History of George Michael in Timeline
George Michael was a highly influential English singer-songwriter and record producer, considered a pop culture icon. He achieved fame as part of the duo Wham! in the 1980s before embarking on a successful solo career. Known for his distinctive voice, songwriting talent, and captivating stage presence, Michael sold over 100 million records worldwide. His hit songs include "Careless Whisper," "Faith," and "Freedom! '90." Beyond his music, he was recognized for his philanthropy and later, struggles with personal issues that were often covered by the media. His impact on pop music and culture remains significant.
1937: Birth of Lesley Angold Harrison
In 1937, Lesley Angold Harrison, George Michael's mother, was born. She later married Kyriacos Panayiotou and raised George Michael.
1958: Birth of Yioda Panayiotou
In 1958, Yioda Panayiotou, George Michael's sister, was born, becoming part of his family life.
1960: Birth of Melanie Panayiotou
In 1960, Melanie Panayiotou, George Michael's sister, was born, becoming a member of his family.
June 1963: Birth of George Michael
In June 1963, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, known as George Michael, was born in East Finchley to Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou and Lesley Angold.
June 1963: George Michael's Birth
On June 1963, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, later known as George Michael, was born in East Finchley, England. He became a renowned English singer-songwriter and record producer.
1972: Stevie Wonder releases "You and I"
In 1972, Stevie Wonder originally released his song "You and I".
1974: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" original release
In 1974, Elton John originally released the song "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."
1981: Formation of Wham!
In 1981, George Michael formed the duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley, marking the start of his professional music career.
1983: Wham!'s Album Fantastic Reaches No. 1
In 1983, Wham!'s first album Fantastic reached No. 1 in the UK, launching the band to initial success.
September 1984: Wham! Benefit Concert for UK Miners
In September 1984, Wham! performed at a benefit concert held at London's Royal Festival Hall to support the striking UK miners.
November 1984: Joined Band Aid for "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
In November 1984, George Michael joined Band Aid, a supergroup of British and Irish pop stars, to perform on the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for famine relief in Ethiopia.
December 1984: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" UK Christmas Number One
In December 1984, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" became the UK Christmas number one single, preventing Wham!'s "Last Christmas" from reaching the top spot.
December 1984: "Last Christmas" Release
In December 1984, Wham! released the single "Last Christmas", which became a holiday classic and a commercially successful song.
1984: Success of "Careless Whisper"
In 1984, George Michael had already achieved significant solo success with "Careless Whisper," which originally featured on Wham!'s album.
1984: Performance on Band Aid's Recording
In 1984, George Michael performed on the original Band Aid recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?", contributing to the song that became a UK Christmas number one.
1984: Participation in Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
In 1984, George Michael took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", a pivotal moment in his career.
1984: The Radio Academy names George Michael the most played artist
In 1984, George Michael was named the most played artist on British radio during the period 1984-2004 by The Radio Academy. This award recognizes George Michael's extensive radio play and popularity during this time period.
1984: Most Frequently Played Artist on British Radio
The Radio Academy reported George Michael was the most frequently played artist on British radio from 1984 to 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, garnered worldwide media coverage and was a historical event.
July 1985: Performance at Live Aid
On July 13, 1985, George Michael sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with Elton John at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London, marking a notable performance in his career.
1985: Live Aid performance with Elton John
In 1985, George Michael performed "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with Elton John at the Live Aid concert.
1985: Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year
In 1985, George Michael received his first Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year, recognizing his talent and success as a songwriter.
1985: Performance with Elton John at Live Aid
In 1985, George Michael sang with Elton John at Live Aid, the Band Aid charity concert, further supporting famine relief efforts.
June 1986: Wham! Officially Separates
In June 1986, Wham! officially separated, with the commercially successful single "The Edge of Heaven" reaching No. 1 on the UK chart.
1986: Prince's Trust Charity Concert Performance
In 1986, George Michael participated in the Prince's Trust charity concert held at Wembley Arena, where he performed "Everytime You Go Away" alongside Paul Young.
1986: Release of "A Different Corner"
In 1986, George Michael's single "A Different Corner" was released, marking another solo success before the official breakup of Wham!.
1986: Long time since appearance on Top of the Pops
It was 1986 when George Michael last appeared on Top of the Pops before his performance in 2003.
October 1987: Release of "Faith" Single
In October 1987, George Michael released "Faith" a few weeks before the album of the same name. The song became one of his most popular songs.
1987: Release of Faith album and "I Want Your Sex" single
In 1987, George Michael released his debut solo album, Faith. The first single released from the album was "I Want Your Sex". The song was banned by many radio stations in the UK and US, due to its sexually suggestive lyrics.
1987: Release of Faith
In 1987, George Michael released his debut studio album, Faith, which later won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and became a best-selling album.
1987: New Order original release of "True Faith"
In 1987, the band New Order originally released their song "True Faith".
1987: Release of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
In early 1987, George Michael released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet with Aretha Franklin, which became a number one hit.
1988: "Faith" Becomes Best-Selling Single
In 1988, "Faith" became the best-selling single in the US, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks. It also reached No. 1 in Australia, and No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
1988: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance
In 1988, George Michael and Aretha Franklin won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance – Duo or Group with Vocal for their song "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".
1988: World Tour and Brit Award
In 1988, George Michael embarked on a world tour. He was also joined on stage in Los Angeles by Aretha Franklin for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". At the Brit Awards, Michael received the first of his two awards for Best British Male Solo Artist. Also, Faith won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 31st Grammy Awards.
1988: Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Performance
In 1988, George Michael participated in the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium in London, performing "Sexual Healing" alongside other singers like Annie Lennox and Sting.
1988: Australia tour
It had been since 1988 since George Michael had toured in Australia before he did so again in 2010.
1989: Video Vanguard Award
At the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, George Michael received the Video Vanguard Award, recognizing his impact on music videos.
August 1990: Release of "Praying for Time"
In August 1990, George Michael released "Praying for Time" as the first single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. The song addressed social ills and injustice, becoming an instant success and reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 in the UK.
September 1990: Release of Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
In September 1990, George Michael released Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, aiming to be taken more seriously as a songwriter. The album was released in Europe on 3 September 1990, and one week later in the US, reaching No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the US. It produced five UK singles and spent a total of 88 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and was certified four-times Platinum by the BPI.
October 1990: "Fantasy" featured on "Waiting for That Day" single
In October 1990, George Michael's song "Fantasy" was featured on the "Waiting for That Day" single in the United Kingdom.
1990: Release of Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
In 1990, George Michael released the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, adding to his series of multimillion-selling albums.
1990: Desire to Change Promotion Style
In 1990, George Michael told his record company Sony that, for his second album, he did not want to do promotions like the one for Faith, signaling a shift in his approach to fame and promotion.
March 1991: Duet recorded with Elton John at Wembley Arena
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, and the duet was recorded.
1991: Radio play for "Mother's Pride" during Persian Gulf War
In 1991, "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio play in the US during the first Persian Gulf War. Radio stations often mixed in callers' tributes to soldiers with the music.
1991: Cover to Cover Tour and Autobiography
In 1991, George Michael embarked on the Cover to Cover tour in Japan, England, the US, and Brazil, including a performance at Rock in Rio. Also in 1991, Michael released his autobiography through Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written with Tony Parsons.
1991: Relationship with Anselmo Feleppa
In 1991, George Michael started a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress designer, after meeting him at the Rock in Rio concert in January.
1991: Brit Award for Best British Album
In 1991, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 won the Brit Award for Best British Album, recognizing its artistic and commercial success.
1991: Recording of live tracks during Cover to Cover tour.
In 1991, the live tracks "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded during George Michael's Cover to Cover tour.
1991: Release of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" for Charity
In 1991, the proceeds from the single "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" were divided among 10 different charities for children, AIDS, and education.
April 1992: Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Appearance
In April 1992, George Michael wore a red ribbon at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert held at Wembley Stadium, supporting HIV/AIDS awareness.
April 1992: Performance at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
On April 20, 1992, George Michael performed with Queen at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. He sang "'39", "These Are the Days of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield, and "Somebody to Love".
1992: Charity contributions and release of "Too Funky"
In 1992, George Michael donated three songs to the charity project Red Hot + Dance for AIDS awareness. He also donated the royalties from his song "Too Funky" to the same cause. "Too Funky" reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
March 1993: Death of Anselmo Feleppa
In March 1993, Anselmo Feleppa, George Michael's lover, passed away. The song "Jesus to a Child" was later dedicated to him.
1993: Death of Anselmo Feleppa
In 1993, Anselmo Feleppa, George Michael's partner, died of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.
November 1994: Performance of "Jesus to a Child" at MTV Europe Music Awards
In November 1994, after a long period of seclusion, George Michael appeared at the first MTV Europe Music Awards show, where he performed a new song, "Jesus to a Child", as a tribute to Anselmo Feleppa.
1996: Release of "Jesus to a Child"
In 1996, "Jesus to a Child" was released, entering the UK Singles Chart at No. 1 and reaching No. 7 on Billboard.
1996: Relationship with Kenny Goss
In 1996, George Michael began a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss, a former flight attendant, cheerleading coach, and sportswear executive from Dallas, Texas.
1996: Release of Older
In 1996, George Michael continued his success with the release of the album Older, which became another of his multimillion-selling albums.
1996: Release of "Fastlove" and Older album
In 1996, George Michael released "Fastlove", which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, and his third studio album, Older, which produced a record six top three hit singles in a two-year span in the UK.
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 was also awarded Songwriter of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards for the third time and performed a concert for MTV Unplugged.
1996: Older album dedicated to Anselmo
In 1996, George Michael's album Older, was dedicated to Anselmo Feleppa, his late partner.
1997: "Candle in the Wind 1997" Overtakes "Do They Know It's Christmas?" as Biggest-Selling Single
In 1997, Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997", released in tribute to Princess Diana, overtook "Do They Know It's Christmas?" as the biggest-selling single in UK chart history.
1997: Death of Lesley Angold Harrison
In 1997, Lesley Angold (Harrison), George Michael's mother, died, marking a personal loss for the singer.
April 1998: Arrest for public lewdness
In April 1998, George Michael's homosexuality became publicly known following his arrest for public lewdness.
April 1998: Arrest for lewd act in public restroom
On 7 April 1998, George Michael was arrested for "engaging in a lewd act" in a public restroom of the Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills, California, in a sting operation by an undercover policeman.
1998: Coming Out
In 1998, George Michael confirmed that he was homosexual.
1998: George Michael Comes Out as Gay
In 1998, George Michael publicly came out as gay, becoming an active LGBT rights campaigner and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser.
1998: Release of Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
In 1998, George Michael released Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael, his first solo greatest hits collection, which peaked at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. The first single of the album was "Outside", a humorous song making a reference to his arrest for soliciting a policeman in a public toilet.
1998: "Fantasy" on Listen Without Prejudice
In 1998, George Michael's song "Fantasy" appeared on the album Listen Without Prejudice.
1998: Public statement on sexuality
In 1998, after being outed, George Michael said on Parkinson that he became confident he was gay when he fell in love with a man.
1999: Release of Songs from the Last Century
In 1999, George Michael released Songs from the Last Century, a studio album of cover tracks, which peaked at No. 157 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart and at No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.
1999: Lawsuit filed by Marcelo Rodríguez
In 1999, Marcelo Rodríguez, the undercover policeman who arrested George Michael, brought a US$10 million court case in California against the singer, claiming slander and that Michael's video "mocked" him.
1999: Interview with The Advocate
In a 1999 interview with The Advocate, George Michael stated that falling in love with a man ended his conflict over bisexuality, confirming he was gay.
2000: Equality Rocks Concert Performance
In 2000, George Michael participated in the Equality Rocks concert in Washington, D.C., alongside Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Pet Shop Boys, and k.d. lang. The concert benefited the Human Rights Campaign, an American LGBT rights group.
2000: Collaboration with Whitney Houston
In 2000, George Michael worked on the hit single "If I Told You That" with Whitney Houston and co-produced the single with Rodney Jerkins.
July 2002: Release of "Shoot the Dog"
In July 2002, George Michael released "Shoot the Dog", a song with a video that showed Tony Blair as George Bush's poodle, during the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
December 2002: Appellate court reinstated lawsuit
On 3 December 2002, an appellate court reinstated the US$10 million court case brought by Marcelo Rodríguez against George Michael after the initial court dismissed it.
2002: Release of "Shoot the Dog" Single
In 2002, George Michael released the single "Shoot the Dog", which was critical of the UK and US governments' friendly relationship, particularly the relationship between Tony Blair and George W. Bush, and their involvement in the War on Terror.
February 2003: Recording "The Grave" in protest of the Iraq War
In February 2003, George Michael recorded Don McLean's "The Grave" in protest against the looming Iraq war.
March 2003: Performance on Top of the Pops
On March 7, 2003, George Michael made his first studio appearance on Top of the Pops since 1986, performing "The Grave". There was conflict with producers due to anti-war t-shirts.
2003: Appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
In 2003, George Michael appeared on the UK edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with Ronan Keating, winning £32,000 for charity after answering a question incorrectly.
2003: Context for "Shoot the Dog" Release
In 2003, George Michael's single "Shoot the Dog" was released during the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq.
May 2004: Appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show
On May 26, 2004, George Michael appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to promote his album, Patience, performing "Amazing", "Father Figure", and "Faith". He also spoke about his arrest and the public revelation of his homosexuality.
2004: Statements on past relationships with women
In 2004, George Michael discussed his past relationships with women during the Wham! days, his feelings about them, and his decision to stop due to concerns about AIDS and the responsibility of disclosing his bisexuality.
2004: Release of Patience
In 2004, George Michael released the album Patience, continuing his successful career with another significant album release.
2004: The Radio Academy names George Michael the most played artist
In 2004, George Michael was named the most played artist on British radio during the period 1984-2004 by The Radio Academy. This award recognizes George Michael's extensive radio play and popularity during this time period.
2004: Most Frequently Played Artist on British Radio
The Radio Academy reported George Michael was the most frequently played artist on British radio from 1984 to 2004.
November 2005: Plans for civil partnership
In November 2005, it was reported that George Michael and Kenny Goss planned to register their relationship as a civil partnership in the UK, but postponed the plans.
2005: Performance at Live 8 with Paul McCartney
During the 2005 Live 8 concert at Hyde Park, London, George Michael joined Paul McCartney on stage, harmonizing on The Beatles' "Drive My Car".
2005: Patron of Swan Lifeline Charity
From 2005 until his death, George Michael was a patron of the Swan Lifeline charity, becoming involved after moving to his home in Highgate and learning about the charity through a neighbor.
2005: Release of A Different Story
In 2005, the documentary A Different Story, which covered George Michael's career and personal life, was released, providing insight into his journey.
February 2006: Arrest for drug possession
In February 2006, George Michael was arrested for possession of Class C drugs and cautioned by the police.
July 2006: Accusation of public sex
On 23 July 2006, George Michael was again accused of engaging in anonymous public sex, this time at London's Hampstead Heath.
November 2006: Release of Twenty Five
In November 2006, George Michael released Twenty Five, his second greatest hits album, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his music career. It debuted at no. 1 in the UK.
2006: Start of 25 Live Tour
George Michael reportedly earned £48.5 million from his 25 Live tour between 2006 and 2008.
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. He also used the opportunity to advocate for government recognition of their contributions.
2006: Release of Twenty Five
In 2006, George Michael released the album Twenty Five, marking another milestone in his music career.
2006: Arrest for Drug-Related Offences
In 2006, George Michael was arrested for drug-related offences, marking a period of struggle with substance abuse.
June 2007: Performance at the newly renovated Wembley Stadium
On June 9, 2007, George Michael became the first artist to perform live at the newly renovated Wembley Stadium in London.
2007: Guilty plea to drug-impaired driving
In 2007, George Michael pleaded guilty to drug-impaired driving after obstructing the road at traffic lights in Cricklewood, London, and was banned from driving for two years and sentenced to community service.
2007: Worries over mother's reaction to sexuality
In 2007, George Michael said he had hidden his sexuality because of worries over what effect it might have on his mother.
2007: Statement on hiding sexuality
In 2007, George Michael said that hiding his sexuality made him feel 'fraudulent', and his eventual outing in 1998 was a subconsciously deliberate act.
2007: John Lennon's Piano "Peace Tour"
In 2007, George Michael sent the piano that John Lennon used to write "Imagine" on a "peace tour" around the United States, displaying it at sites of violence, such as Dealey Plaza in Dallas.
March 2008: Announcement of North American leg of 25 Live Tour
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: Disclosure of Jewish Heritage
In June 2008, George Michael revealed in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that his maternal grandmother was Jewish, but the family did not practice Judaism due to her fears during World War II.
June 2008: George Michael expresses excitement regarding California's legalisation of same-sex marriage
On June 17, 2008, George Michael publicly expressed his excitement about California's legalisation of same-sex marriage, stating that it was "way overdue".
September 2008: Arrested for drug possession
On 19 September 2008, George Michael was arrested in a public convenience in the Hampstead Heath area for possession of Class A and C drugs and cautioned by the police.
December 2008: Release of "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)"
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
George Michael reportedly earned £48.5 million from his 25 Live tour between 2006 and 2008.
2008: Arrest for Drug-Related Offences
In 2008, George Michael faced another arrest for drug-related offences, highlighting his ongoing battle with substance abuse.
2008: Michael's feelings after Feleppa's death
In 2008, George Michael spoke about the terribly depressing time after losing his partner Anselmo Feleppa to an AIDS-related illness.
December 2009: Interview with The Guardian about Cutting Back on Cannabis
In December 2009, George Michael stated in an interview with The Guardian that he had reduced his cannabis consumption to "seven or eight" spliffs per day, a significant decrease from his previous habit of 25 per day.
February 2010: First concerts in Australia since 1988
In early February 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 to an audience of 15,000.
July 2010: Arrest for crashing car
In July 2010, George Michael crashed his car into a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, London, and was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive.
August 2010: Charged with possession of cannabis and driving while unfit
In August 2010, George Michael was charged with possession of cannabis and with driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
September 2010: Sentenced to prison
In September 2010, George Michael pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, a fine, and a five-year ban from driving.
October 2010: Released from prison
In October 2010, George Michael was released from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk after serving four weeks of his sentence for driving under the influence.
2010: Anonymous IVF Treatment Payment
In 2010, George Michael anonymously paid for IVF treatment for a woman after she discussed her difficulties conceiving on an episode of 'This Morning'.
2010: Arrest for Drug-Related Offences
In 2010, George Michael was arrested for drug-related offences, continuing his struggle with substance abuse.
March 2011: Release of "True Faith" cover for Comic Relief
On March 2, 2011, George Michael announced the release of his cover version of New Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" in aid of the UK charity telethon Comic Relief. Michael appeared on Comic Relief itself, featuring in the first Carpool Karaoke sketch of James Corden, with the pair singing songs while Corden drove around London.
April 2011: Release of "You and I" cover as a gift to Prince William and Catherine Middleton
On April 15, 2011, George Michael released a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as an MP3 gift to Prince William and Catherine Middleton on the occasion of their wedding on April 29, 2011.
August 2011: Split with Kenny Goss announced
On 22 August 2011, George Michael announced that he and Kenny Goss had split two years earlier.
August 2011: Start of the Symphonica Tour
On August 22, 2011, George Michael's Symphonica Tour began at the Prague State Opera House.
October 2011: Royal Albert Hall Performance Cancelled Due to Viral Infection
In October 2011, George Michael had to cancel a scheduled performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London due to a viral infection.
October 2011: Nomination for Songwriter's Hall of Fame
In October 2011, George Michael was announced as one of the final nominees for the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.
2011: Michael's Coma During Pneumonia Bout
In 2011, George Michael fell into a coma during a bout with pneumonia, but he later recovered, marking a challenging period in his health.
February 2012: Surprise appearance at the Brit Awards
In February 2012, George Michael made a surprise appearance at the 2012 Brit Awards at the O2 Arena in London, where he received a standing ovation and presented Adele with the award for Best British Album.
October 2012: Final concert of the Symphonica Tour
On 17 October 2012, the final concert of George Michael's Symphonica Tour, which was also the final concert of his life, was performed at London's Earls Court.
2012: Relationship with Fadi Fawaz
In 2012, George Michael entered a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity hairstylist and freelance photographer based in London.
2012: Final Concert at Earls Court
In 2012, George Michael performed his final concert at London's Earls Court, concluding his live performances.
2012: Birth of Daughter following IVF Treatment
In 2012, a woman gave birth to a baby girl after George Michael anonymously paid for her IVF treatment in 2010.
May 2013: Car Accident on M1 Motorway
On May 16, 2013, George Michael sustained a head injury in a car accident on the M1 motorway near St Albans in Hertfordshire and was subsequently airlifted to a hospital.
2013: Sales Update for 'Ladies & Gentlemen'
As of 2013, the album Ladies & Gentlemen had reached worldwide sales of approximately 15 million copies.
March 2014: Release of Symphonica
On 17 March 2014, George Michael's album Symphonica was released, becoming his seventh solo No. 1 album in the UK, and ninth overall including his Wham! chart-toppers. The album was produced by Phil Ramone and Michael.
July 2014: Reported Celebrity Investor in Tax Avoidance Scheme
In July 2014, George Michael was reported to have been a celebrity investor in a tax avoidance scheme called Liberty.
2014: Refrained from Cannabis Use
In 2014, George Michael stated he had refrained from using cannabis for one and one half years.
June 2015: Checked into Drug Rehabilitation Facility
In June 2015, George Michael checked into a drug rehabilitation facility in Switzerland, seeking treatment for substance abuse.
2015: Worth £105 Million
According to the Sunday Times Rich List of the wealthiest British musicians in 2015, George Michael was worth £105 million.
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.
2015: Ranked 45th in Billboard's Greatest Hot 100 Artists
In 2015, George Michael was ranked 45th in Billboard's list of the "Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time".
November 2016: Announcement of a second documentary
In November 2016, George Michael's management team announced that a second documentary on his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be released in March 2017.
December 2016: George Michael's Death
In December 2016, George Michael died, marking the end of his influential career as a singer-songwriter and record producer, known for his creative impact on pop culture.
2016: Kathy Jeung's reaction to Michael's death
In 2016, Kathy Jeung reacted to George Michael's death by calling him a "true friend" and reminiscing about the best times of her life spent with him.
2016: Death of George Michael
In 2016, on Christmas Day, George Michael died of heart disease at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, marking the end of his life and career.
2016: Fadi Fawaz found Michael's body
On Christmas morning 2016, Fadi Fawaz found George Michael's body.
January 2017: Anonymous IVF Payment Revealed
In January 2017, following George Michael's death, a woman revealed (with his family's permission) that he had anonymously paid for her IVF treatment after seeing her on an episode of 'This Morning' in 2010.
February 2017: Adele's Grammy Tribute
At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2017, Adele performed a slow version of "Fastlove" as a tribute to George Michael.
March 2017: George Michael's Funeral
Due to delays in determining the cause of death, George Michael's funeral was held on March 29, 2017. He was buried in a private ceremony at Highgate Cemetery in north London, next to his mother's grave.
March 2017: Documentary "Freedom" set to be released
In March 2017, a second documentary on George Michael's life, entitled "Freedom", was set to be released, as announced by his management team in November 2016.
March 2017: Cause of Death Attributed to Natural Causes
In March 2017, a senior coroner in Oxfordshire attributed George Michael's death to natural causes due to dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver disease.
September 2017: Release of "Fantasy"
On 7 September 2017, George Michael's estate released the single "Fantasy", a reworked version by Nile Rodgers, from Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017).
October 2017: Release of music video for "Fantasy"
On 18 October 2017, a music video for George Michael's song "Fantasy" was released on Vevo.
2017: Temporary Memorial Garden Created
In the summer of 2017, a temporary informal memorial garden was created outside George Michael's former home in The Grove, Highgate. Fans tended to the site for approximately eighteen months.
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 philanthropic organizations Michael had supported during his lifetime.
November 2019: Release of Last Christmas film and soundtrack album
In November 2019, the Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was released, along with an official soundtrack album containing 14 Wham! and solo George Michael songs, including "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)".
2019: Named Greatest Artist of All Time by Smooth Radio
In 2019, George Michael was named as the greatest artist of all time by Smooth Radio.
2019: Death of Melanie Panayiotou
In 2019, Melanie Panayiotou, George Michael's sister, passed away, marking a loss for the family.
2020: Mural in Brent
In 2020, George Michael was commemorated with a mural in his native borough of Brent, commissioned as part of the Brent Biennial to pay tribute to his contributions to music, entertainment, and the LGBTQ+ community.
January 2021: "Last Christmas" reached number one in the UK
In January 2021, more than 36 years after its initial release, George Michael's "Last Christmas" finally reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.
2021: Financial Settlement with Kenny Goss
In 2021, the trustees of George Michael's estate reached a financial settlement with his former partner, Kenny Goss, following legal proceedings.
June 2022: Release of documentary film Freedom Uncut
On 22 June 2022, the documentary film Freedom Uncut, on which George Michael had been working shortly before his death, was released.
September 2022: Release of remastered and expanded version of Older
On 30 September 2022, a remastered and expanded version of George Michael's Older was released, comprising the original album, the Upper disc, and three bonus CDs.
October 2022: Older charted at number 2
On 7 October 2022, George Michael's remastered album Older charted at number 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart Top 100.
May 2023: Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On May 3, 2023, George Michael was selected as an inductee to the 2023 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Kate Bush, Willie Nelson, The Spinners, Missy Elliott and Rage Against the Machine.
November 2023: Induction Ceremony for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In November 2023, George Michael was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Andrew Ridgeley serving as his induction presenter.
2023: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2023, George Michael was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, posthumously honoring his significant contributions to music history.
2023: "Last Christmas" becomes UK Christmas number one for the first time
In 2023, George Michael's "Last Christmas" became the UK Christmas number one for the first time.
February 2024: Royal Mint Collectable Coin Unveiled
In February 2024, the Royal Mint unveiled a collectable coin featuring George Michael wearing his trademark sunglasses.
2024: "Last Christmas" hit number one again at Christmas
In 2024, George Michael's "Last Christmas" hit number one again at Christmas, making it the first song to top the Christmas chart in consecutive years.
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