Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and global influence in modern-day popular music. He became a household name as a teen star primarily due to his social-media following and musical talents, although his romantic relationships and skirmishes with the law also brought him considerable tabloid attention. His 2015 album Purpose found a wider audience beyond his traditional fan base, and subsequent collaborations with other musicians led to more Top 10 hits.
Despite his fame, Bieber maintains an air of down-to-earth good nature and seems to enjoy being the center of attention. He’s an engaging interview subject, with a knack for bringing out laughs even in the most mundane of topics. He’s unfailingly kind and generous to those who work for him, including the crew that helped him film a Rolling Stone cover shoot in February. He presides over an entourage that includes his wife, Hailey Baldwin, his manager, Scooter Braun and others, all of whom he treats with equal respect.
He’s a fan of Will Ferrell movies, he’s a huge supporter of PETA events, and he’s always ready to help a friend in need. He’s also a great dancer, and his moves in the video for his hit “Baby” have gone viral several times over. He’s a very happy guy, and it shows in his music.
A few months after that shoot, he’s sitting in a Range Rover outside the mansion in Laurel Canyon that he shares with Baldwin. Sandwiched between a hulking Yukon Denali and a grey Tesla Model X, he’s unfailingly polite and attentive to his crew as he talks about the photo shoot, girls, his marriage, his love of God, music and more. He’s clearly enjoying being the center of attention again, and he wants to take a moment to thank his crew, his team and all his fans.
On the day of our call, he was wearing a buttercream Fear of God Essentials hoodie and a couple of different hats: a red beanie and a green and yellow snapback. He was talking about the album he’s currently working on, which overflows with gratitude for his wife, his fans, his voice and his team.
He then talks about his upcoming tour, and the rumor that he may be opening up a new venue in Los Angeles this year. It’s the first time in four years he’s been back stateside, and it’s a big deal for him. He’s excited about the upcoming show and says that he’s already planning on hiring an orchestra to play with him, and he’s looking forward to playing in front of his hometown fans. Then he gets back into his SUV, and we say goodbye. It’s been a wonderful chat, and he wishes us all the best. (An edited version of this article appears in the March 18 issue of Rolling Stone, on newsstands now and available in our digital archives.) Subscribe here to get the full story.