Since stepping into the spotlight as a young teen, Halle Bailey has made a name for herself in her own unique way. From singing with her sister Chloë in their bedroom to becoming one of the most iconic Disney princesses, she has evolved into a standout star that stays true to her core values and goals.
Let’s reminisce on Halle’s rise as a Hollywood superstar, from her early days as a young teen with a bright future to a young adult who knows her worth.
Going Viral
Aside from having small cameos in movies like Joyful Noise, Halle and her older sister Chloë rose to prominence by displaying their bold vocals on YouTube, which led to Beyoncé discovering the sister act and signing them to her record label, Parkwood Entertainment (but we’ll get more into that later). As Chloe x Halle, the pair’s popularity came from the unexpected power of their skills and tone as young girls. Halle’s voice favored that of 20th century jazz icons and made her a force to be reckoned with. It would be a short time before the rest of the world found out about her and her sister’s gift.
Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing
Toward the end of Disney Channel’s “golden age,” Radio Disney launched a singing competition, Next Big Thing, to find rising stars with the best potential. Needless to say, Halle and her sister won the 5th season that they appeared on. Their star power was unmatched and their notoriety began to rise within their demographic.
The Kids Are Alright
In 2015, Halle and Chloë were signed to Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment and began to release EPs and mixtapes under the company’s label. In 2018, they released their debut album The Kids Are Alright which included hit songs “Warrior” and “Down.” Later that year, they were the opening act for Beyoncé’s Formation world tour and solidified themselves as her true musical prodigies.
Watch Out World, She’s Grown-ish
Even as the two continued to work on projects together such as their second album Ungodly Hour Halle and Chloë developed their own separate identity. This evolution continued to become clear as they played twins Jazz and Sky in the Freeform show and Black-ish spin-off Grown-ish.
We Can Feel the Halle Love
In 2020, Halle was announced to be joining the Disney universe as the next Ariel in the live action rendition of The Little Mermaid. At Disney World’s 50th anniversary, she performed the classic tune “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and continued to prove why she is the budding icon she is.
Ariel Is Real
With its release date set for May 26, 2023, the live action iteration of The Little Mermaid, featuring Halle Bailey, is set to become one of the best reimagined fairy tale phenomenons to date. With a series of teasers and trailers, Halle has recently released her rendition of the film’s most memorable song “Part of Your World.”
A Hue Befitting Black Royalty
Early last year, it was announced that Bailey, alongside H.E.R. and Taraji P. Henson, would be starring in the new musical film adaptation of Alice Walker’s 1982 classic novel,The Color Purple. Halle was cast as Nettie, Celie’s younger sister who escapes their abusive household.
The Oprah-produced film, also starring Ciara, Colman Domingo, Danielle Brooks, Corey Hawkins and Fantasia, is set to debut December of this year. We can’t wait!