Skylar Grey
A songwriter's songwriter, she penned the haunting hooks for massive hip-hop hits before stepping into the spotlight with her own ethereal voice.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American singer·Birthday: February 23·Millennials
Biography
Skylar Grey's journey is a story of artistic reinvention and quiet resilience. Born Holly Brook Hafermann in Wisconsin, she was a musical prodigy, performing with her mother's folk band as a child. Her early career as Holly Brook yielded a critically adored but commercially quiet album, 'Like Blood Like Honey.' The real pivot came when, after being dropped by her label, she moved to a cabin in Oregon with just $400. There, she wrote 'Love the Way You Lie,' a demo that became a global phenomenon for Eminem and Rihanna. This established her as a sought-after ghostwriter for stars like Dr. Dre and Diddy. Embracing the moniker Skylar Grey, she finally merged her songwriting genius with her own haunting, crystalline vocals on hits like 'Coming Home' and her debut major-label album 'Don't Look Down,' crafting a space where introspective folk meets cinematic pop.
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.
Skylar 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 Skylar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Skylar'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
- Co-wrote 'Love the Way You Lie' for Eminem and Rihanna, a global hit that topped charts in over 20 countries.
- Her songwriting contributions featured heavily on Dr. Dre's 2015 comeback album 'Compton.'
- Performed the hook on the Grammy-nominated hit 'I Need a Doctor' with Dr. Dre and Eminem.
- Her vocals are featured on the multi-platinum track 'Coming Home' by Diddy-Dirty Money.
- Founded the label 'We Make It Sound' to support independent artists.
Did You Know?
She began performing on stage with her mother's folk band at the age of six.
She legally changed her name from Holly Brook Hafermann to Skylar Grey in 2020.
She recorded her early demo for 'Love the Way You Lie' in a makeshift studio in an Oregon cabin.
She is an avid painter and has exhibited her artwork.
“I went from being an artist to a songwriter, and then I had to fight to be an artist again.”
