The Art of Reinvention: Addison Rae’s Transition from TikToker to Pop Star
June 2nd, 2025
Embedded Files
Addison Rae became a household name through TikTok in 2019. In 2021, she crossed over into music, and while many dismissed her as just another influencer trying to sing, four years, five singles, and one EP later, Addison Rae is ready to prove the doubters wrong, and her debut album, out June 6th, might just do it.
Rae posts consistently on TikTok. She used to post seven to eight videos on TikTok every day, but has since then posted less. While posting on TikTok, she was also part of the infamous “Hype House,” in 2019, a house where famous TikTokers lived and collaborated.
In 2021, Rae had a busy year trying to reach stardom. She was the lead on “He’s All That,” a Netflix original, which is a gender-swapped take on the 1999 film “She’s All That.” Rae also released her debut single “Obsessed” in March of 2021, which would serve as the first single of her debut EP, “AR.”
The single was not well received by the general public and was widely mocked across social media platforms. Her EP was later released in 2023, and the five-track EP even featured a collaboration with Charli XCX. AR was received better by the public and critics than her debut single.
Album Cover for "Addison" the debut album by Addison Rae
Jason Lipshutz a writer from Billboard wrote that AR "does not sound like a collection of odds and ends: instead, the five songs engross the listener with fresh melodies and bursts of personality, showcasing the 22-year-old as a quick study within this brand of pop." He added, "the whole project is worth bookmarking as the potential start of something big.”
Rae secured a second collaboration with Charli XCX in 2024, on XCX’s Von Dutch, a track from her “BRAT” album. Following the success of that collaboration, Rae released the song “Diet Pepsi” in August of 2024. The song was met with praise by social media users and critics alike, many praising her for her successful transition from the bubblegum pop of “AR,” and several critics praising Rae for her "breathy" vocals. Pitchfork ranked the track as the 13th-best song released in 2024.
Since then, Rae has released three more singles, “Aquamarine”, “High Fashion,” and “Headphones On,” all of which have been received with an enormous amount of success, with many comparing Rae to Lana Del Rey.
Rae was even a special guest on one of Charli XCX’s “BRAT Tour” and also joined Charli on stage at Coachella 2025, where she first teased the release of her album. Rae and XCX have a real relationship that goes beyond music as they continue to show support for each other on social media. XCX was one of the first pop culture household names to reach out to Rae and give her their “approval.”
On April 23rd, 2025, Addison Rae took to social media to announce her debut album “Addison.” The post, as of June 2nd, has over 550,000 likes. The post reads, “Self-titled debut album!!!! I love the entirety of this project with all of me. A mirror. A deep desperation and desire to understand myself better. A true collection of my proudest work yet. My dream cover. My dream collaborators.”
Rae released a new single on Friday, May 30th, “Fame is a Gun” as the last single leading to the release of the album.
Few influencers successfully leap from social media to mainstream fame, in a time where public opinion is instant and often harsh, the odds are stacked against them. Yet Addison Rae has joined Emma Chamberlain as one of the few influencers to break through. The question now is: Has Addison opened a door between influencers and celebrities, or is she simply a one-of-a-kind exception?
Addison Rae has done what many want, but few accomplish: a successful crossover from social media influencer into pop star status.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse