History of Janelle Monáe in Timeline

Janelle Monáe Robinson is a multifaceted American entertainer, celebrated as a singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress. Acknowledged for her diverse talents, she has garnered ten Grammy Award nominations. Beyond music, Monáe's acting prowess has earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Children's and Family Emmy Award. She has also received the ASCAP Vanguard Award, Billboard Women in Music's Rising Star Award (2015), and Trailblazer of the Year Award (2018).

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1927: Inspiration from Metropolis Film

In 1927, Fritz Lang released the silent film Metropolis, which Janelle Monáe referenced as "the godfather of science-fiction movies" and a key inspiration for her Metropolis concept series.

1979: Stevie Wonder's Album Inspiration

In 1979, Stevie Wonder released the album 'Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants"', which later inspired Janelle Monáe to write a musical as a teenager.

December 1, 1985: Janelle Monáe Born

On December 1, 1985, Janelle Monáe Robinson was born. She is known as an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress.

Others born on this day/year

2003: Musical Career Begins

In 2003, Janelle Monáe began her musical career with the release of her demo album, "The Audition", marking her first foray into the music industry.

2003: Demo Album Self-Release

In 2003, Janelle Monáe self-released a demo album titled "The Audition", selling it out of her car, marking an early step in her music career.

2006: Signs to Bad Boy Records

In 2006, Janelle Monáe officially signed with Bad Boy Records, with the label's main goal being to broaden her exposure.

2006: Collaboration on OutKast's Idlewild

In 2006, Janelle Monáe was featured on OutKast's album 'Idlewild', on the songs 'Call the Law' and 'In Your Dreams', and after Big Boi told Sean Combs about Monáe, Combs loved it right away.

2007: First Solo Work Metropolis

In 2007, Janelle Monáe released her first solo work, Metropolis, initially conceived as a concept album in four parts to be released online.

2007: Signs with Bad Boy Records

In 2007, Janelle Monáe signed with Bad Boy Records and released her debut extended play (EP), "Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)", which received critical acclaim.

August 2008: Metropolis: The Chase Suite Release

In August 2008, Janelle Monáe's "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" was officially released by Bad Boy Records, featuring new tracks and garnering critical acclaim.

November 2009: The ArchAndroid Concept Reveal

In November 2009, Janelle Monáe revealed the title and concept behind her album, "The ArchAndroid", setting the stage for its release.

2009: Touring and American Idol Feature

In 2009, Janelle Monáe toured as the opening act for No Doubt and her single "Open Happiness" was featured in the season finale of American Idol.

May 18, 2010: The ArchAndroid Album Release

On May 18, 2010, Janelle Monáe released "The ArchAndroid", combining the second and third suites of Metropolis, and featuring her alter ego Cindi Mayweather.

June 2010: Covers Charlie Chaplin's Smile

In June 2010, Janelle Monáe covered Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" on Billboard.com, showcasing her versatility and musical range.

September 2010: Belief in Time Travel

In September 2010, Janelle Monáe stated in an NPR interview that she believes in time travel, revealing her imaginative and forward-thinking perspective.

September 28, 2010: Dancing with the Stars Performance

On September 28, 2010, Janelle Monáe performed "Tightrope" on Dancing with the Stars, showcasing her energetic stage presence.

2010: Musical Aspirations

In 2010, Janelle Monáe expressed her desire to write her own musicals and create original characters, rather than performing roles that had been played countless times.

2010: The ArchAndroid Release

In 2010, Janelle Monáe's debut studio album, "The ArchAndroid", a concept album, was released through Atlantic Records, establishing her as a significant artist.

September 2011: "We Are Young" Feature

In September 2011, Janelle Monáe was featured on fun.'s single "We Are Young", which became a global hit.

December 11, 2011: Nobel Peace Prize Concert Performance

On December 11, 2011, Janelle Monáe performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Norway, showcasing her music on an international stage.

2011: "We Are Young" Collaboration

In 2011, Janelle Monáe guest performed on fun.'s single "We Are Young," which became a major hit, receiving a diamond certification and topping the Billboard Hot 100.

2011: Grammy Awards Performance

In 2011, Janelle Monáe performed at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards alongside Bruno Mars and B.o.B, receiving a standing ovation and showcasing her rising star status.

June 2012: Toronto Jazz Festival Performance

In June 2012, Janelle Monáe performed two new songs, "Electric Lady" and "Dorothy Dandridge Eyes", at the Toronto Jazz Festival, previewing her upcoming album.

July 2012: North Sea Jazz Festival Appearance

In July 2012, Janelle Monáe appeared at the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival, further establishing her presence in the international music scene.

August 2012: CoverGirl Spokesperson

In August 2012, Janelle Monáe was chosen as the newest spokesperson for CoverGirl, expanding her reach into the beauty industry.

September 2012: CarolinaFest Performance

In September 2012, Janelle Monáe performed at CarolinaFest in support of President Obama, showing her political engagement.

October 2012: Sonos Commercial Appearance

In October 2012, Janelle Monáe starred in commercials for the Sonos Wireless HiFi home audio system, blending her music with technology and advertising.

April 23, 2013: "Q.U.E.E.N." Single Premiere

On April 23, 2013, Janelle Monáe's first single from "The Electric Lady", "Q.U.E.E.N.", featuring Erykah Badu, premiered on SoundCloud and was made available for download, marking a key release from the album.

September 10, 2013: The Electric Lady Album Release

On September 10, 2013, "The Electric Lady" was released to critical acclaim, solidifying Janelle Monáe's status as a versatile and innovative artist.

September 14, 2013: iTunes Festival Performance

On September 14, 2013, Janelle Monáe performed alongside Chic at the iTunes Festival in London, showcasing her music on an international platform.

October 16, 2013: "Janelle Monáe Day" in Boston

On October 16, 2013, the Boston City Council named it "Janelle Monáe Day" in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, in recognition of her artistry and social leadership.

2013: The Electric Lady Album Release

In 2013, Janelle Monáe's second studio album, "The Electric Lady", debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, solidifying her position in the music industry.

April 11, 2014: Rio 2 Voice Acting Role

On April 11, 2014, Janelle Monáe's voice was featured as veterinarian Dr. Monáe in the movie Rio 2, expanding her creative endeavors into voice acting.

April 14, 2014: Harvard College Women's Center Award for Achievement in Arts and Media

On April 14, 2014, Janelle Monáe received the inaugural Harvard College Women's Center Award for Achievement in Arts and Media, recognizing her achievements as an artist, advocate, and feminist.

April 2014: White House "Women of Soul" Performance

In April 2014, Janelle Monáe performed at the White House as part of the "Women of Soul" event, celebrating American women artists and their impact on American national musical culture.

2015: Wondaland Arts Society Launch

In 2015, Janelle Monáe launched her record label, Wondaland Arts Society, in a joint venture with Epic Records, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit and support for other artists.

2015: Rising Star Award

In 2015, Janelle Monáe was honored with the Rising Star Award from Billboard Women in Music, recognizing her growing influence and impact in the music industry.

2016: Acting Debut in Moonlight and Hidden Figures

In 2016, Janelle Monáe gained attention for her roles in the films "Moonlight" and "Hidden Figures", marking her entry into the acting world.

2018: Trailblazer of the Year Award

In 2018, Janelle Monáe received the Trailblazer of the Year Award from Billboard Women in Music, celebrating her innovative contributions and unique path in the music industry.

2018: Dirty Computer Album Release

In 2018, Janelle Monáe released her third studio album, "Dirty Computer", which received widespread critical acclaim and was named the best album of the year by several publications.

2019: Starring in Harriet

In 2019, Janelle Monáe starred in the film "Harriet", further expanding her acting career.

January 10, 2020: #IAmNonbinary Tweet

On January 10, 2020, Janelle Monáe tweeted the hashtag #IAmNonbinary in support of Nonbinary Day, bringing awareness to the community.

2020: Homecoming TV series

In 2020, Janelle Monáe starred in the television series Homecoming.

April 2022: Publicly came out as non-binary

In April 2022, Janelle Monáe publicly came out as non-binary on Red Table Talk, stating they don't see themself solely as a woman and acknowledging being in both monogamous and polyamorous relationships.

2022: Children's and Family Emmy Award

In 2022, Janelle Monáe won a Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Program for her role in the TV series "We the People". She also starred in "Glass Onion" in the same year.

2022: The Memory Librarian Release

In 2022, Janelle Monáe wrote "The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer", a cyberpunk story collection based on her album "Dirty Computer".

February 16, 2023: Release of "Float"

On February 16, 2023, Janelle Monáe released the single "Float" featuring Seun Kuti and Egypt 80.

2023: The Age of Pleasure Grammy Nomination

In 2023, Janelle Monáe's fourth studio album, "The Age of Pleasure", was nominated for Album of the Year at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, marking her second nomination in this category as a lead artist.