By Wonderwall.com Editors
8:27am PDT, Jul 29, 2020
Some of our favorite musicians are celebrating birthdays in August. To mark these stars' special days, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at them at the beginning of their careers and checking in to see where they are now. Our list begins with the one and only Shawn Mendes, who turns 22 on Aug. 8, 2020. In 2013, Shawn was but a 15-year-old kid living in Pickering, Ontario, Canada, posting covers on the now defunct video-sharing app Vine. Two years later, he released his debut studio album, "Handwritten," and opened for Taylor Swift on the North American leg of her "1989" tour. He went on to release his second studio album, "Illuminate," in 2016, followed by 2018's "In My Blood," which topped the Billboard adult pop songs chart — making Shawn the first and only artist to have four singles hit No. 1 before turning 20. Keep reading to see what he's up to today…
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Where has the time gone? That Canadian kid is all grown up and turning 22 in August 2020! In 2019, Shawn Mendes kicked off a tour to promote his 2018 album, "In My Blood," which features the hit single "Lost in Japan." Earlier that year, he earned his first two Grammy nominations (for best pop vocal album for his self-titled third album and song of the year for "In My Blood"). The Canadian crooner went on to earn his third Grammy nod in 2020 (for best pop duo/group performance for "Señorita," on which he collaborated with girlfriend Camila Cabello).
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Prior to signing a record deal with Warner Music Group in 2015, Dua Lipa, who turns 25 on Aug. 22, 2020, worked as a model. She went on to release her self-titled debut studio album in 2017, which featured singles "IDGAF," "Be the One" and the smash hit "New Rules." That same year, she earned a Brit Award for best British female solo artist and best British breakthrough act. In 2019 at 23, she took home two Grammys (for best new artist and best dance recording for "Electricity").
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So far, 2020 has proven to be a successful year for Dua Lipa. On March 27, she released her second studio album, "Future Nostalgia," which includes the hit singles "Don't Start Now," "Physical," "Break My Heart" and "Hallucinate." The album received widespread acclaim from music critics and became Dua's first No. 1 album in the U.K. Dua's been in a relationship with model Anwar Hadid, the younger brother of supermodels Gigi and Bella, since the summer of 2019.
Madonna, otherwise known as the Queen of Pop, found fame in the 1980s when she released several chart-topping albums including "Madonna," "Like A Virgin" and "True Blue." Her success continued into the '90s and 2000s with the release of "Ray of Light" and "Confessions on a Dance Floor" and a Golden Globe-winning performance in "Evita."
Madonna, who celebrates her 62nd birthday on Aug. 16, 2020, is still an icon today. She's one of the bestselling female artists of all time, the most successful solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history and the highest grossing solo touring artist of all time, with $1.4 billion in ticket sales. The mother of six released her 14th studio album, "Madame X" (which debuted at No. 1), in June 2019.
Joe Jonas became a teen idol after he and his brothers, Kevin Jonas and Nick Jonas, formed the band the Jonas Brothers in 2006. The group released several popular albums including "Jonas Brothers" and "Little Bit Longer" and starred in hit Disney Channel shows and movies like "Camp Rock," "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam," "Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream" and "Jonas." In 2011, Joe — who turns 31 on Aug. 15, 2020 — released his first solo album. Four years later, he formed the band DNCE and released the top 10 single "Cake by the Ocean."
Today, Joe Jonas is back with the Jonas Brothers, married, a father and doing better than ever. In early 2019, he reunited with his siblings and released the group's first single in six years, "Sucker," which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their fifth album, "Happiness Begins," was released that June and a Jonas Brothers tour kicked off that August. Joe also found lasting love with "Game of Thrones" star Sophie Turner. The couple exchanged vows in Las Vegas in May 2019 and celebrated with a second, more formal wedding in France in June. They welcomed their first child, daughter Willa, in July 2020.
Coolio celebrates his 57th birthday on Aug. 1, 2020. The rapper first came to fame in the '90s with the release of albums "It Takes a Thief," "Gangsta's Paradise" and "My Soul." His song "Gangsta's Paradise" was the No. 1 bestselling single of 1995 and won Coolio a Grammy for best rap solo performance. He went on to release several more albums in the 2000s but none of them achieved the success of his '90s hits.
Today, Coolio is still performing and has dabbled in reality television. He's appeared on "Celebrity Big Brother," "Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off" and "Wife Swap" and released his most recent album in 2015. The talented amateur chef publishing a cookbook, "Cookin' with Coolio," in 2009 and hosted a web show with the same name.
Following the release of her famed single "Me & U," Cassie — who turns 34 on Aug. 26, 2020 — released her self-titled debut studio album in 2006 at 20. Two years later in 2008, she released the single "Official Girl" featuring Lil Wayne followed by "Must Be Love" featuring Diddy and "Let's Get Crazy" with Akon in 2009. After signing with Interscope, the Connecticut-born singer released her debut mixtape, "RockaByeBaby," which included collaborations with Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa. In addition to making music, Cassie has also worked as a model, appearing in magazines like GQ and advertisements for brands including Adidas, Abercrombie & Fitch and Clean and Clear. She also dabbled in acting and made her feature film debut in 2008's "Step Up 2: The Streets." Cassie began dating Diddy in 2007 though they waited until 2012 to confirm they were a couple.
Following her split from longtime boyfriend Diddy and departure from Bad Boy Records in 2018, Cassie released several tracks — "Moments," "Excuses," "Hungover," "Don't Let Go," "Speaking Of," "Rollercoaster," "Teach Me" and "Simple Things" — through her own label, Ventura Music. In late 2018, she began dating celebrity trainer and bull rider Alex Fine. The couple married in August 2019 and that December welcomed their first child together, daughter Frankie.
A big happy birthday to Tony Bennett, who celebrates his 94th birthday on Aug. 3, 2020! The New York crooner hit it big in the 1950s with the release of the No. 1 single "Because of You" and the chart-topping albums "The Beat of My Heart" and "Basie Swings, Bennett Sings." His success continued into the 1960s with albums like "I Wanna Be Around…," but his popularity waned in the '70s and '80s. Undeterred, Tony bounced back in the following decades and appealed to a younger audience with albums like "Cheek to Cheek" with Lady Gaga.
Tony Bennett is a music legend with 50 million records sold worldwide, 19 Grammys and fans all over the world. He most recently re-recorded his 1949 song "Fascinating Rhythm" for his 2018 collab album, "Love Is Here to Stay," with Diana Krall. He married third wife Susan Crow in 2007.
Vanessa Carlton went from indie artist to pop superstar when she released the top five single "A Thousand Miles" in 2002. Her debut album, "Be Not Nobody," was certified platinum but her follow-up albums, "Harmonium," "Heroes & Thieves," "Rabbits on the Run" and "Liberman," failed to achieve the success of her first record. Vanessa will ring in her 40th birthday on Aug. 16, 2020.
Today, Vanessa Carlton is doing just fine. In June 2019, the singer made her Broadway debut in the lead role in the Carole King musical "Beautiful." On March 27, 2020, she released her sixth studio album, "Love Is an Art." She is also enjoying being a mama to daughter Sidney and a wife to husband John McCauley.
Romeo Miller, aka Lil' Romeo, was only 12 when he released his platinum debut single "My Baby" in 2001. The rapper, who celebrates his 31st birthday on Aug. 19, 2020, went on to release three chart-topping albums in the 2000s and star on his own Nickelodeon show, "Romeo!" He played basketball for the University of Southern California from 2007 to 2010.
After leaving college at USC, Romeo Miller released the 2016 album "Fighting Monsters" but has primarily focused on acting and reality TV. The rapper has starred on "Growing Up Hip Hop" since 2016 and has appeared in movies like "Never Heard," "Adolescence" and 2020's "King of the South."
Demi Lovato will blow out the candles on her birthday cake when she turns 28 on Aug. 20, 2020. The pop star made a name for herself starring on the Disney Channel in "Camp Rock," "Sonny Without A Chance" and "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam." She went on to release two documentaries, several successful albums including "Don't Forget," "Here We Go Again," "Unbroken," "Demi" and "Confident," and six top 20 singles. Demi also faced her share of struggles, battling drug and alcohol addictions over the years.
Today, Demi Lovato is again in recovery. In July 2018 — shortly after celebrating six years of sobriety — she overdosed on oxycodone laced with fentanyl at her Los Angeles home. She was hospitalized for two weeks and entered rehab shortly afterwards. Luckily, Demi is doing much better now. At the 2020 Grammy Awards, she made an emotional return to the stage to perform "Anyone" and a month later, she released the lead single "I Love Me" off an upcoming album. Another major milestone for the star? She's getting hitched! On July 22, 2020, the singer announced that she and boyfriend Max Ehrich were engaged.
Bebe Rexha, who turns 31 on Aug. 30, 2020, came to fame as the vocalist in Black Cards — Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz's side project — from 2010 to 2012. In 2013, she received songwriting credits on Eminem's "The Monster" as well as on other tracks for artists including Selena Gomez and Nick Jonas. In 2015, she released her first EP, and in 2017, she found incredible success when she collaborated with Florida Georgia Line on the hit track "Meant to Be," which appeared on her debut studio album, "Expectations," in 2018. She soon found herself nominated for two Grammys — best new artist and best country duo/group performance.
In 2019, Bebe Rexha released the single "Last Hurrah" and also became the fifth coach on "The Voice" for the show's Comeback Stage during season 16. That same year, she opened on the Jonas Brothers' "Happiness Begins" tour and released the single "Call You Mine" with the Chainsmokers. Her second studio album is in the works and is said to be inspired by her mental health experiences.
Tori Amos achieved her breakthrough in the '90s with the release of several successful singles including "Crucify," "Silent All These Years," "God," "Cornflake Girl," "Caught a Lite Sneeze," "Professional Widow," "Spark" and "1000 Oceans." The classically trained musician, who will celebrate her 57th birthday on Aug. 22, 2020, continued to perform in the 2000s, releasing her most successful single to date, "A Sorta Fairytale," in 2002.
Today, Tori Amos has released 15 albums and received eight Grammy nominations. Her most recent work was the 2017 album "Native Invader." Before the coronavirus pandemic, Tori — who's written music for shows like the BBC's "Good Omens" — was still performing concerts nationwide. She also co-authored her autobiography, "Piece by Piece," with rock music journalist Ann Powers in 2005.
Having appeared in major Broadway productions like "Les Misérables" and "Spring Awakening," Lea Michele landed her breakthrough Hollywood role on the FOX musical series "Glee," for which she earned an Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations. She went on to appear on the short-lived series "Scream Queens" from 2015 to 2016. In 2012, Lea signed with Columbia Records and released debut single "Cannonball" that same year. Two years later, she released her debut studio album, "Louder," followed by her second studio album, "Places," in 2017. Lea, who turns 34 on Aug. 29, 2020, married businessman Zandy Reich in 2019.
In 2019, Lea Michele was announced as the host of the digital series "Well, Well, Well with Lea Michele" for the Ellen DeGeneres Network. That same year, she released her third studio album, "Christmas in the City," and starred in the ABC holiday made-for-television film "Same Time, Next Christmas." The former "Glee" star and husband Zandy Reich will welcome their first child in 2020.
Rick Springfield will be 71 on Aug. 23, 2020 (we know, we can't believe it either)! The pop-rock singer began his music career in the 1970s in his native Australia but didn't hit it big in the States until the '80s. His signature song, 1981's "Jessie's Girl," peaked at No. 1 and won Rick his first Grammy. He then released four more top 10 U.S. hits, "I've Done Everything for You," "Don't Talk to Strangers," "Affair of the Heart" and "Love Somebody," and starred in shows and movies like "High Tide," "General Hospital" and "Ricki and the Flash."
Rick Springfield has had his ups and downs since his heyday. He's continued to record, releasing albums "The Snake King" in 2018 and "Orchestrating My Life" in 2019, and act with roles in "Supernatural," "American Horror Story" and "True Detective." Rick has also battled depression over the years. The "Jessie's Girl" singer revealed in 2018 that he had contemplated suicide the year before. "Last year I was close to it, really close to it," Rick said on Sirius XM's "Feedback." "When Robin Williams and Chester [Bennington and Chris Cornell] and those guys [took their own lives]… I didn't go, 'Oh that's terrible.' I went, 'I get it.' I get being that lost and dark."
Billy Ray Cyrus became an overnight sensation when he released his debut album, "Some Gave All," in 1992. The project was been certified nine-times platinum and its No. 1 single, "Achy Breaky Heart," became the first single ever to achieve triple-platinum status in Australia. Billy went on to release 12 studio albums and 44 singles, star on Disney's "Hannah Montana" and CMT's "Still the King." He also gave the music world an A-list, chart-topping daughter, Miley Cyrus. He rings in his 59th birthday on Aug. 25, 2020.
Billy Ray Cyrus had a pretty amazing 2020. After hopping on the remix of Lil Nas X's single "Old Town Road" — which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record-breaking 19 weeks — in 2019, he earned two Grammys for his work on the song (for best music video and best pop duo/group performance).
Yolanda Adams has been a powerhouse in gospel music since 1991. The Houston native, who turns 59 on Aug. 27, 2020, released several chart-topping gospel albums in the '90s and 2000s including "Mountain High… Valley Low," "Save the World" and "The Experience." She went on to host her own nationally syndicated radio show, "The Yolanda Adams Morning Show," win four Grammys and publish a Christian book, "Points of Power."
Yolanda Adams has continued to record music and expand her resume. She released her most recent studio album, "Becoming," in 2011. She's also raising daughter Taylor with NFL player ex-husband Tim Crawford.
Shania Twain achieved her breakthrough in 1995 when she released her second album, "The Woman in Me." Two years later, she released the bestselling country album of all time, "Come On Over," which sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Shania, who celebrates her 55th birthday on Aug. 28, 2020, went on to earn five Grammys, release two more diamond-certified albums and perform a sold-out concert residency in Las Vegas. In 2008, she left her husband of 15 years, producer Mutt Lange, after discovering he was allegedly having an affair with her best friend and assistant, Marie-Anne Thiébaud.
Today, Shania Twain is flourishing. She released her first studio album in 15 years in 2017, "Now," and embarked on the "Shania Now" tour one year later. In June 2019, she announced "Let's Go!" — her second Las Vegas residency — which began that December. In 2020, Shania appeared in the biopic "I Still Believe." She's also found love again in the most unexpected place: Shania fell for Frédéric Thiébaud, the ex-husband of the woman she'd accused of having an affair with husband Mutt Lange. They married in January 2011.
LeAnn Rimes became an overnight sensation when she released her debut album, "Blue," in 1996 at 13. LeAnn followed up the multi-platinum album with a second chart-topping album, 1997's "You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs." The Mississippi native, who turns 38 on Aug. 28, 2020, went on to release eight more studio albums, publish four books and land more than 40 singles on American and international charts. LeAnn sparked a storm of controversy in 2010 when she left her first husband, Dean Sheremet, for her Lifetime movie co-star Eddie Cibrian, who was married at the time to future "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Brandi Glanville. "I take responsibility for everything I've done. I hate that people got hurt, but I don't regret the outcome," she told People magazine of the affair.
All's well that ends well, right? Leann Rimes and Eddie Cibrian married in 2011 and have been living happily ever after since then. The country star released her latest album, "Rimes: Live at Gruene Hall," in 2019 and starred in the Hallmark TV movie "It's Christmas, Eve" the year before.
