Conan Gray

Gray has described himself as unlabeled regarding sexuality and gender. He has ADHD and synesthesia, and he has multiple pets.

Gray is friends with fellow singer Olivia Rodrigo. He also has a longstanding friendship with Billie Eilish, whom he has known since they were teenagers.

Gray was born in Lemon Grove, California, and raised during his childhood in several locations. As an infant, he moved with his family to Hiroshima, Japan, because his grandfather required medical care, and the family later returned to California. His father is Irish and his mother is Japanese.

His parents divorced when he was three, after which he was raised by a single mother. Because his father was in the military, Gray moved nine times during childhood, including twice during sixth grade. He was frequently bullied at school for being quiet. He eventually settled in Georgetown, Texas, where his experiences in small-town and central Texas life became an important influence on his songwriting.

Gray wrote his first song, "Those Days," when he was 12. The song reflected a period when he had lived in Rockdale, Texas, at age seven, a place he remembered as a small town far from most activities and attractions.

Gray began making videos as a teenager, posting vlogs, cover songs, original music, and art centered on his everyday life in Texas. His official YouTube channel was created in 2013, and his videos eventually accumulated more than 25 million views. His early online work helped him build an audience before he had released music through a major label.

He independently released "Idle Town" in March 2017 and followed it with "Grow" later that year. In 2018, he signed with Republic Records and released the five-track EP Sunset Season, which included "Idle Town," "Generation Why," "Crush Culture," "Greek God," and "Lookalike." The EP reached No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.

Gray supported the EP with the Sunset Shows tour and also opened for Panic! at the Disco on the Pray for the Wicked Tour. He made his late-night television debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2019 and won the 2019 Shorty Award for Best YouTube Musician.

Gray's debut studio album, Kid Krow, was released in March 2020. It entered the Billboard 200 at No. 5, making it the biggest U.S. artist debut of that year. The album was preceded by songs including "Checkmate," "Comfort Crowd," "Maniac," "The Story," and "Wish You Were Sober."

"Maniac" became an international pop success and was certified platinum in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Later in 2020, "Heather" became a viral hit on TikTok and gave Gray his first Billboard Hot 100 entry. The song charted in the top 40 in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Gray had planned the Kid Krow World Tour, but the tour was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He later performed "Heather" on The Late Late Show with James Corden and The Today Show, and released the single "Fake" with Lauv.

Gray released his second studio album, Superache, on June 24, 2022. The album debuted in the top ten of the Billboard 200 and included songs such as "Astronomy," "People Watching," "Telepath," "Jigsaw," "Memories," and "Yours." Its writing continued Gray's focus on unrequited love, emotional conflict, and the aftermath of difficult relationships.

He supported the album with the Superache Tour, which ran from 2022 into 2023. In April 2022, he appeared as a surprise guest during Olivia Rodrigo's Sour Tour in Vancouver, where they performed a cover of Katy Perry's "The One That Got Away."

Gray's third studio album, Found Heaven, arrived on April 5, 2024. Its singles introduced a stronger 1980s-inspired synth-pop style, while "Alley Rose" provided a piano-rock contrast. The album reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200, and Gray supported it with Found Heaven On Tour, including performances at Madison Square Garden.

Gray announced his fourth studio album, Wishbone, in May 2025. Released on August 15, the album was his first record owned by himself under GirlyBoy, Inc. Its singles included "This Song" and "Vodka Cranberry," while the album's release was accompanied by the music video for "Caramel."

Wishbone debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, Gray's highest position on that chart. He promoted the album with the Wishbone Pajama Show in 2025 and the Wishbone World Tour in 2026. A deluxe edition, Wishbone Deluxe, followed in April 2026 and included the single "The Best."

Gray also released Kid Krow, Decomposed, a fifth-anniversary edition of his debut album, in 2025. It included the previously unreleased song "Bed Rest" and live versions of "The Cut That Always Bleeds" and "Heather."

Gray's music is associated with pop, indie pop, acoustic, and bedroom-pop styles. His tenor voice and candid writing have become central to his artistic identity, while his songs often examine loneliness, nostalgia, unrequited love, and emotional self-observation. He has been described as a pop figure for young listeners who discovered music through the internet.

Taylor Swift is Gray's most prominent stated influence. He has said that her songwriting shaped him from childhood, and Swift praised Kid Krow and "Wish You Were Sober." Gray has also identified Lorde, Adele, the Chicks, and Lana Del Rey as influences.

Gray's work extends into fashion and commercial modeling. He has partnered with or modeled for brands and publications including Puma, W magazine, Yves Saint Laurent, Vogue, Elle Men China, and Burberry.