Historic Grammy Win and Global Breakthrough
Kim Petras, the 30-year-old German singer and songwriter, made history at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in 2023. Alongside British pop star Sam Smith, she won the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their viral hit "Unholy." This win marked the first time an openly transgender artist had been honored in that category. The moment was emotional for Petras, who accepted the award with a heartfelt speech thanking her mother and the transgender pioneers who paved the way. "I grew up on a highway in the middle of nowhere in Germany, and my mother believed that I was a girl. Without her, I wouldn’t be here," she said, her voice trembling with joy.
The song "Unholy" became a global phenomenon shortly after its release in September 2022. The track tells the story of a married father sneaking off to a strip club, set to a dark, addictive pop beat. The chorus—"Mummy don't know daddy's getting hot at the body shop, doing something unholy"—captured audiences around the world. The music video, featuring both artists in provocative outfits, racked up millions of views on YouTube. The collaboration between Petras and Smith, who came out as non-binary in 2019, was seen as a powerful statement of queer visibility in mainstream pop.
Early Life: Growing Up Feeling Different
Kim Petras was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1992 and grew up in the nearby town of Hennef. Assigned male at birth, she later described always knowing she was a girl. As early as age two, she would put on her mother’s skirts and play with dolls. By age five, she had developed a deep hatred for her body. In interviews, she recounted running around her room with scissors, wanting to cut off her male genitals. "I hated my body from the start," she once told a German weekly newspaper. Her parents, Lutz and Gudrun, were supportive, but the world outside was not.
School was a nightmare. Classmates bullied her relentlessly, throwing food at her on the playground. Teachers and doctors in the conservative town of St. Augustin told her she was crazy. At age ten, she began seeing a therapist. At twelve, she legally changed her first name to Kim. She started wearing latex dresses to school, defying the bullies. "I wanted to at least be well-dressed when someone threw their sandwich at me," she later recalled. Her parents commissioned two independent psychological evaluations, both confirming their child was transgender.
Transition at a Young Age
When Kim entered puberty, she panicked at the thought of developing facial hair or experiencing a deepening voice. In 2007, when she was just 13, she appeared on the German TV show "Stern TV" with her parents, speaking openly about her hormone treatment. The exposure made her a controversial figure in Germany. At age 16, she underwent gender-affirming surgery, making global headlines as one of the youngest transgender people to do so. Later, in a documentary called "Mann oder Frau?" (Man or Woman?) on the German station VOX, she discussed her transition process. A hormone clinic in Hamburg had halted her male puberty with injections and then induced female puberty with estrogen.
Petras’s early transition was not without debate. Critics argued that such irreversible medical procedures should not be performed on minors. But Petras and her parents maintained that it was necessary to prevent severe psychological suffering. "I had the luck to have parents who really understood me," she said. Nevertheless, the public scrutiny was intense. The controversy, however, did not stop her from pursuing her true identity.
Finding Refuge in Pop Music
Music became Petras’s sanctuary. At age 15, she began uploading self-recorded pop songs to the internet. The songs were catchy, upbeat, and often explored themes of love and heartbreak. After finishing school, she moved to the United States to work as a songwriter. Her early career included writing songs for major artists like Fergie and Rihanna. These experiences taught her the craft of hit-making. In 2017, she released her debut single "I Don’t Want It at All," which gained traction online. She followed with a string of singles and eventually two studio albums: "Turn Off the Light" (2019) and "Feed the Beast" (2023).
Along the way, she collaborated with a diverse range of artists: Dr. Luke, Charli XCX, Kygo, and Paris Hilton. Her music style blends pop, electronic, and dance influences. Critics have compared her to Lady Gaga, and the New York Times called her the "Princess of Gloss." Despite her growing fame, she remained relatively underground until "Unholy" exploded.
The Making of "Unholy" and Its Impact
The genesis of "Unholy" was a chance meeting between Petras and Smith at a studio session. They immediately clicked, and the song was written in a few hours. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of infidelity and forbidden desire. "She'd kick you out if she ever, ever knew," Petras sings with a mix of sarcasm and empathy. The track’s minimal production, with a driving bassline and layered harmonies, gave it an eerie, addictive quality. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Global 200 chart and peaked at number two on the US Hot 100.
The success of "Unholy" pushed Petras into the mainstream spotlight. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, her Grammy win was a milestone. Transgender artists have historically been underrepresented and often tokenized in the music industry. Petras’s win, alongside Smith, signaled a shift. In her acceptance speech, she thanked the "incredible transgender legends before me who opened these doors." She specifically mentioned figures like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who fought for trans rights decades earlier.
Life as a Role Model
Petras has expressed ambivalence about being a spokesperson for the transgender community. In interviews, she insists that her music is about universal human experiences—love, loss, desire. "I want to be known as a good artist," she said. At the same time, she acknowledges that her identity inevitably makes her a role model. "It does make me special," she admitted, "but I also want people to see me as a singer." Her journey has inspired many young trans people, especially those growing up in rural or conservative areas.
She stays active on social media, often sharing posts about LGBTQ+ rights and mental health. She has also used her platform to speak out against anti-trans legislation in the United States. In a 2023 interview, she said: "I want kids in Germany or anywhere in the world to know that they can be themselves, no matter what the bullies say."
Future Prospects and Legacy
Following the Grammy win, Petras has continued to release new music. Her album "Feed the Beast" debuted in June 2023 and included collaborations with artists like Nicki Minaj. She also embarked on a sold-out tour across North America and Europe. With her newfound fame, she has become a fixture at major events, from fashion weeks to red carpets. Yet she remains grounded, often returning to Germany to visit family and draw inspiration from her roots.
As the music industry evolves, Petras stands as a symbol of resilience and talent. She broke through not just as a transgender performer, but as a pop star with genuine chart power. Her story—from a bullied child on the German autobahn to a Grammy-winning artist—demonstrates that identity can be a source of strength, not limitation. The doors she helped open will allow future generations of transgender musicians to walk through them with less fear and more confidence.
Source: dw.com News