Carly Rae Jepsen Is 39 Today! THIS Is Her Career So Far

She’s 39 now and it’s time for a look back. Carly Rae Jepsen was born in Mission, British Columbia, which sounds like a place where a pop star could definitely emerge. If Mission’s not on your radar yet, don’t worry—Carly’s about to change that. She started off like any other aspiring Canadian singer—by performing in musical theater and entering the Canadian Idol competition in 2007. Spoiler alert: she didn’t win, but hey, runner-up status still gets you free coffee at Tim Hortons and an honorary Canadian title. By 2008, Carly released her debut album, 'Tug of War', a collection of tunes so sweet, they could’ve been served with maple syrup. Unfortunately, the album didn't launch Carly into global stardom—but it did show the world that she could write a catchy hook and hold a note long enough to definitely get your attention.

If you didn’t know who Carly Rae Jepsen was before 2011, you definitely knew her by the time ‘Kiss’ dropped. In 2011, she released "Call Me Maybe," a song so infectiously catchy that it felt like it was written specifically to be blasted through car windows on a sunny day while driving to the beach. The song became *the* summer anthem of 2012, and let’s face it: you still catch yourself singing "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy" at least once a week. But Carly didn’t just stop at "Call Me Maybe." No, no. She followed up with the equally addictive "Good Time" (featuring Owl City), a feel-good banger that made us all feel like, “Yeah, this is our jam.” ‘Kiss’, the album, may have felt like it was meant for high school proms and late-night dance parties, but it was Carly Rae’s ticket to pop stardom, and let’s be real—no one expected that catchy little tune to stick around for *this* long.

If ‘Kiss’ was Carly’s introduction to the mainstream, ‘Emotion’ was her grand declaration of pop sovereignty. Released in 2015, ‘Emotion’ was like the lovechild of ABBA and modern-day electropop—an album full of heartbreak, dance beats, and personal revelations. It was as if Carly took everything she learned from ‘Kiss’, turned the emotional volume up to 11, and released the kind of record that made you cry while simultaneously wanting to dance.

Songs like “Run Away With Me” and “Your Type” became instant classics, with lyrics so relatable that they made us question why we weren’t out there, living our best lives (but we’re not bitter). And ‘Emotion’ was critically adored, too! It was the album that made the world realize Carly wasn’t just a one-hit-wonder. She was an artist with staying power and a whole lot of heart—and maybe a few too many heart-shaped sunglasses.

If ‘Emotion’ was Carly’s emotional diary, ‘Dedicated’ was her synth-heavy love letter to the '80s. The album, which included singles like "Now That I Found You" and "Too Much," marked a time when Carly began to embrace a very specific vibe: bright neon lights, roller disco nights, and a level of romantic yearning that’s almost too pure for this world. ‘Dedicated’ was a little more polished, a little more reflective, and just a little more ready to be played during your next dance party with your closest friends—or your closest inner demons.

There were even whispers that Carly was using ‘Dedicated’ to hint at a darker, more experimental side of her music. But honestly? If you weren't dancing to "Party For One," you were doing it wrong. Carly Rae Jepsen made it clear that if you weren’t ready to groove, you might as well stay home.

Because one album of pop perfection clearly wasn’t enough, Carly decided to bless us with ‘Dedicated Side B’ in 2020. This isn’t just an album—it’s a whole vibe, an unexpected gift dropped on us like a surprise package from your most fabulous, slightly mysterious friend. With tracks like "This Love Isn't Crazy" and "Let’s Be Friends," Carly dug deeper into her musical toolbox, giving us more of that “we-can-all-dance-and-cry-at-the-same-time” magic that has made her the queen of blending heartbreak with disco lights.

But if we’re honest, the ‘Side B’ album felt more like Carly Rae Jepsen’s way of saying, “I’m just going to keep making this fantastic music because I can,” which, frankly, is exactly what we need in 2024.

From the emotional longing of “Call Me Maybe” to the empowering anthems like “Cut to the Feeling,” Carly Rae Jepsen has the rare ability to take us on a whirlwind journey from heartbreak to euphoria. In one song, she’ll have you sobbing about lost love ("All That") and in the next, you'll be spinning in circles, dancing to "Let’s Be Friends" like nothing else matters. It’s a pop experience like no other.

Carly has been known to be quite competitive on the go-kart track, a pastime she loves to indulge in. It’s all part of her “low-key pop star with hidden talents” persona. You’ll rarely see Carly without a good pair of shoes. Those killer heels aren't just for show—they help her get into character as pop royalty. Carly Rae Jepsen has written songs for others, released amazing albums, and built a loyal fan base of "Carlynators" who would follow her to the ends of the earth. She’s living proof that being nice, quirky, and insanely talented can take you a long way.