Historical Figure
Harry Styles
b. 1994
English singer, songwriter and actor (born 1994)
Hear Their Voice
Original recordings and AI voice
"Dunkirk On-Set Interview on Christopher Nolan and Filmmaking" — 2017
Generated by Today in History
Talk to Harry Styles
Have a conversation with this historical figure through AI
Biography
Harry Edward Styles is an English singer, songwriter, and actor. His showmanship, artistry, and flamboyant fashion have had a significant impact on popular culture.
Timeline
The story of Harry Styles, told in moments.
Auditions for The X Factor as a solo contestant at 16. He sings "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder. He's eliminated. Then a judge suggests grouping five rejected solo acts into a band. They become One Direction. None of the five chose each other.
One Direction finishes third on The X Factor and signs with Simon Cowell's Syco Records. Their debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" sells 153,000 copies on its first day in the UK. They sell out Madison Square Garden before their debut album is released. Styles is 17.
One Direction releases Four, their fourth album in four years. The pace is relentless. Zayn Malik leaves the following year. The fractures are already showing.
One Direction goes on indefinite hiatus after selling over 70 million records. Styles signs a solo deal with Columbia Records. He also takes a role in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. Nolan casts him without knowing he's a pop star. He shaves his hair for the part.
Releases his self-titled debut solo album. Lead single "Sign of the Times" goes to number one in the UK. The album sounds nothing like One Direction: it's Bowie-influenced art rock with Laurel Canyon folk. Rolling Stone calls it one of the best debuts of the year. He is 23.
Becomes co-chair of the Met Gala alongside Lady Gaga, Serena Williams, and Alessandro Michele. Walks the red carpet in a sheer black Gucci blouse, a single pearl earring, and heeled boots. The outfit trends worldwide and accelerates a conversation about masculinity and fashion that he didn't start but now personifies.
Appears on the cover of Vogue wearing a blue Gucci dress. First solo male cover in the magazine's 128-year history. Candace Owens tweets "Bring back manly men." Styles posts a photo of himself in a banana-print suit eating a banana. Caption: "Bring back manly men."
Harry's House wins the Grammy for Album of the Year. "As It Was" is the number-one song globally for 2022 according to both Billboard and the IFPI. His Love On Tour residency sells 1.2 million tickets across 42 nights at 15 venues.
Love on Tour concludes after 173 shows across three years. One of the highest-grossing concert tours in history. Gross exceeds $600 million. He played Madison Square Garden 15 times.
In Their Own Words (15)
A real girl isn't perfect and a perfect girl isn't real.
Harry Style in Todomusica.org (21 August 2023), 2023
I didn’t grow up in a man’s man world. I grew up with my mum and my sister. But I definitely think in the last two years, I’ve become a lot more content with who I am. I think there’s so much masculinity in being vulnerable and allowing yourself to be feminine, and I’m very comfortable with that. Growing up you don’t even know what those things mean. You have this idea of what being masculine is and as you grow up and experience more of the world, you become more comfortable with who you are. Today it’s easier to embrace masculinity in so many different things. I definitely find – through music, writing, talking with friends and being open – that some of the times when I feel most confident is when I’m allowing myself to be vulnerable. It’s something that I definitely try and do.
In conversation with Timothée Chalamet for i-D Magazine (2 November 2018), 2018
In writing songs about stuff like that, I like tipping a hat to the time together. You're celebrating the fact it was powerful and made you feel something, rather than 'this didn't work out, and that's bad.' And if you run into that person, maybe it's awkward, maybe you have to get drunk ... but you shared something. Meeting someone new, sharing those experiences, it's the best shit ever. So thank you.
Interview by Cameron Crowe in Rolling Stone (18 April 2017), 2017
We have a choice, every single day that we wake up, of what we can put into the world, and I ask you to please choose love every single day.
Speaking at his concert the day after the Manchester Arena bombing (23 May 2017), 2017
We're not who we used to beWe're not who we used to beWe're just two ghosts standing in the place of you and meTrying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat
"Two Ghosts", written by Harry Styles, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Mitch Rowland, Tyler Johnson, 2017
Artifacts (14)
Propuesta de nueva identidad visual corporativa, aplicaciones y merchandising para el álbum "Fine Line" de Harry Styles
[ES] La música nos ha acompañado durante siglos, así como el arte. Este trabajo de fin de grado recoge el proceso de ideación, creación y desarrollo del encargo ficticio de una propuesta de nueva...
More from the Late 20th Century
Explore what happened on the days that shaped Harry Styles's life. Today In History connects historical figures with the events, births, and deaths that defined their era. Browse all historical figures or explore today's events.