With over three million albums and 15 million singles sold in the United States, Sara Bareilles has established a multi-faceted career spanning contemporary music, Broadway composition, and television performance. A singer, songwriter, pianist, and actor, she rose to commercial prominence in 2007 with her breakout studio album, Little Voice, and its chart-topping lead single, Love Song.
Formative Years and Education
Born in 1979 in Eureka, California, Bareilles engaged with performance early through high school choir and local theater, including an appearance as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. She later attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied communication and performed with the co-ed a cappella group Awaken a Cappella. Her university tenure included two wins at the annual UCLA Spring Sing concert.
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After graduating in 2002, Bareilles began performing in local venues and self-publishing early demos. She signed with Epic Records in 2005. Her 2007 album, Little Voice, reached the top ten on the Billboard 200, driven by the success of the single Love Song, which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned multiple Grammy Award nominations.
Work in Theater and Television
Bareilles expanded her creative output to Broadway, composing the score for the 2015 musical Waitress. This work resulted in Tony Award and Grammy Award nominations, as well as recognition for the 2019 West End production. Her television credits include a critically acclaimed role as Mary Magdalene in the 2018 special Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert and a leading performance in the musical comedy series Girls5eva.
Fast facts
- Born: 1979, Eureka, California
- Education: Eureka High School; University of California, Los Angeles
- Notable Work: Waitress
- Occupations: Actor, composer, singer, pianist, songwriter
- Record Label: Epic Records
- Primary Instruments: Voice, piano
Questions readers ask
What was the inspiration behind the song Love Song?
The track documents Bareilles's frustration with the pressure exerted by her record label during the creation of her debut album.
Has she received major industry awards for her work?
She has earned two Grammy Awards and secured nominations for four Primetime Emmy Awards and three Tony Awards.
Achievements
- Notable work: Waitress
- Instruments: piano, guitar and voice
- Genres: soft rock and musical play
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