Shawn Peter Mendes is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and model who rose to fame by posting song covers on the video-sharing app Vine. His talent quickly caught the attention of artist manager Andrew Gertler and Island Records A&R Ziggy Chareton, leading to a recording contract. Since then, Mendes has released multiple studio albums, headlined world tours, and earned numerous nominations and awards. Here’s a closer look at his family, achievements, and personal life. Read more on itoronto.
Early Life of Shawn Mendes
Born and raised in Pickering, Ontario, Shawn Mendes comes from Portuguese and English descent. He grew up in a religious household with one sibling. From a young age, Mendes worked tirelessly to pursue his dreams. Self-taught on the guitar by watching online videos, Mendes followed in the footsteps of fellow Canadian pop icon Justin Bieber, sharing covers of popular songs such as Bieber’s “As Long as You Love Me” and Adele’s “Hometown Glory.”
By the age of 14, Mendes had amassed three million followers across YouTube and Vine, where he began sharing his original music. In high school, he was involved in sports and performed in theatre productions.
Mendes’s online popularity, particularly on Vine, caught the attention of U.S. talent manager Andrew Gertler in late 2013. By May 2014, Mendes had signed with Island Records, releasing his debut single “Life of the Party” in June. The song debuted in the Billboard Top 25, making him the youngest artist to chart so high at just 15 years old. This was followed by the release of his first major-label EP, which peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200.
Peter Mendes’ Albums and Awards
On April 14, 2015, Mendes released his debut studio album, “Handwritten.” It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in the U.S., selling over a million copies. Mendes received a Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2015. In 2016, “Handwritten” earned him Juno nominations for Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.
The lead single “Treat You Better” from Mendes’ sophomore album, “Illuminate,” became a global hit. Released in September 2016, the song reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself debuted at #1 on both the Canadian Albums Chart and the Billboard 200. Mendes embarked on his first solo world tour in 2016 and performed on NBC’s Saturday Night Live for the first time in December that year, marking a significant milestone in his career.
In 2017, Mendes launched another global tour in support of “Illuminate,” performing at iconic venues like The O2 in London. By November of that year, he became the youngest artist to score three #1 hits on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs chart before the age of 20.
The momentum continued in 2018 with the release of “In My Blood,” the lead single from Mendes’ self-titled third album. The track topped the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart, making Mendes the first artist with four #1 hits on the chart before turning 20. The album debuted at #1 in both Canada and the U.S., and Mendes became the third-youngest solo artist (after Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus) to achieve such success. Mendes even performed at Queen Elizabeth II’s 92nd birthday celebrations and received Grammy nominations in 2018 for Best Pop Vocal Album (Shawn Mendes) and Song of the Year (“In My Blood”).
In December 2020, Mendes released his fourth album, “Wonder,” which debuted at #1 in both Canada and the U.S. His duet “Señorita” with then-girlfriend Camila Cabello won the Juno Award for Single of the Year in 2020 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2019.
The “Wonder” album earned Mendes five Juno nominations in 2022, including Pop Album of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist of the Year. He won the TikTok Fan Choice Juno Award and became the youngest recipient of the International Achievement Award. Days before the 2022 Juno Awards, Mendes surpassed 18 billion streams on Spotify.
Mendes: A Voice of a Generation
In 2020, Simon Hattenstone of The Guardian described Mendes as “eternally polite, charming, gorgeous, and the perfect pop star.” He likened Mendes to Bruce Springsteen for his ability to command a crowd and his respect for women, as opposed to objectifying them. However, Hattenstone acknowledged that Mendes faces criticism, with detractors labeling his music as formulaic and lacking uniqueness.
Mendes’ musical style is typically described as pop, pop rock, teen pop, or soft rock. He has often cited John Mayer as a major influence, alongside Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, and Kings of Leon. While Mendes admires their styles, he has always aspired for his career to follow Justin Bieber’s trajectory, naming Bieber as a foundational figure in his career.
Filmography and Voice Acting
Before his music career took off, Mendes ventured into voice acting, landing his first role in the animated film “Underdogs” (2013). In 2016, he made his live-action debut in an episode of CW’s The 100 during the third season premiere.
In March 2017, Mendes was announced as the lead in the feature film Summer of Love, a musical produced and directed by Ivan Reitman. As of September 2024, the project remains in development. Mendes released a single, “Summer of Love,” on August 20, 2021, aligning with the project’s themes.
Personal Life: Sexuality and Mental Health Advocacy
Shortly after Mendes’ breakthrough in 2015, rumors about his sexuality surfaced. In a June 2016 interview with US Weekly, Mendes clarified that he is heterosexual and expressed frustration at the need to address such rumors, emphasizing that it shouldn’t matter.
In 2018, Mendes had a brief relationship with model Hailey Baldwin before she became engaged to Justin Bieber. Since July 2019, he has been in a relationship with Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello.
Mendes has also been open about his struggles with anxiety and mental health. He has become a vocal advocate for mental health awareness. In May 2021, Mendes and Cabello partnered with the meditation app Calm to promote mindfulness and provide tools for stress relief.
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