Debbie Gibson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Debbie Gibson
Gibson at the Cinema City Festival in March 2008
Born	Deborah Ann Gibson (1970-08-31) August 31, 1970 (age 54) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress television personality
Years active	1983–present
Musical career
Genres	Pop dance-pop pop rock freestyle
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar
Labels	Atlantic SBK/EMI SMEJ Dauman Music

Deborah Ann Gibson (born August 31, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She became famous at a young age. Her first album, Out of the Blue, came out in 1987. She was only 16 years old then. She wrote and produced most of the songs herself.

This album had many popular songs around the world. It sold millions of copies. One song, "Foolish Beat", made her the youngest female artist to write, produce, and sing a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her second album, Electric Youth (1989), also sold millions. It included another U.S. number-one hit, "Lost in Your Eyes". Debbie Gibson wrote all her top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1989, she was named Songwriter of the Year by ASCAP. She shared this award with Bruce Springsteen.

Gibson kept making music in the 1990s and 2000s. In 2006, her song "Say Goodbye" with Jordan Knight reached number 24 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart. In 2017, her duet with Sir Ivan, "I Am Peaceman", was her highest-charting song in over 25 years. Her 2020 song "Girls Night Out" became a top five hit. Besides music, she has starred in Broadway shows. These include playing Eponine in Les Misérables and Sandy in Grease. She has also worked in television and movies.

Early Life and Beginnings

Gibson was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her birthday is August 31, 1970. She grew up in Merrick, New York, on Long Island. She learned to play piano from American pianist Morton Estrin. She graduated from Sanford H. Calhoun High School. She was an honor student there.

In 1983, Gibson sent a tape of her song "I Come From America" to a radio station contest. She won $1,000. Her mother helped her get a loan to turn their garage into a recording studio.

Music Career Highlights

Becoming a Pop Star (1986–1989)

Debbie Gibson in the late 1980s, when her music career began

Debbie Gibson wrote and produced her own songs for years. A tape of her music reached an executive at Atlantic Records. Based on her song "Only in My Dreams", she got a record deal. She started touring clubs across the United States.

In 1986 and 1987, Gibson wrote many songs. She continued to perform in clubs. She also kept attending high school and graduated with honors. Her mother, Diane Gibson, often went with her on tour. Diane said they played many different types of clubs.

The song "Only in My Dreams" came out in December 1986. It reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 1987. Because of its success, Atlantic Records and Debbie Gibson quickly finished her first album. "Shake Your Love" was the next single. It reached the Billboard top five. The music video for "Shake Your Love" was choreographed by Paula Abdul.

In 1987, Gibson recorded her first album, Out of the Blue. She worked with producer Fred Zarr. They wrote, recorded, and produced the album in just four weeks. Four songs from the album reached the top five of the Hot 100 chart. These were "Only in My Dreams", "Shake Your Love", "Out of the Blue", and the number-one hit "Foolish Beat". "Staying Together" reached number 22. "Foolish Beat" made Gibson the youngest artist to write, produce, and perform a Billboard number-one song. This was noted in the 1988 Guinness Book of World Records. She still holds this record for female artists.

Out of the Blue became a very popular album. She also had great success in the UK and Southeast Asia. She filled stadiums on her Out of the Blue Tour. By the end of 1988, Out of the Blue had sold triple platinum. In October 1988, Gibson sang the national anthem for the 1988 World Series.

Her album Electric Youth was released in early 1989. It stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for five weeks. The first song from it, "Lost in Your Eyes", was number one on the Hot 100 for three weeks. This made her the youngest female artist to have both an album and a single at number one at the same time. She won the 1989 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award. Other songs from the album included "Electric Youth" (number 11) and "No More Rhyme" (number 17). The Electric Youth album sold double platinum. She then had a successful Electric Youth Tour.

Music in the 1990s and 2000s

Gibson released two more albums with Atlantic Records. These were Anything Is Possible (1990) and Body, Mind, Soul (1993). The song "Anything Is Possible" reached number 26 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1991. She also sang on the charity song "Voices That Care". This song reached number 11 on the Hot 100 chart. In 1992, she sang "Sleigh Ride" for the album A Very Special Christmas 2. This album sold two million copies.

In 1995, she signed with EMI's SBK Records. She released Think with Your Heart. This album had many piano and keyboard songs. In 1998, she sang "I Do" for the movie The ... Man. The lyrics were written by Ethan Coen.

Later, Gibson started her own record label, Espiritu. Her sixth album, Deborah (1997), was a return to pop music. It included the song "Only Words". In 2001, she released her seventh album, M.Y.O.B., on her new label, Golden Egg. It featured three songs: "What You Want", "Your Secret", and "M.Y.O.B.".

Recent Music and Projects (2005–Present)

In 2005, Gibson worked with The O'Neill Brothers. They released an acoustic version of "Lost in Your Eyes". She also wrote and recorded "Someone You Love" with them. In 2006, Gibson toured with the O'Neill Brothers.

Her song "Your Secret" became popular again on some radio stations. The 2006 song "Say Goodbye", with Jordan Knight, was popular on radio. It reached number 24 on the Hot Contemporary chart. In 2006, Gibson also appeared in the movie Coffee Date. She sang "Sounds Like Love" for its soundtrack.

In September 2007, Gibson started Camp Electric Youth. This was a summer camp for children. It helped young singers, actors, and dancers. She was also a judge for an online talent show called Total Pop Star. In May 2008, Gibson performed her 1980s hits and Broadway songs in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

On March 9, 2009, Gibson released a new song called "Already Gone". It came with a music video. In January 2010, she became a spokesperson for Murad's Resurgence Skin Care. Her song "Rise" was considered for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2010. She released "Rise" on iTunes in 2011. She also performed it on Good Morning America.

In 2010, her album Ms. Vocalist reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Japan chart. This album featured her singing Japanese pop songs. It also had a Japanese/English version of "Lost in Your Eyes". In January 2011, Gibson wrote and sang "Snake Charmer" for the movie Mega Python vs. Gatoroid. In the summer of 2011, she toured with fellow pop star Tiffany. In June 2011, Gibson appeared in Katy Perry's music video "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)".

On August 27, 2016, Gibson starred in the Hallmark Channel movie Summer of Dreams. She played a former pop star who becomes a choir director. She also recorded "Wonderland" for the film. In June 2017, her duet "I Am Peaceman" with Sir Ivan reached number 26 on the Billboard Dance Club chart. In March 2019, Gibson hosted a special radio show. She celebrated the 30th anniversary of her Electric Youth album.

In May 2019, Gibson joined the Mixtape Tour with New Kids on the Block and others. On June 7, 2019, she released "Girls Night Out". The song reached number four on the Billboard Dance Club chart. On August 20, 2021, Gibson released The Body Remembers. This was her first album of new songs since M.Y.O.B.. It included a new version of "Lost in Your Eyes" with Joey McIntyre.

Gibson performed at the 2025 Rose Parade. She sang "Electric Youth". She will release her memoir, Eternally Electric: The Message in My Music, in September 2025.

Theatre Performances

Gibson first appeared on Broadway in 1992. She played Éponine in Les Misérables. She then went to London and starred as Sandy in Grease in the West End. Many people tried out for this role. The show broke box office sales records. A song from the show, "You're the One That I Want", with Craig McLachlan, reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.

After returning to the U.S., she played Rizzo in the Broadway touring production of Grease. She also played Fanny Brice in a new Funny Girl tour. She has had many successful theatre roles. She played Belle in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. She was in the show from September 1997 to June 1998. She also starred in Gypsy. She played Louise Hovick with Broadway star Betty Buckley.

Gibson was the Narrator in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She also played Cinderella in the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical Cinderella. Eartha Kitt played the Fairy Godmother in that show. In October 2002, she played Velma Kelly in the Boston production of Chicago. In 2003, she played Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of Cabaret. From March to April 2004, she played Marta in the UCLA Reprise! production of Company.

In October 2008, Gibson starred as Anna Leonowens in The King and I. This musical was performed at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Film and Television Roles

Gibson co-hosted Nickelodeon's first Kids' Choice Awards in 1988. She co-starred with Lorenzo Lamas in the movie Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus (2009). This film was very popular on Syfy. Its trailer became a huge hit online. The movie premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Gibson and Tiffany starred in a Syfy movie called Mega Python vs. Gatoroid. It aired on January 29, 2011. Gibson played Emma McNeil again in the 2014 film Mega Shark Versus Mecha Shark.

She starred in the Up TV movie The Music in Me in 2015. She also wrote and sang an original song, "Promises", for the film. In mid-2003, Gibson was a judge on American Juniors. This was a spin-off of American Idol. In January 2006, she joined Skating with Celebrities on Fox Television. She was partnered with figure skater Kurt Browning. She competed on the fifth season of The Celebrity Apprentice in 2012. She won $50,000 for her charity, Children International.

In 2017, Gibson competed on Dancing with the Stars. She was paired with Alan Bersten. They were the second couple eliminated. In September 2018, Gibson starred in the Hallmark Channel film Wedding of Dreams. This was a sequel to Summer of Dreams. In 2019 and 2020, Gibson was a judge on Nickelodeon's America's Most Musical Family.

Gibson made a guest appearance on the Netflix series Lucifer in 2021. She played a mother who sings with Lucifer Morningstar. In 2023, she competed on The Masked Singer as "Night Owl".

Image and Influence

With her second album Electric Youth (1989), Debbie Gibson created a perfume called Electric Youth. It was sold by Revlon. She also had other makeup products for young girls. The 1989 song "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child" by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper was released. MTV did not show its music video.

Gibson's signature fashion item was her hats, often a black pork-pie style. She also made popular wearing tight, rolled-up jeans, vests over a T-shirt, friendship bracelets, and two Swatch watches. Her musical inspirations included Madonna and Olivia Newton-John. She also admired Elton John and Billy Joel. Gibson appeared on the covers of many teen magazines like Tiger Beat.

Discography

Studio albums

• Out of the Blue (1987)
• Electric Youth (1989)
• Anything Is Possible (1990)
• Body, Mind, Soul (1993)
• Think with Your Heart (1995)
• Deborah (1997)
• M.Y.O.B. (2001)
• Colored Lights: The Broadway Album (2003)
• Ms. Vocalist (2010)
• The Body Remembers (2021)
• Winterlicious (2022)

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Appearances

Music Videos Featured In

Documentary Appearances

Awards and Recognition

• 1988: Billboard Year-End – Top Pop Album Artist Female
• 1989: Debut Album of the Year – Out of the Blue – New York Music Awards
• 1989: Debut Artist of the Year – New York Music Awards
• 1989: ASCAP Songwriter of the Year (tied with Bruce Springsteen)
• 1989: Nominated for Best Pop Female Vocalist – American Music Awards
• 1989: Billboard Year-End – Top Pop Album Artist Female (runner-up)
• 1990: Nominated for Favorite Female Music Performer – People's Choice Awards
• 1990: Rock Producer of the Year – American Songwriter Awards
• 1990: Artist of the Year – New York Music Awards
• 1990: Song of the Year – "Lost in Your Eyes" – New York Music Awards
• 1990: Best Pop Female Vocalist – New York Music Awards
• 2014: Inductee – Long Island Music Hall of Fame
• 2015: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Comedy) in Acting Dead – Indie Series Awards
• 2015: Lifetime Achievement Award – The PATH Fund's Rockers on Broadway
• 2018: 425th Golden Palm Star – Palm Springs Walk of Stars
• 2018: Named one of Billboard's Top 60 Female Artists of All-Time
• 2019: Recipient of the NGLCC/American Airlines ExtrAA Mile Award
• 2024: Honoree – Women’s International Music Network She Rocks Awards

See also

In Spanish: Debbie Gibson para niños