Victoria Monét is not just an emerging talent; she is also nurturing the next generation: her daughter, Hazel. Born on February 21, 2021, Hazel came into the world during Monét’s relationship with her then-boyfriend, John Gaines. However, the couple separated in late 2023.
At the young age of 2½, Hazel made history as the youngest Grammy Award nominee ever when she received a nomination alongside her mother for her contribution to Monét’s song “Hollywood.” .
Hazel Monét Gaines, born in 2021, reached a major milestone alongside her mom by receiving a Grammy nomination at just 2½ years old
Contrary to those worries, her decision to have a child proved to be beneficial as she garnered seven nominations herself, ranking as the second-most nominated artist at the 2024 Grammys. From joining her mother in the studio to achieving the title of the youngest Grammy nominee, Hazel’s journey has been remarkable.
Her birth took place in February 2021. In December 2020, Monét joyfully announced her pregnancy with Gaines. In her now-deleted Instagram post, she shared, “I’m so happy to share that I’ve been promoted to the title just above Queen… Mom.”
Monét expressed her excitement about becoming a mother, emphasizing the dual heartbeat inside her: “That’s more love. Two brains and two souls…that’s so much power.”
On February 21, 2021, Hazel was born, with Monét celebrating the moment on Instagram by sharing a touching photo of her daughter’s tiny feet. She wrote, “Hazel Monét Gaines 🤎 2/21/21. Mommy and Daddy love you so much!!! ✨🧸Welcome to the world 🧸✨.”
Postpartum depression followed her daughter’s birth. After Hazel’s arrival, Monét faced postpartum depression, which made her feel isolated. In August 2023, she candidly shared with Pop Sugar, “I went through a phase, to be honest, where I was going through postpartum depression. It’s really a lonely place that’s not talked about too much.”
In a September 2023 interview with Self, Monét discussed her struggles with accepting her post-baby body, admitting that she placed undue pressure on herself to regain her pre-pregnancy appearance. “I was very hard on myself, and just judging so much and worrying about what I used to look like,” she said, acknowledging the difficulty of living in the past.
Eventually, Monét found support in a “great community of other moms,” including her own mother, which helped her sail through this challenging time. Hazel was a serious influence on her mom’s album, which features her as well. During the recording of her Grammy-nominated album, Jaguar II, Monét drew inspiration from her experiences as a new mother.
She told Pop Sugar that having a baby around made her appreciate the beauty in everyday moments: “Having a baby around that views everything as brand new can really re-inspire you.”
In a July 2023 interview with PEOPLE, Monét shared how witnessing Hazel’s early love for music renewed her own creativity: “I see her learning rhythm, trying to catch different cadences and what she’s attracted to in songs.”
Hazel even contributed to the track “Hollywood,” a collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire. Her daughter has unintentionally gotten her into some amusing situations.
It seems Hazel has picked up on her mom’s music a bit too well, especially the songs that aren’t quite suitable for her age. Monét humorously recounted to PEOPLE an incident when Hazel asked to return to the car to listen to “Smoke,” resulting in a funny misunderstanding.
“When I took her to this restaurant, she was trying to tell me, ‘I want to go back in the car and listen to Smoke.’ But she was saying, ‘Mommy, let’s go smoke. Go smoke.’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this sounds terrible to everyone right now,’” Monét shared.
However, Hazel isn’t shy about expressing her preferences, and Monét described her as “stubborn,” noting that the toddler is in a phase where “her favorite word is no.” “Right now, her favorite word is no,” she explained. “I think she’s going to be a great businesswoman. She’s going to be a really amazing artist.”
Monét balances motherhood and her music career with effort. Despite her busy schedule, Monét prioritizes being a mom. She told PEOPLE that incorporating Hazel into her professional life helps her find balance. “I feel like I’m in Cirque du Soleil,” she remarked. “I love when she’s at the shows, in the studio, and at events because it feels like I’ve combined my worlds.”
She acknowledged the importance of her support system, which includes her partner, who helps maintain family harmony and manage scheduling conflicts. “Sometimes if I’m at work, my heart is with her,” she stated, appreciating the ability to have both worlds converge.
Hazel made history with her Grammy nomination. In December 2023, Hazel became the youngest nominee for a Grammy when “Hollywood” received a nomination for best traditional R&B performance. Even with this remarkable achievement, Monét noted that Hazel was more interested in watching “Baby Shark” on a phone when she learned the news.
“I’m so proud of her, but she has no idea,” Monét admitted to Billboard. Although Hazel may not fully grasp the importance of the nomination yet, Monét plans to explain it to her when she’s older, recognizing that Hazel is already developing her musical talents.
“She’s like, kind of panicking because she doesn’t know why we’re all screaming,” she shared, looking forward to sharing the story with Hazel in the future. Monét and her daughter walked the red carpet at the 2024 Grammys.
In February 2024, Monét and her daughter, along with Gaines, attended the Grammy Awards, where she won best R&B album and best new artist. The duo wore matching, custom Versace gowns for the occasion.
However, reflecting on the experience, Monét mentioned that she might wait before bringing Hazel to another awards ceremony, as the last one was a bit chaotic.
“The last carpet was a disaster, so I think we’re gonna give it a couple years,” she told ET, but added that she will continue to take Hazel to the studio since she is already a Grammy nominee. “She already is Grammy-nominated so it sounds about right, you know?” she remarked.
