Justin Bieber

In this new biography for the People in the News series, author Christine Wilcox traces the childhood and career of teen idol Justin Bieber and provides special insight on his popularity, powerful fan base, and how his rise to fame changed the music industry. Bieber is undeniably talented?by the age of twelve, he had taught himself to play four instruments and had performed with a professional jazz band. He sings about idealized, romantic love, a preoccupation of tween and teen girls. He has charisma and star presence but is not so practiced that his "cool" seems fake; even after being in the spotlight for three years, Justin can sound a little awkward in an interview. And he has an inspiring story: born into poverty to an unwed teen mother, young Justin had no real aspirations to be famous until a promoter stumbled across a video of him singing in a local talent show.