Carly Rae Jepsen is a Canadian singer, songwriter and actress from Mission, Canada. Born in 1985, she trains in musical theatre during her school years and at university, and first comes to wider attention after placing third on the fifth series of Canadian Idol in 2007.

Early releases and breakthrough

Jepsen’s debut studio album, Tug of War, appears in 2008 as a folk-influenced record. It is first issued in Canada and later released internationally in 2011. Her breakthrough follows in 2012 with the single “Call Me Maybe”, which becomes the best-selling single of the year, sells over 18 million copies, and reaches number one in more than 19 countries.

The success of “Call Me Maybe” leads to record deals with Schoolboy Records and Interscope Records. Later in 2012, she releases her second studio album, Kiss, which includes “Good Time”, a collaboration with Owl City. Both songs reach the top ten in Canada and the United States.

Stage, screen and later albums

In 2014, Jepsen makes her Broadway debut in the title role of Cinderella, performing for twelve weeks. Her third studio album, Emotion (2015), draws on 1980s music, dance-pop and synth-pop, and features the singles “I Really Like You”, “Your Type” and “Run Away with Me”. In 2016, she appears in the television special Grease: Live and provides a voice role in the animated film Ballerina.

Her fourth studio album, Dedicated (2019), includes “Party for One”, “Now That I Found You” and “No Drug Like Me”. It is followed by the B-side companion album Dedicated Side B in 2020. Her sixth studio album, The Loneliest Time (2022), includes “Western Wind”, “Beach House” and the title track, a collaboration with Rufus Wainwright. Its companion album, The Loveliest Time, appears in 2023.

Awards and recognition

Jepsen receives three Juno Awards, three Billboard Music Awards and an Allan Slaight Award. She is also nominated for Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, the Polaris Music Prize and People’s Choice Awards. In 2025, she is ranked number 75 on Billboard’s Top Women Artists of the 21st Century chart.

Style and labels

Her music is associated with pop, dance, dance-pop, disco, electropop, chillwave and folk. Jepsen is also linked with Jepsen Music Publishing.