Asked to rank her year on a scale of one to 10, Meghan Trainor doesn’t hesitate: “This is the year I won a Grammy, right?” says the 2016 best new artist with a laugh. “Ten!” Since the smash success of her “All About That Bass” (a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 for eight weeks), Trainor has duetted with Harry Styles and John Legend, co-written charting hits for Jennifer Lopez (“Ain’t Your Mama”) and Fifth Harmony (“Sledgehammer”), and, most recently, released her second album, Thank You, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 on the strength of brassy lead single “No,” Trainor’s fourth Hot 100 top 10 hit. “Growing up, I remember I always wanted to be 22,” says Trainor. “Now I am. I’ve finished a tour and sold out every show; got a Grammy; I have an amazing new boyfriend [actor Daryl Sabara]. For some reason, I knew this would be my year.”
Writing How-Tos:
“When I walk into the studio, the first thing I think is, ‘I’m dealing with this right now, but can I make a male relate to this too? Or a mother?’ When I write about universal concepts, other artists are like fans: ‘Oh, my God, I feel the same way!’ ”
Horror Habit:
“I’ve been on that American Horror Story grind. But I’m afraid of the dark! I have so many night lights in my room.”
