ‘Here you go.’ ”

She continued of the nominations, which include record of the year, song of the year, best pop solo performance, best song written for visual media, and best music video: “It’s just insane. It’s so surreal and amazing.”

FINNEAS and Billie Eilish attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kloots praised Eilish and her brother, Finneas, 26, for “capturing the heart” ofBarbiein the song, to which Finneas replied,  “That movie was so meaningful to the two of us and we loved it so much and the sort of honor of writing something to participate in it was like, immense, for us.”

He continued, “To be in any of these rooms, on ‘TeamBarbie,’ has been really fun. I was saying that toGreta [Gerwig]recently. I feel like we’re honorary members of the Barbie entourage and it’s very cool.”

Eilish added, “It’s a cool group to be a part of.”

Billie Eilish attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Getty Images

Getty Images

The song also earned a nomination at this year’s Academy Awards, as it was included for Best Original Song. The nod comes two years after the songwriting duo won their first-ever Oscar in 2022 for“No Time to Die”for theJames Bondfilm of the same name.

The pairtook home the Golden Globe Awardin January for the song, too.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

See PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 66th annualGrammy Awardsas they’re broadcasting live on CBS from theCrypto.comArena in Los Angeles.

source: people.com