Greyson Chance
A musician who rode a viral YouTube wave as a child, then navigated the complexities of fame to forge an authentic, introspective artistic voice.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American singer-songwriter and musician·Birthday: August 16·Generation Z
Biography
Greyson Chance became a digital-age phenomenon overnight. At just 12 years old, a video of him performing Lady Gaga's 'Paparazzi' at a school talent show was uploaded to YouTube, amassing tens of millions of views and catching the eye of Ellen DeGeneres. He was swiftly signed to a major label, presenting a polished, pop-ready image on national television. But the narrative of the viral child star is often a trap, and Chance’s true story is about the deliberate unraveling of that early construct. As he grew older, he openly discussed the pressures of that sudden fame and the challenges of the industry. He stepped away, went to college, and returned not as a pre-teen sensation but as a songwriter in control of his sound. His later work, including albums like 'Portraits,' trades the broad pop of 'Waiting Outside the Lines' for darker, more personal piano-driven ballads. His journey is a case study in reclaiming a narrative, proving that a viral moment can be a launchpad, not a definition.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Greyson was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Greyson Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Greyson's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
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
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
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
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 2010 school performance of 'Paparazzi' went viral on YouTube, garnering over 70 million views and launching his career.
- Signed a joint-venture record deal with Ellen DeGeneres's eleveneleven label at age 13.
- Released multiple studio albums as an independent artist after leaving the major label system, including 'Portraits' in 2019.
- Toured internationally, headlining shows across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Did You Know?
He taught himself to play piano by watching YouTube tutorials.
Chance attended the University of Tulsa, studying journalism and mass communication.
He is openly gay and has spoken about how his music helped him process his identity.
His middle name, Michael, is in honor of Michael Jackson.
“I’m not the kid from the ‘Paparazzi’ video anymore. I’m a man who knows what he wants to say.”
