South African R&B singer and songwriter Nanette is celebrating another major career milestone after revealing that her music has officially surpassed 4 million all-time plays on Apple Music.
The Durban-born artist shared the achievement with her fans on X, posting an Apple Music graphic that highlighted the impressive streaming figure.
Nanette appeared both surprised and grateful by the milestone, pointing out that the figure represents only her performance on Apple Music.
“Who’s responsible for thisssss?!!?!?” the singer joked while celebrating the achievement with her followers.
The milestone adds another significant moment to Nanette’s growing career and arrives as her critically personal project, Painfully Happy, continues to find an audience more than a year after its initial release.
Nanette’s “Painfully Happy” Continues to Find New Listeners
Released in August 2025, Painfully Happy became an important chapter in Nanette’s artistic journey.
The project explores the complicated emotions that can exist between happiness, grief, healing and personal growth. Much of the material was shaped by the singer’s experience following the death of her aunt, a deeply personal loss that occurred during a significant period in her career.
That contrast between personal heartbreak and professional achievement became part of the emotional foundation of the album.
Nanette previously reflected on how the loss coincided with her appearance on Apple Music’s Alpha playlist alongside fellow South African artists Elaine and Nomfundo Moh.
Rather than hiding those conflicting emotions, she incorporated them into the music, creating a project that moves between vulnerability, reflection and moments of celebration.
A Project That Refuses to Stay in One Genre
One of the defining features of Painfully Happy is its musical diversity.
Nanette draws from R&B, jazz, dance, reggae and Afropop, creating a sound that allows her to explore different moods without being restricted to one particular genre.
Songs including “Suddenly,” “One Night,” “Abazali” and “Make It Dance” have emerged as notable moments from the project, with each track offering a different perspective on love, relationships, loss and personal growth.
The project was later expanded with a deluxe edition in July 2026, giving listeners additional material while extending the story of Nanette’s emotional and creative journey.
From “Bad Weather” to a Growing R&B Career
Nanette, whose full name is Nanette Sphesihle Nobethu Mbili, was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and has gone on to establish herself within South Africa’s contemporary R&B scene.
Her breakthrough came through her SAMA-nominated debut project, Bad Weather. She later released the independent EP The Waiting Room, which surpassed one million streams and further demonstrated her ability to build an audience independently.
Over the years, Nanette has continued to develop a distinctive musical identity, combining emotionally direct songwriting with a willingness to experiment across genres.
Her music has also earned placements on major Apple Music and Spotify playlists, helping introduce her sound to listeners beyond South Africa.
4 Million Streams Marks Another Career Milestone
The latest Apple Music achievement is significant because it reflects sustained listener interest rather than a single viral moment.
For Nanette, the numbers represent millions of individual decisions by listeners to return to her music.
That is particularly meaningful for an artist whose work is rooted in personal experiences and emotional storytelling.
Painfully Happy began as a deeply personal response to grief and the complicated process of finding happiness again. Its continued performance on streaming platforms suggests that those themes have connected with listeners experiencing their own versions of love, loss and healing.
The milestone also comes as Nanette appears to be looking beyond the Painfully Happy era.
The singer has previously hinted at moving into a new creative chapter, while her songwriting experiences in Lagos have added further intrigue around what could come next.
What’s Next for Nanette?
With more than 4 million all-time Apple Music plays now attached to her name, Nanette enters her next chapter with considerable momentum.
Her journey from Bad Weather and The Waiting Room to Painfully Happy has demonstrated steady artistic growth, while her willingness to explore different sounds has helped distinguish her from many of her contemporaries.
For fans, the latest milestone is more than a streaming statistic. It is another indication that Nanette’s honest approach to music continues to resonate.
As the Painfully Happy chapter gradually closes, attention will now turn to what she creates next.
If her previous work is anything to go by, Nanette’s next chapter could be just as personal — and just as unpredictable
