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Madison Beer, the magnetic pop star opens up
American singer Madison Beer returns to the spotlight with a brilliant third album, Locket, released in January 2026. First discovered as a teenager thanks to a cover of an Etta James song, followed by a tweet from Justin Bieber, she has now established herself as a pop artist to closely watch. Interview with a future star.
and Violaine Schütz.
Published on 3 February 2026. Updated on 26 May 2026.
Madison Beer, a pop star to keep an eye on
At 26, the singer, actress and American social media star followed by 40 million people, seems to be embracing a subtle, yet decisive shift in her career. Madison Beer has just entered a new pop, upbeat and vulnerable chapter with her third album, Locket, released on January 16th, 2026.
The record includes the moving, romantic ballad Bad enough (2026) and the introspective Bittersweet (2025). On those two songs, the artist explores an unprecedented sense of restraint, even though her voice remains powerful and deeply emotional.
They are reminiscent of Ariana Grande’s calmer, more melancholic songs, when she abandons glitter for pure emotion. Madison Beer’s pop doesn’t try to overdo it or wring our hearts with every vocal vibe. Sometimes, one can spot similarities with Lana Del Rey, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams or Tate McRae. A good sign…
“There are many personal experiences translated into this album.” – Madison Beer
Above all, this project marks a deeply personal journey for the rising pop star. Locket, which refers to the piece of jewellery, symbolises Madison Beer’s private world. “The title comes from the fact that I love collecting antique lockets,” the singer told Numéro. “I wanted the album title to truly reflect my personal life. And when I started writing my record, the word just seemed perfect.”
“There are many personal experiences translated into this album. It was about addressing how I dealt with romantic relationships, from beginning to end. I tried to be as honest as possible without revealing too much, but being that open with my fans through my music really feels like therapy for me,” she added. However, the American singer added some nuance to that: “The album Silence Between Songs was even more centred on me and my life than this one, so I wouldn’t say that this new record is my most personal.”
A nomination at the Grammy Awards
On this well-rounded record, the star also unveils her dance-driven side. Locket includes the electronic, catchy track Yes Baby (2025), which would perfectly fit on the Flashdance soundtrack. “It’s really important for me to have several different moods on an album. I love all styles of music and I love experimenting with my compositions. I don’t think you should limit yourself to just one thing. It’s really fun to have the audacity to explore different sounds. I want my albums to feel like journeys that blend different feelings and emotions,” the singer shared.
The dance-pop anthem Make You Mine (2024), whose video was inspired by the film Jennifer’s Body starring Megan Fox, who bears a striking resemblance to the singer, earned her a Grammy Awards nomination. Today, Madison Beer is ready to debunk her previously rather wholesome, polished image. In the video for her new single Bad enough (2026), she appears covered in blood, wielding an axe and in love with a monster.
“It’s absolutely essential for me to add cinematic universes to my videos. I love cinema, and I like drawing on Hollywood references for my music videos. Anything that allows me to weave pop culture references into my work is always a pleasure,” she explained. Yet, while her charisma and presence is undeniable on screen, Madison Beer was not built overnight.
The singer and actress has shaped her own mythology step by step, especially on stage. Her 52-date Spinnin Tour (2024) confirmed that she is no longer just an emerging artist, but a charismatic performer with a miraculous vocal range. Besides, her angelic appearance at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show on October 15th, 2025, caused quite a stir.
A singer acclaimed by Justin Bieber
Madison Beer had come a long way to become one of the rising pop stars of 2026. Born in 1999 in Jericho, Long Island, in a quiet, almost too peaceful suburb to hold a future show-business star, she grew up listening to the Beatles, her favourite band, Queen, Ariana Grande, Imogen Heap and Daft Punk.
As a teenager, she uploaded several covers of cult songs on YouTube, including one of At Last (1960) by Etta James. Her performance was youthful, yet already intense and powerful. Just a few hours later, Justin Bieber tweeted: “Wow. 13 years old! She can sing. Gret job #futurestar.” A true digital thunderbolt. Today, when you type the title of the song on Google, her name even appears before that of the original performer…
A career marked by trials and errors
At just 14 years old, Madison Beer was guided by Scooter Braun. The latter is the controversial manager who worked with Taylor Swift and represented Carly Rae Jepsen and Kanye West. He sold Taylor Swift’s first six albums for $300 million to an investment fund, prompting the singer to re-record her early work from 2021 onward.
At the same time, Madison Beer signed with Island Records, moved to Los Angeles, and everything seemed ready for her big breakthrough. But at 15, tragedy struck. Nude photos of her were leaked online. She was slut-shamed and harassed on social media. Later, in interviews, she explained how deeply she suffered from being sexualised while still a teenager, like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera before her. At 16, she lost her manager, her label and lawyer within 48 hours. According to them, she simply wasn’t bankable enough to achieve long-term success in pop music. Depression then took over the young woman…
“Some people look at artists or people like me and assume we’re not affected by mental health issues.” – Madison Beer
Protecting her mental health has now become a top priority in the singer’s life. “I try to put some measures in place to protect myself. I think that over time, I’m getting better and better at setting boundaries, saying no, taking care of myself and my well-being, and doing things that make me feel good. So I just try not to feel guilty and to talk regularly about what is wrong, because I know that so many people in the world struggle with their mental health. I think some people look at artists or people like me and assume we’re not affected by that. But it’s important for me to speak out and to show people that they’re not alone. Everyone goes through hardships,” she stated.
A star breaking free from mainstream pop
In her autobiography The Half of It: A Memoir (2023), she also dives into a decade of exposure, self-doubt and reconstruction. She was one of the first pop stars to speak openly about mental health and the way the industry treats young artists. “I was very young, I didn’t understand the industry. I felt trapped for a long time,” she told the London Evening Standard. Gradually, Madison Beer rebuilt and reinvented herself… In 2021, she delivered a sharp criticism of toxic men on the track BOYSHIT.
At the same time, she stepped out of the mainstream cocoon to reveal a less naive form of pop. The albums Life Support (2021), written while she was experiencing a depressive episode and receiving a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, and Silence Between Songs (2023), which earned a Grammy Awards nomination, are intense, orchestral works leaning toward R’n’B, dark pop, dream pop, psychedelic music and indie pop.
A sold-out concert in Paris
Today, Madison Beer is stronger, bolder and freer than ever. The artist fully embraces a powerful and daring visual identity in the phenomenal, athletic video for Yes Baby. “I think my albums reflect stages of my growth,” she said. “I feel like I’m growing more and more, both as a person and as an artist, with each record. I hope you can hear that on the new album. That’s my goal.”
“I just want to keep doing things my own way, and make sure I’m happy and healthy in my personal life without compromising anything,” she concluded.
In the meantime, Madison Beer will be performing live in Paris in May 2026. Much to the delight of her many French fans. “I love them,” the artist admitted. “They’re incredibly loyal fans, they’re amazing. My Paris show is sold out. I’ve loved coming to this city since the very beginning of my career and meeting my audience here. Seeing my French fans has always been the highlight of my tours. So I’m really looking forward to performing here.”
Locket (2026) by Madison Beer, available now. Live performance at the Adidas Arena in Paris on May 22nd, 2026.
