Sara Bareilles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sara Bareilles
Bareilles in 2025
Born	Sara Beth Bareilles (1979-12-07) December 7, 1979 (age 45) Eureka, California, U.S.
Education	University of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Occupation	Singer songwriter musician actress
Years active	2002–present
Partner(s)	Joe Tippett (2015–present; engaged)
Musical career
Genres	Pop pop rock soul
Instruments	Vocals piano
Labels	Epic
Signature

Sara Beth Bareilles (/bəˈrɛlɪs/ bə-REL-iss; born December 7, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress. She is known for her powerful voice and heartfelt songs. Sara has sold millions of albums and singles in the United States. She has won two Grammy Awards and has been nominated for many other awards, including the Primetime Emmy Awards and Tony Awards. In 2012, VH1 recognized her as one of the Top 100 Greatest Women in Music.

After signing with Epic Records, Sara became very popular with her second album, Little Voice (2007). Her hit song "Love Song" reached number four on the Billboard charts. This song also earned her nominations for Song of the Year at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.

Sara made her Broadway debut by writing the music and lyrics for the 2015 musical Waitress. This work earned her nominations for a Tony Award and a Grammy Award. She has also worked on other Broadway shows, like SpongeBob SquarePants and Into the Woods, receiving more Tony nominations.

Besides music and Broadway, Sara is also known for her television work. In 2018, she played Mary Magdalene in the NBC musical special Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, which earned her an Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She also starred as Dawn Solano in the musical comedy Girls5eva from 2021 to 2024.

Early Life and Education

Sara Bareilles was born on December 7, 1979, in Eureka, California. Her father worked in insurance, and her mother worked at a funeral home. Sara is the youngest of three daughters. Her family background includes French, Italian, Swiss-Italian, Portuguese, and German roots. She even lived in Bologna, Italy, for a year during college and speaks some Italian. Her parents divorced when she was 12.

Sara grew up Catholic and attended a parochial school before moving to public school in junior high. She was part of her high school choir, Limited Edition, and performed in local theater shows. One of her roles was Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors.

After graduating from Eureka High School in 1998, Sara studied communication at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). There, she joined an a cappella group called Awaken a Cappella. You can hear her singing her original song "Gravity" and "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5 on their album. Sara also won the annual student concert UCLA Spring Sing twice. She taught herself to play several instruments, including the piano.

Career Journey

Starting Out: 2002–2006

After college in 2002, Sara started performing at small venues in Los Angeles, like the Hotel Café. She slowly built up a fan base. In 2003, she released two demo albums with live songs.

In 2004, Sara self-released her first studio album, Careful Confessions. She also opened for other artists on tour, like Rocco DeLuca and the Burden and Guster.

On April 15, 2005, she signed a contract with Epic Records. She spent the next year writing and improving songs for her first major album. In 2006, her song "Gravity" was briefly featured in the independent film Loving Annabelle.

In 2007, Sara toured as an opening act for artists like Aqualung, Mika, Maroon 5, and Paolo Nutini. She also opened for James Blunt on his U.S. tour.

Breakthrough with Little Voice: 2007–2008

Bareilles's success with Little Voice led her to tour Europe; she is pictured here in her first tour of the Netherlands (2008).

In June 2007, iTunes featured Sara's song "Love Song" as their free single of the week. This song was about her feelings of pressure from Epic Records to write a "love song" for her album. Many songs on her album Little Voice were improved versions of songs from her earlier album.

In July 2007, Little Voice quickly became the most downloaded album on iTunes. It debuted at number 45 on the Billboard 200 chart. After being used in a Rhapsody commercial, "Love Song" became a huge hit. It reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Sara performed the song on popular TV shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Today show. The song also became a top 5 hit in the UK.

By 2010, Little Voice had sold over a million copies in the US, earning a platinum certification. "Love Song" was certified triple platinum, meaning it sold over three million copies.

In October 2008, Sara released Between the Lines: Sara Bareilles Live at the Fillmore, a live DVD and CD. This included a recording of her first headlining tour. She also toured with Counting Crows and Maroon 5.

In spring 2009, Sara went on her second headlining tour, the Gravity Tour, to promote "Gravity", another single from Little Voice. She also released a free acoustic EP for fans, which included a new song called "Free Ride".

Kaleidoscope Heart and The Sing-Off: 2009–2012

Bareilles at De Melkweg in Amsterdam in 2008

After her quick rise to fame, Sara felt a lot of pressure to write another big hit. She even experienced writer's block, where she worried she might never write another song. She started working on her next album in 2009, collaborating with other musicians.

The first single from her new album, "King of Anything", started playing on the radio in May 2010. This song was later certified platinum.

Sara released a series of online videos showing how she made some of the songs for her new album, Kaleidoscope Heart. The album was released on September 7, 2010, and debuted at number 1 in the United States, selling 90,000 copies in its first week.

She toured to support Kaleidoscope Heart from September to December 2010, with many sold-out shows. She also toured Europe, Asia, and Australia with Maroon 5 in 2011. The second single from the album was "Uncharted", and the third was "Gonna Get Over You".

Sara joined the third season of the NBC show The Sing-Off as a judge, alongside Ben Folds and Shawn Stockman.

In August 2011, Sara was performing as an opening act for Sugarland at the Indiana State Fair when the stage collapsed after her performance. She was not hurt, but seven people died and many were injured. She expressed her sadness for those affected.

New Music and The Blessed Unrest: 2012–2014

Sara Bareilles at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in 2012

After The Sing-Off, Sara announced she was recording a new EP, produced by Ben Folds. Her EP, Once Upon Another Time, was released on May 22, 2012, and included five new songs.

In September 2012, Sara shared that she was working on a new album in New York. In January 2013, she announced her plans for the year, including releasing a new album. She also collaborated with the a cappella group Straight No Chaser on a version of "I Want You Back".

On March 27, 2013, Sara announced an 18-city tour to promote her new album. The first single, "Brave", was released digitally on April 23. The album, titled The Blessed Unrest, was released on July 16, 2013.

Sara performed two songs for the film Bounty Killer, released in September 2013. Her live album, Brave Enough: Live at the Variety Playhouse, was released in October 2013.

In October 2013, nurses and a former patient from a children's hospital created a YouTube video dancing and singing to "Brave". The video gained over 1.6 million views. Sara surprised them during a TV interview, saying the video showed the importance of music. She later visited the hospital to sing with them.

On January 26, 2014, Sara performed a duet with Carole King at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. They sang King's "Beautiful" and Sara's "Brave". Sara also performed with Elton John at a fundraiser in April 2014. In May, she recorded a cover of "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" for the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Sara toured 24 American cities in her The Little Black Dress Summer Tour in 2014, supporting The Blessed Unrest. She also sang "Smile" during the "In Memoriam" segment at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards in August 2014.

Waitress and Other Projects: 2015–2017

Bareilles in 2015

In June 2013, it was announced that Sara would write the music for Waitress, a musical based on the 2007 film. The musical opened in August 2015. Sara debuted a song from the musical, "She Used to Be Mine", during her Little Black Dress Tour. Waitress ended its Broadway run on January 5, 2020.

In October 2015, Sara released her memoir, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song. The book became a New York Times Best Seller.

Sara began working on her fifth studio album, What's Inside: Songs from Waitress, in April 2015. The album features songs she wrote for Waitress, reworked to sound like her own songs. It was released on November 6, 2015.

In June 2016, Sara played Ariel in a live performance of Disney's The Little Mermaid at the Hollywood Bowl. She also performed "Both Sides, Now" at the 89th Academy Awards in February 2017.

On March 31, 2017, Sara took on the role of Jenna Hunterson in Waitress on Broadway for 10 weeks. She returned to the role several times, including in January 2018 with fellow musician Jason Mraz. Sara also co-wrote the song "If I Dare" for the 2017 movie Battle of the Sexes.

Recent Work: 2018–Present

Bareilles in 2023

On April 1, 2018, Sara played Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, an NBC musical TV special. Her performance was highly praised, and she was nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award.

On June 10, 2018, Sara co-hosted the 72nd Tony Awards with Josh Groban. They performed an opening number and other songs. Sara was also nominated for a Tony Award for her work on SpongeBob SquarePants.

In August 2018, it was announced that Waitress would open in London's West End in February 2019.

Sara released her sixth album, Amidst the Chaos, in April 2019. It debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart. She also released "Shiny," a song about mothers, in May 2019.

On January 27, 2020, Sara made her West End debut as Jenna Hunterson in Waitress. Her run ended early in March 2020 due to the global pandemic. On the same day, she won a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Performance for her song "Saint Honesty."

In March 2019, Sara announced a new series for Apple TV+ called Little Voice, for which she also recorded the theme song. The series premiered on July 10, 2020. She released an album of her own recordings of songs from the series in September 2020.

On August 10, 2020, Sara was announced to star in Peacock's new musical comedy Girls5eva. The first season was released in May 2021.

In May 2021, Sara returned to her role as Jenna in a limited Broadway revival of Waitress. The show opened on September 2, 2021. Her live album, Amidst the Chaos: Live from the Hollywood Bowl, was released in 2021.

In May 2022, Sara starred as the Baker's Wife in the musical Into the Woods at the New York City Center. She reprised the role on Broadway and received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination.

In May 2023, Sara recorded a cover of "When You Wish Upon a Star" for The Walt Disney Company's 100th anniversary. She also co-wrote "Look for the Light" for the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building.

In late 2023, a live recording of Waitress: The Musical was released in theaters. Sara was a producer on the film and starred as Jenna. The movie was very successful and is now available on streaming services and DVD.

In October 2023, it was announced that Girls5eva was renewed for a third season by Netflix.

Musical Style and Influences

Sara Bareilles is known for her strong mezzo-soprano singing voice. She often plays the piano in her music. People sometimes compare her to artists like Regina Spektor and Billy Joel because of her piano skills and vocal style.

She describes her music as "piano-based pop soul." Sara finds inspiration from singers like Etta James and Sam Cooke.

Sara is praised for her songwriting. Critics say she "shows vulnerability and wisdom in lyrics that speak honestly about relationships from a woman's point of view." Her writing style is unique and personal.

Band Members

Sara's first band included:

• Javier Dunn – guitar and vocals
• Daniel Rhine – bass guitar
• Josh Day – drums, percussion, and backing vocals

Other musicians who have toured with her include Eric Robinson, Holly Conlan, Steve Goold, and Philip Krohnengold.

In 2013, Sara formed a new band for her tours. This new band includes:

• Rich Hinman – guitar
• Steve Goold – drums, percussion
• Chris Morrissey – bass guitar
• Cara Fox and Christina Courtin – strings
• Misty Boyce – keyboards

Collaborations with Other Artists

In December 2008, Sara released "Winter Song" with Ingrid Michaelson. They performed it on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The song reached number 2 on the Irish Singles Chart in 2011. She also recorded "Come Home," a duet with OneRepublic, in 2009.

Sara appeared with many singers in the season 3 finale of 30 Rock, including Mary J. Blige and Sheryl Crow. She also performed with Weezer on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

She has performed for the First Family several times. Michelle Obama invited her to play at the G-20 Summit in 2009. The Obamas also invited her to perform at the Easter Egg Roll in 2010. In October 2010, she opened for President Obama at a rally. In December 2010, Sara and Ingrid Michaelson performed "Winter Song" for the Obamas at the National Christmas Tree Lighting.

In 2011, Sara contributed vocals to the song "Out of Goodbyes" on Maroon 5's album Hands All Over. She also appeared with the band Sugarland for a cover of "Come on Eileen."

Sara was a judge on The Sing-Off for its third season. She and Ben Folds sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside" on a Christmas episode in 2011. Folds later produced her 2012 EP.

She performed the duet "Love Won't Let You Get Away" with Seth MacFarlane on his album Music Is Better Than Words. Sara was also featured on the song "Mango Tree" from the Zac Brown Band album Jekyll + Hyde in 2015.

In January 2012, Sara was featured on "Summer is Over," a song by Jon McLaughlin. She also joined Seth MacFarlane again for "Baby, It's Cold Outside" on his 2014 Christmas album, Holiday for Swing.

In January 2018, Sara collaborated with Ben Folds and composer Caroline Shaw for a concert series with the National Symphony Orchestra. They performed classical music, new compositions, and five of Sara's songs, including "She Used to Be Mine" and "Brave."

Personal Life

Sara Bareilles was in a relationship with her former band member, Javier Dunn, until 2013. In August 2015, she met actor Joe Tippett while working on the musical Waitress. They started a relationship and made their first public appearance at the 71st Tony Awards in 2017. On New Year's Day in 2023, Sara and Joe announced they were engaged. Joe Tippett has also appeared in Waitress and on TV shows like The Morning Show. Sara lives in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan.

Sara considers herself a feminist. She believes feminism is about celebrating women and being productive for females, not about hating anything. Her song "Brave" was inspired by a friend's experience with coming out. Sara has always supported the LGBTQ+ community.

Discography

Studio albums

• Careful Confessions (2004)
• Little Voice (2007)
• Kaleidoscope Heart (2010)
• The Blessed Unrest (2013)
• What's Inside: Songs from Waitress (2015)
• Amidst the Chaos (2019)

Soundtrack albums

• Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event) (2018)
• More Love: Songs from Little Voice Season One (2020)
• Girls5eva: Music from the Peacock Original Series (2021)
• Girls5eva: Season 2 (Original Series Soundtrack) (2022)
• Into the Woods (2022 Broadway Cast Recording) (2022)

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage Credits

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Sara Bareilles para niños