Justin Bieber is a Canadian singer-songwriter who became a teen heartthrob in 2009 with hits like “Baby” and “Boyfriend.” After years away from the spotlight, he returned in 2015 with the album Purpose.
He was born in Stratford, Ontario, and raised by his single mother, Pattie Mallette, who worked at various jobs to support him. Bieber began playing sports, especially hockey, and also loved music. He took second place in a local talent competition at age 12, and his mother posted YouTube clips of him singing to share with friends and family.
Bieber toured with his band and gained popularity in North America, but he wanted to focus on recording more. His producer, Scooter Braun, heard him sing at a theater in Stratford, and when he searched for his name on YouTube, he saw videos of him performing. Braun reached out to Bieber, and the rest is history.
After a slow start in the US, Bieber found success with his 2011 holiday hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” featuring Mariah Carey. He followed it up with 2012’s Believe, which spawned two more No 1 singles. The album earned him a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
In January, he began his 10-part YouTube docuseries, Justin Bieber: Seasons. The first episode focused on his retreat from the spotlight after cancelling a tour in 2017. Other episodes explore his depression, marriage and struggles with mononucleosis and Lyme disease.
Since his 2009 debut, Bieber has released six studio albums and numerous singles. He’s certified multi-platinum for selling more than a million copies of an album, and his songs have been streamed over 30 billion times on Spotify.
Bieber is a global influencer in popular culture, and his image has been the subject of much controversy. His sartorial choices, public behavior and social activism have been criticized, but his ability to cross genres and connect with fans has made him one of the most recognizable pop stars in the world.
He’s also an accomplished actor who has appeared in several films and television shows. In 2016, he directed the film The Fate of the Furious, which was the fifth highest-grossing film in cinematic history. He’s also been known to date a string of high-profile women, including Selena Gomez, Sofia Richie and Hailey Baldwin. The latter is now his wife. Bieber and Baldwin married in a private ceremony in September 2019. The pair have two children together. The couple announced in 2020 that they are expecting their third child. He’s also a philanthropist and has worked with UNICEF on numerous projects. In addition, he’s made donations to help rebuild schools in Haiti and other parts of the world. In 2018, he was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He’s also a Global Ambassador for PUMA. The company has partnered with him on multiple campaigns, including a fashion line and a charity soccer tournament.