The thrill of it all? Sam Smith snubbed by Brit Awards

Sam Smith attends the Z100's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017 at Madison Square gardens on December 8, 2017, in New York. / AFP PHOTO / KENA BETANCUR (Photo credit should read KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images)

Singer Sam Smith might have more than 12 million record sales and an Oscar under his belt, but it looks like he won’t be getting a Brit Award anytime soon.

Sam soared to the top of the charts in November with his second album The Thrill of It All.

The record beat off tough competition to become one of last year’s best-selling albums, just behind Ed Sheehan.

It even achieved platinum status after just a few weeks.

English singer-somgwriter Sam Smith poses on the red carpet upon arrival to attend the British Fashion Awards 2017 in London on December 4, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

Sam Smith (Getty)

But last night’s Brits nomination announcement saw the HIM singer fail to be nominated for a single category.

The album sold 97,000 copies in its first week, matching his debut album in 2014.

Reacting to the number in November 2017, Sam told Official Charts Company: “My heart is so full and happy with this news.

“Thank you to every single person who has got The Thrill Of It All – this is a dream come true for me, thank you.”

The first album went on to be the only album of 2014 to sell one million copies in both Britain and America.


It has sold more than 12 million copies in the three years since its release.

The singer won an Oscar for his James Bond theme tune, Writing’s On The Wall, in which he infamously claimed to be the first gay man to win an Oscar.

While both his best-selling albums have been centred around love troubles, the 25-year-old is now in a happy romance.

His relationship with 13 Reasons Why star Brandon Flynn has gone from strength to strength, and he now says he deserves happiness “for the first time”.

The British star has revealed that it is his relationship with Flynn, 24, which has turned around his opinion of himself.

Brandon Flynn and Sam Smith

(Instagram/flynnagin11)

He was unlucky in love throughout writing his new album, but was photographed kissing his new paramour in New York City in October, shortly before its release.

And speaking to V Magazine, Smith said the burgeoning love – which Flynn made Instagram official last month – may even have an effect on his music.

“On a personal level, I’m in a relationship right now and for the first time, I think I deserve to be happy,” the singer told film star Sarah Jessica Parker.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc-8zo5AwQi/?hl=en&taken-by=flynnagin11

“I’m actually asking myself if I’m going to be writing some happy love songs soon.”

Smith also claimed that he wasn’t a ‘proper’ gay man when he released In the Lonely Hour in 2014.

“In the past few years, I became a gay man properly,” said the star.

Sam Smith performs at the Z100's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017 at Madison Square Garden on December 7, 2017 in New York. / AFP PHOTO / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)

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“When I wrote that first album, I was in love with a straight man, he didn’t love me back, and I was very comfortable in my longing.

“With this record, I became a gay man.”

Smith explained: “I’m just figuring out what it means to be gay.

“When I made that first album, I was 19. I had never been in a relationship.

“I didn’t have any gay friends. Now, I have gay friends, and it’s changed my life.”

HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Recording artist Sam Smith the 88th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

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He added that there weren’t many gay singers’ examples to follow at this stage.

“Also, I don’t have a lot to go by as a gay man in music: even the George Michaels and Elton Johns weren’t out at the beginning of their careers,” said Smith.

But he said that he had now found his way.

“I’m putting out a second album that couldn’t be more me – and it couldn’t be gayer. I’m so proud of that.”

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 06: Actor Brandon Flynn attends City Year Los Angeles Spring Break on May 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for City Year Los Angeles)

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His boyfriend Flynn, who burst into the public consciousness with his breakout performance in Netflix’s hit show 13 Reasons Why, came out in an emotional Instagram post earlier this year.

And earlier this week, Flynn posted a heartwarming tribute on Instagram to his new beau.