Justin Bieber is a pop star with the highest number of certified-platinum songs in history. He’s also a global music streaming superstar, and the most listened-to artist on YouTube. Bieber’s influence extends beyond his recordings to his fashion and lifestyle, influencing how young people dress, drive, talk, and behave.
The Canadian singer exploded onto the music scene at age 13, racking up hits like “Baby” and “Boyfriend.” He spent years out of the spotlight, but came back in 2015 with his chart-topping album Purpose and a slew of hit singles.
Despite his enormous success, Bieber struggles to find stability and calm. He is prone to outbursts, public tantrums, and repeated brushes with the law. He has also struggled to maintain healthy relationships, with his mother and with women. Bieber’s erratic behavior has damaged his image and led to a decline in his popularity.
Bieber was born in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, to Pattie Mallette and Jeremy Bieber. His mother worked multiple jobs to support her son and the family, but she encouraged her son’s interest in music. Justin began to learn how to play the drums, guitar, piano, and trumpet. In 2007, he entered a local singing contest and placed second. His mother soon started posting his homemade videos of him performing popular rhythm-and-blues and soul music on the Internet, and the videos attracted a wide audience.
In 2008, he was discovered by American talent agent Scooter Braun, who arranged an impromptu audition for him with Usher. His first single, “One Time,” reached the twelfth position in the Canadian Hot 100 and made its way to the top twenty of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
The rest of the decade saw a series of ups and downs for Justin. His 2009 album, My World, debuted at number one in the United States, and the singles from that release, such as “Baby” and “Boyfriend,” topped the charts around the world.
At times, it seemed as if Bieber was putting on a performance for the sake of the show. But he seems to have found a new focus in his work and a newfound appreciation for the value of a stable home life. There’s a moment in the recent documentary about his good friend, Billie Eilish, in which Bieber meets Eilish at Coachella and comforts her after she gets overwhelmed by the crowd. He wants to be the solid figure for younger artists that he wish he had had for himself. In his music, in his message to fans, and in the deliberately calm manner of his daily life, he is trying to communicate that to the young people who follow him.