Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer-songwriter known for his genre-melding musicianship and global influence in modern-day popular music. He rose to fame in the first decade of the millennium, a teen pop star whose romantic relationships and skirmishes with the law fueled tabloid hysteria. He later found a broad audience beyond his preteen fan base through his 2015 album, Purpose, and subsequent chart-topping hits such as the “What Do You Mean?” and “Despacito” collaborations with Luis Fonsi. Following the release of his sixth studio album, Changes, in 2021, he married model Hailey Baldwin and began a family.
Born on March 1, 1994, in London, Ontario, Canada, Bieber taught himself piano, drums and guitar and started posting his performances on YouTube as a preteen. He was discovered by a talent agent who saw his video of a cover of Ne-Yo’s So Sick, and in a few short years became a globally recognizable celebrity.
As he grew into an adult, Bieber struggled with drugs and alcohol, and his public persona took on a tarnished sheen. He alienated many of his fans, and he was constantly finding himself in the news for offending people or making inappropriate decisions. The public skepticism and scrutiny made him defensive, which in turn contributed to his bad behavior.
He was arrested multiple times, and in one incident, he was caught running away from the police after allegedly hitting a 17-year-old security guard. This led to a long legal battle and a lot of negative publicity for him.
In the end, he fought back and regained his status as a pop icon with a series of hits and a newfound respect from his detractors. He also reshaped his image by taking up activism and philanthropy with Pencils of Promise, a nonprofit organization that builds schools in underdeveloped countries.
Today, he spends most of his time with Hailey and a small group of trusted associates. He’s often seen wearing buttercream Fear of God Essentials hoodies and several different hats, and he wears his hair long. In the Colin Tilley-directed music video for his latest single, “Anyone,” he sports a throwback look that evokes memories of his early career.
The message behind his new music, the inspirational messages he posts on Instagram, and the deliberately calm manner in which he goes about his days is an appeal to his younger self—the kid who felt like he was drowning and that no one would save him. He has a responsibility to help that kid now. He has to show him that it’s possible to live a happy life without compromising your values or losing who you are. You can find more of that in our interview with Justin in the February 18 issue of Rolling Stone (on sale now) and in the digital archives. Click through the gallery to see a few of our favorite photos from the shoot. Plus, watch a video of the interview here. (Subscription required.)