History of Lily Allen in Timeline
Lily Allen is an English singer, songwriter, actress, and author who gained recognition in 2005 by publishing her music on Myspace, leading to radio play and a record deal. Her debut single, "Smile," topped the UK charts in 2006 and was certified double Platinum. Allen's debut album, "Alright, Still" (2006), received positive reviews, reached number two in the UK, sold over 2.6 million copies worldwide, and earned a Grammy nomination. The album also produced successful follow-up singles like "LDN" and "Alfie."
May 1985: Lily Allen's Birth
In May 1985, Lily Allen was born in Hammersmith, west London, to Keith Allen and Alison Owen.
1998: Appearance in Fat Les Music Video
In 1998, Lily Allen appeared in the music video for the Fat Les song "Vindaloo", marking an early appearance in the entertainment industry.
1998: Appearance in film Elizabeth
In 1998, Lily Allen made an appearance as a lady-in-waiting in the film Elizabeth, which was co-produced by her mother.
2001: Recording Vocals for "On Me Head Not Off Me Head"
In 2001, Lily Allen first recorded vocals for the song "On Me Head Not Off Me Head", written by her father for the film Mike Bassett: England Manager.
2002: Featured in Fat Les song "Who Invented Fish and Chips"
In 2002, Lily Allen was featured in the song "Who Invented Fish and Chips" by her father's group Fat Les, further establishing her presence in the music scene.
2004: Collaboration with Future Cut
In 2004, Lily Allen began writing songs and collaborating with production duo Future Cut, marking a significant step in developing her musical career.
November 2005: Recording Demos and Myspace Debut
In November 2005, Lily Allen recorded demos and posted them on Myspace, attracting listeners and leading to the release of "LDN" on vinyl.
2005: Signing to Regal Recordings and Myspace Debut
In 2005, Lily Allen signed with Regal Recordings and began publishing her music on Myspace, which gained popularity and led to radio play.
March 2006: Interest from The Observer Music Monthly
In March 2006, The Observer Music Monthly (OMM) took interest in Lily Allen after she accumulated tens of thousands of Myspace friends.
July 2006: Release of "Alright, Still"
In July 2006, Lily Allen's debut album, "Alright, Still", was released, featuring tracks previewed on her Myspace page.
September 2006: "Smile" Available on US iTunes
In September 2006, "Smile" was made available on the US version of iTunes Store, marking her entry into the US market.
December 2006: Music Video Airplay for "Smile"
By December 2006, the music video for Lily Allen's "Smile" was played on music channels and the song received airplay.
2006: "Smile" Reaches Number One
In 2006, Lily Allen's debut single, "Smile," reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.
January 2007: MTV's Discover and Download Artist of the Month
In January 2007, Lily Allen was featured in promotional ads for MTV as their Discover and Download artist of the month.
June 2007: Arrest for Alleged Assault
On 28 June 2007, Lily Allen was arrested in London for allegedly assaulting photographer Kevin Rush while leaving a nightclub.
July 2007: Performance at Glastonbury and Concert for Diana
In July 2007, Lily Allen performed at the Glastonbury Festival and the Concert for Diana held at Wembley Stadium, London, where she sang "LDN" and "Smile".
September 2007: Began dating Ed Simons
In September 2007, Lily Allen began dating musician Ed Simons of the Chemical Brothers.
January 2008: Miscarriage
In January 2008, Lily Allen announced that she suffered a miscarriage, however she writes in her 2018 memoir that she "faked" the miscarriage.
June 2008: Glastonbury Festival Performance and Personal Loss
On 29 June 2008, Lily Allen performed at the Glastonbury Festival alongside Mark Ronson and dedicated her performance of "Littlest Things" to her grandmother who died the night before.
2008: Initial Contact from Stalker
In 2008, Alex Gray first made contact with Lily Allen, beginning a seven-year stalking ordeal.
2008: Hosting "Lily Allen and Friends"
In 2008, Lily Allen hosted her own television talk show, "Lily Allen and Friends", on BBC Three, marking her foray into television hosting.
2008: BMI Songwriting Award for "Smile"
In 2008, Lily Allen won a BMI songwriting award for her song "Smile", recognizing her talent as a songwriter.
January 2009: Sales Figures for "Alright, Still"
By January 2009, Lily Allen's album "Alright, Still" had sold 960,000 copies in the UK and 520,000 copies in the US, indicating its commercial success.
February 2009: "Escape the Fear" Online Game Popularity
By 18 February 2009, the online game "Escape the Fear", created as part of the viral marketing campaign for Lily Allen's album, had been played over two million times.
February 2009: Discontinuation of Blog Controversies
By February 2009, Lily Allen stopped addressing controversies on her blog, finding it "boring when people just pick stuff up and write about it."
May 2009: Fake Interview Controversy
In May 2009, French football magazine So Foot published a fake interview in which Lily Allen was quoted as making derogatory remarks.
July 2009: Began dating Sam Cooper
In July 2009, Lily Allen began dating Sam Cooper, a builder and decorator.
September 2009: Consideration of Acting Career and Hiatus
In September 2009, Lily Allen announced she was considering an acting career and would not renew her record contract, planning to take a break from music.
September 2009: Face of National Portrait Gallery and Chanel campaign
In September 2009, Lily Allen was named the face of the National Portrait Gallery and was hired by Karl Lagerfeld for a Chanel handbag campaign.
October 2009: Social Media Deletion
In October 2009, Lily Allen deleted her social media accounts, announcing "I am now a neo-luddite."
December 2009: Climate Change Summit Petition
In December 2009, the digital musical petition released in October by Lily Allen and other musicians, aimed at pressuring world leaders attending the climate change summit in Copenhagen.
2009: Reunion of The Specials
In 2007, Lily Allen reunited two members of The Specials, an act that guitarist Lynval Golding claimed played a "massive part" in the group's 2009 reunion.
2009: Release of "It's Not Me, It's You"
In 2009, Lily Allen released her second studio album, "It's Not Me, It's You", which debuted at the top of the UK Albums Chart and the Australian ARIA Charts, marking a significant achievement in her career.
2009: Lily Allen and Friends TV show renewal
In 2009, Lily Allen's BBC Three TV show Lily Allen and Friends was renewed for a second season, but it did not air due to her music commitments.
February 2010: Social Media Return
In February 2010, Lily Allen re-activated her social media accounts.
June 2010: Feature on "Just Be Good to Green"
In June 2010, Lily Allen was featured on the UK top five single, "Just Be Good to Green" by Professor Green.
August 2010: Pregnancy announcement
On August 5, 2010, Lily Allen announced that she was pregnant with her and Sam Cooper's first child.
September 2010: End of It's Not Me, It's You World Tour
In September 2010, Lily Allen concluded her It's Not Me, It's You World Tour, which had been running for two years.
September 2010: Final Performance Before Hiatus
In September 2010, Lily Allen gave her last performance for two and a half years, supporting Muse at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
September 2010: Opened clothing store "Lucy in Disguise"
On September 15, 2010, Lily Allen and her sister opened their own clothing store, titled "Lucy in Disguise".
October 2010: BMI Pop Song Award for "The Fear"
In October 2010, Lily Allen won her second BMI Pop Song Award for her song "The Fear", recognizing its extensive radio airplay in the United States.
November 2010: Legal action against Associated Newspapers
In November 2010, Lily Allen took legal action against Associated Newspapers, the parent company of the Daily Mail, for publishing photographs of her home, citing invasion of privacy and copyright infringement.
December 2010: Engagement to Sam Cooper
In December 2010, Lily Allen and Sam Cooper became engaged while on holiday in Bali.
2010: Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist
In 2010, Lily Allen received the Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist, recognizing her success and impact in the music industry.
January 2011: Launched record label In the Name Of
In January 2011, Lily Allen launched her own record label, In the Name Of, with financial backing from Sony Music.
June 2011: Wedding to Sam Cooper
On June 11, 2011, Lily Allen and Sam Cooper wed at St. James Church in Cranham, Gloucestershire, England. It was confirmed she was several months pregnant on her wedding day.
September 2011: Release of "5 O'Clock" featuring Lily Allen
In September 2011, T-Pain released the song "5 O'Clock" featuring Lily Allen, which became her first Top 10 single in the United States.
2011: Launching "In the Name Of" Record Label
In 2011, Lily Allen launched her own record label, "In the Name Of", expanding her involvement in the music industry.
2011: Expected birth of first child
In August 2010, Lily Allen announced she was pregnant with a boy, due early in 2011.
June 2012: Working on New Music with Greg Kurstin
In June 2012, Lily Allen confirmed she was in the studio working with Greg Kurstin on new music, signaling her return to the music scene.
September 2012: Appearance on Pink's Album
In September 2012, Lily Allen appeared on the track "True Love" on Pink's sixth studio album, "The Truth About Love."
2012: Writing Songs for Bridget Jones Musical
In July 2010, Lily Allen began writing songs for the musical version of Bridget Jones's Diary, scheduled to open in London's West End in 2012.
February 2013: Performance at Paris Fashion Show
In February 2013, Lily Allen performed live at a Paris fashion show produced by Mark Ronson, foreshadowing the release of a new album.
May 2013: Warner Music Group acquired Parlophone
In May 2013, Warner Music Group acquired Parlophone from Universal Music Group, which indirectly led to Lily Allen signing with Warner Bros. Records in December 2013.
August 2013: Name Change Back to Lily Allen
In August 2013, Lily Allen changed her professional name back to Lily Allen and announced new music would be arriving soon.
November 2013: Cover of "Somewhere Only We Know" and release of "Hard Out Here"
In November 2013, Lily Allen recorded a cover of Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know" for a John Lewis Christmas advert, with proceeds benefiting Save the Children's Philippine Typhoon Appeal. It hit number one in the UK. Also in November 2013, she released "Hard Out Here", which entered the UK charts at number nine. The video for "Hard out Here" sparked controversy, accused of being racist, prompting Allen to address the accusations.
December 2013: Signed with Warner Bros. Records
In December 2013, Lily Allen was announced as a new signee at Warner Bros. Records following Warner Music Group's acquisition of Parlophone from Universal Music Group in May 2013.
2013: Birth of second daughter and postnatal depression
In 2013, Lily Allen gave birth to her second daughter, Marnie Rose, following which she experienced postnatal depression.
January 2014: Premiere of "Air Balloon"
On January 13, 2014, the song "Air Balloon" premiered on BBC Radio 1.
March 2014: Release of "Air Balloon"
On March 2, 2014, Lily Allen released "Air Balloon" as the second single from her album Sheezus.
May 2014: Release of "Sheezus"
On May 5, 2014, Lily Allen's third studio album, Sheezus, was released. She also performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 2014.
2014: Adderall Addiction
In 2014, Lily Allen became addicted to Adderall to lose weight before touring with Miley Cyrus.
2014: Infidelity during tour
In 2014, Lily Allen had sex with female escorts while married to Sam Cooper and on tour promoting Sheezus. These events were detailed in her memoir.
2014: Release of "Sheezus"
In 2014, Lily Allen released her third album, "Sheezus", which peaked atop the UK Albums Chart.
2014: Closure of 'In the Name Of' record label
In 2014, Lily Allen's record label, In the Name Of, closed after releasing Tom Odell's debut album.
2014: "Identity crisis" following Sheezus release
In 2014, following the release of Sheezus, Lily Allen experienced an "identity crisis," feeling controlled by the music industry and dissatisfied with her musical direction. She also focused on her personal issues.
October 2015: Stalker's Threatening Email
In October 2015, Lily Allen's stalker sent an email to his mother stating he was planning on murdering a celebrity and went on to spend nights in Allen's back garden.
2015: Break up with Sam Cooper
In mid-2015, Lily Allen and Sam Cooper broke up after she told him about her infidelity.
April 2016: Stalker Conviction
In April 2016, Alex Gray, Lily Allen's stalker, was convicted of burglary and harassment.
April 2016: London Election Vote
In April 2016, during the London assembly and mayoral elections, Lily Allen announced that she would be giving "half her vote to the Women's Equality Party".
May 2016: Launched Bank Holiday Records
In May 2016, Lily Allen announced the launch of her second record label, Bank Holiday Records.
June 2016: Support for Jeremy Corbyn
In June 2016, Lily Allen published several tweets and attended protests in support of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, after mass resignations from his cabinet and a leadership challenge.
November 2016: Apology for "Hard Out Here" video
In November 2016, Lily Allen apologized for the 2013 "Hard Out Here" music video, acknowledging its problematic elements in an interview with Annie Mac.
February 2017: Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis
In February 2017, Lily Allen announced that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
February 2017: Diagnosis of PTSD after stillbirth
In February 2017, Lily Allen revealed that she was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after the stillbirth in 2010.
June 2017: Grenfell Tower Fire Comments
On 15 June 2017, Lily Allen appeared on Channel 4 News to discuss the Grenfell Tower fire and claimed that the death count had been downplayed by the mainstream media, disputing the official figure.
2017: Dreamland short film
In 2017, Dreamland first aired as a short film starring Morgana Robinson, before being developed into a comedy-drama starring Lily Allen in 2023.
2017: Uploaded songs online in preparation for new album
In late 2017, Lily Allen uploaded numerous songs online, including "Family Man", as she prepared to work through personal issues for her new album.
January 2018: Announcement of 'No Shame' album
On January 24, 2018, Lily Allen announced her new album would be called No Shame.
June 2018: Release of "No Shame" and divorce finalization
In June 2018, Lily Allen's album "No Shame" was released to positive reviews. Also in June 2018, her divorce from Sam Cooper was finalized and announced publicly.
June 2018: Divorce from Sam Cooper finalized
In June 2018, it was publicly announced that Lily Allen's "friendly divorce" from Sam Cooper had been finalized and they would share custody of their children.
September 2018: Instagram post about past infidelity
On September 2, 2018, Lily Allen posted on Instagram about having had sex with female escorts in 2014 while married to Cooper, ahead of a Daily Mail article. She attributed these events to her postnatal depression and the breakdown of her marriage.
September 2018: Publication of My Thoughts Exactly
On September 20, 2018, Lily Allen published her memoir My Thoughts Exactly with Blink Publishing, which was nominated for the FutureBook Campaign of the Year and recognized as one of the best celebrity memoirs of 2018.
2018: Release of Autobiographical Book
In 2018, Lily Allen released her autobiographical book, "My Thoughts Exactly", sharing personal insights and experiences.
2018: Release of "No Shame"
In 2018, Lily Allen released her fourth album, "No Shame", which peaked at number eight.
2018: Release of "My Thoughts Exactly" memoir
In her 2018 memoir My Thoughts Exactly, Allen writes about having "faked" the miscarriage in 2008 with Ed Simons due to fears about how tabloids would report the story.
April 2019: Working on a concept album
In April 2019, Lily Allen revealed she was working on her next record, which would be a concept album.
July 2019: Appearance in How to Build a Girl
In July 2019, Lily Allen appeared as Elizabeth Taylor in How to Build a Girl, alongside her brother Alfie.
November 2019: Labour Party Support
In November 2019, during the 2019 UK general election campaign, Lily Allen declared that the Labour Party manifesto was "the best I've ever seen" and shared a picture of her polling card with the caption: "Tories OUT."
2019: Acting Debut in "How to Build a Girl"
In 2019, Lily Allen appeared in the film "How to Build a Girl", marking her debut as an actress.
2019: Began relationship with David Harbour
In 2019, Lily Allen began a relationship with actor David Harbour and made their red carpet debut at the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
March 2020: Album with "odd mentions" of past addictions
In March 2020, Lily Allen said that her new album only features "odd mentions" of her past addictions, indicating a shift in focus.
September 2020: Marriage to David Harbour
In September 2020, Lily Allen and David Harbour got married in Las Vegas, officiated by an Elvis impersonator, a day after obtaining their marriage certificate.
October 2020: Collaboration with Womanizer to create "Liberty"
In October 2020, Lily Allen collaborated with Womanizer to create her own sex toy called "Liberty", a clitoral pump. She also became the chief liberation officer at Womanizer and headed the #IMasturbate campaign.
January 2021: Adderall Addiction Revelation
In January 2021, Lily Allen discussed her Adderall addiction, which started in 2014 as a means to lose weight before touring with Miley Cyrus. She later sought recovery when she was tempted to try heroin.
June 2021: Announced lead role in "2:22 A Ghost Story"
In June 2021, Lily Allen announced that she would play the lead role of Jenny in the West End play "2:22 A Ghost Story".
August 2021: Debut in "2:22 A Ghost Story"
In August 2021, Lily Allen debuted in the West End play "2:22 A Ghost Story" at the Noël Coward Theatre.
2021: West End Debut in "2:22 A Ghost Story"
In 2021, Lily Allen made her West End debut in the play "2:22 A Ghost Story", earning a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
2022: Performance with Olivia Rodrigo at Glastonbury Festival
In 2022, Lily Allen appeared during Olivia Rodrigo's set at the Glastonbury Festival to perform "Fuck You" as a protest against the Supreme Court ruling on abortion rights. Allen stated she was unsure about performing sober on stage again.
2022: Laurence Olivier Award nomination and WhatsOnStage Award
In 2022, Lily Allen received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress and won a WhatsOnStage Award for her performance in "2:22 A Ghost Story".
2022: Booked studio time
In late 2022, Lily Allen booked five weeks in a music studio, but felt the work was not ready to be released.
April 2023: Starred in Dreamland
In April 2023, Lily Allen starred alongside Freema Agyeman in Sharon Horgan's comedy-drama Dreamland for Sky Max.
2023: Starred in The Pillowman
In 2023, Lily Allen starred in The Pillowman, staged at the Duke of York's Theatre in London. Her performance received mixed reviews.
2023: ADHD Diagnosis
In 2023, Lily Allen was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
December 2024: Allegations of separation from David Harbour
In December 2024, newspapers alleged that Lily Allen and David Harbour had separated, after Allen's dating profile was reportedly spotted on the exclusive dating app Raya.
2024: Hosting BBC Sounds podcast and opening OnlyFans account
In 2024, Lily Allen began hosting a twice-weekly BBC Sounds podcast, Miss Me?, with Miquita Oliver and opened an OnlyFans account.
2024: Recorded around 50 songs for new music project
In 2024, Lily Allen said she had recorded around 50 songs for her next music project and she was still working on it.
