• February 1, 1994
• Following a suggestion from his mother, Harry Styles auditioned as a solo contestant for the 2010 series of the British singing TV competition The X Factor. He failed to make it beyond boot camp, but guest judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested the 16-year-old singer team up with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik for the Groups category. Styles suggested the name One Direction to his bandmates, and they reached the final, finishing in third place.
• One Direction became one of the best-selling boy groups of all time. At the peak of their fame, Styles stayed for 20 months at the Hampstead Heath family home of television producer Ben Winston. He slept on a mattress in an attic, living there in secrecy as his fans stood outside a North London house he didn't actually live in. "No one ever found out, really," Winston recalled to Rolling Stone. "Even when we went out for a meal, it's such a sweet family neighborhood, no one dreamed it was actually him. But he made our house a home. And when he moved out, we were gutted."
• When One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016. Styles embarked on a solo career. He released his first single, "Sign of the Times," in April 2017.
• "As It Was," the lead single of Styles' 2022 album, Harry's Game, spent 15 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. It broke the record for the longest-running US #1 by a UK act.
• Styles became the first former X Factor contestant to win a Grammy when he won Best Pop Solo Performance for "Watermelon Sugar."
• Styles made his movie acting debut in the 2017 Christopher Nolan feature Dunkirk. Later film roles include Don't Worry Darling, and My Policeman (both in 2022).
• He dated his Don't Worry Darling director Olivia Wilde for two years from late 2020. Styles also had a much-documented romance with Taylor Swift over the winter of 2012-13. The American pop superstar has penned several songs inspired by their relationship, including "Style," "Out Of The Woods," "All You Had To Do Was Stay" and "I Know Places."
• Styles splits his time between London and LA. When he's in California, the English singer buys imported British food as he misses the taste of home. The grub that he loves from his home country includes Branston Pickle and Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles.
• Styles is known for his flamboyant fashion, including a penchant for wearing a dress or two. In December 2020, he became the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue.
• After COVID, Styles emerged as a top touring artist. His Love On Tour kicked off in September 2021 and ran until July 2023, including 15 sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. After some time off, he returned in 2026 with the Together, Together tour, which was actually a series of residencies in seven major cities. This time he sold out 30 shows at the Garden despite eye-popping ticket prices.
• He introduced "Harryween" the night before Halloween in 2021 when he played his entire show at Madison Square Garden dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz (he added "Over The Rainbow to the setlist that night). Some of his other Harryween costumes include a Pierrot clown and Danny Zuko from Grease.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Love Won't WaitGary Barlow

Madonna wrote a song called "Love Won't Wait" that she didn't want, but became a UK #1 hit for Gary Barlow.

Hey There DelilahPlain White T's

When he met Delilah DiCrescenzo, Plain White T's lead singer Tom Higgenson told her he'd write a song about her, and came up with the first verse of "Hey There Delilah" on the spot.

The Long and Winding RoadThe Beatles

"The Long and Winding Road" became The Beatles' last US #1 song on June 13, 1970.

RoyalsLorde

16-tear-old Lorde wrote the lyrics to "Royals" at home in just half an hour. She was inspired by the "ridiculous, unrelatable, unattainable opulence" that runs through such albums as Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne and Lana Del Rey's Born To Die.

GreaseFrankie Valli

The song "Grease," sung by Frankie Valli in the 1978 movie, was written by Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees.

Run To YouBryan Adams

"Run To You" by Bryan Adams was written for Blue Oyster Cult, and the guitar part is modeled after "Don't Fear The Reaper." BOC turned it down, so Adams recorded it for his album Reckless.

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.