Billie Eilish, who turns 21 on Sunday (Dec. 18), achieved more before reaching legal age than, well, just about anybody. She set records at awards shows and on the Billboard charts that are likely to stand for many years.
Eilish was just 15 in November 2017 when she entered the Billboard 200 for the first time with Dont Smile at Me. The EP debuted at an unimpressive No. 185, but it ultimately cracked the top 15. It has logged 246 weeks on the chart, longer than any other Eilish title.
Eilish was 16 in June 2018 when she hit the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time with “Lovely,” a collab with another talented young artist, Khalid (then 20).
Eilish’s success has truly been global. Both of her first two albums reached No. 1 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Holland, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.
Eilish has won seven Grammys and an Oscar, which means she was halfway to an EGOT before she was legally able to buy a drink.
Eilish deserves credit for keeping her head on straight during the past few years of nearly unprecedented attention, acclaim and accolades. That may not sound like it would be so hard to take, but it’s a lot – and young people sometimes want nothing more than to blend in. By virtue of her talent and accomplishments, Eilish was destined to stand out.
Take a look at this sampling of her accomplishments so far – and just think of what she can achieve going forward if she, you know, sticks with this music thing.
—Assistance in preparing this report by Gary Trust and Keith Caulfield