In the ever-evolving landscape of pop music, few artists have captured the raw vulnerability and unfiltered ambition of youth quite like Madison Beer. At just 26 years old, the New York-born singer, songwriter, and multi-hyphenate creative force has transformed from a viral YouTube sensation into a platinum-selling powerhouse with two Grammy nominations under her belt. With her third studio album, Locket, slated for release on January 16, 2026, Beer stands on the precipice of what could be her most significant era yet. Her journey—from childhood trauma and industry pressures to triumphant self-discovery—mirrors the emotional depth of her music, making her not just a star, but a voice for a generation grappling with mental health, identity, and love in the digital age.
Early Life: Roots in Jericho and a Spark of Talent
Madison Elle Beer was born on March 5, 1999, in the affluent Long Island town of Jericho, New York, to a Jewish family. Her father, Robert Beer, is a real estate developer, while her mother, Tracie, is an interior designer who later shifted her focus to nurturing Madison’s burgeoning career. Growing up alongside her younger brother, Ryder, Madison showed an early flair for performance. At age four, she graced the cover of Child magazine after winning a modeling competition, hinting at the charisma that would later define her.
But beneath the polished exterior lay a childhood marked by hardship. Around age six or seven, Beer endured sexual abuse from someone close to her, an experience that would profoundly shape her later advocacy for mental health. Her parents’ divorce when she was seven added another layer of instability. Homeschooled for five years to accommodate her pursuits, Madison immersed herself in theater, modeling, and songwriting. By 12, she was uploading covers to YouTube, her soulful rendition of Etta James’s “At Last” becoming the catalyst for her meteoric rise.
The Bieber Boost: Overnight Fame and Early Struggles
Fame arrived like a whirlwind in early 2012. Justin Bieber, then at the peak of his Believe era, tweeted a link to Madison’s YouTube cover, propelling her to worldwide Twitter trending status. The 13-year-old, still navigating middle school awkwardness, suddenly found herself signed to Island Records under Bieber’s mentor, Scooter Braun. “He’s going to be a star,” Bieber declared in her debut single “Melodies” music video, released on September 12, 2013.
The deal thrust her into the spotlight prematurely. She collaborated with Cody Simpson on “Valentine” (aired on Radio Disney but never officially released) and lent her voice to the Monster High theme “We Are Monster High.” Follow-up singles like “Unbreakable” (2014) and “All For Love” with Jack & Jack (2015) showed promise, blending pop and R&B with themes of heartbreak and resilience. Yet, the pressure mounted. A planned debut album was scrapped amid label disputes. At 15, a leaked nude video exacerbated her trauma, leading to self-harm, borderline personality disorder (BPD), PTSD, and two suicide attempts.
Beer parted ways with Island in 2016, opting for independence—a bold move that allowed her to reclaim her narrative. “I needed to find my voice without the machine,” she later reflected in her 2023 memoir, The Half of It.
Breaking Free: Independent Success and Debut Breakthroughs
Reborn as an independent artist, Beer spent three years crafting her debut EP, As She Pleases, released on February 2, 2018. The project was a revelation: introspective, ethereal pop laced with R&B grooves and unsparing lyrics about love and loss. Lead single “Dead” (2017) went viral, while “Home with You” (2018) cracked the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 at No. 21—making her the only unsigned female solo artist on the chart at the time.
Features followed: David Guetta’s “Blame It On Love” from 7 (2018), and her breakout as the voice of Evelynn in League of Legends’ virtual K/DA group with “Pop/Stars.” “Hurts Like Hell” with Offset capped the year, blending trap influences with her signature vulnerability.
Signing with Epic Records in 2019 marked a new chapter. Tracks like “Selfish” (2020, RIAA Platinum) and “Reckless” (2021, top 40 on Pop Airplay) showcased her evolution, earning praise for their genre-bending production. Her debut album, Life Support (February 26, 2021), debuted at No. 65 on the Billboard 200, with critics lauding its diaristic honesty—Pitchfork called it “ambitious,” while NME awarded four stars. Co-written and co-produced entirely by Beer, it explored fame’s toll, peaking at number 30 in Canada and the UK.
Silence, Tours, and Grammy Glory
Silence Between Songs (September 15, 2023) solidified her artistry. The sophomore effort, blending electronic pulses with contemplative lyrics, earned a Grammy nod for Best Immersive Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Singles like “Dangerous” and “Spinnin” set the stage for The Spinnin Tour (2024), a sold-out jaunt across Europe and North America that drew raves for Beer’s commanding stage presence.
2024’s “Make You Mine” topped the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart and snagged a 2025 Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording, plus an iHeartRadio win for Dance Song of the Year. “15 Minutes” followed in July, teasing more introspective fare. With over 3.5 billion global streams and 75 million social followers, Beer’s influence extends beyond music—she’s voiced characters in RuPaul’s Drag Race (2020), judged Good Mythical Morning (2023), and cameo’d in films like Louder Than Words (2013).
Ventures Beyond the Mic: Beauty, Fashion, and Advocacy
Beer’s entrepreneurial spirit shines in her business moves. In 2020, she launched Morphe x Madison Beer cosmetics, and in 2021, she co-founded Know Beauty skincare with Vanessa Hudgens. A 90s-inspired Boohoo collection (2021) and Vevo’s LIFT artist honor (2020) underscored her fashion savvy. Her memoir The Half of It (April 2023) became a bestseller, detailing her mental health battles and industry abuses, earning acclaim for its candor.
Openly bisexual since coming out in 2020 (after hinting in 2016), Beer champions LGBTQ+ visibility. In January 2024, she addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on X, affirming her Jewish identity while advocating peace: “You can be Jewish and also want peace for all people, including Palestinian people. No innocent person deserves to die.”
Personal Life: Heartbreak, Healing, and New Horizons
Beer’s romantic history has been tabloid fodder. She dated Jack Gilinsky (2015–2017), briefly Brooklyn Beckham, Zack Bia on-and-off (2017–2019), and TikTok star Nick Austin (2020–May 2025), amid rumors of infidelity and mental health struggles. Now, she’s in a high-profile relationship with NFL quarterback Justin Herbert, the Los Angeles Chargers star and University of Oregon alum. The couple went public in August 2025 after leaked set photos from her music video shoot, and they made their red-carpet debut soon after. They’ve been spotted cheering at MLB World Series games and even in Eugene for ESPN’s College GameDay in November. Beer credits the relationship with evolving her style, blending pop-glam with a sporty edge.
Residing in Los Angeles, Beer continues therapy and advocacy, turning pain into purpose. Her net worth, estimated at $18–20 million by 2025, stems from music, tours, endorsements (Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty), and merch.
The Road to Locket: A Bittersweet Return
2025 has been a teaser for Beer’s next chapter. “Yes Baby” (September) dropped as a dance-pop earworm, followed by the poignant “Bittersweet” (October), inspired by fan feedback from tours and her own relational reflections: “Now that it’s over, you blame it all on me… Right now I’m bittersweet.” The self-directed video stars The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Sean Kaufman and blends breakup melancholy with visual poetry. “All At Once” (June) soundtracked the F1 film, while Locket promises “bangers” amid her GRAMMY dreams—like headlining Madison Square Garden.
As she preps for Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (October 15) and album rollout, Beer remains grounded. “I’m really proud of where I am,” she told ELLE in April. With Locket on the horizon, Madison Beer isn’t just evolving—she’s unlocking the next level of her legacy, one vulnerable verse at a time.
