Camila Cabello's amazing career so far: A timeline
She's one of the biggest names in music
Camila Cabello has quickly become one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, famed for churning out big tunes such as ‘Havana’ and ‘Señorita’ as well as her catchy collaborations with other artists. At just 27-years-old, Camila has picked up her fair share of awards since breaking out into the music industry - especially since her Glastonbury 2024 performance.
The singer started off in girl group Fifth Harmony on The X Factor USA back in 2012, but after separating from the group in 2017, she launched her solo career. To celebrate the star's successful career so far, and her fourth album release, we've put together a timeline of the Cuban-American singer's rise to fame...
Camila Cabello's career: How did she become famous?
2012 - The X Factor and Fifth Harmony
In 2012, Camila auditioned for popular talent show The X Factor, in Greensboro, North Carolina. She auditioned with the song 'Respect', by Aretha Franklin, however the due to song rights, the audition did not air. That same year, she also auditioned for The Voice, however after making it through the producer round, decided to pursue her dreams through The X Factor instead.
At just 15-years-old, the Cuban-American beauty passed on her own Quinceañera, instead asking her parents to spend the money on taking her to the North Carolina X Factor auditions
Camila was eliminated during the bootcamp stage of The X Factor, in Miami, Florida, however thankfully was soon called back to join fellow contestants Ally Brooke, Normani, Lauren Jauregui, and Dinah Jane, forming the girl group that would later become known as Fifth Harmony.
December 2012 - Fifth Harmony finish in third place
In December 2012, Fifth Harmony finished in third place on The X Factor. On the show, they were mentored by none other than show-producer Simon Cowell himself, and shortly after finishing third they signed a joint deal with Simon's Syco Music and Epic Records.
In the following years, Fifth Harmony released their debut album 'Reflection', followed by their second '7/27'. The albums included huge hits such as 'Worth It' and 'Work From Home', as well as the ever-popular 'Sledgehammer'.
November 2015 - Camila releases her first solo project
On 18th November 2015, Camila released her first solo side project 'I Know What You Did Last Summer', with Shawn Mendes. From there, she began to build her solo profile, with reported tensions building in the group. Camila claimed that it "became clear" that she could not be in the group while working on her solo career at the same time.
December 2016 - Camila officially goes solo
After the success of her collaboration with Shawn Mendes, and Camila keen to build on her solo career, Fifth Harmony announced on Twitter in December 2016 that she was leaving the group.
Camila soon took to Twitter to reveal that she was shocked by Fifth Harmony's post, writing: 'i was shocked to read the statement the fifth harmony account posted without my knowing.; (sic)
She then continued: 'as scary as it is to take the leap, i am excited and full of joy because i know that no matter what happens, i am following my heart. I hope to see you on my journey.' (sic).
2017 - Collaborations and The Fate of the Furious soundtrack
2017 saw the singer jump feet-first into her solo career. On 16th February, she released a collaboration with Norwegian DJ Cashmere Cat, titled 'Love Incredible'. One month later, she released another huge collaboration - 'Hey Ma' - with rappers Pitbull and J Balvin, with the track featuring on The Fate of the Furious (Fast & Furious 8) soundtrack.
Then, in June 2017, she featured on another hit collaborative track - 'Know No Better' - with Major Lazer, Travis Scott and Quavo.
2017 - Debut solo single and 'Havana'
As well as some huge collaborations, Camila began amping up the excitement for her debut solo album with the release of some incredibly successful singles. Her debut solo single 'Crying in the Club' was released on 19th May 2017, hitting the Number 12 spot in the UK.
Around the time she released her debut solo single, Camila also revealed that her upcoming debut album would be titled 'The Hurting. The Healing. The Loving', and would tell "the story of my journey from darkness into light, from a time when I was lost to a time when I found myself again'.
It was then on 3rd August 2017 that Camila released her award-winning hit single 'Havana' with Young Thug, which flew to the Number 1 spot in the UK.
January 2018 - Debut album 'Camila'
12th January saw the moment fans had all been waiting for - the release of her debut album. Changing the title from the original thought, her debut album was called 'Camila', and included tracks such as 'Never Be the Same', 'Havana', 'Real Friends' and 'Consequences'.
The album was a hit with fans, peaking at Number 2 in the UK Albums Chart and now being certified Platinum in the UK.
April 2018 - First headline tour
Following the release of her debut album, Camila embarked on her first headline concert tour as a solo artist - the 'Never Be The Same Tour'. Beginning in April, the singer travelled through America and Europe, playing shows in the UK in June 2018.
While on the tour, Camila released the track 'Sangria Wine' live - a collaboration with Pharrell Williams.
2018 - Award wins
With Camila's amazing talent and rising popularity, it's not surprise that the award nominations and wins started rolling in! In 2018, she was nominated for an impressive five American Music Awards - taking home four: New Artist of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Video of the Year and Favorite Pop/Rock Song.
That same year, she was also nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.
On top of that, she also picked up four MTV EMAs and two MTV VMAs.
April 2019 - Cinderella live-action remake
In April 2019, it was announced that Camila Cabello would be starring in a live-action re-make of Disney's Cinderella. The film was initially enlisted by Sony Pictures, however handed the worldwide premiere rights to Amazon.
Other huge names announced for the re-make were Billy Porter, Idina Menzel, Pierce Brosnan and James Corden.
June 2019 - 'Señorita' with Shawn Mendes
After revealing that she would be working on new music in 2019, it's fair to say the singer did not disappoint, releasing another collaboration with Shawn Mendes, in the form of 'Señorita'. The steamy track served as the pair's second collaboration, and was a huge hit with fans, hitting the Number 1 spot in the UK.
Released on 21st June 2019, the song bagged a whole host of award nominations and wins. Picking up the AMA Award for Collaboration of the Year, 'Señorita' also won two MTV EMAs as well as a Teen Choice Award. On top of that, it was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2020!
December 2019 - Second album 'Romance'
On 5th September 2019, Camila released the first two singles - 'Liar' and 'Shameless' - from her then-upcoming album 'Romance'. Soon after, in October, she released the next two singles - 'Cry for Me' and 'Easy' - amping up the excitement for her second album, which she later released on 6th December 2019.
As well as the leading singles, the album included tracks such as 'My Oh My' (featuring DaBaby), 'Señorita' (featuring Shawn Mendes) and 'Living Proof'. Hitting the Number 14 spot in the UK Album Chart, the album proved incredibly popular and is now certified Platinum in the UK.
March 2020 - Camila teaches Shawn how to speak Spanish in lockdown
Like the test of the world, 2020 saw Camila Cabello subject to lockdown restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as taking part in a benefit to raise funds for the pandemic, Camila spent this time working on new music.
Camila spent lockdown with her then-boyfriend Shawn Mendes, who she had become romantically involved with shortly following the release of 'Señorita'. Camila revealed that the pair had been putting their new free time to good use, and in return for guitar lessons, she had been teaching Shawn how to speak Spanish!
July 2021 - 'Don't Go Yet'
On 23rd July 2021, Camila released the catchy lead single from her third album 'Familia'. The upbeat bop, titled 'Don't Go Yet', is a Latin influenced tropical love song, and bagged a Song of Summer Award nomination at the 2021 MTV VMAs.
Watch the music video for 'Don't Go Yet' here on YouTube.
September 2021 - Cinderella is released
On 3rd September 2021, Camila's live-action remake of Cinderella was released on Amazon Prime Video. The film included multiple tracks, that Camila had worked on and featured in, including her original 'Million to One'.
September 2021 - Met Gala
Attending the Met Gala alongside her then-boyfriend Shawn Mendes, on 13th September 2021, Camila stunned the crowds as she appeared in a sparkling purple dress.
Sadly, the pair announced just two months later (November 2021) that they had decided to split.
December 2021 - Camila is announced for Coldplay's Latin America concerts
On 6th December 2021 it was announced that Camila would be opening for Coldplay, on the Latin American leg of their 'Music of the Spheres World Tour'. The gigs were set to take place in September 2022, where she would open for them in Colombia, Peru and Chile, and additional dates.
March 2022 - 'Bam Bam' with Ed Sheeran
After teasing their collab in February 2022, Ed Sheeran and Camila Cabello released their track 'Bam Bam' on 4th March 2022. The salsa-infused pop track - which is thought to allude to the breakdown of her and Shawn Mendes' relationship - proved incredibly popular with fans, peaking at the Number 7 spot in the UK. On top of that, 'Bam Bam' was nominated for an MTV VMA, as well as a People's Choice Award in 2022.
Camila debuted the song on the day of its release with a performance on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Serving as the first time the pair had performed the song together, Ed and Camila took to the stage at the Concert For Ukraine benefit, on 29th March, at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham.
But the song wasn't the first time Ed and Camila had teamed up, releasing the bop 'South of the Border', with Cardi B, back in 2019. And it seems we can still expect more from Ed and Cam, with her hinting in April 2022 that there were more collaborations in the works.
April 2022 - Third album 'Familia'
Following the release of her lead single 'Don't Go Yet' and the preceding 'Bam Bam', Camila released her third album 'Familia' on 8th April 2022. Featuring some huge tracks, the album also saw appearances from Ed Sheeran and Willow, as well as María Becerra and Yotuel.
The album hit the Number 9 spot in the UK Albums Chart, and included huge tracks such as 'Celia', 'Psychofreak' (featuring Willow) and 'Hasta los Dientes'.
Camila wrote the majority of 'Familia' during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is her first Latin music-inspired album. Although she didn't know if she was going to create an album inspired by Latin music at first, she has since described how producers Cheche Alara and Edgar Barrera made the process feel 'natural'.
Camila has also discussed how the album was written "over a period of a year and a half, where (she) was in a relationship and then (she) wasn't."
May 2022 - UEFA Champions League Final opening ceremony
Just weeks after it was announced that Camila would be headlining the UEFA Champions League Final, she took to the pitch on 28th May 2022 to perform her hits 'Señorita', 'Havana', 'Bam Bam' and 'Don't Go Yet' during the opening ceremony - with the performance becoming the most viewed video on UEFA's channel.
Following the epic performance, the singer released a behind-the-scenes look at her preparation for the performance on her YouTube channel - titled Road to the UEFA Champion's League Final.
You can watch Camila's Road to the UEFA Champion's League Final here on YouTube.
September 2022 - The Voice US
After announcing the news in May 2022 that she would be a coach on the 22nd season of the show, Camila appeared on TV screens in September 2022 on The Voice US!
The singer replaced Kelly Clarkson in the series, however it was confirmed in October 2022 that Camila would not appear in season 23.
February 2023 - Grammy Award nomination
In 2023, Camila Cabello received her fourth ever Grammy Award nomination - this time, for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for 'Bam Bam' with Ed Sheeran.
Sadly, the pair missed out on the win, with the gong going to Sam Smith and Kim Petras for 'Unholy'.
March 2024 - Announced for Glastonbury Festival
In March 2024, Camila was announced for the Other Stage at Glastonbury Festival, the singer joined a line-up which also included Disclosure, Anne-Marie and Avril Lavigne.
March 2024 - 'I Luv It' featuring Playboi Carti
In March 2024, Camila delighted fans by releasing her new single 'I Luv It', which features rapper Playboi Carti. The song is out now, along with an accompanying music video.
June 2024 - Glastonbury performance
Camila took to The Other Stage at Glastonbury 2024 and gave an absolutely sensational performance, churning out hits like 'Señorita', 'Bam Bam' and 'My Oh My'.
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