Bebe Rexha: Biography, Career, Songs, Albums & 2026 Update

Bebe Rexha is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer whose career has been shaped by both behind-the-scenes songwriting and major pop hits of her own. Born Bleta Rexha in Brooklyn, New York, she first gained industry attention as a songwriter before becoming a successful recording artist. Her writing credits include Eminem and Rihanna’s “The Monster,” while her own catalog includes “Meant to Be,” “I’m a Mess,” and “I’m Good (Blue).”

In 2026, Rexha entered a new chapter with DIRTY BLONDE, her fourth studio album and first full-length project as an independent artist. Released on June 12, 2026, the album presents a more personal and genre-blending side of her artistry, combining dance, pop, electronic influences, and emotionally direct songwriting.

Who Is Bebe Rexha? A Short Biography

CategoryDetails
Full NameBleta Rexha
Date of BirthAugust 30, 1989
Age in 202636
BirthplaceBrooklyn, New York, USA
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSinger, songwriter, record producer
Years Active2010–present
EducationTottenville High School
Famous For“The Monster,” “Meant to Be,” “I’m Good (Blue),” solo pop career
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
FatherFlamur Rexha
MotherBukurije Rexha
SiblingsBrother, Florent Rexha
Official WebsiteBebe Rexha Official Website

Biographical sources identify Rexha as Bleta Rexha and confirm her Brooklyn birth, Staten Island upbringing, Tottenville High School education, and early musical training. She learned trumpet and later taught herself guitar and piano before developing her career as a songwriter and performer.

Bebe Rexha’s Early Life and Rise as a Songwriter

Growing Up in New York

Bleta Rexha was born in Brooklyn on August 30, 1989, and grew up in Staten Island. Her family background and New York upbringing became important parts of the environment in which she developed her musical identity. While still a teenager, she was already writing songs and participating in school music programs.

Music was not simply a later career choice for Rexha. She played trumpet, learned other instruments, sang in her school choir, and participated in musicals at Tottenville High School. Her vocal ability also became increasingly apparent during her teenage years, helping establish the foundation for a career that would eventually move between songwriting, pop, dance, country, and electronic music.

From Teen Songwriter to Professional Writer

One of the most important early moments in Rexha’s career came when she entered a songwriting competition connected to the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. She won a “Best Teen Songwriter” recognition, an achievement that helped connect her with songwriting opportunities and professional development.

That early experience helped Rexha understand the music business from the inside. Rather than becoming famous immediately as a solo singer, she spent years writing and collaborating with other artists. This background would later become one of her biggest strengths because she understood how songs worked both as compositions and as commercial recordings.

Writing “The Monster”

Rexha’s songwriting breakthrough came with Eminem and Rihanna’s “The Monster.” Her involvement in the song helped establish her reputation as a songwriter capable of creating material for some of the biggest names in contemporary music. The song went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

The success of “The Monster” also demonstrated an important part of Rexha’s career story: she was already contributing to major pop culture moments before the wider public knew her name. Her transition from songwriter to recording artist therefore did not happen overnight. It followed years of writing, collaboration, experimentation, and industry experience.

Bebe Rexha’s Music Career and Biggest Hits

From “Hey Mama” to Solo Stardom

Rexha’s songwriting and vocal work soon brought her into collaborations with major dance and pop artists. Her work with David Guetta on “Hey Mama” became another important milestone. According to Grammy.com, Guetta recalled discovering Rexha’s voice while she was still primarily working as a songwriter, after which she became part of the recording.

Her collaborations helped create a bridge between songwriter and performer. Rexha could write hooks, deliver powerful vocals, and adapt to different production styles. That versatility became a defining feature of her career and later allowed her to move comfortably between pop, dance, country crossover, and electronic music.

“Meant to Be” and Country-Pop Success

One of Rexha’s most recognizable songs is “Meant to Be,” her collaboration with Florida Georgia Line. The track demonstrated how effectively her pop songwriting could work within a country framework. It also earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

“Meant to Be” helped expand her audience beyond traditional dance-pop listeners. Rather than being confined to one genre, Rexha increasingly became known for crossing musical boundaries. That ability to move between styles remains one of the clearest themes throughout her discography.

“I’m Good (Blue)” With David Guetta

Rexha’s partnership with David Guetta reached another major point with “I’m Good (Blue).” The song transformed an existing dance-music idea into a modern pop hit and became one of the most recognizable tracks of her career. Grammy.com notes that the song peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 2023.

The collaboration also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Recording. Interestingly, Guetta explained that the song had been created years before its eventual release and gained unexpected momentum after a sample of the idea circulated on TikTok.

Bebe Rexha’s Albums and Musical Evolution

Expectations

Rexha released her debut studio album, Expectations, in 2018. The album marked the point where the songwriter who had already contributed to major hits fully established herself as a solo pop artist. Its songs explored relationships, self-doubt, emotional conflict, and the pressures surrounding modern pop stardom.

The album also included “I’m a Mess,” one of Rexha’s most recognizable solo songs. Her work on Expectations demonstrated that her identity extended beyond collaboration. She had her own voice, themes, and perspective to bring to contemporary pop.

Bebe

Her third studio album, Bebe, arrived in 2023 and continued her interest in mainstream pop and dance-oriented production. By this stage, Rexha had already established a reputation for collaborations with artists and producers across multiple musical worlds.

Her career had become less about fitting neatly into a genre and more about finding the right sound for each song. That approach prepared the ground for the creative independence that would define her next album.

DIRTY BLONDE and the 2026 Era

In 2026, Rexha released DIRTY BLONDE, her fourth studio album. Apple Music describes the project as a creative rebirth and identifies it as her first project as an independent artist following the completion of her previous major-label deal. The 13-track album was released on June 12, 2026, through Bebe Rexha Music LLC and EMPIRE.

The album includes songs such as “Hysteria,” “Tokyo,” “New Religion,” “$.H.I.T,” “Çike Çike,” “i like you better than me,” “Time,” “Night Falls,” and “Sad Girls,” the latter featuring David Guetta. Its musical palette moves between club-oriented dance production and more vulnerable songwriting.

What Makes Bebe Rexha Stand Out?

A Songwriter First

One of Rexha’s greatest strengths is her songwriting background. Many singers become known primarily through their own recordings, while Rexha had already learned how to construct commercially powerful songs before becoming a household name herself.

That history can be heard in the emphasis she places on hooks and memorable choruses. Whether she is working in dance-pop, country crossover, or electronic music, her songs frequently revolve around an immediately recognizable vocal idea.

A Genre-Blending Artist

Rexha has never remained inside a single musical category. Her catalog includes collaborations associated with pop, country, dance, hip-hop, and electronic music. Her work with Florida Georgia Line, David Guetta, Eminem, Rihanna, and other major artists illustrates the breadth of her creative range.

DIRTY BLONDE pushes that flexibility even further. Apple Music describes the record as moving through dance, pop, electronic, and emotionally introspective territory, while the track list shows collaborations and production choices that reinforce its deliberately varied character.

Creative Independence in 2026

The significance of DIRTY BLONDE goes beyond simply being another album. It represents a new phase in Rexha’s career as an independent artist. Her official website currently highlights the project and its visual and musical material, reflecting the broader creative world surrounding the release.

That independence gives the album a different context from her earlier major-label releases. Instead of presenting herself according to a narrowly defined pop-star formula, Rexha has used the project to explore a more unfiltered identity, both lyrically and visually. Contemporary coverage has described the album as a deliberate reinvention.

Bebe Rexha’s Grammy Recognition and Career Legacy

Four Grammy Nominations

Rexha has received four Grammy nominations across her career. These include Best New Artist and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Meant to Be” at the 61st Grammy Awards, Best Dance/Electronic Recording for “I’m Good (Blue)” at the 65th Grammys, and Best Dance Pop Recording for “One In A Million” at the 66th Grammys.

Although she has not won a Grammy as of the 2026 awards information listed by the Recording Academy, the nominations reflect the unusually broad nature of her work. She has been recognized in pop, country, and dance-related categories, matching the musical diversity that has characterized her career.

A Career Built on Collaboration

Collaboration is central to Rexha’s professional story. She has repeatedly worked with artists and producers from different genres, using those partnerships to expand her audience and experiment with new sounds.

Her long-running relationship with David Guetta is particularly notable. Their collaborations have produced some of her biggest dance records, while her work with Florida Georgia Line showed her ability to succeed in country-pop. Her songwriting connection to Eminem and Rihanna provided an earlier foundation for her reputation as a serious writer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bebe Rexha

Q: What is Bebe Rexha’s real name?
A: Bebe Rexha was born Bleta Rexha on August 30, 1989, in Brooklyn, New York. The Recording Academy confirms her birth name and explains that “Bleta” relates to the Albanian word for bee.

Q: How old is Bebe Rexha in 2026?
A: Bebe Rexha is 36 years old in 2026. She was born on August 30, 1989, in Brooklyn, New York.

Q: What is Bebe Rexha famous for?
A: She is known both as a singer and songwriter. Major career highlights include co-writing Eminem and Rihanna’s “The Monster,” recording “Meant to Be” with Florida Georgia Line, and releasing the David Guetta collaboration “I’m Good (Blue).”

Q: What is Bebe Rexha’s newest album?
A: Her newest album is DIRTY BLONDE, released June 12, 2026. It is her fourth studio album and her first full-length project as an independent artist.

Q: How many Grammy nominations has Bebe Rexha received?
A: Rexha has received four Grammy nominations. They span Best New Artist, country performance, dance/electronic recording, and pop dance recording categories.

Conclusion

Bebe Rexha’s career is notable because she succeeded in two demanding roles: songwriter and recording artist. From writing “The Monster” to achieving major hits with “Meant to Be” and “I’m Good (Blue),” she has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to create songs that connect across genres. Her four Grammy nominations further reflect that range.

In 2026, DIRTY BLONDE adds another significant chapter. The album presents Rexha as an independent artist with greater creative freedom and a willingness to experiment with dance, pop, electronic sounds, and vulnerable storytelling. More than a collection of new songs, it signals an artist continuing to redefine herself on her own terms.

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