Christina Perri
A self-taught musician whose heartbreak anthem 'Jar of Hearts' became an overnight viral sensation, launching a career built on emotional candor.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: August 19·Millennials
Biography
Christina Perri's story is a modern fairy tale of digital discovery. Working as a waitress in Philadelphia, she had no industry connections when a demo of her song 'Jar of Hearts' was used on the TV show 'So You Think You Can Dance.' The track exploded online, leading to a record deal and a platinum debut album, 'Lovestrong,' all within a year. Her music, characterized by piano-driven melodies and raw, diary-entry lyrics, resonates with a generation that finds solace in shared vulnerability. Perri has navigated the fickle music industry on her own terms, building a dedicated fanbase through social media and touring. Her journey has also been marked by profound personal chapters, including becoming a mother and experiencing pregnancy loss, events she has channeled into her songwriting with unflinching honesty, solidifying her role as a companion for listeners through life's highs and lows.
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.
Christina was born in 1986, 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 Christina Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Christina's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
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
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her debut single "Jar of Hearts" was certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA after its viral breakout in 2010.
- Wrote and performed "A Thousand Years," the love theme for the Twilight film series, which has over a billion streams on Spotify.
- Her debut album "Lovestrong" debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified Platinum.
- Co-founded the nonprofit 'The Tiny Heart Foundation' to support families affected by pregnancy and infant loss.
Did You Know?
She is entirely self-taught on piano and guitar, learning by ear and never taking formal lessons.
Before her music career took off, she worked as a waitress at a California Pizza Kitchen.
She is the older sister of musician Nick Perri, who has played guitar for bands like Shinedown and Perry Farrell.
Her song "Human" was inspired by a line from the vampire TV series "True Blood."
“I just want to write songs that make people feel less alone.”
