18 Genuinely Surprising Facts About Pop Stars That’ll Make You Say, “Wait, Really?”

Pop music has been dominating the scene for decades. From boy bands we still know and love to catchy lyrics that are *still* living rent-free in our minds, this genre has become one of the most iconic for a reason. And with so many talented artists in the game, here are some fun facts you probably didn’t know about them until now:

4.

Selena Gomez’s parents were originally going to name her Priscilla. Instead, they named her after Selena Quintanilla because they were huge fans of her music.

5.

Ariana Grande had her big break at age 15 when she was cast in the Broadway musical 13.

7.

Chappell Roan’s stage name has a lot of sentimental value. It was inspired by her late grandfather, Dennis K. Chappell, and his favorite Western song, “Strawberry Roan.”

8.

Lady Gaga had her first acting gig at age 15 when she appeared in an episode of The Sopranos.

10.

Rihanna uses her middle name as her stage name. Her full name is actually Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

11.

Benson Boone was a competitive diver in high school, which tracks since he makes his signature flips look way too easy when he’s performing onstage.

12.

Mariah Carey’s godmother is Patti LaBelle.

13.

Miley Cyrus has over 70 tattoos.

14.

Ed Sheeran had a cameo in Season 7 of Game of Thrones.

15.

Christina Aguilera made her television debut at age 9 when she competed on Star Search.

16.

Pink trained as a competitive gymnast between ages 4–12.

17.

Adele was discovered after samples of her music were posted on MySpace.

18.

And finally, Billie Eilish originally recorded “Ocean Eyes” when she was 13 so her dance teacher could choreograph a routine.

What’s the most interesting pop star fact you know? Drop it in the comments or the anonymous form!