History of Shawn Mendes in Timeline

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Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes is a Canadian singer-songwriter who rose to fame through posting song covers on Vine in 2013. He was quickly discovered and signed with Island Records in 2014. His debut EP was released the same year, and his debut album, Handwritten, topped the Billboard 200 in 2015, making him one of the youngest artists to achieve this. His hit single "Stitches" reached number one in the UK and top 10 in the US and Canada, solidifying his early success.

1989: Opening for Taylor Swift

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

August 8, 1998: Shawn Mendes' birth

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

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2012: Learning to Play Guitar

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

November 2013: Discovery by Andrew Gertler

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

2013: Gaining Following on Vine

In 2013, Shawn Mendes started gaining a following by posting song covers on the video-sharing platform Vine.

January 2014: Joining Island Records

In January 2014, after being discovered online, Andrew Gertler brought Shawn Mendes to Island Records.

May 2014: 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".

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July 12, 2014: Debut in Billboard Hot 100 Top 25

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

August 2014: Third Most Followed Musician on Vine

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

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

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.

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November 6, 2014: "Something Big" Release

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

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2014: Launch of "Notes from Shawn" campaign

In 2014, Shawn Mendes and DoSomething.org launched the "Notes from Shawn" campaign, encouraging fans to write positive notes inspired by his song "Life of the Party" to address self-esteem and depression.

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2014: Signing with Island Records and Debut EP Release

In 2014, Shawn Mendes caught the attention of Andrew Gertler and Island Records A&R Ziggy Chareton, leading to him signing a deal with Island Records. He also released his self-titled debut EP in 2014.

2014: Time's 25 Most Influential Teens

Shawn Mendes was listed among Time's "25 Most Influential Teens of 2014" after his debut in the Billboard Hot 100.

April 14, 2015: Release of Handwritten

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".

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2015: Relaunch of "Notes from Shawn" campaign

In 2015, Shawn Mendes and DoSomething.org relaunched the "Notes from Shawn" campaign for the second year, hashtagged online as NotesFromShawn. He partnered with BlendApp with the goal of raising up to $25,000.

2015: Debut Album Handwritten Release

In 2015, Shawn Mendes released his debut studio album, Handwritten, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.

2015: 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.

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.

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March 2016: Shawn Mendes World Tour Announcement

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

June 2016: Graduation from Pine Ridge Secondary School

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

June 2016: Release of "Treat You Better"

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

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June 2016: Statement regarding speculations about his sexuality

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

August 18, 2016: Release of "Mercy"

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

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September 23, 2016: Release of Illuminate Album

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

December 3, 2016: Appearance on Saturday Night Live

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

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December 2016: Release of Live at Madison Square Garden

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

2016: Third Year Relaunch of "Notes from Shawn" campaign

In 2016, Shawn Mendes and DoSomething.org relaunched the "Notes from Shawn" campaign for the third year.

2016: Signed with Wilhelmina Models

In 2016, Shawn Mendes signed with Wilhelmina Models.

2016: Time's The 30 Most Influential Teens and Forbes 30 Under 30

In 2016, Shawn Mendes was listed among Time's The 30 Most Influential Teens 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.

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", included on his Illuminate deluxe edition.

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June 2017: Runway Walk at Emporio Armani Show

In June 2017, Shawn Mendes walked the runway during the "Emporio Armani Spring 2018" show in Milan, Italy, showcasing the brand's new smartwatch, EA Connected.

August 2017: Youngest Artist with Three Number-One Songs

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 First Fragrance

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

September 2017: Creation of Mexico Earthquake Relief Fund

In September 2017, Shawn Mendes created the Mexico Earthquake Relief Fund in conjunction with the American Red Cross, donating $100,000 for relief efforts after the earthquake in Mexico City.

November 2017: First Artist with Three Number-One Songs on Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart Before 20

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: Topping 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.

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

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

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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's self-titled studio album was released to positive critical reviews and debuted at number one in both Canada and the US.

June 6, 2018: 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 Published Wearing EA Connected Smartwatches

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

August 2018: Launch of Second Fragrance

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

September 2018: Participation in Global Citizen Festival

In September 2018, Shawn Mendes participated in the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York City, raising awareness for education and children's access to education and expressing his support for the Leave No Girl Behind initiative.

October 2018: Release of "Under Pressure" cover

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

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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 to support young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

2018: Shawn Mendes Album Release

In 2018, Shawn Mendes released his self-titled third album, supported by the single "In My Blood", which debuted at number one in the US.

2018: Billboard 21 Under 21

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

2018: Collaboration with Omaze to Support WE Schools Program

In 2018, Shawn Mendes worked with Omaze to raise funds for the WE Schools program through donations, offering donors a chance to attend his upcoming concert tour.

2018: Time's 100 Most Influential People

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

February 16, 2019: Brand ambassador for Calvin Klein’s #MyCalvins campaign

On February 16, 2019, 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" along with its music video.

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

On June 21, 2019, Shawn Mendes released "Señorita" with Cuban singer Camila Cabello, along with the music video.

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July 2019: Began dating Camila Cabello

In July 2019, Shawn Mendes began dating Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello. Their relationship sparked controversy.

July 27, 2019: Release of Deluxe Edition of Shawn Mendes

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

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 to empower youth to bring about positive change and advocate for issues they care about.

August 26, 2019: "Señorita" Peaked at Number One

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

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September 6, 2019: First performance at 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 Hit Singles

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

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January 8, 2020: Donation to Australian Fire Relief

On January 8, 2020, Shawn Mendes and his foundation donated to causes including the Australian Red Cross, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, and South Australian Country Fire Service to aid those impacted by the Australian 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 and Global Citizen Festival's Together at Home virtual concert

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. Also in March 2020, Mendes participated in Global Citizen Festival's Together at Home virtual concert 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, and lent his Instagram to raise the voice of Black activists.

September 30, 2020: Announcement of "Wonder" album and single

On September 30, 2020, Shawn Mendes announced his fourth studio album, "Wonder", slated for release on December 4, and the release of its lead single, also titled "Wonder", on October 2. The song "Intro" from the album was also released through promotional videos.

November 16, 2020: Announcement of "Monster" single

On November 16, 2020, Shawn Mendes announced the release of "Monster", a collaboration single with Justin Bieber from the album Wonder.

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November 20, 2020: Release of "Monster" single and music video

On November 20, 2020, Shawn Mendes released the single and music video for "Monster", a collaboration with Justin Bieber.

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December 2020: Announcement of Wonder Grants

In December 2020, Shawn Mendes and the Shawn Mendes Foundation announced Wonder Grants in partnership with Google, awarding the first set to young changemakers across various fields.

2020: Wonder Album Release

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

January 2021: Partnership with Chipotle for "Wonder Grants" and Shawn Mendes Bowl

In January 2021, Chipotle announced its partnership with Shawn Mendes and his foundation to launch "Wonder Grants" supporting young innovators in sustainability, and a "Shawn Mendes Bowl" on the Chipotle app/website.

April 22, 2021: Hosted NASA video conference

On April 22, 2021, Shawn Mendes hosted a NASA video conference with the crew of Expedition 65 on board the International Space Station. The televised event covered a Q&A with students and children about various topics related to Earth Day, such as climate change, Earth observations, and general physics, as well as the astronauts' experience on the space station.

May 2021: Donation to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in India

In May 2021, Shawn Mendes joined Camila Cabello and Bollywood actors to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in India during its peak of cases. Mendes donated $50,000 through the organization Give India.

June 2021: Signed open letter to United States Congress

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, which would protect marginalized communities.

August 20, 2021: Release of "Summer of Love" and Executive Producer Role

On August 20, 2021, Shawn Mendes released "Summer of Love" with Tainy. Additionally, Mendes was announced to be an executive producer for the TV adaptation of Square Enix's video game Life Is Strange.

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

On September 23, 2021, Shawn Mendes announced the Wonder: The World Tour, scheduled to begin on March 14, 2022, with 64 dates across North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

November 2021: Announced split from Camila Cabello

In November 2021, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello announced their split.

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

On November 30, 2021, Shawn Mendes announced the release of his new single, "It'll Be Okay", which would be released on December 1.

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

On March 14, 2022, Shawn Mendes was scheduled to start the Wonder: The World Tour at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen. The tour was later postponed and eventually canceled due to mental health concerns.

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

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

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October 7, 2022: Release of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile movie

On October 7, 2022, the movie adaptation of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, in which Shawn Mendes voices the title character, was released in the United States by Columbia Pictures.

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Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Lyle the Crocodile)
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Lyle the Crocodile)

February 2023: Brand ambassador for David Yurman

In February 2023, Shawn Mendes became the brand ambassador for David Yurman, appearing alongside Scarlett Johansson in the brand’s 2023 campaign dubbed "Nature’s Artistry".

June 9, 2023: Release of Charity Single

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

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June 2023: Collaboration with David Yurman to Benefit Shawn Mendes Foundation

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

2023: Briefly dated Sabrina Carpenter

In early 2023, Shawn Mendes briefly dated Sabrina Carpenter.

March 2024: Announcement of first solo live performance since Wonder: The World Tour cancellation and working on his fifth studio album.

In March 2024, Shawn Mendes announced his first solo live performance since canceling Wonder: The World Tour. He announced he would be headlining the Rock in Rio festival by himself on September 22. In the same post, he also announced that he was working on his fifth studio album.

August 8, 2024: Intimate Concert Tour start in Woodstock, New York and release of "Why Why Why" and "Isn't That Enough"

On August 8, 2024, Shawn Mendes began his intimate concert tour in Woodstock, New York and released "Why Why Why" and "Isn't That Enough".

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October 2024: Commented that he was "still figuring out" his sexuality.

In late October 2024, Shawn Mendes commented that he was "still figuring out" his sexuality.

October 18, 2024: Shawn Album Release Date (Original)

On October 18, 2024, Shawn Mendes' fifth studio album, titled Shawn, was originally scheduled for release (later postponed to November 15).

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

On October 24, 2024, Shawn Mendes concluded his intimate concert tour in Seattle, which promoted his album 'Shawn'.

November 2024: Shawn Album Release

In November 2024, Shawn Mendes's fifth studio album, Shawn, was released to positive reviews, exploring the folk genre.