LOS ANGELES (Azat TV) – Pop star Madison Beer, a veteran of the music industry at just 26, has marked a significant milestone with her single “Bittersweet” entering the US Hot 100 chart at No. 98. This achievement, announced in late January 2026, comes as she prepares for the release of her third album, Locket, signifying a breakthrough moment after more than a decade of navigating the complexities of child fame and public scrutiny.
Beer’s career began at the tender age of 13 when Justin Bieber tweeted a link to her YouTube cover of Etta James’s “At Last,” propelling her into the spotlight. Despite amassing over 60 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, her journey to mainstream chart recognition has been a gradual one. Speaking to The Guardian, Beer expressed gratitude for the success of “Bittersweet,” but emphasized her current focus on artistic integrity. “I’m obviously super excited and thankful whenever a song performs well, but I think I’m at the point where I love what I make, and I’m proud of it regardless,” she stated, adding with a laugh, “Only took me like, 15 years! But it’s cool.”
A Decade of Persistence and Breakthrough
The entry of “Bittersweet,” released in October, into the Hot 100 chart follows a period of increasing critical and commercial recognition for Beer. Her 2023 album, Silence Between Songs, featured sleeper hits such as “Reckless” and “Home to Another One.” In 2024, she achieved a Top 50 single in the UK with “Make You Mine,” which also received a Grammy nomination for best dance pop recording. These successes, she noted, are relatively recent, contrasting with the “fits and starts” that characterized much of her earlier career.
Beyond recording and releasing music, Beer has also expanded her presence. She was among an all-female lineup of performers, including Karol G and Missy Elliott, at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City. This appearance further highlighted her growing visibility and appeal, building momentum towards her latest releases.
Navigating the Industry’s Early Challenges
Beer’s formative years in the industry were marked by intense public exposure and personal challenges. After Bieber’s endorsement, her family relocated from Long Island to Los Angeles, where she was signed as a management client by Scooter Braun, Bieber’s then-manager. Her early career involved recording tie-in songs for doll brands and collaborating with established teen idols. However, this period also exposed her to significant online hate, a common experience for young female stars, which she felt largely unsupported in addressing. “People are so quick to be like: ‘This is what’s wrong with this person,’ and attack someone’s character,” Beer recounted to The Guardian, reflecting on the cruelty she encountered.
At 16, Beer was dropped by Braun and Island Records. She later expressed in a Cosmopolitan interview that she felt Braun and her label “stole years of my childhood that I’ll never get back.” While she declined to comment directly on Braun’s recent high-profile client departures and controversies, Beer emphasized her personal journey of healing. “I’ve done a lot of therapy, especially regarding those early years, and I’ve really tried to let go of it all,” she said. In 2023, she released a memoir titled The Half of It, openly discussing her struggles with mental health, including a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and the sexualization she experienced as a teenager. The book aimed to present a more humanized portrait of herself, beyond the confines of internet celebrity.
“Locket”: A New Chapter of Self-Acceptance
Her forthcoming album, Locket, is described as a direct and freewheeling record, pairing raw, provocative lyrics with lush, dreamy pop music that draws comparisons to artists like Lana Del Rey and Sabrina Carpenter. Beer explained that Locket emerged from a place of greater self-acceptance and a desire to create music she genuinely loved, rather than focusing on explaining her story. “I was more so creating music that I loved. It’s a new chapter, it’s a new energy – I’m older, wiser, in a really good place,” she noted.
The album’s lyrics delve into themes of intense, sometimes dissociative, infatuation and attachment issues, reflecting a past “up and down, intense relationship.” Beer, who dated TikToker Nick Austin from 2020 until spring 2025 and is currently dating Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, acknowledges her deep emotional responses. “When I love, I love f—ing hard, and that is the truth,” she stated, adding that she has worked through abandonment and attachment issues in therapy. This newfound candor stems from extensive self-work over the past decade. “I’ve done every kind of therapy… I’ve come to a point where I can acknowledge these things about me without feeling shame,” she confirmed.
Beyond the Charts: Defining Success
Despite the deeply personal nature of Locket’s lyrics, Beer expressed a strong commitment to privacy regarding the individuals who inspired her songs. She stated it would be “inappropriate in regards to people’s privacy” to publicly detail past relationships, especially given the online hate she has previously experienced. “I don’t want anybody to go and attack them or rip them apart,” she affirmed.
As Locket is now available, Beer’s perspective on success has evolved beyond commercial metrics or critical acclaim. She indicated that her primary goal is to stand by her music as an authentic piece of art. “Those things are out of my control,” she said, referring to external validations. “To me, the true meaning of success is being able to feel peace and happiness, no matter what.” She is scheduled to perform in the UK in May 2026, with dates at the O2 in London on May 30 and Co-op Live in Manchester on May 31.
Madison Beer’s journey, marked by early exposure, public scrutiny, and a deliberate path of self-discovery, exemplifies a new paradigm for pop artists navigating digital fame. Her recent chart success, coupled with the introspective depth of ‘Locket,’ suggests a mature artist who has successfully reclaimed her narrative, prioritizing authenticity and personal well-being over conventional industry metrics.