History of Jennette McCurdy in Timeline

Jennette McCurdy is a multi-talented American artist known for her work as an actress, writer, filmmaker, and singer. She rose to fame playing Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon's "iCarly" and its spin-off "Sam & Cat," earning her multiple awards. While successful in children's television, she also appeared in shows like "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Zoey 101." Transitioning from acting, McCurdy ventured into writing and producing with her web series "What's Next for Sarah?" and starred in the science fiction series "Between."

1957: Birth of Debra McCurdy

Debra McCurdy (née LaBeaf), Jennette McCurdy's mother, was born in 1957.

June 26, 1992: Birth of Jennette McCurdy

On June 26, 1992, Jennette Michelle Faye McCurdy was born. This marks the beginning of her life and eventual rise to fame as an actress, writer, and filmmaker.

2000: McCurdy Begins Acting Career on "Mad TV"

At the age of eight, Jennette McCurdy's acting career began with an appearance on "Mad TV" in 2000.

2003: McCurdy Appears in "Hollywood Homicide"

Jennette McCurdy appeared in the film "Hollywood Homicide" in 2003.

2005: McCurdy Nominated for Young Artist Award

Jennette McCurdy received a Young Artist Award nomination for her performance in the television series "Strong Medicine" in 2005.

2007: McCurdy Stars in "iCarly"

Jennette McCurdy landed her breakout role as Sam Puckett in the Nickelodeon series "iCarly," which premiered in 2007.

June 2008: McCurdy Announces Debut Album

In June 2008, Jennette McCurdy announced that she was working on her first studio album.

2008: McCurdy Receives Young Artist Award Nominations

Jennette McCurdy received multiple Young Artist Award nominations in 2008, recognizing her work in "iCarly" and the TV movie "The Last Day of Summer."

March 10, 2009: McCurdy Releases Charity Single "Homeless Heart"

On March 10, 2009, Jennette McCurdy released a cover of Amanda Stott's song "Homeless Heart" as a tribute to her friend Cody Waters, who passed away from brain cancer. A portion of the proceeds from the song was donated to the Cody Waters Foundation.

2009: McCurdy Releases Debut Single "So Close"

In 2009, Jennette McCurdy independently released her debut single titled "So Close," marking her entrance into the music industry.

2009: McCurdy Signs with Capitol Nashville

Jennette McCurdy signed a record deal with Capitol Nashville in 2009, marking a significant step in her music career.

2009: McCurdy Receives Teen Choice Award Nomination

Jennette McCurdy was nominated for a Teen Choice Award in the Favorite TV Sidekick category for her role in "iCarly" in 2009.

April 16, 2010: McCurdy Releases Song Snippets for Fan Voting

On April 16, 2010, Jennette McCurdy released snippets of songs from her upcoming debut country album online, allowing fans to vote for their favorite to be the lead single.

May 24, 2010: McCurdy Releases "Not That Far Away" to Radio

After winning the fan vote, Jennette McCurdy's single "Not That Far Away" was released to country radio stations on May 24, 2010.

August 17, 2010: McCurdy Releases Debut EP "Not That Far Away"

August 17, 2010, saw the release of Jennette McCurdy's debut EP, "Not That Far Away."

2010: Her Mother's Cancer Returns

In 2010, McCurdy faced the disheartening news of her mother's cancer returning. This marked a challenging period as they confronted the disease once more.

2010: McCurdy Releases Debut EP "Not That Far Away"

Jennette McCurdy furthered her music career in 2010 by releasing her debut EP, "Not That Far Away."

March 22, 2011: McCurdy Releases "Generation Love" Digitally

Jennette McCurdy's single "Generation Love" was released for digital download on March 22, 2011.

April 25, 2011: "Generation Love" Hits Radio

Following its digital release, "Generation Love" by Jennette McCurdy hit radio airwaves on April 25, 2011.

June 2011: Sharing Her Family's Story

In June 2011, Jennette McCurdy courageously shared her family's deeply personal experience with her mother's cancer battle in an article titled "Off-Camera, My Mom's Fight With Cancer" for The Wall Street Journal. The article provided an intimate glimpse into the challenges and triumphs her family faced as they navigated Debra's illness, offering a raw and honest account of their journey. McCurdy also shared valuable advice for others living with an ill parent, drawing from her own experiences.

2011: Venturing into Writing

In 2011, Jennette McCurdy added another layer to her career by delving into writing. She became a contributing writer for The Wall Street Journal, where she penned eight articles on a range of thought-provoking topics. From reflecting on the legacy of Shirley Temple to addressing issues like body shaming and the often-illusory nature of corporate culture, McCurdy shared her perspectives and observations. Her writing extended beyond The Wall Street Journal, as she also contributed articles to Seventeen magazine and The Huffington Post.

February 8, 2012: McCurdy Releases Self-Titled EP

Jennette McCurdy released her second EP, a self-titled project, on February 8, 2012.

2012: McCurdy Releases Self-Titled EP and Album

In 2012, Jennette McCurdy released a self-titled EP and a full studio album, also titled "Jennette McCurdy." The album's lead single, "Generation Love," achieved notable success on the Billboard charts.

2012: End of "iCarly"

The Nickelodeon series "iCarly," starring Jennette McCurdy, concluded in 2012.

June 8, 2013: Premiere of "Sam & Cat"

The Nickelodeon series "Sam & Cat," starring Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande, premiered on June 8, 2013. The show followed the characters as roommates who start a babysitting business.

September 20, 2013: Loss of Her Mother

On September 20, 2013, Jennette McCurdy experienced the profound loss of her mother, Debra McCurdy, who passed away after a 17-year battle with cancer.

2013: Loss and Grief at Age 21

At the young age of 21, McCurdy experienced the profound grief of losing her mother to cancer in 2013. This significant life event deeply impacted her and became a central theme she explored in her later work, particularly her memoir and one-woman show.

2013: Death of Debra McCurdy

Debra McCurdy, Jennette McCurdy's mother, passed away in 2013.

2013: Relationship with Andre Drummond

In 2013, McCurdy was romantically linked to American basketball player Andre Drummond.

July 13, 2014: Nickelodeon Cancels "Sam & Cat"

After only one season, Nickelodeon announced the cancellation of "Sam & Cat" on July 13, 2014.

August 13, 2014: McCurdy Launches Web Series "What's Next for Sarah?"

On August 13, 2014, Jennette McCurdy launched her own online show titled "What's Next for Sarah?" The series, which she wrote, starred in, and executive produced, was loosely based on her own life.

2014: McCurdy Misses Kids' Choice Awards, Citing Unfair Treatment

Jennette McCurdy was notably absent from the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 2014. She later explained that her absence was due to Nickelodeon putting her in an "uncomfortable, compromising, unfair situation."

2015: McCurdy Stars in Netflix Series "Between"

Jennette McCurdy took on the lead role in the Netflix drama series "Between" in 2015.

August 2016: McCurdy Signs with Canvas Media Studios

In August 2016, Jennette McCurdy made a move toward digital content creation by signing a deal with Canvas Media Studios. The partnership focused on developing new projects and leveraging McCurdy's social media presence.

2017: McCurdy Quits Acting

Feeling unfulfilled by her acting career, Jennette McCurdy made the decision to quit in 2017 and pursue her passions for writing and directing.

2018: McCurdy Retires from Acting

In 2018, Jennette McCurdy decided to leave acting to focus on her aspirations in writing and directing, marking a significant shift in her career path.

2018: Directorial Debut and Exploration

In 2018, Jennette McCurdy stepped behind the camera to write and direct her first short film, "Kenny," a dramedy drawing inspiration from her mother's passing. The film, made with an all-female crew, garnered attention and was featured in The Hollywood Reporter and on Short of the Week. This marked the beginning of her filmmaking journey, as she went on to write and direct three more short films: "The Grave," "The McCurdys" (a semi-autobiographical piece about her childhood), and "Strong Independent Women," which tackled the topic of eating disorders. By the end of 2018, she expressed a strong desire to pursue more directing opportunities.

March 2019: Public Revelation of Eating Disorders and Recovery Journey

In March 2019, McCurdy bravely shared her struggles with anorexia and bulimia, shedding light on the pressures and influences that contributed to her eating disorders, including the entertainment industry and her mother's role. She detailed her journey towards recovery, including the intervention of her sister-in-law, the health consequences she faced, and the emotional toll it took.

2019: Publicly Addressing Her Eating Disorder

In 2019, McCurdy made the courageous decision to open up about her struggles with an eating disorder. This marked a significant step in her personal journey towards healing and raising awareness about these complex issues.

July 2020: Navigating the Pandemic and Launching a Podcast

In July 2020, amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, McCurdy launched a new creative endeavor: a podcast titled "Empty Inside." She announced the podcast through a video on her YouTube channel and social media, marking a return to her online presence and a new platform for her voice and experiences.

2020: McCurdy Begins Hosting "Empty Inside" Podcast

Jennette McCurdy entered the world of podcasting in 2020 by launching and hosting "Empty Inside," an interview-based show.

September 2021: Return to Performing and Reprising Her One-Woman Show

In September 2021, McCurdy returned to the stage, picking up where she left off before the pandemic halted live performances. She resumed performing her tragicomedy show, "I'm Glad My Mom Died," in Los Angeles, offering audiences a raw and unfiltered look at her life and experiences.

August 9, 2022: Release of Memoir: "I'm Glad My Mom Died"

On August 9, 2022, McCurdy's highly anticipated memoir, "I'm Glad My Mom Died," was published by Simon & Schuster. The book's title alone sparked widespread conversation and debate, reflecting the raw and unflinching approach McCurdy took in sharing her life story. The memoir quickly climbed the charts, securing the number one spot on The New York Times Best Seller list for an impressive eight weeks after its release, indicating the resonance of McCurdy's story with readers.

2022: Achieving Full Recovery

By 2022, McCurdy proudly shared that she had achieved full recovery from her eating disorders. Her openness about her journey served as an inspiration to others battling similar challenges, demonstrating the possibility of healing and reclaiming one's life.

2022: McCurdy Alleges Nickelodeon Offered Hush Money

In 2022, Jennette McCurdy released her memoir, in which she alleged that Nickelodeon offered her $300,000 in hush money to not speak publicly about her negative experiences at the network. She stated that she refused the offer.

2022: Further Exploration of Her Mother's Influence

In 2022, McCurdy's memoir, "I'm Glad My Mom Died," provided a deeper exploration of her complex relationship with her mother. The book's cover itself, featuring McCurdy gazing upward while holding a pink urn with confetti spilling out, hinted at the conflicting emotions she grappled with—a blend of grief, liberation, and a reclaiming of her narrative. McCurdy bravely detailed her mother's abusive and controlling behavior, offering a raw and honest portrayal of their dynamic and its impact on her life.

2022: McCurdy Expresses Regret Over Country Music Career

In her 2022 memoir, Jennette McCurdy reflected on her time in country music, referring to it as a "much-regretted country music blip."

2022: McCurdy Releases Memoir "I'm Glad My Mom Died"

Jennette McCurdy released her memoir, "I'm Glad My Mom Died," in 2022. The book, which quickly became a bestseller, candidly details her experiences as a child star and her complicated relationship with her late mother.