Every Iconic Pop Singer Origin Story Explained

Before the fame, sold-out tours, and number-one hits, some of pop’s biggest stars were getting rejected from talent shows, uploading school demos online, playing tiny clubs, or trying to convince a record label to give them one more chance. A few were discovered almost by accident, while others spent years building a career before anyone was paying attention. In this video, we break down the origin stories behind iconic pop singers including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Adele, Céline Dion, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Shakira, and Ed Sheeran. From Beyoncé losing Star Search and Gaga getting dropped by Def Jam to Mariah’s demo tape, Adele’s MySpace beginnings, and Shakira nearly losing her record deal after two unsuccessful albums, these are the unlikely beginnings behind some of the biggest voices in pop history.