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Cheryl Ann Tweedy, better known simply as Cheryl, was born on June 30, 1983, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Her breakthrough came in 2002 when she auditioned for the ITV reality competition Popstars: The Rivals. That program created two groups who would go head-to-head on the UK charts, one male and one female. Cheryl won her place in Girls Aloud, a group that quickly became one of the most successful British girl bands of all time. Over the span of a decade, Girls Aloud released five studio albums, twenty-two singles, and enjoyed four UK number-one hits. They were celebrated for their polished pop sound, innovative production, and strong vocal presence, selling millions of records before going on hiatus in 2009.
While Girls Aloud was a phenomenon in its own right, Cheryl stepped confidently into the spotlight as a solo artist. Her debut album 3 Words was released in 2009 and immediately made her one of the most prominent UK pop stars of the new decade. The record’s lead single, “Fight for This Love,” went straight to number one on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the fastest-selling singles of that year. The album also included collaborations with will.i.am, showcasing Cheryl’s ability to merge mainstream pop with R&B influences.
Her second album, Messy Little Raindrops, arrived in 2010 and again topped the UK Albums Chart. It included the single “Promise This,” which also reached number one in the UK. By this point, Cheryl had firmly established herself as more than a former girl-group member. She was now a chart-dominating solo act, with a style that balanced dance-pop hooks with personal lyricism. In 2012, she released A Million Lights, which produced the number-one single “Call My Name,” another commercial triumph that reaffirmed her staying power in a rapidly changing pop landscape.
Cheryl’s fourth studio album, Only Human, released in 2014, marked yet another chapter in her career. The album contained the singles “Crazy Stupid Love” and “I Don’t Care,” both of which reached number one. With these hits, Cheryl made history as the first British female solo artist to achieve five number-one singles on the UK Singles Chart. This accomplishment placed her in rare company and underscored her remarkable ability to reinvent herself while consistently staying relevant to audiences.
Beyond her recording success, Cheryl became a household name as a television personality. She served as a judge on The X Factor UK starting in 2008, mentoring contestants and becoming one of the most popular figures in the show’s history. Her time on the program further solidified her status as a cultural icon, showing not only her musical knowledge but also her personal charm, which resonated with fans across generations. She later returned to television in 2019 as a judge on The Greatest Dancer, continuing her visibility outside of music.
Her career has also been defined by philanthropy. In 2015, Cheryl launched the Cheryl’s Trust in partnership with The Prince’s Trust. The charity aimed to support disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in her home region of Newcastle and beyond. By investing in opportunities and resources for struggling youth, Cheryl demonstrated that her influence extended well past music and entertainment, reaching into areas of social responsibility that reflected her own upbringing and values.
Cheryl’s legacy is also tied to her ability to navigate reinvention. From her years with Girls Aloud to her solo chart-toppers, to her television appearances and charitable endeavors, she consistently maintained a balance between glamour and relatability. Fans embraced her for her down-to-earth personality as much as for her polished stage presence. Her continued relevance in British pop culture, even after stepping back from recording in recent years, speaks to the deep connection she has built with her audience.
In total, Cheryl has released four solo studio albums, all of which charted successfully in the UK, and has accumulated five number-one singles, a feat that places her among the most successful female solo artists in UK chart history. Alongside the collective achievements of Girls Aloud, Cheryl’s career represents an extraordinary two-decade run of influence across pop music and entertainment. She remains one of the defining voices and personalities of the 2000s and 2010s in British music.
Complete List Of Cheryl Songs From A to Z
- 3 Words (featuring will.i.am) – 3 Words – 2009
- All in One Night – Only Human – 2014
- All Is Fair – A Million Lights – 2012
- Amnesia – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Beats N Bass – Only Human – 2014
- Better to Lie (featuring August Rigo) – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Boy Like You (featuring will.i.am) – 3 Words – 2009
- Boys Lie – A Million Lights – 2012
- Call My Name – A Million Lights – 2012
- Coming Up for Air (featuring Joel Compass) – Only Human – 2014
- Crazy Stupid Love (featuring Tinie Tempah) – Only Human – 2014
- Craziest Things (featuring will.i.am) – A Million Lights – 2012
- Don’t Talk About This Love – 3 Words – 2009
- Dum Dum – A Million Lights – 2012
- Everyone (featuring Dizzee Rascal) – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Fight for This Love – 3 Words – 2009
- Fight On – Only Human – 2014
- Firecracker – Only Human – 2014
- Ghetto Baby – A Million Lights – 2012
- Girl in the Mirror – A Million Lights – 2012
- Goodbye Means Hello – Only Human – 2014
- Happy Hour – 3 Words – 2009
- Happy Tears – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Heartbreaker (will.i.am featuring Cheryl Cole) – 3 Words – 2009
- Heaven (featuring will.i.am) – 3 Words – 2009
- Hummingbird – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- I Don’t Care – Only Human – 2014
- I Like It – A Million Lights – 2012
- Intro – Only Human – 2014
- It’s About Time – Only Human – 2014
- I Won’t Break – Only Human – 2014
- Last One Standing – A Million Lights – 2012
- Let’s Get Down (featuring will.i.am) – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Let You – Non-album single – 2019
- Live Life Now – Only Human – 2014
- Live Tonight – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Love Killer – A Million Lights – 2012
- Love Made Me Do It – Non-album single – 2018
- Make Me Cry – 3 Words – 2009
- Make You Go – A Million Lights – 2012
- Mechanics of the Heart – A Million Lights – 2012
- A Million Lights – A Million Lights – 2012
- One Thousand – A Million Lights – 2012
- Only Human – Only Human – 2014
- Parachute – 3 Words – 2009
- Promise This – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Rain on Me – 3 Words – 2009
- Raindrops – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Screw You (featuring Wretch 32) – A Million Lights – 2012
- Sexy Den a Mutha – A Million Lights – 2012
- Stand Up – 3 Words – 2009
- Stars – Only Human – 2014
- Tattoo – Only Human – 2014
- Teddy Bear – A Million Lights – 2012
- Telescope – A Million Lights – 2012
- The Flood – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Throwback – Only Human – 2014
- Under the Sun – A Million Lights – 2012
- Waiting – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Waiting for Lightning – Only Human – 2014
- Yeah Yeah (featuring Travie McCoy) – Messy Little Raindrops – 2010
- Yellow Love – Only Human – 2014
Albums
3 Words (2009): 11 songs
Messy Little Raindrops (2010): 12 songs
A Million Lights (2012): 19 songs
Only Human (2014): 18 songs
Non-album singles: 2 songs
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