History of Shawn Mendes in Timeline

Shawn Mendes is a Canadian singer-songwriter who rose to fame through Vine, where he posted song covers starting in 2013. In 2014, he signed with Island Records after being discovered by Andrew Gertler and Ziggy Chareton. His debut EP was released later that year, followed by his debut album 'Handwritten' in 2015. 'Handwritten' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making him one of the youngest artists to achieve this. His single "Stitches" became a major hit, topping charts in the UK and reaching the top 10 in the US and Canada.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1989: Opening for Taylor Swift

In 2015, Shawn Mendes opened for Taylor Swift during North American dates of her 1989 World Tour.

August 8, 1998: Shawn Mendes' Birth

On August 8, 1998, Shawn Peter Raul Mendes was born in Toronto, Canada.

Others born on this day/year

2012: Learning Guitar

In 2012, at the age of 13, Shawn Mendes learned to play guitar by watching YouTube tutorial videos.

November 2013: Discovered by Andrew Gertler

In November 2013, artist manager Andrew Gertler discovered Shawn Mendes online.

2013: Gaining a Following on Vine

In 2013, Shawn Mendes gained recognition by posting song covers on Vine.

January 2014: Introduction to Island Records

In January 2014, Andrew Gertler brought Shawn Mendes to Island Records.

May 2014: Official Signing to Island Records

In May 2014, Shawn Mendes officially signed to Island Records.

June 26, 2014: Release of "Life of the Party"

On June 26, 2014, Shawn Mendes released his first single, "Life of the Party."

July 12, 2014: "Life of the Party" Chart Success

On July 12, 2014, Shawn Mendes became the youngest artist to debut in the top 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100, with "Life of the Party" reaching number 24.

August 2014: Third Most-Followed Musician on Vine

By August 2014, Shawn Mendes became the third most-followed musician on Vine.

September 5, 2014: Release of "Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)"

On September 5, 2014, "Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)" featuring Shawn Mendes was released as the fifth single from The Vamps' debut album, Meet the Vamps.

November 6, 2014: Release of "Something Big"

On November 6, 2014, Shawn Mendes released "Something Big" as his second single.

2014: Launch of "Notes from Shawn" Campaign

In 2014, Shawn Mendes and DoSomething.org launched their campaign called "Notes from Shawn", encouraging fans to write positive notes.

2014: Signing with Island Records

In 2014, Shawn Mendes signed a deal with Island Records after gaining the attention of artist manager Andrew Gertler and Island Records A&R Ziggy Chareton.

2014: Most Influential Teen

In 2014, Shawn Mendes was listed among Time's "25 Most Influential Teens of 2014".

April 14, 2015: Release of "Handwritten" Album

On April 14, 2015, Shawn Mendes released his full-length album Handwritten, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

2015: "I Know What You Did Last Summer" release

In 2015, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello released their collaborative single "I Know What You Did Last Summer".

2015: Relaunch of "Notes from Shawn" Campaign

In 2015, Shawn Mendes and DoSomething.org relaunched their campaign called "Notes from Shawn" for the second year in a row.

2015: Listing in Time's "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2015"

In 2015, Shawn Mendes was listed in Time's "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2015" after his debut album topped the Billboard 200 and his single "Stitches" made the top 10 in the US and other countries.

2015: Debut of "Handwritten"

In 2015, Shawn Mendes' debut album, "Handwritten," was released. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, making Mendes one of the youngest artists to achieve this.

January 21, 2016: Acting Debut on "The 100"

On January 21, 2016, Shawn Mendes made his acting debut on The CW's The 100 third-season premiere.

March 2016: Shawn Mendes World Tour

In March 2016, Shawn Mendes embarked on his second world tour as a headliner, the Shawn Mendes World Tour.

June 2016: High School Graduation

In June 2016, Shawn Mendes graduated from Pine Ridge Secondary School, where he participated in ice hockey, soccer, glee club, and acting lessons.

June 2016: Mendes addresses sexuality speculations

In June 2016, Shawn Mendes publicly stated that he is not gay and emphasized that his sexuality should not be the focus.

June 2016: Release of "Treat You Better"

In June 2016, Shawn Mendes released "Treat You Better", the lead single from his second studio album.

August 18, 2016: Release of "Mercy"

On August 18, 2016, Shawn Mendes released "Mercy" as the second single from his album "Illuminate".

September 23, 2016: Release of "Illuminate"

On September 23, 2016, Shawn Mendes released his album, Illuminate, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.

December 3, 2016: Saturday Night Live Appearance

On December 3, 2016, Shawn Mendes appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live.

December 2016: Release of "Live at Madison Square Garden"

In December 2016, Shawn Mendes released the live album "Live at Madison Square Garden".

2016: Relaunch of "Notes from Shawn" Campaign for Third Year

In 2016, Shawn Mendes and DoSomething.org relaunched their campaign called "Notes from Shawn" for the third year in a row.

2016: Shawn Mendes Signs with Wilhelmina Models

In 2016, Shawn Mendes signed with Wilhelmina Models, marking his entry into the modeling industry.

2016: Time's 30 Most Influential Teens

In 2016, Shawn Mendes was listed among Time's The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016 and made his first appearance on Forbes's 30 Under 30 2016: Music.

2016: Illuminate Album Debut

In 2016, Shawn Mendes's second album, Illuminate, debuted at number one in the US. Singles "Treat You Better" and "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" reached the top 10 in several countries.

April 2017: Illuminate World Tour

In April 2017, Shawn Mendes embarked on his Illuminate World Tour, which sold out arenas around the world.

April 20, 2017: Release of "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back"

On April 20, 2017, Shawn Mendes released the single "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back," which was included on the deluxe edition of his "Illuminate" album.

June 2017: Mendes Walks Runway for Emporio Armani

In June 2017, Shawn Mendes walked the runway during the "Emporio Armani Spring 2018" show held in Milan, Italy.

August 2017: Billboard Adult Pop Songs Chart Success

In August 2017, Shawn Mendes became the first artist under 20 years old to have three number-one songs on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart.

August 2017: Launch of Shawn Mendes Signature Fragrance

In August 2017, Shawn Mendes launched his first fragrance, Shawn Mendes Signature, a fragrance for women and men.

September 2017: Creation of Mexico Earthquake Relief Fund

In September 2017, after witnessing the devastation of the earthquake in Mexico City, Shawn Mendes created the Mexico Earthquake Relief Fund in conjunction with the American Red Cross and donated $100,000.

November 2017: Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart Record

In November 2017, Shawn Mendes became the first artist to have three number-one songs on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart before turning 20 years old.

2017: Billboard's 21 Under 21 List

In 2017, Shawn Mendes topped Billboard's 21 Under 21 list, after his two albums topped the Billboard 200 and his single "There's Nothing Holding Me Back" became his fifth top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

March 22, 2018: Release of "In My Blood"

On March 22, 2018, Shawn Mendes released "In My Blood", the lead single from his upcoming third studio album.

April 21, 2018: Performance for Queen Elizabeth II

On April 21, 2018, Shawn Mendes performed at a televised concert honoring the 92nd birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

May 25, 2018: Release of Self-Titled Album

On May 25, 2018, Shawn Mendes released his self-titled studio album to positive critical reviews. It debuted at number one in both Canada and the US.

June 6, 2018: Mendes Announced as Ambassador for Emporio Armani Watch Collection

On June 6, 2018, Shawn Mendes was announced as the ambassador for Emporio Armani's entire "Fall Winter 2018-2019" watch collection.

July 2018: Photographs of Mendes Wearing EA Connected Smartwatches Published

In July 2018, photographs of Shawn Mendes wearing the new EA Connected smartwatches were published on social media.

August 2018: Launch of Shawn Signature II Fragrance

In August 2018, Shawn Mendes launched his second fragrance, Shawn Signature II, made for both men and women.

September 2018: Participation in Global Citizen Festival

In September 2018, Shawn Mendes took part in the annual Global Citizen Festival held at Central Park, New York City, raising awareness regarding the importance of education.

October 2018: Release of "Under Pressure" Cover

In October 2018, Shawn Mendes, together with producer Teddy Geiger, released a cover of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie, with proceeds donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

October 20, 2018: Performance at "We Can Survive" Event

On October 20, 2018, Shawn Mendes performed at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for the "We Can Survive" event, raising funds for Young Survival Coalition.

2018: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Performance

In 2018, Shawn Mendes was announced as one of the musical performers for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

2018: Billboard "21 Under 21" List

In 2018, Shawn Mendes was listed on Billboard's "21 Under 21", topping the list for the second year in a row.

2018: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2018, Shawn Mendes was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world.

2018: Collaboration with Omaze to Support WE Schools Program

In 2018, Shawn Mendes worked with Omaze to raise funds to support the WE Schools program.

2018: Self-Titled Album Release

In 2018, Shawn Mendes's self-titled third studio album was released, supported by the single "In My Blood." The album's debut at number one in the US made Mendes the third-youngest artist to achieve three number-one albums.

February 16, 2019: Mendes Announced as Brand Ambassador for Calvin Klein

On February 16, 2019, Shawn Mendes announced that he was the latest brand ambassador for Calvin Klein's #MyCalvins campaign.

May 3, 2019: Release of "If I Can't Have You"

On May 3, 2019, Shawn Mendes released the single "If I Can't Have You".

June 21, 2019: Release of "Señorita" with Camila Cabello

On June 21, 2019, Shawn Mendes released "Señorita" with Camila Cabello.

July 2019: Mendes begins dating Camila Cabello

In July 2019, Shawn Mendes began dating Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello, marking the start of a high-profile relationship.

July 27, 2019: Deluxe Edition of "Shawn Mendes" Released

On July 27, 2019, the deluxe edition of Shawn Mendes was released, including the songs "If I Can't Have You" and "Señorita".

August 2019: Partnership with Tim Hortons Announced

In August 2019, Shawn Mendes announced a partnership with Canadian-based food chain Tim Hortons, featuring in a commercial and on beverage cups.

August 2019: Launch of the Shawn Mendes Foundation

In August 2019, Shawn Mendes announced the launch of the Shawn Mendes Foundation, aiming to empower youth to bring about positive change.

August 26, 2019: "Señorita" Reaches Number One

On August 26, 2019, "Señorita" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Shawn Mendes's first chart-topping single.

September 6, 2019: First Performance at the Rogers Centre

On September 6, 2019, Shawn Mendes had his first performance at the Rogers Centre.

2019: Self-Titled World Tour

In 2019, Shawn Mendes embarked on his self-titled world tour, performing at music festivals across Europe, North America, and South America.

2019: Release of "Señorita"

In 2019, Shawn Mendes released the hit singles "If I Can't Have You" and "Señorita", with the latter peaking atop the US Billboard Hot 100.

January 8, 2020: Donation to Australian Fire Relief Efforts

On January 8, 2020, Shawn Mendes and his Shawn Mendes Foundation donated an undisclosed sum of money to causes including the Australian Red Cross to help ease the strain on those impacted by the fires.

March 2020: Donation to Toronto's SickKids Foundation

In March 2020, Shawn Mendes and The Shawn Mendes Foundation donated $175,000 to support COVID-19 relief to Toronto's SickKids Foundation.

March 2020: Participation in iHeart Media's Living Room Concert for America

In March 2020, Shawn Mendes participated in iHeart Media's Living Room Concert for America, a benefit to raise awareness and funds for the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2020: Participation in Global Citizen Festival's Together at Home Virtual Concert

In April 2020, Shawn Mendes participated in Global Citizen Festival's Together at Home virtual concert to raise awareness and funds for the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 2020: Participation in Black Lives Matter Protests

In May 2020, Shawn Mendes, alongside Camila Cabello, joined protests in Miami for racial justice after the murder of George Floyd.

September 30, 2020: Announcement of "Wonder" Album

On September 30, 2020, Shawn Mendes announced that his fourth studio album, Wonder, would be released on December 4.

November 16, 2020: Announcement of "Monster" Collaboration with Justin Bieber

On November 16, 2020, Shawn Mendes announced a collaboration with Justin Bieber for the second single from "Wonder", titled "Monster".

November 20, 2020: Release of "Monster" Single and Music Video

On November 20, 2020, Shawn Mendes released the single "Monster" and its music video, in collaboration with Justin Bieber. The song reached number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100.

December 2020: Announcement of Wonder Grants

In December 2020 Shawn Mendes and the Shawn Mendes Foundation announced Wonder Grants, partnering with Google to award grants to young changemakers.

2020: Wonder Album Release

In 2020, Shawn Mendes's fourth studio album, Wonder, was released, making him the youngest male artist to top the Billboard 200 with four studio albums.

January 2021: Partnership with Chipotle for "Wonder Grants"

In January 2021, Chipotle announced its partnering with Shawn Mendes and his foundation to launch "Wonder Grants" supporting young innovators in sustainability.

April 22, 2021: Hosted NASA Video Conference with Expedition 65 Crew

On April 22, 2021, Shawn Mendes hosted a NASA video conference with the crew of Expedition 65 on board the International Space Station.

May 2021: Donation to Fight COVID-19 Pandemic in India

In May 2021, Shawn Mendes donated $50,000 through the organization Give India to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

June 2021: Signed Open Letter to US Congress Urging Passage of the Equality Act

In June 2021, Shawn Mendes, along with several other celebrities, signed an open letter to the United States Congress, urging lawmakers to pass the Equality Act.

August 20, 2021: Release of "Summer of Love" with Tainy

On August 20, 2021, Shawn Mendes released "Summer of Love" in collaboration with Tainy.

September 23, 2021: Announcement of Wonder: The World Tour

On September 23, 2021, Shawn Mendes announced the Wonder: The World Tour, which would span North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe, consisting of 64 dates.

November 2021: Mendes and Cabello announce split

In November 2021, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello announced the end of their relationship.

November 30, 2021: Announcement of New Single "It'll Be Okay"

On November 30, 2021, Shawn Mendes announced the release of his new single, titled "It'll Be Okay."

March 14, 2022: Start of Wonder: The World Tour

On March 14, 2022, Shawn Mendes started Wonder: The World Tour at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen.

March 20, 2022: Premiere of "When You're Gone" at SXSW 2022

On March 20, 2022, Shawn Mendes premiered a new song titled "When You're Gone" during his performance at SXSW 2022.

October 7, 2022: Release of "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" featuring Shawn Mendes

On October 7, 2022, the movie "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile", featuring Shawn Mendes as the voice of the title character, was released in the United States.

February 2023: Mendes Unveiled as Brand Ambassador for David Yurman

In February 2023, Shawn Mendes was unveiled as the latest brand ambassador for America's luxury jewelry brand David Yurman.

June 9, 2023: Release of Charity Single "What the Hell Are We Dying For?"

On June 9, 2023, Shawn Mendes released "What the Hell Are We Dying For?" as a charity single.

June 2023: Collaboration with David Yurman to Benefit Foundation

In June 2023, Shawn Mendes collaborated with David Yurman to design a woven hemp bracelet to benefit his foundation.

2023: Mendes briefly dates Sabrina Carpenter

In early 2023, Shawn Mendes was briefly in a relationship with Sabrina Carpenter.

March 2024: Announcement of First Solo Live Performance Since Wonder Tour

In March 2024, Shawn Mendes announced his first solo live performance since canceling Wonder: The World Tour, headlining the Rock in Rio festival.

August 8, 2024: Start of Intimate Concert Tour in Woodstock, New York

On August 8, 2024, Shawn Mendes began an intimate concert tour of theatre shows in Woodstock, New York.

October 2024: Mendes comments on "still figuring out" sexuality

In late October 2024, Shawn Mendes commented that he was "still figuring out" his sexuality, showing a change in his perspective since 2016.

October 18, 2024: Original Release Date of "Shawn" Album Announced

On October 18, 2024, Shawn Mendes was initially expected to release his fifth studio album, titled "Shawn", but the release was later postponed.

October 24, 2024: Conclusion of Intimate Concert Tour in Seattle

On October 24, 2024, Shawn Mendes concluded his intimate concert tour of theatre shows in Seattle.

November 2024: Release of Fifth Studio Album

In November 2024, Shawn Mendes released his eponymous fifth studio album, exploring the folk genre. The album received positive reception but lesser commercial success than its predecessors.