Colbie Caillat
Her breezy, sun-drenched pop single 'Bubbly' launched from Myspace to become a defining sound of late-2000s radio.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: May 28·Millennials
Biography
Colbie Caillat's path to stardom was a digital-age fairy tale. The daughter of music industry veterans, she was a shy teenager who taught herself guitar and began posting songs online. One demo, 'Bubbly,' caught fire on Myspace, climbing the platform's charts and landing her a major record deal without any traditional industry push. Her 2007 debut album, 'Coco,' was a smooth, California-cool collection that turned her into a mainstream star, with 'Bubbly' and 'Realize' dominating adult contemporary radio. She later co-wrote and sang on Jason Mraz's 'Lucky,' winning a Grammy, and formed the duo Gone West. While her sound has evolved, Caillat's music has consistently championed authenticity and positivity, making her one of the first major artists born directly from social media.
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.
Colbie was born in 1985, 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 Colbie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Colbie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her debut single 'Bubbly' reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified multi-platinum.
- Won two Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year for co-writing 'Lucky' with Jason Mraz.
- Her debut album 'Coco' was certified double-platinum in the United States.
- Co-founded the country-pop duo Gone West, which released an EP in 2019.
Did You Know?
Her father, Ken Caillat, co-produced Fleetwood Mac's albums 'Rumours' and 'Tusk.'
She is a certified scuba diving instructor.
She was the first unsigned artist to reach number one on the Myspace music chart.
She named her debut album 'Coco' after her childhood nickname.
“I just want to make music that makes people feel good.”
