Tate McRae is a Canadian singer-songwriter and former dancer born July 1, 2003, in Calgary, Alberta, who achieved international recognition through her shift from competitive dance to pop music. She gained initial fame as the first Canadian finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2016, before her debut single “One Day” launched her music career. Her breakthrough hit “You Broke Me First” reached top charts globally, leading to successful albums and collaborations that established her prominence in contemporary pop music alongside notable industry achievements.
A multifaceted entertainer who rose from competitive dance floors to global music stardom, Tate McRae has established herself as one of contemporary pop‘s most promising young talents through her distinctive blend of emotive songwriting, dynamic vocal performances, and enchanting stage presence.
Born July 1, 2003, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, McRae’s artistic journey began early when she started dancing at age four while her family lived in Oman due to her father’s work commitments. After returning to Calgary at age six, she intensified her dance training by age eight, studying various styles at YYC Dance Project, operated by her mother, while also receiving classical ballet instruction at the School of Alberta Ballet. Her family background includes Scottish and German ancestry, contributing to her diverse cultural heritage.
McRae’s dance career achieved significant recognition in 2016 when she became the first Canadian finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance,” establishing her reputation for emotive performances that seamlessly combined dance and musical expression. This competitive dance background, which included training with Drewitz Dance Productions, would later prove instrumental in shaping her distinctive stage presence and music video performances.
Her shift into music began with the viral success of her debut single “One Day,” which attracted substantial industry attention and ultimately led to her signing with RCA Records as both a songwriter and performer. McRae’s debut EP “All the Things I Never Said” arrived in 2020, followed by “Too Young to Be Sad,” which became the most streamed female EP of 2021 on Spotify, driven largely by the breakout single “You Broke Me First,” reaching the top 10 on the Canadian Hot 100 and top 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Her debut studio album “I Used to Think I Could Fly” peaked at number three in Canada in 2022, featuring the hit single “She’s All I Wanna Be.” The follow-up album “Think Later” debuted in the top five across multiple countries in 2023, propelled by the global success of “Greedy,” which reached number one on both the Billboard Global 200 and Canadian Hot 100.
McRae’s commercial momentum continued with her third album “So Close to What” topping both the Canadian Albums Chart and US Billboard 200 in 2025, while her featured performance on Morgan Wallen’s “What I Want” delivered her first Billboard Hot 100 number one single. Her sold out headlining tour demonstrated her strong connection with fans and impressive live performance capabilities.
Known for collaborations with artists including Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, McRae has earned recognition alongside peers like Sabrina Carpenter as an artist defining contemporary pop’s direction, particularly resonating with Generation Z audiences through her raw, emotionally-driven songwriting approach.
