Benson Boone, the charismatic singer known for his heartfelt tunes, is determined to have the world savor his whimsical dessert-inspired masterpiece. After "Mystical Magic," the lead single from his album and a ode to love (and his unofficial ice cream flavor), failed to receive a nod from the 2026 Grammy nominations in February, the American Idol alum took to his Instagram Stories on November 10 with a wry smile and a direct camera gaze. "Can't believe 'moonbeam ice cream' didn't get a Grammy nom," he wrote. "It's literally pure lyrical genius."
Indeed, "Mystical Magical" had become a viral sensation after Benson first teased the chorus on TikTok in April. Many fans, initially confused by his nod to the sweet treat, joked about the track's lyrics, turning it into a meme. Despite the backlash, Benson embraced the chatter and later admitted that songwriter Jack LaFrantz came up with the playful line during their studio session.
"I write pretty much everything with Jack," the 23-year-old explained during his June 5 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "Jack was sitting there, and he just goes, 'You know, what if you just did this?'" The line "Moonbeam ice cream, taking off your blue jeans!" was born out of a moment of inspiration that left Benson stunned. He used it as a placeholder before realizing how much he loved it. "We went home and listened to it," he recalled of the session. "I was like, 'Moonbeam ice cream? Hell yeah!'"
While "Mystical Magic" didn't receive a nod from the Recording Academy on November 7, the unserious line did secure Benson an award: his own "Moonbeam Ice Cream" Crumbl cookie.
As for how other artists reacted to their 2026 Grammy nominations? Addison Rae, who secured a nod for Best New Artist, shared a compilation photo of her shocked reaction on her Instagram Stories after the announcement. Meanwhile, Leon Thomas—who also landed in the same category and received five more nominations, including Album of the Year for his 2024 album Mutt—dedicated an entire post to his accolades. "Thank you God, my team, every collaborator, every producer, family, friends, and most especially my fans I couldn't have done it without you," the "Yes It Is" singer wrote earlier this month. "I got a show tonight and I'm gonna continue working harder on this next album."
