Bebe Rexha
Bleta "Bebe" Rexha (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈblɛta ˈɾɛdʒa];[4] born August 30, 1989) (/ˈbiːbi ˈrɛksə/ BEE-bee REK-sə),[4] is an American singer and songwriter.[5] After signing with Warner Records in 2013, Rexha first achieved success as a songwriter, with credits on Eminem's single "The Monster" (which later received the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance) as well as other songs for Shinee, Selena Gomez, and Nick Jonas, among others.[6][7][8][9][10] Rexha released her debut extended play in 2015, I Don't Wanna Grow Up, which saw moderate commercial success with its singles "I Can't Stop Drinking About You" and "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy".
Bebe Rexha
Rexha released two additional extended plays in 2017, All Your Fault: Pt. 1 and All Your Fault: Pt. 2, which again saw the moderate success of the singles "I Got You" and "The Way I Are (Dance with Somebody)" (featuring Lil Wayne). Rexha has also seen success with several collaborations including "Hey Mama" (with David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Afrojack), "Me, Myself & I" (with G-Eazy), "In the Name of Love" (with Martin Garrix), and "Meant to Be" (featuring Florida Georgia Line), the latter of which had wide success as a country crossover single, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Rexha's debut studio album, Expectations (2018), reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and saw the success of its lead single, "I'm a Mess", and brought Rexha two nominations for Best New Artist and Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 61st Grammy Awards.[11][12] Rexha released her second studio album, Better Mistakes, in 2021. In 2023, Rexha's self-titled third album spawned her biggest single to date, "I'm Good (Blue)" (with David Guetta), which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in 22 countries.
Early life
Bleta Rexha was born on August 30, 1989, in Brooklyn, New York City; her family is Albanian and from North Macedonia.[13][14][15] Her father, Flamur Rexha, was born in Debar also known as Dibra, North Macedonia when it was part of Yugoslavia and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 21.[14] Her mother, Bukurije, was born in the United States to an Albanian family with roots in Gostivar which is northeast of Debar and separated by Mavrovo National Park.[14][16][17] In the Albanian language, bletë means "bee". She said, "My parents are Albanian, and people started calling me 'Bebe' for short."[6] She and her family moved to nearby Staten Island when she was six.[18] Rexha has a brother named Florent.[19][20]
Rexha took trumpet lessons and later taught herself to play guitar and piano.[21][22] She attended Tottenville High School in Staten Island, where she sang in the choir and took part in a variety of musicals.[23][9][17][22] While in high school choir, she discovered that she is a coloratura soprano.[24][25] She cites Coldplay, the Cranberries, Lauryn Hill, Alanis Morissette, and Kanye West as being musical influences.[26][27]
As a teenager, Rexha submitted a song to be performed at the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences' annual "Grammy Career Day" event. Rexha earned the "Best Teen Songwriter" award; about 700 were in the competition.[18][28][29] As a result, she signed a contract with talent scout Samantha Cox, who encouraged Rexha to enroll in songwriting classes in Manhattan.[21][30]
Artistry
Described as a "pop chameleon",[92] Rexha is known for a variety of genres, primarily pop.[2][3][93] Her first songwriting credit was a K-pop song for Shinee, the title song from the album Lucifer,[94] and since then she has released music in the hip hop,[93][95] alternative rock,[93] R&B,[95] country,[93][95] rock,[95] dance[95] and electronic music[95] genres.
She was mainly influenced by Lauryn Hill.[96] She was also influenced by other artists such as Bob Marley, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Blondie, Pink, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, Coldplay,[97][98][99] Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, The Chicks, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood.[100]
Personal life
Rexha is a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community;[101] she says her sexuality is "fluid".[102] In 2019, she revealed that she has bipolar disorder[103] and in 2023 she said she has polycystic ovary syndrome.[104] In July 2023, Rexha appeared on Celebrity Family Feud with her family; they competed against Nikki Glaser and Glaser's family.[105]
Headlining
Co-headlining
Opening act