9781422271308

CHAPTER 1

A STAR

IS BORN

Wave of Success While “Ocean Eyes’’ flung Billie Eilish into the spotlight, the talented teen with the one-of-a-kind voice was only getting started on a career that has been dazzling and delighting fans ever since. Creative, charismatic , and at times controversial, she has been churning out hits that continue racking up prime time airplay minutes on radio stations nationwide while registering millions of downloads and landing on the playlists of music fans everywhere. With a flair for writing thought-provoking lyrics, blended with a voice that can rise to the occasion and take on any song, her climb to the top has been swift and stunning. “Ocean Eyes” was featured on Eilish’s debut extended play album Don’t Smile at Me in 2016, which reached No. 14 on the US Billboard 200 chart and hinted at greater success just around the corner. Her debut full-length album, WhenWe All Fall Asleep,Where DoWe Go?, rolled out in 2019 and was greeted with high praise, glowing reviews, and downloads galore. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and later earned Eilish a shiny collection of coveted Grammy Awards, as she won Album of theYear and Best PopVocal Album. Plus, the track “Bad Guy” captured Record of theYear and Song of theYear. In addition, her win as Best NewArtist—one of the five Grammys she hauled home that evening—announced her arrival as a megastar on the world stage.

11

a star is born