Julia Michaels Bio
Julia Carin Michaels is an American singer and songwriter known for her candid pop style and for writing chart-topping hits for other major artists. Born in Davenport, Iowa and raised in Santa Clarita, California, she began her professional songwriting career as a teenager and later signed with Republic Records as a recording artist. Her debut single “Issues” (2017) reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her two Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist. Across her career, Julia Michaels has earned six Grammy Award nominations and co-written two Billboard Hot 100 number-one songs.
Julia Michaels Early Life and Background
Julia Carin Michaels, born Julia Carin Cavazos on November 13, 1993, in Davenport, Iowa, grew up in a creative household that eventually relocated to Santa Clarita, California, about 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Her father, John Michaels, is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent and changed his name from Juan Manuel Cavazos to pursue an acting career. She has an older sister, Jaden, who is also a songwriter.
Michaels began singing at age 12 and developed an early interest in songwriting. Her inspirations include Fiona Apple, Paramore, Missy Higgins, Laura Marling, and The Fray. She started writing in the Hollywood pop circuit at the age of 16, building a foundation in music that would quickly turn into a professional career.
Path to Singer
At 14, Julia Michaels met songwriter Joleen Belle, with whom she co-wrote the theme song for the Disney Channel series Austin & Ally in 2010, marking her first professional songwriting credit. The following year, while recording demos, she contributed background vocals to “Let It Go” from the Disney film Frozen. By 19, she had teamed up with Lindy Robbins and penned songs such as “Fire Starter” for Demi Lovato and “Miss Movin’ On” for Fifth Harmony.
When she was 20, Michaels began her long-running collaboration with songwriter Justin Tranter. Together, they wrote hits for Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and R5, and they performed “Carry Me” with Kygo at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. These early credits established her as a sought-after pop songwriter before she stepped into the spotlight as a solo artist.
Julia Michaels Career
Early Career (2010–2016)
Julia Michaels spent her earliest professional years writing for other artists, including theme songs and soundtrack cuts for Disney projects. Her songwriting work with Justin Tranter led to placements with major pop stars such as Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. She also co-wrote two Billboard Hot 100 number-one songs during this period: Bieber’s “Sorry” and Gomez’s “Lose You to Love Me.”
In 2016, Michaels and Kygo performed “Carry Me” at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, bringing her work to a global audience. These accomplishments paved the way for her to step out from behind the scenes and pursue her own recording career.
Breakthrough (2017–2019)
In January 2017, Michaels released her debut single, “Issues,” which reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned quintuple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). She followed it with the EP Nervous System in July 2017, supported by singles “Uh Huh” and “How Do We Get Back to Love,” the latter of which premiered on the HBO series Girls.
At the 2018 Grammy Awards, Michaels received nominations for Best New Artist and Song of the Year for “Issues.” Throughout 2018, she opened for Shawn Mendes’s Illuminate World Tour, Niall Horan’s Flicker World Tour, and Maroon 5’s Red Pill Blues Tour. She also released collaborations such as “Heaven” for the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack, “Jump” featuring Trippie Redd, “There’s No Way” with Lauv, and “In This Place” for the Disney film Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Michaels continued her momentum in 2019 with the release of Inner Monologue Part 1 and collaborations including “Lie to Me” with 5 Seconds of Summer and the duet “If the World Was Ending” with JP Saxe. She also opened for Keith Urban on the Australian leg of his Graffiti U World Tour, expanding her global audience.
Notable Works and Milestones
Her signature single “Issues” remains her most successful release, earning multi-platinum certification and a Song of the Year nomination. Her debut studio album, Not in Chronological Order (2021), received critical praise and showcased her evolution as a recording artist.
Julia Michaels Award Nominations
Julia Michaels has received six Grammy Award nominations across her career, including two for Song of the Year and one for Best New Artist. She has also earned nominations from the MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and American Music Awards.
Julia Michaels Awards Won
As of the latest verified information, Julia Michaels has not won a Grammy Award despite six nominations. Her work has earned her multiple certifications and chart placements, including quintuple platinum for “Issues.” Because no confirmed wins are documented in the verified sources, no summary table is included.
Julia Michaels Family
Julia Michaels was born to her father, John Michaels (formerly Juan Manuel Cavazos), who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent and once pursued an acting career. She has an older sister named Jaden, who is also a songwriter and has worked alongside her in the music industry.
Personal Life
Michaels was previously in a three-year relationship with record producer Sir Nolan, about whom she wrote Clean Bandit’s “I Miss You.” She later dated fellow artist Lauv briefly at the end of 2018, and in July 2019 she began a relationship with Canadian musician JP Saxe, which led to their duet “If the World Was Ending”; the couple split in September 2022.
Since July 2022, Julia Michaels has been in a relationship with tattoo artist Mat Rule. The couple announced their engagement in April 2025.