Bebe Rexha
A powerhouse vocalist and hitmaking songwriter who fought for her artistic identity to become a defining voice in modern pop.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American singer and songwriter·Birthday: August 30·Millennials
Biography
Bebe Rexha's path to pop stardom was carved behind the scenes long before she claimed the spotlight. The Brooklyn-born Albanian American songwriter penned massive hits for other artists, including Eminem and Rihanna's 'The Monster,' proving her innate understanding of melodic hook and emotional punch. When she stepped forward as a performer, she brought a raw, genre-blending authenticity, merging pop structures with rock attitude and hip-hop beats. Her voice—a versatile instrument capable of both tender vulnerability and belted anthems—became the centerpiece of smashes like 'Meant to Be' with Florida Georgia Line, a country-pop crossover that dominated charts for a record-breaking run. Rexha's career is a testament to artistic resilience, openly discussing industry pressures and using her platform to advocate for body positivity and mental health, making her music resonate on a deeply personal level with her fans.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Bebe was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bebe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Bebe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote Eminem and Rihanna's 'The Monster,' which won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2015.
- Her collaboration 'Meant to Be' with Florida Georgia Line spent a record 50 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
- Received Grammy nominations for Best New Artist (2019) and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for 'Meant to Be.'
- Her debut studio album, 'Expectations,' debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2018.
- Founded her own record label, Better Mistakes, in partnership with Warner Records in 2021.
Did You Know?
Her first name, Bleta, means 'bumblebee' in Albanian.
She was the president of her high school choir and was classically trained in piano and trumpet.
She famously called out designers on social media for refusing to dress her for the 2019 Grammys because of her size, sparking a major conversation in the industry.
She sang the hook on the 2013 Cash Cash hit 'Take Me Home,' which became a platinum-selling dance track.
She has Albanian citizenship and was awarded the 'Honorary Ambassador of the Republic of Albania' title.
“I'm not going to change who I am to fit your idea of what a pop star should look like.”
