When Justin Bieber was a kid, he had this dream of becoming the biggest superstar in the world. And he did it, even though, along the way, he made every mistake a young star can make and nearly destroyed his life in the process. Now, he’s in the process of putting it all back together, one positive, deliberate step at a time. He has his wife, he has God, he has a new album and he’s got his music to share with the kids of today.
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer, songwriter, rapper and actor known for his genre-melding artistry, tenor vocal range, and global influence on modern-day popular music. He has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including 14 Guinness World Records.
Born and raised in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, Bieber began his musical journey at the age of 12, when his mother, Pattie Mallette, started posting videos of him singing on YouTube. These videos quickly garnered a large following and caught the attention of talent agent Scooter Braun, who signed him to a record deal.
His debut album, My World, was released in 2009 and went platinum in the United States. It featured the top 10 hits “One Time” and “Baby,” as well as a duet with Ludacris.
In 2012, Bieber appeared in the hit movie Believe, which grossed more than $73 million at the box office and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. The film also featured guest appearances from Kanye West, Miley Cyrus and Usher.
A year later, Bieber’s image took another beating when he was caught on video urinating in a janitor’s bucket and yelling “F— Bill Clinton” while holding a photo of the former president. The incident led to a barrage of criticism, and his previously squeaky clean image was tarnished further.
But Bieber has since reworked his image, going on to release two more albums—Purpose (2015) and Changes (2020)—both of which reached the top spot on the Billboard 200. He’s also been nominated for 22 Grammy Awards, winning two of them—including a 2016 win in the dance music category for his collaboration with DJ-duo Jack U on “Where Are U Now” and a 2021 country song nomination for his duet with Dan+Shay on Ghost.
In his latest single, he addresses the kid who used to want everything and believed he would never get it: “Now that I’m grown up, I realize I should have been patient.” It’s an empowering message, but more importantly, it’s something he knows first-hand.