Cody Simpson Bio
Cody Robert Simpson is an Australian singer, actor, songwriter, model, and former competitive swimmer who first gained recognition as a teenager through music videos posted online. He released four solo studio albums, earned a Tony-nominated Broadway credit in Anastasia, won the first season of The Masked Singer Australia, and represented Australia in swimming at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Over more than a decade in the public eye, Simpson has shifted between music, stage, and sport while building a versatile career in entertainment.
Born and raised on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Simpson began recording covers at home before signing with Atlantic Records and relocating to Los Angeles. He later founded his own label, Coast House, expanded into modeling and brand partnerships, and returned to competitive swimming in his twenties. In June 2024, he announced his retirement from competitive swimming after failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Early Life and Background
Cody Robert Simpson was born on 11 January 1997 in Benowa, a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. He is the son of Brad Simpson and Angie Simpson, and he grew up with two younger siblings, Alli and Tom. Simpson attended All Saints Anglican School, where his interest in music and performance began to take shape alongside his training as a competitive swimmer.
From a young age, Simpson split his time between the pool and the microphone. He trained with the Miami Swimming Club under coach Ken Nixon and won two gold medals at the 2009 Queensland Swimming Championships, signaling his promise in the water. At the same time, he was developing a vocal style influenced by artists he admired, a balance of pursuits that would define his early teenage years.
In 2009, Simpson began uploading cover songs to YouTube, performing versions of tracks by Jason Mraz, Justin Timberlake, The Jackson 5, and Bon Jovi. The videos attracted the attention of record labels and a growing international fan base, setting the stage for his transition from schoolboy performer to signed recording artist.
Path to Music
Simpson’s online covers led to a feature on the Australian current affairs program The 7.30 Report in December 2009, which introduced him to a wider domestic audience. In May 2010, he released his debut single, “iYiYi,” a collaboration with American rapper Flo Rida, followed shortly by the single “Summertime” and its accompanying music video. The early success of these singles demonstrated his appeal to a young pop audience and helped him secure a recording contract with Atlantic Records.
In June 2010, Simpson relocated to Los Angeles with his family to record music with Atlantic producer Shawn Campbell. He performed on the Australian morning show Sunrise, joined the Camplified 2010 Tour across the United States, and completed a middle school tour covering nine states later that year. In December 2010, he released the EP 4 U, which included four previously unreleased tracks, and he recorded a cover of “I Want Candy” for the Easter-themed film Hop.
The following year, Simpson released the EP Coast to Coast through Atlantic Records, which reached number 12 on the Billboard 200. In September 2011, it was announced that Scooter Braun, the manager of Justin Bieber, had become Simpson’s manager, further elevating his profile within the pop industry.
Cody Simpson Career
Early Career (2009-2011)
Simpson’s earliest years as a recording artist were marked by steady touring and a string of releases aimed at a young pop audience. His 2010 single “iYiYi” introduced him to mainstream radio, while the Waiting 4U tour with American singer Greyson Chance, beginning in April 2011, helped him build a live performance base. The EP Coast to Coast, released in September 2011, became his first major Billboard entry, signaling growing commercial traction in the United States.
He also earned early media attention beyond music, appearing on programs such as The Today Show in 2011. These appearances, combined with his tours and consistent output, established Simpson as one of the most visible young pop artists of his age group heading into 2012.
Breakthrough (2012-2015)
In 2012, Simpson released the EP Preview to Paradise, followed by his debut studio album, Paradise, on 2 October 2012. He then joined Justin Bieber on the European leg of the Believe Tour in early 2013 before releasing his second album, Surfers Paradise, in July 2013. Surfers Paradise was Simpson’s first album to debut in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, marking a significant commercial milestone.
He headlined the Paradise Tour during the summer of 2013, with Ryan Beatty and Before You Exit as opening acts, and released the acoustic EP The Acoustic Sessions in November 2013. In March 2014, Simpson was announced as a contestant on the 18th season of Dancing with the Stars, where he was partnered with Witney Carson and finished in ninth place. He later departed Warner/Atlantic in August 2014, citing creative differences, and signed with Atlantic producer Cisco Adler to release his third album, Free, in July 2015 on his own label, Coast House.
Expansion and Return to Swimming (2017-2022)
In 2017, Simpson formed the band Cody Simpson and the Tide, releasing the EP Wave One later that year, followed by the single “Underwater” in 2018. He made his television debut in 2014 with a guest role on Instant Mom, later appearing on Cougar Town and in the Nickelodeon film One Crazy Cruise. In late 2017, he was cast in Bret Easton Ellis’ thriller Smiley Face Killers opposite Crispin Glover, and in October 2018, he made his Broadway debut as Dmitry in Anastasia, a role he held through April 2019.
The same year, he won the first season of The Masked Singer Australia as “Robot.” In 2019, Simpson turned his focus back to competitive swimming, joining the University of Southern California’s Trojan Swim Elite team and later training under coach Michael Bohl at Griffith University. He released a self-titled album in April 2022, his first in six years, and represented Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, earning a gold medal in the 4×100 metre freestyle relay and a silver medal in the 4×100 metre medley relay. Simpson announced his retirement from competitive swimming in June 2024 after failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Notable Works and Milestones
Simpson’s signature releases include the studio albums Paradise, Surfers Paradise, Free, and Cody Simpson, alongside the EP Coast to Coast. His Broadway debut in Anastasia and his win on The Masked Singer Australia highlighted his range as a performer, while his relay medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games marked a notable achievement in his return to competitive swimming.
Cody Simpson Award Nominations
Publicly verifiable details about formal award nominations for Cody Simpson across his music, television, and stage career are limited. He has been featured in entertainment and music reporting throughout his career, but specific nomination tallies are not clearly established in the available sources.
Cody Simpson Awards Won
Simpson won the first season of The Masked Singer Australia in 2019, performing as the character “Robot.” In swimming, he earned a gold medal in the 4×100 metre freestyle relay and a silver medal in the 4×100 metre medley relay at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, representing Australia.
Cody Simpson Family
Cody Robert Simpson is the son of Brad Simpson and Angie Simpson. He has two younger siblings, sister Alli and brother Tom. He grew up in Benowa, a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, where he attended All Saints Anglican School before relocating to Los Angeles in 2010 to pursue his music career.
Personal Life
Simpson has been in several publicly reported relationships over the years. He dated Kylie Jenner in 2011 and model Gigi Hadid from 2013 to May 2015. He was in a relationship with singer Miley Cyrus from October 2019 to August 2020, and he dated Belgian-American model Marloes Stevens from December 2020 to January 2022. In April 2022, Simpson began dating fellow Australian swimmer Emma McKeon.