Career Timeline of George Michael: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how George Michael made an impact.
George Michael was a highly influential English singer-songwriter and record producer, achieving global recognition as a pop culture icon. His impact stemmed from his creative abilities in songwriting, distinctive vocal style, and innovative visual presentations. He is remembered for his significant contributions to the music industry and enduring influence on popular culture.
1981: Formation of Wham!
In 1981, George Michael formed the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley, marking a significant step in his music career.
1983: Release of Fantastic
In 1983, Wham!'s first album, Fantastic, reached No. 1 in the UK, launching the band into widespread recognition.
September 1984: Wham! Benefit Concert for Striking UK Miners
In September 1984, Wham! performed at a benefit concert at London's Royal Festival Hall for the striking UK miners.
November 1984: Joined Band Aid for Famine Relief
In November 1984, George Michael joined other British and Irish pop stars to form Band Aid, singing on "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for famine relief in Ethiopia.
December 1984: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Number One Hit
In December 1984, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" became the UK Christmas number one, holding Michael's song, "Last Christmas" by Wham!, at No. 2.
December 1984: Release of "Last Christmas"
In December 1984, Wham! released the single "Last Christmas", which became a holiday classic.
1984: Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
In 1984, George Michael participated in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", contributing to a major charity effort.
1984: Band Aid Performance
In 1984, George Michael performed on the original Band Aid recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?", contributing to a major charity effort.
1984: Success of Careless Whisper
In 1984, George Michael's solo single, "Careless Whisper", achieved significant success, fueling rumors of Wham!'s impending break up.
1984: Most Frequently Played Artist on British Radio
The Radio Academy stated that George Michael was the most frequently played artist on British radio during the period 1984–2004.
April 1985: Wham!'s Tour of China
In April 1985, Wham!'s tour of China, the first visit by a Western popular music act, generated worldwide media coverage and marked a cultural milestone.
July 1985: Live Aid Performance
In July 1985, George Michael sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with Elton John at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London, contributing to the global charity event.
1985: Live Aid Performance
In 1985, George Michael and Elton John performed "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" together at the Live Aid concert.
1985: Performed at Live Aid
In 1985, George Michael sang with Elton John at Live Aid, the Band Aid charity concert.
June 1986: Wham!'s Official Separation
In June 1986, Wham! officially separated after releasing a farewell single, "The Edge of Heaven", and a farewell concert at Wembley Stadium.
1986: Prince's Trust Charity Concert
In 1986, George Michael took part in the Prince's Trust charity concert held at Wembley Arena, performing "Everytime You Go Away" alongside Paul Young.
1986: Last Studio Appearance Before 2003
Prior to March 2003, George Michael's last studio appearance on "Top of the Pops" was in 1986.
October 1987: Release of "Faith"
In October 1987, George Michael released the single "Faith", which became one of his most popular songs and a defining image of the 1980s music industry.
1987: Release of Duet with Aretha Franklin
In 1987, George Michael released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet with Aretha Franklin, which topped charts in both the UK and US.
1987: Release of Faith
In 1987, George Michael released his debut studio album, Faith, which became a massive success, selling over 25 million copies worldwide.
1988: Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
In 1988, George Michael participated in the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium in London, performing "Sexual Healing".
1988: "Faith" Became Best-Selling Single of the Year
In 1988, the song "Faith" became the best-selling single of the year in the US, cementing George Michael's solo success.
1988: Last Concerts in Australia
Prior to the concerts in February 2010, George Michael's last concerts in Australia had been in 1988.
August 1990: Release of "Praying for Time"
In August 1990, George Michael released "Praying for Time", the first single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, addressing social issues and injustice.
September 1990: Release of Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
In September 1990, George Michael released Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, signaling his desire for more serious recognition as a songwriter.
1990: Release of Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
In 1990, George Michael released Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, another multimillion-selling album in his discography.
1990: Request for No Promotions
In 1990, George Michael told his record company Sony that he did not want to do promotions like the one for Faith for his second album.
March 1991: Wembley Arena Concert
On March 25, 1991, George Michael and Elton John performed "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" together at London's Wembley Arena during Michael's concert. This duet was recorded and later released as a single.
1991: "Mother's Pride" Gains Radio Play
During the first Persian Gulf War in 1991, "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio play in the US, often accompanied by tributes to soldiers.
1991: Release of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" for Charity
In 1991, George Michael's single "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" proceeds were divided among 10 different charities for children, AIDS and education.
1991: Cover to Cover Tour Recordings
In 1991, during George Michael's Cover to Cover tour, the live recordings of "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were captured. These performances were later featured on the Five Live EP.
April 1992: Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
In April 1992, George Michael wore a red ribbon at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium.
1992: Charity Donation and "Too Funky" Release
In 1992, George Michael donated three songs to the Red Hot + Dance charity project for AIDS awareness. Also in 1992, he released "Too Funky", with royalties donated to the same cause.
November 1994: MTV Europe Music Awards Performance
In November 1994, George Michael performed "Jesus to a Child" at the MTV Europe Music Awards, a tribute to his late lover, Anselmo Feleppa.
1996: Release of Older
In 1996, George Michael continued his streak of successful albums with the release of Older.
1996: "Fastlove" Release and Older Album
In 1996, George Michael released "Fastlove", which reached No. 1 in the UK. He also released his album, Older, in 1996, which produced six top three hits in the UK.
1996: "Jesus to a Child" Release
In 1996, George Michael released "Jesus to a Child," which reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 7 on Billboard.
1996: Awards and MTV Unplugged Concert
In 1996, George Michael was voted Best British Male at the MTV Europe Music Awards and the Brit Awards. He also received the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year and performed an MTV Unplugged concert.
1997: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Record Sales
In 1997, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was overtaken by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" for biggest-selling single in UK chart history.
1998: Ladies & Gentlemen Release
In 1998, George Michael released "Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael", his first solo greatest hits collection.
1998: Release of Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
In 1998, George Michael released Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael, adding to his collection of multimillion-selling albums.
1999: Songs from the Last Century Album Release
In 1999, George Michael released "Songs from the Last Century", a studio album of cover tracks.
1999: Release of Songs from the Last Century
In 1999, George Michael released Songs from the Last Century, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile artist.
2000: "If I Told You That" Collaboration
In 2000, George Michael collaborated with Whitney Houston on the hit single "If I Told You That".
2000: Equality Rocks Concert
In 2000, George Michael performed in Washington, D.C. as part of Equality Rocks, a concert to benefit the Human Rights Campaign, an American LGBT rights group.
July 2002: "Shoot the Dog" Release
In July 2002, George Michael released "Shoot the Dog," a song with a politically charged video criticizing Tony Blair and George Bush.
2002: Release of "Shoot the Dog"
In 2002, George Michael released the single "Shoot the Dog", which was critical of the relationship between the UK and US governments during the War on Terror. He voiced his concern about the lack of public consultation in the UK regarding the War on Terror.
March 2003: Top of the Pops Performance
In March 2003, George Michael performed "The Grave" on Top of the Pops, his first studio appearance on the show since 1986. The performance sparked controversy due to anti-war messages on band members' clothing.
2003: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Appearance
In 2003, George Michael appeared on the UK edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with Ronan Keating and won £32,000 for charity.
May 2004: Oprah Winfrey Show Appearance
On May 26, 2004, George Michael appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to promote his album Patience, performing "Amazing", "Father Figure", and "Faith", discussing his arrest, homosexuality, and return to public performances.
2004: Release of Patience
In 2004, George Michael released Patience, continuing his successful music career.
2004: Most Frequently Played Artist on British Radio
The Radio Academy stated that George Michael was the most frequently played artist on British radio during the period 1984–2004.
2005: Patron of the Swan Lifeline Charity
From 2005, George Michael was a patron of the Swan Lifeline charity.
2005: Live 8 Concert
In 2005, George Michael joined Paul McCartney on stage at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London, and harmonized on The Beatles' classic "Drive My Car".
November 2006: Twenty Five Album Release
In November 2006, George Michael released "Twenty Five", his second greatest hits album, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his music career.
2006: Start of 25 Live Tour Earnings
From 2006, George Michael earned £48.5 million from the 25 Live tour alone.
2006: Free Concert for NHS Nurses
In 2006, George Michael performed a free concert for NHS nurses in London to thank them for caring for his late mother.
2006: Release of Twenty Five
In 2006, George Michael released Twenty Five, adding to his impressive list of albums.
June 2007: Wembley Stadium Performance
On June 9, 2007, George Michael became the first artist to perform live at the newly renovated Wembley Stadium in London.
2007: "Peace Tour" with John Lennon's Piano
In 2007, George Michael sent John Lennon's piano around the United States on a "peace tour", displaying it at places where notable acts of violence had taken place. He also devoted his concert in Sofia to the Bulgarian nurses prosecuted in the HIV trial in Libya.
March 2008: 25 Live Tour North American Leg
On March 25, 2008, a third part of the 25 Live Tour was announced for North America, with 21 dates in the US and Canada.
June 2008: Expressed support for same-sex marriage legalization
On June 17, 2008, George Michael expressed that he was thrilled by California's legalisation of same-sex marriage, calling the move "way overdue".
December 2008: "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)" Release
On December 25, 2008, George Michael released a new Christmas-themed track, "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)", on his website for free.
2008: End of 25 Live Tour
In 2008, George Michael concluded the 25 Live tour.
February 2010: Australian Concerts
In early 2010, George Michael performed his first concerts in Australia since 1988. On February 20, 2010, he performed his first show in Perth at the Burswood Dome.
2010: Anonymously paid for IVF treatment
In 2010, George Michael anonymously paid for a woman's IVF treatment after seeing her talk about her problems conceiving on an episode of This Morning.
March 2011: "True Faith" Cover Release and Carpool Karaoke
On March 2, 2011, George Michael announced the release of his cover version of New Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" for Comic Relief. He also appeared on Comic Relief in the first Carpool Karaoke sketch with James Corden.
April 2011: "You and I" Cover Release
On April 15, 2011, George Michael released a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as a gift to Prince William and Catherine Middleton for their wedding.
August 2011: Symphonica Tour Begins
On August 22, 2011, George Michael's Symphonica Tour began at the Prague State Opera House.
February 2012: Brit Awards Appearance
In February 2012, George Michael made a surprise appearance at the 2012 Brit Awards, where he received a standing ovation and presented Adele with the award for Best British Album.
October 2012: Final Concert
On October 17, 2012, George Michael performed the final concert of his life at London's Earls Court, concluding the Symphonica Tour.
2012: Final Concert
In 2012, George Michael performed his final concert at London's Earls Court.
2012: IVF Treatment Success
In 2012, the woman who George Michael had anonymously paid for IVF treatment gave birth to a girl.
2013: Album Sales Update
As of 2013, George Michael's album "Ladies & Gentlemen" had reached worldwide sales of approximately 15 million copies.
March 2014: Symphonica Album Release
On March 17, 2014, George Michael's album Symphonica was released, becoming his seventh solo No. 1 album in the UK.
2015: Completion of "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)"
In 2015, George Michael completed the song "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)", which was later released on the Last Christmas soundtrack album in 2019.
November 2016: Freedom Documentary Announcement
In November 2016, George Michael's management announced that a second documentary on his life, entitled Freedom, would be released in March 2017.
January 2017: Donation Revealed
In January 2017, another woman came forward (with the permission of Michael's family) and revealed that George Michael had anonymously paid for her IVF treatment after seeing her talk about her problems conceiving on an episode of This Morning in 2010.
March 2017: Freedom Documentary Release Planned
In March 2017, the documentary "Freedom" about George Michael's life was set to be released.
March 2019: Auction of Art Collection
In March 2019, George Michael's art collection was auctioned in England for £11.3 million. The proceeds were donated to various philanthropic organizations Michael gave to while he was alive.
November 2019: Release of "Last Christmas" film and soundtrack
In November 2019, the film Last Christmas, inspired by the Wham! song, was released. The official soundtrack album, featuring Wham! and George Michael songs, including the previously unreleased "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)", was also released, debuting at number one on the UK Official Soundtrack Albums Chart.
January 2021: "Last Christmas" reaches number one
In January 2021, more than 36 years after its initial release, "Last Christmas" finally reached number one in the UK Singles Chart, a testament to its lasting appeal and a tribute to George Michael's songwriting genius. The period of 36 years taken to reach number one was a UK chart record at the time.
June 2022: Release of "Freedom Uncut" documentary
On 22 June 2022, the documentary film Freedom Uncut, which Michael had been working on before his death, was released.
October 2022: "Older" album charts at number 2
In October 2022, the remastered and expanded version of George Michael's album "Older" charted at number 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart Top 100.
2023: "Last Christmas" becomes UK Christmas number one
In 2023, "Last Christmas" achieved the UK Christmas number one for the first time.
2024: "Last Christmas" tops Christmas chart again
In 2024, "Last Christmas" hit number one again at Christmas, making it the first song to top the Christmas chart in consecutive years.
