Belinda Carlisle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belinda Carlisle
Carlisle in 2010
Born	Belinda Jo Carlisle (1958-08-17) August 17, 1958 (age 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Belinda Jo Dottie Danger Belinda Jo Kurczeski
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress memoirist
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Morgan Mason ​ (m. 1986)​
Children	1
Relatives	James Mason (father-in-law) Pamela Mason (mother-in-law) Portland Mason (sister-in-law)
Musical career
Genres	New wave pop pop rock punk rock
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	I.R.S. MCA Virgin Chrysalis Ark 21 Rykodisc EMI
Signature

Belinda Jo Carlisle (born August 17, 1958) is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous as the lead singer of the Go-Go's. This was one of the most successful all-female rock bands ever. After the band, she had a very successful career as a solo artist.

Belinda grew up in Southern California. She helped start the Go-Go's in 1978. Their first album, Beauty and the Beat, was a huge hit in 1981. The band helped make new wave music popular in the United States. The Go-Go's have sold over seven million records around the world.

After the Go-Go's broke up in 1985, Belinda started her solo career. She had many popular songs like "Mad About You" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth". The Go-Go's got back together in 1999. Belinda continued her solo work and performed with the band until 2022. They even had two festival performances in 2025.

Belinda's book, Lips Unsealed, came out in 2010. It was a New York Times Best Seller. In 1999, VH1 ranked the Go-Go's among the 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll. In 2011, Belinda and the Go-Go's received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were also added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. In 2024, they joined the California Hall of Fame.

Belinda's Early Life

Belinda in her 1976 yearbook photo

Belinda Jo Carlisle was born in Hollywood, California, on August 17, 1958. Her father, Harold Carlisle, worked at a gas station. Her mother, Joanne, was a homemaker. Belinda was the first of seven children. She has three brothers and three sisters.

When Belinda was five, her father left the family. She has said her childhood was often difficult. She remembered having "like, two outfits" as a teenager. Her mother was very religious.

Her mother later married Walt Kurczeski. Belinda used his last name in high school. Her family moved often when she was young. They lived in Simi Valley, Reseda, and Burbank. When she was ten, Belinda became interested in music. She liked the Beach Boys, Cat Stevens, the Stylistics, and the Animals.

The family moved to Thousand Oaks, California. Belinda went to Colina Junior High School. She played on the boys' basketball team. Later, she was a cheerleader at Newbury Park High School. After high school, Belinda worked at a fabric store and as a clerk. She also took beauty college classes but left in her first year. At 19, Belinda left home to start a music career.

Belinda's Music Career

Starting in Music and The Go-Go's

The Go-Go's, around 1981

Belinda's first music experience was in 1977. She was a drummer for the punk rock band the Germs. She used the name Dottie Danger. She left the band because she got sick. She never recorded or performed live with them. Belinda did appear on one recording. She introduced the band at a 1977 show. This can be heard on the album Germicide.

Soon after leaving the Germs, she helped start the Go-Go's. The band was first called the Misfits. She formed it with friends Margot Olavarria, Elissa Bello, and Jane Wiedlin. Margot and Elissa left the group. The new members were Belinda, Jane, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine, and Gina Schock. Most of them were new to playing instruments. Belinda said they had to use tape to mark the guitar frets at first.

The Go-Go's became one of the most successful American bands of the 1980s. They helped bring new wave music to popular radio. They were the first all-female band to write and play their own music. They were also the first to have a No. 1 album. This album was Beauty and the Beat (1981). It included hits like "We Got the Beat" and "Our Lips Are Sealed".

The Go-Go's released two more albums. Vacation (1982) sold very well. "Head over Heels" from their 1984 album Talk Show reached No. 11. In 1984, Belinda acted in the movie Swing Shift. She played a band singer with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.

Belinda's Solo Career Begins

The Go-Go's broke up in 1985. Belinda then started her solo music career. Her first solo album, Belinda, came out in 1986. It was very popular in North America. Her summer hit "Mad About You" reached No. 3 in the United States. It was also a Top 10 hit in Australia.

Other songs from her first album included "I Feel the Magic" and a cover of "Band of Gold". Duran Duran's Andy Taylor played guitar on some songs. He also appeared in the "Mad About You" music video. Belinda also had songs on movie soundtracks. These included "In My Wildest Dreams" from Mannequin (1987).

Her 1987 album, Heaven on Earth, had a different sound. It was more like 1980s power pop. This album was a Top 5 seller in the UK and Australia. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award. The first song from the album, "Heaven Is a Place on Earth", was a No. 1 hit in the United States and the UK. The music video for this song was directed by actress Diane Keaton.

The second song from the album was "I Get Weak". It reached No. 2 in the United States. "Circle in the Sand" was another Top 10 hit. After this success, Belinda went on the Good Heavens world tour. She sold out Wembley Arena in London.

Belinda's next album was Runaway Horses, released in 1989. It reached the Top 5 in Australia and the UK. The first song, "Leave a Light On", was a Top 5 hit in the UK, Australia, and Canada. Belinda also sang with the Smithereens on their song "Blue Period".

"Summer Rain" reached No. 30 in the US in 1990. It was also No. 6 in Australia. Other songs from Runaway Horses included the title track, "La Luna", and "(We Want) The Same Thing".

In late 1990, the Go-Go's reunited for a tour. They supported their first greatest hits album, Greatest. The band also supported animal rights during this tour.

Music in the 1990s

In 1991, Belinda released her fourth solo album, Live Your Life Be Free. This album had a sound inspired by the 1960s. The music video for "Do You Feel Like I Feel?" was inspired by the movie Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. The song "Live Your Life Be Free" was a Top 20 hit in many countries. Other hits included "Half the World" and "Little Black Book".

In 1992, her greatest hits album The Best of Belinda, Volume 1 reached No. 1 in the UK. Belinda's fifth solo album, Real, came out in 1993. Belinda helped write and produce much of this album. It was her fifth album in a row to reach the UK Top 10. The first song, "Big Scary Animal", reached No. 12 in the UK.

The Go-Go's reunited in 1994 for a new collection of songs. It was called Return to the Valley of The Go-Go's. It had three new songs, including "The Whole World Lost Its Head". The band broke up again after this tour.

In 1996, Belinda released her sixth solo album, A Woman & a Man. This album helped her solo career in Europe. "In Too Deep" was a Top 10 hit in the UK. "Always Breaking My Heart" also made the UK Top 10. The album also had hits like "Love in the Key of C" and "California". Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys sang backing vocals on "California". In 1997, she recorded "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" for the Disney movie Hercules.

In 1999, Belinda released a greatest hits album in the UK. It was called A Place on Earth: The Greatest Hits. It had her hits and three new songs. These included "All God's Children". This collection was very successful in the UK.

Later Music and Go-Go's Reunions

In 2001, the Go-Go's reunited again. They released a new album called God Bless the Go-Go's. Green Day's lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong helped write the song "Unforgiven". The album reached No. 57 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

In 2007, Belinda released her seventh album, Voila. This was her first full solo album in over ten years. It had French pop songs and classic French songs. In 2009, Belinda was on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. She was the first star to be eliminated. In October 2009, Belinda played Velma Von Tussle in the London musical Hairspray.

Belinda performing in 2014

Between 2011 and 2012, Belinda toured the United States with the Go-Go's. In March 2013, Belinda released her first US song in seventeen years. It was called "Sun". This song was on a new greatest hits album, ICON – The Best of Belinda Carlisle.

In August 2013, her albums Heaven on Earth, Runaway Horses, Live Your Life Be Free, and Real were re-released. They included extra songs and videos. In March 2014, a new Greatest Hits album called The Collection came out. It had 18 hits and one new song. This album reached No. 24 in the UK.

In 2015, Belinda said she finished a new album. She said the music was inspired by Kundalini yoga. In late 2016, the Go-Go's finished an international tour. Belinda's eighth album, Wilder Shores, came out in 2017. It had Gurmukhi chants.

Recent Music and Awards

In May 2021, the Go-Go's were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band performed three songs at the ceremony. In 2023, Belinda said the group had disbanded.

On March 16, 2023, Belinda released "Big Big Love". This was the first song from her new EP, Kismet. The EP came out on May 17, 2023. It was her first English-language pop music in 27 years. It was popular in several countries. Belinda also plans to release a new English-language album.

In February 2024, Belinda and The Go-Go's were added to the California Hall of Fame. This was done by the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom.

Belinda's ninth album, Once Upon a Time in California, was released on August 29, 2025. The first song from it, "The Air That I Breathe", was released on June 6, 2025.

Belinda's Musical Style

Belinda is known for her strong soprano voice. Her music, both with the Go-Go's and solo, is mostly pop music. Some experts say her early Go-Go's songs had hints of punk rock.

Critics have called Belinda a "punk diva" and "pop princess". The Go-Go's were part of the new wave style. Their music mixed punk with California surf music. Her solo songs became more polished pop music.

When she was young, she was inspired by the Beach Boys, Cat Stevens, the Stylistics, and the Animals. As a teenager, she discovered punk and art rock bands. These included the Velvet Underground, New York Dolls, and the Sex Pistols. In 2013, Belinda said she didn't listen to much pop music. She was inspired by jazz artists like Miles Davis.

Belinda's Personal Life

Family and Home

Belinda signing autographs in 2012

In 1986, Belinda married Morgan Mason. He is a film producer. His parents were actors James Mason and Pamela Mason. Morgan appeared in Belinda's music videos for "Mad About You" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth".

They have one son, James Duke Mason, born in 1992. He is a writer and activist. After an earthquake in 1994, Belinda and her family moved to Fréjus in France. They lived between France and the U.S. In 2017, they moved to Bangkok, Thailand. As of 2024, they live in Mexico City, Mexico.

Belinda has said she is not very close with her siblings or parents.

Belinda's Well-being and Beliefs

Belinda has shared that she has practiced Nichiren Buddhism since 2002. She is a member of the Soka Gakkai International. She often says she chants Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō every day. She believes this practice helps her well-being.

Belinda's Activism

Belinda supports LGBT rights. She became public about this after her son, Duke, shared his identity at age fourteen in 2006.

In 2014, Belinda helped start Animal People Alliance. This is a group in Calcutta, India. It helps street animals. The group trains and hires women to care for these animals. Belinda says, "We are teaching people that animals have feelings."

In May 2024, Belinda received the Harvey Milk Medal. Her son and Stuart Milk presented it to her. This award was for her work in gay rights. In June 2024, she received the YGB Namaste Award for her animal advocacy.

Awards and Nominations

Billboard Music Awards

Other Awards

Discography

Studio albums

• Belinda (1986)
• Heaven on Earth (1987)
• Runaway Horses (1989)
• Live Your Life Be Free (1991)
• Real (1993)
• A Woman & a Man (1996)
• Voila (2007)
• Wilder Shores (2017)
• Kismet (2023)
• Once Upon a Time in California (2025)

See also

In Spanish: Belinda Carlisle para niños

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
• List of artists who reached number one in Ireland
• List of number-one singles of 1986 (Canada)