Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber was discovered on YouTube when he was 13 years old by manager Scooter Braun. Braun stumbled upon videos of the Canadian teenager singing and drumming, eventually signing the soon-to-be-star to his and Usher’s joint label. It didn’t take long for the rest of the world to be hooked: his debut single “One Time” charted in the Top 20 the following year. In 2010, his single “Baby” would debut on the Hot 100 at Number Five and was followed by his chart-topping debut album My World 2.0 later that year. 

In his teens, Bieber’s name became synonymous with not only pop superstardom but the rabid fanbase that his fame inspired: his loyal Beliebers created pandemonium everywhere he went. He grew out of his teeny-bopper phase quickly, with 2012’s more R&B-infused Believe. In the years following, however, Bieber’s public life became fraught as he was faced with bouts of hard-partying, constant controversies and legal woes, including a DUI charge.

Nothing could keep Bieber’s pop career off track for too long. His 2015 album Purpose was a massive success, with hit songs “Sorry” and “Love Yourself.” He took home his first Grammy the following year for his collaboration with Skrillex and Diplo’s collaborative project Jack Ü. 

By 2020, Bieber began settling into a more mature life. He married Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin) in 2019 and wrote the album Changes about their domestic bliss. His 2021 LP Justice spawned several Top 10 singles, including Number One hit “Peaches.”

In recent years, Bieber’s health has been a struggle. He has been open about his issues with substance abuse throughout his career. He has also been diagnosed with Lyme and Ramsay Hunt syndrome part 2. Following Justice, he canceled most of the tour to focus on his health. In 2024, the Biebers welcomed their first child Jack Blues. In the months following, Bieber’s team had a major shake-up as he parted ways with his longtime manager Braun as well as other key figures on the business side of his team. In 2025, he announced Swag, his first album in four years. —Brittany Spanos