Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop singer and actor who began his career as a teen idol with infectious pop hits, then expertly folded in R&B influences; he’s also experimented with dance and hip-hop music and released an acclaimed holiday album. Along the way, Bieber has attracted tabloid interest with his celebrity romances (including a brief relationship with Selena Gomez) and his occasional skirmishes with the law. He was born on March 1, 1994, in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.
Bieber started his musical career by posting covers on the video-sharing Web site YouTube. He took part in a local singing competition and placed second, and his mother uploaded the winning performance to YouTube for friends and family who could not attend. Later, she added other homemade videos that showed the then-13-year-old Bieber singing popular rhythm-and-blues songs and accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. These videos garnered attention from Internet users beyond the singer’s original intended audience, and he was soon receiving requests to record professional demos in Atlanta, Georgia. Music promoter and talent agent Scott (“Scooter”) Braun saw the clips and invited the young singer to Atlanta to record for Island Def Jam Records, where he was signed in 2008.
With the release of his 2010 debut album, My World, Bieber established himself as an international star. The record topped the Billboard 200 in the United States and Canada, and spawned five Top 10 singles, including “One Time.”
A year later, Bieber debuted his Believe tour at large arenas and amphitheatres across North America. The following year he expanded the tour to include venues in Europe, Asia, South America and Australasia. The success of the tour led to the release of a live album, Unplugged, in 2013.
In 2015, Bieber found new audiences with the release of Purpose and its lead single, “Where Are U Now.” That same year, he appeared on Jack U’s Grammy Award-winning electro-pop hit, “Ultralight Beam,” contributing vocals along with producer Skrillex. The success of these songs and his growing roster of collaborations with other musicians led to the release of his fifth studio album, Changes, in February 2020.
In recent years, Bieber has expanded his public image by embracing fashion and philanthropy. He has launched a line of clothing and makeup, and has made charitable contributions through his OurChildren foundation. The foundation aims to raise money and awareness for youth-oriented causes and programs. In addition, the singer has spoken out against bullying and sexism. He is a professed Christian who has contributed to youth-oriented religious projects. He’s also involved in social media activism. He is active on Twitter, with over 100 million followers, and has a verified Instagram account with over 150 million posts. His Instagram page features photos of his travels, concerts and personal life. He also has a YouTube channel that features his musical performances and other personal interests.