Rise to Success: Career Highlights of "Weird Al" Yankovic

Discover the career path of "Weird Al" Yankovic, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American musician, writer, and actor renowned for his comedic songs. He primarily creates parodies of popular contemporary songs, but also performs original songs in the style of other artists. A trademark element of his performances is the inclusion of polka medleys featuring popular songs, often highlighted by his accordion playing.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1976: First Song Played on Dr. Demento's Show

In 1976, at age 16, Yankovic gave Dr. Demento a homemade cassette tape, and his song "Belvedere Cruisin'" was played on Demento's radio show, launching Yankovic's career.

1976: First Airplay on Dr. Demento Radio Show

In 1976, at the age of 16, one of Yankovic's comedy songs was aired on The Dr. Demento Radio Show, marking an early milestone in his career.

1978: Release of "Take Me Down"

In 1978, Alfred Yankovic released his first recording as Alfred Yankovic, "Take Me Down", on the LP Slo Grown.

1979: Recording and Release of "My Bologna"

In 1979, Yankovic recorded and released "My Bologna," a parody of "My Sharona", leading to a recording contract and the realization that he could pursue comedic music as a career.

September 14, 1980: Dr. Demento Show and Meeting Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz

On September 14, 1980, Yankovic appeared on the Dr. Demento Show and met Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, who would become his drummer, during the recording of "Another One Rides the Bus".

April 21, 1981: First Television Appearance on The Tomorrow Show

On April 21, 1981, Yankovic made his first television appearance on The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder, performing "Another One Rides the Bus".

1981: First Tour

In 1981, Yankovic embarked on his first tour as part of Dr. Demento's stage show, a step forward in his career.

March 31, 1982: First Show with His Band

On March 31, 1982, Yankovic had his first show with his new band, which included Steve Jay, Jim West, and Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz.

1982: The Compleat Beatles Documentary

In 1982, The Compleat Beatles documentary was released, from which Weird Al would create a parody film name titled, The Compleat Al.

1982: Recording "I Love Rocky Road"

In 1982, Yankovic recorded "I Love Rocky Road", a parody of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", produced by Rick Derringer, leading to his signing with Scotti Brothers Records.

1983: Release of First Album and "Ricky" Single

In 1983, Yankovic's first self-titled album was released, and the single "Ricky" gained exposure on MTV, leading him to quit his job and pursue music full-time.

April 1, 1984: Airing of First Al TV Special

On April 1, 1984, the first of Yankovic's Al TV specials aired on MTV, helping to fill programming time and contributing to his rising popularity.

April 14, 1984: "Eat It" Peaks on Billboard Hot 100

On April 14, 1984, "Eat It" peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Yankovic's highest-charting single at the time.

1985: Release of The Compleat Al

In 1985, Yankovic co-wrote and starred in The Compleat Al, a mockumentary of his life, blending fact and fiction.

1986: "Christmas at Ground Zero" End Sequence Direction

In 1986, Weird Al Yankovic directed the end sequence of "Christmas at Ground Zero" from his Polka Party! album.

1986: Transformers: The Movie Feature

In 1986, Weird Al Yankovic's song "Dare to Be Stupid" was featured in The Transformers: The Movie, during the sequence in which Wreck-Gar was first introduced.

1987: Touring with The Monkees

In 1987, Yankovic and his band toured as the opening act for The Monkees, contributing to his touring experience.

1988: Narrating Peter and the Wolf and Contributing to The Carnival of the Animals Part II

In 1988, Yankovic narrated Wendy Carlos's recording of Peter and the Wolf and provided humorous poems for The Carnival of the Animals Part II.

July 1989: Premiere of UHF

In July 1989, Yankovic's film UHF premiered, though it faced mixed reviews and competition from other summer blockbusters.

1989: Release of UHF

In 1989, "Weird Al" Yankovic starred in UHF, a full-length feature film co-written by himself and manager Jay Levey, which, despite high test scores, was unsuccessful in theaters and led to a three-year slump.

1990: Preparing Songs for "Off the Deep End"

In 1990, Yankovic returned to the studio to prepare songs for his next album, "Off the Deep End".

1991: Rubén Valtierra Joins the Band

In 1991, Rubén Valtierra joined Yankovic's band on keyboards, which allowed Yankovic to focus more on singing and stage presence during concerts.

1992: Rejection of "Snack All Night" and Inspiration from Nirvana

In 1992, Michael Jackson denied Yankovic's parody of "Black or White" called "Snack All Night". Later in 1992, Yankovic wrote "Smells Like Nirvana," a parody of Nirvana's hit, and secured their permission. The song revitalized his career.

1992: Yankovic Takes Over Production

In 1992, Yankovic took over production duties from Rick Derringer due to Derringer's issues and Yankovic's evolving musical vision.

1992: MTV Video Music Awards Nomination

In 1992, the music video for "Smells Like Nirvana" contended with Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at the MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video, demonstrating the impact and recognition of Yankovic's parodies.

1993: Release of "Bedrock Anthem"

In 1993, "Weird Al" Yankovic released "Bedrock Anthem", a parody of Red Hot Chili Peppers' songs "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away".

1993: Directing Music Videos

In 1993, Weird Al Yankovic directed his music video, "Bedrock Anthem".

1993: Release of Alapalooza

In 1993, Yankovic released "Alapalooza", featuring "Jurassic Park", which peaked at No. 46 on the Billboard 200.

March 1994: Wheel of Fortune Appearance

In March 1994, Weird Al Yankovic competed on a week of Wheel of Fortune taped at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

1996: Release of "Amish Paradise" and Controversy

In 1996, "Weird Al" Yankovic released "Amish Paradise," a parody of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise," which led to controversy as Coolio initially claimed he hadn't granted permission. Despite the initial disagreement, no legal action occurred, and the issue was later resolved.

1996: Release of Bad Hair Day

In 1996, Yankovic released "Bad Hair Day", highlighted by "Amish Paradise", which reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified Double Platinum.

1997: Debut of The Weird Al Show

In 1997, Yankovic starred in the television series The Weird Al Show, further establishing his presence in television.

October 2, 1999: "Weird Al" Yankovic Live! Concert Recording

On October 2, 1999, "Weird Al" Yankovic's concert during the "Touring with Scissors" was recorded at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, California, which was later released on VHS in 1999 and DVD in 2000 as "Weird Al" Yankovic Live!".

2000: Original Song in Pokémon: The Movie 2000

In 2000, Yankovic contributed the original song "Polkamon" to the film Pokémon: The Movie 2000, adding to his contributions to film soundtracks.

2000: "Weird Al" Yankovic Live! DVD Release

In 2000, the concert recorded on October 2, 1999, during the "Touring with Scissors" was released on DVD as "Weird Al" Yankovic Live!", although some video clips and parodies were removed for legal reasons.

2003: First Overseas Tour

In 2003, "Weird Al" Yankovic embarked on his first overseas tour, performing eleven shows in Australia following the success of Poodle Hat.

2003: Eminem Denies "Couch Potato" Video

In 2003, Eminem denied "Weird Al" Yankovic permission to make a video for "Couch Potato", his parody of Eminem's song "Lose Yourself", because Eminem believed the video would harm his image.

2003: The Simpsons Appearance

In 2003, Weird Al Yankovic appeared on The Simpsons, singing "The Ballad of Homer & Marge", a parody of John Mellencamp's "Jack & Diane", with his band.

2003: Release of Poodle Hat

In 2003, Yankovic released "Poodle Hat", which received average reviews and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200.

2004: Eligible for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2004, Weird Al Yankovic became eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2005: Art competition

In 2005, an art competition was held as part of the "Make the Rock Hall 'Weird'" campaign to support Yankovic's nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

April 11, 2006: Live benefit show

On April 11, 2006, a live benefit show was held to raise money for the Weird Al Star Fund.

October 2006: "White & Nerdy" Peaks at No. 9

In October 2006, "White & Nerdy" placed at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing "Eat It" as Yankovic's highest-charting single.

2006: Petition drive

From 2006 to 2007, a petition drive to support Yankovic's nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame raised over 9000 signatures.

2006: Directing Music Videos

In 2006, Weird Al Yankovic directed his music video, "White & Nerdy".

2006: Release of "White & Nerdy" and Straight Outta Lynwood

In 2006, Weird Al released the top 10 single "White & Nerdy" and the album Straight Outta Lynwood, contributing to his continued success and helping him escape the one-hit wonder stigma often associated with novelty music. This marked a significant career milestone for Yankovic in 2006.

2006: Release of Straight Outta Lynwood

In 2006, Yankovic released "Straight Outta Lynwood", featuring "White & Nerdy", which became his first Billboard Top Ten single.

2006: Release of "Straight Outta Lynwood" and "White & Nerdy"

In 2006, Yankovic released his first top ten Billboard album, "Straight Outta Lynwood", and single, "White & Nerdy", achieving significant mainstream success nearly three decades into his career.

2006: Controversy over "You're Pitiful"

In 2006, after initially granting permission, James Blunt's label, Atlantic Records, rescinded approval for "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody of "You're Beautiful" titled "You're Pitiful", despite Blunt's personal approval, leading to its removal from "Straight Outta Lynwood" and release as a free download.

September 8, 2007: 1,000th Live Show

On September 8, 2007, "Weird Al" Yankovic performed his 1,000th live show in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

2007: Petition drive continues

From 2006 to 2007, a petition drive to support Yankovic's nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame raised over 9000 signatures.

2007: Yo Gabba Gabba! Appearance

In 2007, Weird Al Yankovic appeared as a ringmaster on a Yo Gabba Gabba! episode.

October 7, 2008: Release of "Whatever You Like"

On October 7, 2008, Yankovic released "Whatever You Like", a parody of the T.I. song, on iTunes, highlighting the benefits of digital distribution.

2008: The Simpsons Cameo

In 2008, Weird Al Yankovic had a cameo on The Simpsons, recording a parody of Homer's grunge hit "Shave Me" titled "Brain Freeze".

2008: RiffTrax Guest Appearance

In 2008, Weird Al Yankovic joined Michael J. Nelson as a guest on the RiffTrax audio commentary of Jurassic Park.

2008: Directing the Music Video for "Mixed Up S.O.B."

In 2008, Yankovic directed the music video for The Presidents of the United States of America's song "Mixed Up S.O.B.", further showcasing his talents beyond music parodies.

November 10, 2009: Rocketboom Guest Appearance

On November 10, 2009, Weird Al Yankovic was a guest "internet scientist" on Rocketboom's "Know Your Meme" video series, on the topic of Auto-Tune.

2009: Web Soup Appearance

In 2009, Weird Al Yankovic was a special guest on an episode of G4's Web Soup, appearing as Mark Gormley at first.

2009: "Al's Brain: A 3-D Journey Through The Human Brain" Premiere

In 2009, Weird Al Yankovic's short 3-D film attraction "Al's Brain: A 3-D Journey Through The Human Brain" premiered at the Orange County Fair.

2009: Release of Multiple Digital Singles

In 2009, Yankovic released four more songs: "Craigslist", "Skipper Dan", "CNR", and "Ringtone", showcasing his embrace of digital distribution.

January 25, 2010: Production Deal with Warner Bros.

On January 25, 2010, Weird Al Yankovic announced that he had signed a production deal with Warner Bros. to write and direct a live-action feature film for Cartoon Network.

December 2010: European Mini-Tour

In December 2010, "Weird Al" Yankovic performed his first-ever European mini-tour, including an appearance at the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in Minehead, England, curated by Godspeed You! Black Emperor, along with three other dates in the UK and one in the Netherlands.

2010: Funny or Die Trailer for Fictional Biopic

In 2010, Eric Appel produced a Funny or Die trailer for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a fictional biographical film parody, with "Weird Al" himself playing a music producer in the short.

2010: Production of Videos for Alpocalypse

In 2010, Yankovic produced videos for every song on Alpocalypse, including previously released videos for the songs on the EP Internet Leaks and new videos released via social media, enhancing the album's promotional efforts.

February 1, 2011: When I Grow Up Children's Book Release

On February 1, 2011, Weird Al Yankovic's children's book When I Grow Up was released.

February 20, 2011: When I Grow Up Reached NY Times Bestseller List

For the week of February 20, 2011, Weird Al Yankovic's book "When I Grow Up" reached the No. 4 position on The New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Picture Books.

June 21, 2011: Release of Alpocalypse

On June 21, 2011, Yankovic released his thirteenth studio album, "Alpocalypse", which included songs from Internet Leaks and new tracks.

October 1, 2011: "Weird Al" Yankovic Live!: The Alpocalypse Tour Airs on Comedy Central

On October 1, 2011, "Weird Al" Yankovic Live!: The Alpocalypse Tour aired on Comedy Central; it was filmed in Toronto, Canada.

2011: Batman: The Brave and the Bold Appearance

In 2011, Weird Al Yankovic appeared as himself in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Bat-Mite Presents: Batman's Strangest Cases!".

2011: Adventure Time and How I Met Your Mother Appearances

In 2011, Weird Al Yankovic guest starred as the character "Banana Man" in an episode of Adventure Time and appeared as himself in the How I Met Your Mother episode "Noretta".

2011: Publication of When I Grow Up

In 2011, Yankovic wrote his first children's book, When I Grow Up, showcasing his versatility as a writer and entertainer.

2011: Lady Gaga Gives Permission for "Perform This Way"

In 2011, after initially being denied permission to parody Lady Gaga's "Born This Way", Lady Gaga gave Yankovic permission to release "Perform This Way" after its release on YouTube and subsequent spread via Twitter, calling it a "rite of passage" for her career.

April 3, 2012: Face to Face with 'Weird Al' Yankovic Web Series

On April 3, 2012, Weird Al Yankovic began hosting a new comedic celebrity interview web series, Face to Face with 'Weird Al' Yankovic, for The Nerdist Podcast.

2012: Appearance on 30 Rock

In 2012, "Weird Al" Yankovic extensively featured in the sixth-season episode of 30 Rock, "Kidnapped by Danger", in which Jenna Maroney tries to come up with a "'Weird Al'-proof" song.

2012: The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange Christmas Special

In 2012, Weird Al Yankovic appeared as himself along with other celebrities in The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange Christmas special.

2012: The Aquabats! Super Show! Appearances

In 2012, Weird Al Yankovic appeared on two episodes of The Aquabats! Super Show!, playing SuperMagic PowerMan and the President of the United States.

September 2013: Working on a New Album

In September 2013, Yankovic stated he was working on a new album.

2013: My New Teacher and Me! Book Release

In 2013, Weird Al Yankovic released a sequel to When I Grow Up, titled My New Teacher and Me!.

2013: Cartoon Network Film Project Scrapped

In 2013, Weird Al Yankovic revealed that his film project with Cartoon Network had been scrapped.

2013: Publication of My New Teacher and Me!

In 2013, Yankovic wrote his second children's book, My New Teacher and Me!, adding to his literary contributions.

May 31, 2014: ACE Award from National Cartoonists Society

On May 31, 2014, Weird Al Yankovic won the ACE Award (Amateur Cartoonist Extraordinaire) from the National Cartoonists Society.

November 19, 2014: RadioShack Ad Appearance

On November 19, 2014, a RadioShack ad was uploaded to YouTube which featured Al in the role of a RadioShack employee.

2014: Celebrity Name Game Appearances

From 2014 until 2017, Weird Al Yankovic appeared as a celebrity contestant in eight episodes of the game show Celebrity Name Game.

2014: Performance at George Fest

In 2014, "Weird Al" Yankovic performed George Harrison's "What Is Life" at George Fest in Los Angeles.

2014: Performance at Primetime Emmy Awards

In 2014, "Weird Al" Yankovic performed at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, singing a comedic medley of songs based on the themes of several Emmy-nominated shows.

2014: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Appearance

In 2014, Weird Al Yankovic appeared in the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode "Pinkie Pride" as Cheese Sandwich.

2014: Release of Mandatory Fun

In 2014, Yankovic released "Mandatory Fun", which became his first No. 1 album on the Billboard charts, supported by viral music video releases.

2014: Release of Eight Music Videos for Mandatory Fun

In 2014, to promote his album Mandatory Fun, Yankovic produced eight music videos and released them over eight consecutive days, utilizing social media portals to cover production costs and achieving significant views, which helped the album reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

2014: "Word Crimes" Reaches Billboard Top 40

In 2014, with "Word Crimes" from Mandatory Fun debuting at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Weird Al" Yankovic became the third musical artist after Michael Jackson and Madonna to have a song in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 over each decade since the 1980s.

April 2015: Mad Magazine Guest Editor

In April 2015, Weird Al Yankovic became the first guest editor for Mad magazine for their 533rd issue.

2015: Album Sales Milestone

By 2015, Yankovic had sold more than 12 million albums, demonstrating his enduring popularity and success in the music industry.

2015: The Odd Couple Appearance

In 2015, Weird Al Yankovic made an appearance on an episode of The Odd Couple as a yoga student.

2015: Teen Titans Go! Voice Acting

In 2015, Weird Al Yankovic voiced the supervillain Darkseid in the Teen Titans Go! episode "Two Parter".

2015: Mad magazine's Guest Editor

In 2015, Weird Al Yankovic was featured as Mad magazine's first ever guest editor for their 533rd issue.

2015: "Mandatory World Tour" Begins

In 2015, following the release of "Mandatory Fun", "Weird Al" Yankovic started touring across the United States, Canada, and selected overseas venues in the "Mandatory World Tour".

October 2016: "Bad Hombres, Nasty Women" Music Video Release

In October 2016, Weird Al Yankovic collaborated with the Gregory Brothers on a music video titled "Bad Hombres, Nasty Women," satirizing the American presidential election debates.

2016: "Mandatory World Tour" Continues

In 2016, "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Mandatory World Tour", which began in 2015, continued across the United States, Canada, and selected overseas venues, principally featuring songs from the Mandatory Fun album.

2016: BoJack Horseman and Milo Murphy's Law

In 2016, Weird Al Yankovic appeared in two episodes of BoJack Horseman as Mr. Peanutbutter's brother, Captain Peanutbutter, and began portraying Milo Murphy in the Disney XD series Milo Murphy's Law.

2016: Comedy Bang! Bang! Bandleader

In 2016, Weird Al Yankovic became the bandleader on the IFC series Comedy Bang! Bang!, on which he had previously guest starred.

2016: Performance with Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

In 2016, Weird Al had a "religious experience" performing with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

2017: Celebrity Name Game Appearances

From 2014 until 2017, Weird Al Yankovic appeared as a celebrity contestant in eight episodes of the game show Celebrity Name Game.

2017: Guest Appearance on Last Week Tonight

In 2017, Yankovic made a guest appearance on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, performing a new song "The North Korea Polka" as part of an episode about the political state of North Korea, showcasing his ability to integrate his music into current events.

2017: Future Release Plans

In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, Yankovic discussed his plans for releasing music in the future. He stated that he may switch to releasing singles and EPs over the Internet instead of full albums.

March 2018: Release of "The Hamilton Polka"

In March 2018, Yankovic released "The Hamilton Polka", a polka medley of songs from the musical Hamilton, marking the first polka song to chart on Billboard's Digital Songs Sales Chart. Also in March, Yankovic released remixes of two songs by Portugal. The Man.

June 2018: "The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour"

From February to June 2018, "Weird Al" Yankovic toured the United States and Canada in "The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour", performing mostly original songs without costumes, props, or video screens, and featuring comedian Emo Philips as the opening act.

September 2018: Weezer's "Africa" Music Video Appearance

In September 2018, Weird Al Yankovic appeared in the official video for Weezer's cover of "Africa", parodying Weezer's video for "Undone – The Sweater Song".

2018: Creation of "The Hamilton Polka"

In 2018, Weird Al Yankovic created "The Hamilton Polka", a medley of songs from the musical Hamilton, continuing his tradition of including polka medleys in his albums.

2018: Cartoon Hell Theme Song Performance

In 2018, Weird Al Yankovic performed the theme song for the Dropout animated web series Cartoon Hell.

2018: Previous "Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour"

In 2018, Weird Al did a "Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour"

June 2019: "Strings Attached Tour" Begins

Starting in June 2019, "Weird Al" Yankovic embarked on his "Strings Attached Tour", performing every show backed by a forty-one-piece orchestra.

July 2020: Release of "The Hamilton Polka" Video Version

In July 2020, after Hamilton premiered on Disney+, Yankovic released a video version of "The Hamilton Polka" that synched his song to clips from the show.

August 2020: Billboard Names Yankovic Top Music Video Artist

In August 2020, Billboard named "Weird Al" Yankovic No. 15 of the top 100 music video artists of all time, highlighting the importance of his video parodies to his success.

2020: "Weird A.I. Yankovic" Algorithm Created

In 2020, Mark Riedl, a researcher at Georgia Tech, created an algorithm called "Weird A.I. Yankovic" that generates lyrics to match the rhyme and syllable schemes of preexisting songs, referencing Yankovic's parody style.

2020: "We're All Doomed" Music Video Release

In 2020, Weird Al Yankovic collaborated with the Gregory Brothers on a music video titled "We're All Doomed" after the first debate in the 2020 campaign.

January 2022: Announcement of Full-Length Biopic

In January 2022, "Weird Al" Yankovic and Eric Appel announced they would be making a full-length biopic, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, based on their 2010 trailer.

September 2022: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Premieres

In September 2022, the film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

October 2022: First Performance at Carnegie Hall

In October 2022, "Weird Al" Yankovic concluded his "Unfortunate Return Of The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour", which included 133 shows, with his first performance at Carnegie Hall.

November 2022: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Released on Roku

In November 2022, the film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story was released on the Roku Channel.

2022: Focus on Tours and Biopic

In 2022, Yankovic focused on projects such as tours and the biopic "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story".

2022: Release of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

In 2022, Yankovic released "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story", a satirical film about his life.

January 2023: New Videos for Older Songs

In January 2023, Following the publication of The Illustrated Al, Weird Al Yankovic started working with the illustrators to produce new videos for older songs.

January 19, 2023: The Illustrated Al: The Songs of "Weird Al" Yankovic Release

On January 19, 2023, The Illustrated Al: The Songs of "Weird Al" Yankovic, produced in partnership with Z2 Comics, was released.

June 2024: "Deja Vu (But Worse)" Music Video Release

In June 2024, Weird Al Yankovic and the Gregory Brothers released "Deja Vu (But Worse)" about the presidential debate.

July 19, 2024: Release of "Polkamania!"

On July 19, 2024, Yankovic released a new polka medley, "Polkamania!", featuring his take on popular songs. It included the release of a video created by several animators that Yankovic had worked with in past videos.