In 2021, Petras signed a contract with the Republic Records label, with whom she released the "Slut Pop" EP in 2022. Later that year, Petras released the single "Unholy" along with Sam Smith. It marked Petras' first number one single on the UK Singles Chart and on the "Billboard" Hot 100. The song also earned Petras the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, making her the first openly transgender person to win that Grammy Award.