Tate McRae was born in Calgary, Canada. From a young age, McRae was destined to be a star; she started dance and voice lessons at age six. By 13, she competed on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation in 2016, placing third. Her background in dance shaped her artistic style, but she always dreamed of becoming a professional singer. In 2017, McRae posted her breakout song One Day on YouTube, filmed in her bedroom. While it didn’t immediately hit the charts, it certainly went viral. In 2019, McRae signed with RCA Records, marking the start of her musical career.
With RCA’s support, McRae released singles like Tear Me Apart and Stupid, which were included in her debut EP, All the Things I Never Said (January 2020). She announced a North American and European tour, but it was canceled due to COVID-19. Despite this setback, her single you broke me first became a breakout hit, going viral on TikTok and leading to further exposure. McRae continued releasing singles at a rapid pace, with four new songs in just seven months.
In March 2021, McRae released her second EP, Too Young to be Sad, which earned her opportunities to perform at virtual shows and win accolades like Apple Music’s Up Next Artist. She followed this success with her debut album, I Used to Think I Could Fly, in May 2022, which charted well in both Canada and the U.S. McRae continued to release music in 2023, including the single Uh-Oh and a collaboration with Tiësto, 10:35. The next year, though, is what truly propelled her to the top of the music charts.
In 2023 McRae released her song Greedy which remains her biggest debut on Spotify. It rose to number one in several countries and was her first top-ten hit on the Global Spotify Charts. McRae released a follow-up single Exes in November, which also did very well. Both of these singles led to her sophomore album Think Later, which she released in December of 2023. This album acted a career-defining shift for Tate McRae. It got to number four on the U.S. Billboard Top 200. With this huge success, McRae announced a 53-date world tour that would occur from April to November in 2024. Due to demand, she ended up adding multiple more dates and shows. This tour was a life changer, exemplified by McRae’s performance at Madison Square Garden being sold out. The Think Later World Tour showcased McRae’s flashy, sassy, and confident concert persona. It also exhibited her background in dance, as she included intricate dance breaks in her performances. She began establishing herself as the new Britney Spears.
McRae has continued with this burst of fame as she released her album So Close to What on February 21, 2025, after releasing It’s Ok I’m Ok, Sports Car, and 2 Hands as single teasers of the album. She plans on having a Miss Possessive World Tour. Many of these shows are already sold out. So Close to What has done extremely well, with all songs within the top 100 from Billboard. So Close to What, as an album, was at the top of the Billboard 100 list just eight days after it was released. McRae has amassed a huge fanbase and is well on her way to becoming one of the top artists across the world. Many artistic critics have even said that Tate McRae is the new Britney Spears.
Tate McRae’s rise highlights how social media, especially platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, has become an essential tool for artists to grow their careers in the digital age. McRae’s breakout moment came when she posted her song One Day on YouTube, and she continued to engage fans through platforms like Instagram, where she shared personal moments, updates, and sneak peeks of her music. TikTok, in particular, has played a pivotal role in accelerating her career, with songs like you broke me first going viral on the platform, leading to millions of streams and widespread recognition. Social media gives artists the power to create a brand, share their journey in real-time, and engage with fans in ways that weren’t possible before.
