Early Life and Education of Lana Del Rey: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Lana Del Rey. A timeline of key moments.

Lana Del Rey, born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, is a celebrated American singer-songwriter recognized for her melancholic and glamorous musical style. Her work frequently incorporates themes of romance, pop culture references, and Americana from the 1950s-1970s. She has received numerous awards, including MTV Video Music Awards, Brit Awards, and Billboard Women in Music awards, alongside Grammy and Golden Globe nominations. Variety has acknowledged her as a highly influential songwriter of the 21st century. Rolling Stone placed her among the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time," and Rolling Stone UK lauded her as the "Greatest American Songwriter of the 21st century."

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

June 21, 1985: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant Born

On June 21, 1985, Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, was born. She is an American singer-songwriter.

2003: Sobriety

Since 2003, Lana Del Rey has maintained sobriety.

2004: Enrollment at Fordham University

In the fall of 2004, at age 19, Lana Del Rey enrolled at Fordham University in The Bronx, New York City, where she majored in philosophy with an emphasis on metaphysics.

2005: Move to New York City

In 2005, Lana Del Rey moved to New York City to pursue her music career.

2006: Meeting Van Wilson

At her first public performance in 2006 for the Williamsburg Live Songwriting Competition, Lana Del Rey met Van Wilson, an A&R representative for 5 Points Records.

2008: Graduation from Fordham University and Release of Kill Kill EP

In 2008, Lana Del Rey graduated from Fordham with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and released a three-track EP, Kill Kill, as Lizzy Grant.

2014: DigDeep Founding

In 2014, George McGraw founded DigDeep, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization that provides electric-pumped water for remote Navajo Nation communities. Lana Del Rey later supported this organization with a donation in 2020.

2014: Split from Barrie-James O'Neill

In 2014, Lana Del Rey and Scottish singer Barrie-James O'Neill split up after three years together.

November 2015: Breakup with Francesco Carrozzini

In November 2015, Lana Del Rey and photographer Francesco Carrozzini broke up after dating for more than a year. They began dating after he directed Del Rey's music video for "Ultraviolence".

2018: Interest in Making a Film Announced

In early 2018, Lana Del Rey announced she had been approached to write a Broadway musical and had recently begun work on it. She also announced she would be contributing to the soundtrack of a new adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

July 28, 2019: Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting Support

On July 28, 2019, Lana Del Rey supported victims of the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting by donating proceeds from her song. This act highlights her commitment to aiding communities affected by tragic events.

2019: Met Jeremy Dufrene

In 2019, Lana Del Rey took a tour with Jeremy Dufrene, a tour boat captain in Des Allemands, Louisiana.

October 2020: Donation to DigDeep

In October 2020, Lana Del Rey donated $350,000 from the sales of her book, Violet Bent Backwards over the Grass, to DigDeep. The organization provides electric-pumped water for remote Navajo Nation communities, showing Del Rey's dedication to humanitarian causes.

Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass[LP]

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December 2020: Engagement to Clayton Johnson

In December 2020, it was reported that Lana Del Rey was engaged to musician Clayton Johnson.

2022: New York University Course on Lana Del Rey

In 2022, New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music launched a fall semester course titled "Topics in Recorded Music: Lana Del Rey", focusing on Del Rey's music and cultural impact.

2022: Manuscript Stolen

In 2022, the manuscript for Lana Del Rey's second book, Behind the Iron Gates – Insights from the Institution, was stolen from her car, leading to the progress on the book being lost.