Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Harry Styles

How Harry Styles built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Harry Styles is an English singer, songwriter, and actor celebrated for his impact on popular culture. Rising to prominence as a member of the boy band One Direction, he has since achieved significant solo success. Known for his artistry, showmanship, and philanthropic endeavors, Styles maintains a dedicated fan base and is regarded as one of the most successful solo artists to emerge from a boy band. His influence extends beyond music, establishing him as a prominent figure in entertainment and contemporary culture.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

April 2010: X Factor Audition

On April 11, 2010, Harry Styles auditioned as a solo contestant for The X Factor, initially singing "Hey, Soul Sister" before switching to "Isn't She Lovely".

July 2010: Formation of One Direction on The X Factor

In July 2010, Harry Styles and four other eliminated contestants were grouped together to form One Direction on The X Factor; Styles suggested the band's name.

2010: Formation of One Direction

In 2010, Harry Styles's musical career began as part of One Direction, a boy band formed on The X Factor after individual eliminations. The group became one of the best-selling boy bands.

January 2011: Signing with Syco Records

In January 2011, One Direction signed a recording contract with Simon Cowell's label, Syco Records, marking a significant step in their early career.

2012: Take Me Home Album Release

In 2012, One Direction released their album, Take Me Home, which continued their success.

2013: Ambassador for Trekstock

In 2013, Harry Styles and Liam Payne became ambassadors for the cancer charity Trekstock and responded to Westboro Baptist Church's protest with a message of equal rights.

2013: Midnight Memories Album Release

In 2013, One Direction released their album Midnight Memories, which became the world's best-selling album of the year.

2013: One Direction: This Is Us Documentary

In 2013, the One Direction documentary, One Direction: This Is Us, was released, featuring the Tremlow Viaduct in Holmes Chapel where Harry Styles signed his name, which is part of the Harry Styles tour in 2024.

2014: Endorsement of HeForShe campaign

In 2014, Harry Styles endorsed Emma Watson's HeForShe gender equality campaign.

2014: Support for LGBT rights

In 2014, Harry Styles joined Stonewall's #FirstSnog campaign and supported Michael Sam, the first openly gay NFL player, by wearing his jersey onstage.

2014: Four Album Release

In 2014, One Direction released their album Four, making them the only group to have their first four albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200.

2014: Collaboration with Harry Lambert

In 2014, during One Direction's "Four" era, Harry Styles began collaborating with stylist Harry Lambert, marking a shift in his fashion approach.

2015: Sponsorship of water wells in India

In 2015, Harry Styles sponsored water wells in India via Drop4Drop to support Life Water's World Water Day campaign.

2015: Made in the A.M. Album Release

In 2015, One Direction released their album Made in the A.M., continuing their streak of successful albums.

2015: Energetic Performance Described in Rolling Stone Review

In a 2015 Rolling Stone review of One Direction's concert at MetLife Stadium, Rob Sheffield described Harry Styles' energetic performance, comparing it to Secretariat running the Belmont Stakes in 1973.

2016: Solo Career Moves

During 2016, Harry Styles signed with Full Stop Management, CAA, and Columbia Records, and he launched his own record label, Erskine Records.

2016: Attended Brexit debate

In 2016, Harry Styles visited the House of Lords to attend a debate on Brexit, invited by Labour peer Lord Winston. He expressed that 'anything that brings people together is better than things that pull people apart.'

2016: Featured in Another Man magazine

In 2016, Harry Styles was featured in Another Man magazine, leading The Guardian to label him an "artthrob" for his unique fashion and artistic expression.

2016: One Direction Hiatus

In 2016, One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus after becoming one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.

March 2017: Announcing 'Sign of the Times' Release

In March 2017, Harry Styles announced that his first solo single, "Sign of the Times," would be released on April 7.

May 2017: Charity shows for album release

In May 2017, Harry Styles played intimate shows to celebrate his debut album release, with all proceeds benefiting charities.

May 2017: Debut Album Release and Film

In May 2017, Harry Styles released his self-titled debut album, which topped charts in multiple countries. The film 'Harry Styles: Behind the Album' was also released on Apple Music.

July 2017: Feature Film Debut in Dunkirk

In July 2017, Harry Styles made his feature film debut in Christopher Nolan's war film Dunkirk, playing a British soldier.

September 2017: Start of First Solo Tour

Harry Styles embarked on his first headlining concert tour, 'Harry Styles: Live on Tour', starting in September 2017.

2017: Introduces "Treat People With Kindness" slogan

In 2017, Harry Styles began using the slogan "Treat People with Kindness" during his debut concert tour, initially on a badge on his guitar and tour merchandise.

2017: Debut Solo Album Release

In 2017, Harry Styles released his eponymous debut solo album, which debuted at number one in the UK and the US and featured the hit single "Sign of the Times".

2017: Film Debut in Dunkirk

In 2017, Harry Styles's film roles included Dunkirk.

July 2018: End of First Solo Tour

In July 2018, Harry Styles's first solo tour, 'Harry Styles: Live on Tour', came to an end, concluding performances in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

October 2018: Executive Producer of Happy Together

In October 2018, Harry Styles served as an executive producer on the CBS sitcom Happy Together, inspired by his time living with Ben Winston.

2018: Performed with Fleetwood Mac

In 2018, Harry Styles joined Fleetwood Mac for a performance of 'The Chain' when the band was honored with the MusiCares Person of the Year award. Styles is a patron of the MusiCares non profit organization.

2018: Online store sold "Treat People with Kindness" T-shirts

In 2018, Harry Styles' online store sold "Treat People with Kindness" T-shirts in a rainbow print for Pride Month, with profits benefiting GLSEN. That year, Styles also showed his support for the March for Our Lives petition, and added "Black Lives Matter" and "End Gun Violence" stickers to his guitar.

July 2019: Declined Role in The Little Mermaid

In July 2019, it was reported that Harry Styles was in talks to play Prince Eric in the live-action Disney film 'The Little Mermaid' (2023), but he ultimately turned down the part.

October 2019: Release of "Lights Up"

In October 2019, Harry Styles released "Lights Up," the lead single from his second album, Fine Line.

December 2019: Harry Styles responds to criticism about not using his influence

In December 2019, Harry Styles responded to an interview question about not using his influence more often to support specific causes, indicating a more considered approach to his activism.

2019: Release of Fine Line

In 2019, Harry Styles released his second album, Fine Line, which debuted atop the US Billboard 200 and achieved the biggest first-week sales by an English male artist.

May 2020: Harry Styles supports Black Lives Matter

In May 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Harry Styles showed support for Black Lives Matter, urging fans to share and donate, and pledged to donate to a bail fund for arrested activists.

2020: COVID-19 pandemic support

During the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, Harry Styles released t-shirts with a COVID-19 related slogan, with all the profits going towards the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund by the World Health Organization. Styles also paid his core tour crew's salaries for the duration of the postponed dates until the end of 2020.

2020: Vogue cover controversy

In 2020, Harry Styles became the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue, wearing a Gucci dress, which sparked controversy and discussions about masculinity.

January 2021: "Treat People With Kindness" single and music video release

In January 2021, Harry Styles' song "Treat People with Kindness" was released as a single with a subsequent music video featuring Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

September 2021: Love On Tour Kicks Off

After previous postponement, Love On Tour officially kicked off on September 4, 2021, in Las Vegas.

November 2021: Eternals Cameo and Pleasing Launch

In November 2021, Harry Styles made a cameo appearance in the film Eternals and launched his gender-neutral skin and nail care brand, Pleasing.

June 2022: Harry Styles speaks out against overturning of Roe v. Wade

In June 2022, after the Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned, Harry Styles posted on Twitter expressing his devastation and referenced the ruling at his concert in Austin, Texas, emphasizing bodily autonomy.

June 2022: Donated Apple AirPods appearance fee to charity

On 2 June 2022, Harry Styles announced he was donating his appearance fee from Apple's AirPods' spatial audio campaign to the International Rescue Committee, aiding refugees fleeing Ukraine.

September 2022: Love On Tour at Madison Square Garden

In September 2022, as part of his Love On Tour, Harry Styles performed 15 sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. To mark this achievement, a permanent banner was raised in his honor inside the venue.

November 2022: Release of "Gucci Ha Ha Ha" and American Music Awards

In November 2022, Gucci released a collaborative collection between Alessandro Michele and Harry Styles, titled "Gucci Ha Ha Ha." At the 50th American Music Awards, Styles won Favorite Male Pop Artist and Favorite Pop Song for "As It Was".

2022: Description of Onstage Physicality by The Face

In 2022, Craig McLean described Harry Styles' onstage physicality for The Face as, "stomping, head-banging exuberance" that is "impossible to resist."

2022: Critical and Commercial Success of "Harry's House"

In 2022, Harry Styles achieved critical and commercial success with his third album, "Harry's House." The lead single, "As It Was," topped charts globally and broke records. He also headlined Coachella and was featured in an Apple AirPods commercial. At the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, Styles received three accolades, including Album of the Year for "Harry's House".

2022: Film Roles in Don't Worry Darling and My Policeman

In 2022, Harry Styles appeared in Don't Worry Darling and My Policeman.

2022: Acting Roles in "Elvis", "Don't Worry Darling", and "My Policeman"

In 2022, Harry Styles auditioned for Elvis Presley in "Elvis," starred in "Don't Worry Darling" with Florence Pugh, and "My Policeman" with Emma Corrin. "Don't Worry Darling" premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, while "My Policeman" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival where the cast won a TIFF Tribute Award for Performance. Reviews for his performances were mixed.

2022: Capsule collection with Gucci

In 2022, Harry Styles designed a capsule collection with Gucci's Alessandro Michele, titled "Ha Ha Ha", which was unveiled at Milan Fashion Week.

2022: Reference to Tracey Emin's "My Bed" in "Late Night Talking" Music Video

In 2022, Harry Styles referenced Tracey Emin's 1998 seminal work "My Bed" in the music video for his single "Late Night Talking."

2022: Harry's House Release

In 2022, Harry Styles released his widely acclaimed third album, Harry's House, which broke several records and featured the number-one song of the year, "As It Was."

2022: Most-Streamed Song and Searched Musician

In 2022, Harry Styles' song "As It Was" was the most-streamed song of the year globally on Spotify and Deezer, and Rolling Stone UK named him the "new King of Pop." Styles was the second-most-searched musician on Google, after Taylor Swift.

2022: Partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety

In 2022, following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Harry Styles partnered with Everytown for Gun Safety for 44 shows, donating $1 million to the Everytown Support Fund.

July 2023: Invited Ukrainian refugees to Love On Tour

In July 2023, Harry Styles invited three Ukrainian refugees supported by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to his Love On Tour show in Warsaw, continuing his partnership with the organization.

July 2023: Conclusion of Love On Tour

In July 2023, Harry Styles' Love On Tour concluded as the then-fifth-highest-grossing tour of all time, earning $617.3 million.

September 2023: Background Vocals on Mitch Rowland's Track

In September 2023, Harry Styles provided background vocals on bandmate Mitch Rowland's track "Here Comes the Comeback" for his debut album, Come June.

2023: The Little Mermaid Release

In 2023, The Little Mermaid was released, with the role that Harry Styles turned down taken by Jonah Hauer-King.

2023: Won Pollstar Award for partnership with Everytown

In 2023, the partnership between Harry Styles and Everytown earned industry recognition, winning a Pollstar Award for Brand Partnership/Live Campaign of the Year.

July 2024: Performance with Stevie Nicks at British Summer Time Festival

In July 2024, Harry Styles joined Stevie Nicks on stage at the British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park in London to perform "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and "Landslide" in tribute of Christine McVie's birthday.