History of Selena Gomez in Timeline
Selena Gomez is a multi-talented American artist with a career spanning singing, songwriting, acting, producing, and business. Her journey began in childhood as an actress on "Barney & Friends." She achieved teen idol status through her role in Disney's "Wizards of Waverly Place." Signed with Hollywood Records, Gomez fronted the pop rock band Selena Gomez & the Scene, releasing three studio albums and seven singles, all certified gold or higher by the RIAA.
July 22, 1992: Birth of Selena Gomez
Selena Marie Gomez was born in Grand Prairie, Texas.
1995: Death of Selena Quintanilla
Selena Quintanilla, the Tejano singer who Selena Gomez was named after, died.
2002: Acting Debut on Barney & Friends
Selena Gomez began her acting career on the children's television series Barney & Friends, playing the role of Gianna.
2002: Start of Barney & Friends
Selena Gomez started her acting career on the children's television series Barney & Friends, playing Gianna.
2003: Role in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
Selena Gomez had a small role in the film Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over.
2004: End of Barney & Friends
Selena Gomez left the children's show Barney & Friends.
2004: Departure from Barney & Friends
Selena Gomez was released from Barney & Friends, with producers citing her age.
2005: Role in Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire
Selena Gomez had a minor role in the made-for-television film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire.
2006: Guest Appearance in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Selena Gomez appeared as a guest star in an episode of the Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.
2006: The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Selena Gomez appeared in the television show 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'.
2007: Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place
Selena Gomez appeared in both 'Hannah Montana' and 'Wizards of Waverly Place'.
2007: Disney Channel Debut
Selena Gomez landed a recurring role on "Hannah Montana" as pop star Mikayla. She also filmed pilots for potential spin-offs of "The Suite Life" and "Lizzie McGuire."
2007: Stars in Wizards of Waverly Place
Selena Gomez rose to fame for her leading role as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place.
2008: Film Debut and Music Releases
Selena Gomez voiced Helga in "Horton Hears a Who!" and starred in "Another Cinderella Story." She released her first single, "Tell Me Something I Don't Know," which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. She also recorded "Fly to Your Heart" for "Tinker Bell."
2008: Signs with Hollywood Records
Selena Gomez signed with Hollywood Records and formed her band Selena Gomez & the Scene.
2008: UR Votes Count Campaign Involvement
Selena Gomez participated in the UR Votes Count campaign, which sought to encourage teenagers to engage in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
2008: Another Cinderella Story
Selena Gomez appeared in the movie 'Another Cinderella Story'.
June 2009: "Princess Protection Program" Release
Selena Gomez starred alongside Demi Lovato in the Disney Channel film "Princess Protection Program." The film premiered with 8.5 million viewers.
2009: Princess Protection Program
Selena Gomez appeared in the movie 'Princess Protection Program'.
2009: UNICEF Ambassador
Selena Gomez became a UNICEF ambassador, starting her long-standing relationship with the organization.
2009: DoSomething.org Ambassadorship
Selena Gomez became an ambassador for the non-profit organization DoSomething.org after working with the charity Island Dog in Puerto Rico.
2009: Disney's Friends for Change Involvement
Selena Gomez joined "Disney's Friends for Change," an initiative promoting environmentally friendly behavior. As part of this, she recorded the charity single "Send It On."
2009: UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
Selena Gomez was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
May 2010: Completes Homeschooling
Selena Gomez received her high school diploma through homeschooling.
2010: Ramona and Beezus
Selena Gomez appeared in the movie 'Ramona and Beezus'.
2010: First Charity Concert for UNICEF
Selena Gomez held her first charity concert to benefit UNICEF, marking the start of a series of fundraising concerts.
February 2011: UNICEF Visit to Chile
Selena Gomez traveled to Chile to meet families involved with "Programa Puente", a UNICEF-supported program that assists families with early childhood education and development.
2011: The Muppets
Selena Gomez appeared in the movie 'The Muppets'.
April 2012: UNICEF Sound the Alarm Campaign
Selena Gomez used her platform to advocate for the "Sound the Alarm" campaign on Facebook and Twitter. She encouraged young people to donate to help prevent child deaths from malnutrition in the Sahel Region of Africa.
April 2012: Ryan Seacrest Foundation Ambassadorship
Selena Gomez was named ambassador to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, supporting their work to bring entertainment and creative outlets to children's hospitals.
2012: End of Wizards of Waverly Place
Selena Gomez's run as Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place came to an end.
2012: Spring Breakers and Hotel Transylvania
Selena Gomez appeared in the movies 'Spring Breakers' and 'Hotel Transylvania'.
2012: Voice Acting in Hotel Transylvania
Selena Gomez started voicing Mavis in the Hotel Transylvania film franchise.
2013: Girl Rising and The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex
Selena Gomez appeared in the movie 'Girl Rising' and the television special 'The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex'.
2013: Third Charity Concert for UNICEF
Selena Gomez completed her third charity concert for UNICEF, culminating in nearly \$400,000 raised for the organization's programs worldwide.
2013: Girl Rising Narration
Selena Gomez provided the narration for "Girl Rising," a CNN documentary highlighting the importance of girls' education.
2013: Release of Stars Dance
Selena Gomez released her debut solo album, Stars Dance, which featured the hit single "Come & Get It".
April 2014: Selena Gomez Fires Her Parents as Managers
Selena Gomez makes a significant career decision by firing her mother and stepfather as her managers, who had been managing her since her Disney days. She signs with new talent agencies, WMA and Brillstein, aiming for a more adult image and a shift in her career.
November 2014: Selena Gomez Releases "The Heart Wants What It Wants" and Compilation Album
Selena Gomez surprise-releases her new single, "The Heart Wants What It Wants," which becomes a top-ten hit in the US and Canada. She also releases her first solo compilation album, 'For You,' featuring new songs as part of her contract with Hollywood Records.
December 2014: Selena Gomez Signs with Interscope Records
Selena Gomez officially parts ways with Hollywood Records and signs a new record deal with Interscope Records, marking a significant step in her evolving music career.
2014: Rudderless
Selena Gomez appeared in the movie 'Rudderless'.
2014: Working on Second Studio Album
Selena Gomez is actively engaged in working on her second studio album during this time.
2014: UNICEF Nepal Visit
Selena Gomez travelled to Nepal to raise awareness about the needs of children in the country as part of her ongoing work with UNICEF.
February 2015: Collaboration with Zedd on "I Want You to Know"
Selena Gomez collaborates with German DJ Zedd on the single "I Want You to Know." The song debuts at number seventeen in the US, marking a successful collaboration.
October 2015: Selena Gomez Releases Second Studio Album 'Revival'
Selena Gomez releases her highly anticipated second studio album, 'Revival,' which receives critical acclaim for its dance-pop and electropop sound, R&B influences, production, and lyrical content. The album debuts at number one on the US Billboard 200, marking her highest first-week sales to date.
2015: Record-Breaking Year for Gomez
Selena Gomez broke 9 Guinness World Records in this year and had the most-liked image on Instagram.
2015: Working on Third Studio Album
Selena Gomez starts working on her third studio album during this period.
2015: Release of Revival
Selena Gomez released her second studio album, Revival, after signing with Interscope Records.
January 2016: Selena Gomez Premieres in "The Fundamentals of Caring" and Appears on "Saturday Night Live"
Selena Gomez stars in the comedy-drama film "The Fundamentals of Caring," which premieres at the Sundance Film Festival and is later released on Netflix. She also makes a guest appearance as the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live."
May 2016: Selena Gomez Embarks on Revival Tour
Selena Gomez kicks off her worldwide 'Revival Tour,' designed to showcase her artistry with a focus on her performance rather than elaborate choreography or special effects.
June 2016: Gomez Supports LGBT Community with Billboard's 30 Days of Pride
Selena Gomez joined several celebrities in writing a "love letter" for Billboard's 30 Days of Pride initiative during Pride Month.
August 2016: Cancellation of European and South American Tour Legs
Selena Gomez makes the difficult decision to cancel the remaining legs of her 'Revival Tour' in Europe and South America due to her struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression, which are exacerbated by her lupus diagnosis.
2016: The Fundamentals of Caring and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
Selena Gomez appeared in the movies 'The Fundamentals of Caring' and 'Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising'.
2016: First to 100 Million Instagram Followers
Selena Gomez became the first person to reach 100 million followers on Instagram in 2016.
2016: Triumphant Return to the Spotlight
Selena Gomez returned to the public eye at the American Music Awards, delivering a powerful speech and winning Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.
2016: Forbes 30 Under 30
Selena Gomez was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
February 2017: Release of "It Ain't Me"
Selena Gomez and Kygo released "It Ain't Me", a song that reached the top ten of major music charts worldwide and received multiple award nominations.
March 2017: Premiere of "Thirteen Reasons Why"
Selena Gomez served as executive producer for the Netflix adaptation of "Thirteen Reasons Why", which premiered amidst controversy regarding its portrayal of suicide.
May 2017: Release of "Bad Liar"
Selena Gomez released "Bad Liar" with an innovative vertical music video that premiered exclusively on Spotify, garnering widespread critical acclaim.
May 2017: US Sales Milestone
As of May 2017, Selena Gomez had sold 24.3 million songs in the United States.
October 2017: Release of "Wolves" and Billboard Recognition
Selena Gomez released "Wolves" with Marshmello, achieving commercial success, and was named Billboard's Woman of the Year for her influence and achievements.
2017: Coach's Step Up Participation
Selena Gomez took part in Step Up, a charity supported by Coach, which focuses on empowering girls in under-resourced communities to pursue education.
2017: Gomez Named One of Time's Women Changing the World
Time magazine honored Selena Gomez as one of the "women who are changing the world" on its First Women Leaders list.
2017: Shakira's El Dorado Sets Sales Record
Shakira's album El Dorado achieved the largest sales week for a Latin album by a woman at the time, a record Selena Gomez would later surpass with Revelación.
2017: Billboard Woman of the Year
Selena Gomez was named Billboard's Woman of the Year.
2017: Producer for 13 Reasons Why
Selena Gomez took on the role of producer for the teen drama series 13 Reasons Why.
2017: Gomez Donates Concert Proceeds to Fight North Carolina's 'Bathroom Law'
Selena Gomez donated proceeds from her Revival Tour concert in North Carolina to oppose the state's controversial "bathroom law." The law, later repealed, mandated that individuals use public restrooms corresponding to the gender they were assigned at birth, unless they had undergone a full gender transition.
2017: 13 Reasons Why
Selena Gomez began executive producing the television series '13 Reasons Why'.
2018: Billboard Music Award Nomination
"It Ain't Me" was nominated for Top Dance/Electronic Song at the Billboard Music Awards.
2018: "Thirteen Reasons Why" Streaming Success
"Thirteen Reasons Why" became the most-watched original streaming series of 2018.
2018: We Day California Attendance
Selena Gomez participated in We Day California, a youth empowerment event, introducing Nellie Mainor, a young fan with a rare kidney disease.
December 2019: WE Charity Kenya Visit
Selena Gomez travelled to Kenya to engage with the local community and visit schools constructed by WE Charity, continuing her partnership with the organization.
2019: The Dead Don't Die and A Rainy Day in New York
Selena Gomez appeared in the movies 'The Dead Don't Die' and 'A Rainy Day in New York'.
2019: Living Undocumented
Selena Gomez executive produced the television documentary series 'Living Undocumented'.
2019: Producing Living Undocumented
Selena Gomez produced the documentary Living Undocumented.
2019: Gomez Receives McLean Award for Mental Health Advocacy
Selena Gomez received the McLean Award in recognition of her work advocating for mental health.
2019: "Bad Liar" Ranked Among Best Songs of the 2010s
Rolling Stone included "Bad Liar" on its list of the best songs of the 2010s, further solidifying its critical acclaim.
February 2020: Release of "Feel Me"
Selena Gomez officially releases the song "Feel Me," which she had previously added to her 'Revival Tour' setlist due to popular demand from fans.
June 2020: Conclusion of "Thirteen Reasons Why"
The Netflix series "Thirteen Reasons Why" ended after four seasons, with the first season receiving critical acclaim and later seasons facing negative reviews.
2020: End of 13 Reasons Why & Premiere of Selena + Chef
Selena Gomez's production role on 13 Reasons Why came to a close. She also premiered her cooking show Selena + Chef.
2020: Forbes' All-Star Alumni Recognition
Selena Gomez was recognized as an All-Star Alumni in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list.
2020: Release of Rare
Selena Gomez released her third studio album, Rare, featuring the hit single "Lose You to Love Me".
2020: Selena + Chef
Selena Gomez started appearing in the cooking show 'Selena + Chef'.
2020: Gomez Receives Hispanic Heritage Foundation Art Award
Selena Gomez received the Art Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation for her influence on global culture through her music, filmography, and advocacy.
2020: Gomez Creates Rare Impact Fund
Selena Gomez launched the Rare Impact Fund through her beauty brand, Rare Beauty. The fund aims to raise US \$100 million over ten years to provide access to mental health resources for young people. One percent of all Rare Beauty product sales are directed to the fund. In its first year, the fund distributed \$1.2 million to support eight organizations focused on expanding mental health services in educational settings.
2020: Launch of Rare Beauty and Rare Impact Fund
Selena Gomez launched her cosmetics company, Rare Beauty, and the Rare Impact Fund, a non-profit organization focused on mental health.
2020: 13 Reasons Why Ends
Selena Gomez finished executive producing the television series '13 Reasons Why'.
March 2021: Revelación Release
Selena Gomez released her first Spanish-language EP, Revelación, featuring a blend of reggaeton, Latin pop, and R&B influences.
June 2021: UNICEF Open Letter for Vaccine Equity
Selena Gomez joined other high-profile figures in signing a UNICEF open letter calling on the G7 countries to donate more COVID-19 vaccines to the COVAX initiative.
August 2021: Only Murders in the Building Premiere
Selena Gomez starred in and executive produced the Hulu mystery-comedy series Only Murders in the Building, which premiered to record-breaking viewership.
2021: Only Murders in the Building
Selena Gomez started appearing in the television show 'Only Murders in the Building'.
2021: Release of Revelación
Selena Gomez released her first Spanish-language EP, Revelación, earning Grammy and Latin Grammy Award nominations.
2021: Stars in Only Murders in the Building
Selena Gomez began starring in and producing the mystery comedy series Only Murders in the Building.
2021: 'Selena + Chef' Raises Funds for Charities
For each episode of her HBO Max cooking show 'Selena + Chef', \$10,000 was donated to the charity of the guest chef's choice, often food-related. Over two seasons, the show raised \$360,000 for nonprofit organizations.
October 2022: Gomez Co-founds Wondermind
Selena Gomez co-founded Wondermind, a mental health-focused digital platform.
December 2022: Gomez Donates to ASCAP Foundation
Selena Gomez donated exclusive items to the 2nd Annual ASCAP Foundation to support music education and talent development programs across the U.S.
2022: Hotel Transylvania and Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me
Selena Gomez appeared in the movie 'Hotel Transylvania' and the documentary 'Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me'.
2022: Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Release
Selena Gomez reprised her voice role and served as executive producer for the final installment of the Hotel Transylvania franchise, released on Amazon Prime Video.
2022: Final Hotel Transylvania Film
Selena Gomez voiced Mavis in the last installment of the Hotel Transylvania film franchise.
2022: Gomez Honored for Mental Health Advocacy and Inclusion
Selena Gomez was awarded the first-ever Mental Health Innovations Award for Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy by the Stanford Healthcare Innovation Lab. She also received the Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion from the Ruderman Family Foundation.
2022: "Thirteen Reasons Why" Season 2 Popularity
The second season of "Thirteen Reasons Why" ranked as the ninth most-watched English-language series on Netflix.
2022: People Names Gomez as a Woman Changing the Music Industry
People magazine named Selena Gomez as one of 15 women who are "changing the music industry today".
February 2023: Gomez Regains Top Spot on Instagram
Selena Gomez became the most followed woman on Instagram again, reaching a record-breaking 400 million followers.
February 2023: Most Followed Woman on Instagram
Selena Gomez regained her status as the most followed woman on Instagram in February 2023.
August 2023: US Album Sales and Album-Equivalent Units Milestone
By August 2023, Selena Gomez had sold 3.6 million albums in the US and shifted more than 11.5 million album-equivalent units.
October 10, 2023: Sephora Donates Rare Beauty Sales Proceeds to Rare Impact Fund
Sephora donated all proceeds from the sales of Rare Beauty products to the Rare Impact Fund in honor of World Mental Health Day.
October 2023: Only Murders in the Building Renewed for Season 4
The Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, starring Selena Gomez, was renewed for a fourth season.
October 2023: Gomez Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza
Selena Gomez signed an Artist4Ceasefire letter along with other celebrities calling on President Joe Biden and Congress to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
December 2023: Gomez Attends Gaza Fundraiser
Selena Gomez attended Ramy Youssef's fundraiser for Gaza.
2023: Calm Down Remix Success
Selena Gomez was featured on a remix of Rema's song "Calm Down," which achieved international success and became a chart-topping hit.
2023: End of Selena + Chef
Selena Gomez's cooking show Selena + Chef concluded.
2023: Success of "Calm Down (Remix)"
Selena Gomez's collaborative single "Calm Down (Remix)" became one of the best-selling songs globally.
2023: Gomez and Rare Beauty Participate in LA Pride Parade
Selena Gomez and her cosmetics brand, Rare Beauty, took part in the 53rd annual Los Angeles Pride Parade, demonstrating support for the LGBTQ+ community.
2023: "Send It On" Recognized by Billboard
Billboard included the charity single "Send It On," recorded by Gomez and other Disney Channel stars, in their list of "The 100 Greatest Disneyverse Songs of All Time."
April 2024: Gomez Speaks at Time 100 Summit
Selena Gomez was a speaker at the Time 100 Summit, where members of the Global TIME 100 community gathered to discuss solutions and encourage action for a better future. Gomez addressed topics such as mental health protection and social media.
May 1, 2024: Gomez Hosts Rare Beauty Summit for Mental Health Awareness
Selena Gomez held the Rare Beauty Summit, a special event dedicated to mental health awareness. She provided resources to address mental health challenges, and U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy joined her, thanking Gomez for her work with the Rare Impact Fund and her efforts in promoting self-acceptance, support, and healing.
2024: Rare Beauty Valuation
Selena Gomez's cosmetics company, Rare Beauty, was valued at $2 billion.
2024: Calm Down Streaming Milestone
The remix of "Calm Down" with Selena Gomez achieved significant streaming milestones on Spotify and YouTube, becoming the most-streamed Afrobeats song on both platforms.