Jesse McCartney

Biography

Jesse McCartney (born April 9, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He achieved fame in the late 1990s on the daytime drama All My Children as JR Chandler. He later joined the boy band Dream Street, and eventually branched out into a solo musical career. Additionally, McCartney has appeared on shows such as Law & Order: SVU, Summerland, and Greek. McCartney has voiced characters such as Theodore in the live-action Alvin and the Chipmunks film series, JoJo McDodd in Horton Hears a Who!, Terence in the Tinker Bell series, Dick Grayson in Young Justice, and Roxas and Ventus in the Kingdom Hearts video game series.
McCartney's solo music career began in 2004 with his debut album Beautiful Soul×Beautiful Soul28 September 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1She's No You3:352Beautiful Soul3:353Get Your Shine On3:134Take Your Sweet Time4:045Without U3:136Why Don't You Kiss Her?3:227That Was Then3:458Come to Me3:509What's Your Name?3:3310Because You Live3:1911Why Is Love So Hard to Find?4:1112The Stupid Things3:37. "Leavin'×Leavin'30 May 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Leavin' (Rhythmic Single)2Leavin' (Rhythmic Single)3:533Leavin’ (Extended Rhythmic Single)4:264Leavin’ (Album Version)5Leavin’ (Rhythmic Single Instrumental)3:526Leavin’ (A Capella)3:21", a single from his third album Departure×Departure2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Leavin'3:402It's Over4:093Rock You3:104How Do You Sleep?3:445Into Ya3:486Makeup3:547My Baby3:348Told You So4:049Relapse3:3810Runnin'3:4511Freaky3:3912Not Your Enemy4:1813Bleeding Love3:52, reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is his best-selling song. His most recent album, New Stage×New Stage8 October 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Discovering You2:322Yours2:273What If I Missed You3:084Friends2:155Party for Two3:166Selfless3:277New Stage2:358Highway2:429Kiss the World Goodbye2:3310Lemonade3:02, was released in 2021. McCartney is also known for co-writing "Bleeding Love", which became a worldwide hit for Leona Lewis in 2007.

Early life

McCartney was born on April 9, 1987 in Ardsley, Westchester, New York, the son of Virginia "Ginger" (née Sarber) and Scott McCartney. He has a younger sister named Lea (b. 1991) and a younger brother named Timothy (b. 1996). He began performing in local community musicals at the age of seven, when he debuted his role in Oliver!, before joining the national tour of The King and I at age ten as Louis, along with Phil of the Future star Ricky Ullman. In 1998, he sang with the group Sugar Beats and can be heard on their 1998, 1999, and 2000 CD releases.

1999–2002: Dream Street

In 1999, McCartney joined the American pop boy band Dream Street, and was a member until 2002. He described the experience as a good "stepping stone" for his solo career. The group earned a gold record with their debut CD. At fifteen, he began work on a solo career with a local band, featuring musicians Dillon Kondor (guitar), Peter Chema (bass), Katie Spencer (keyboards), Alex Russeku (drums), Karina LaGravinese (background vocals), Sharisse Francisco (background vocals), and under the management of Ginger McCartney and Sherry Goffin Kondor, who co-produced his first album Beautiful Soul×Beautiful Soul28 September 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1She's No You3:352Beautiful Soul3:353Get Your Shine On3:134Take Your Sweet Time4:045Without U3:136Why Don't You Kiss Her?3:227That Was Then3:458Come to Me3:509What's Your Name?3:3310Because You Live3:1911Why Is Love So Hard to Find?4:1112The Stupid Things3:37.
McCartney released his first solo EP in July 2003. The album featured three songs: "Beautiful Soul", "Don't You", "Why Don't You Kiss Her". In 2004, he performed a duet with Anne Hathaway, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", which is featured on the Ella Enchanted soundtrack.

2004–2006: Beautiful Soul and Right Where You Want Me

McCartney's debut solo album, Beautiful Soul×Beautiful Soul28 September 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1She's No You3:352Beautiful Soul3:353Get Your Shine On3:134Take Your Sweet Time4:045Without U3:136Why Don't You Kiss Her?3:227That Was Then3:458Come to Me3:509What's Your Name?3:3310Because You Live3:1911Why Is Love So Hard to Find?4:1112The Stupid Things3:37, which was two years in the making, was released on September 28, 2004 in the United States and over a year later in Europe. He categorized it as a "pop record" with twists of urban. The album featured four songs that he co-wrote. Beautiful Soul reached number 15 on the Billboard 200. The album has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, denoting over one million units of shipment to US retailers; it is his highest-certified album as of early 2009. By mid-2006, the album sold more than 1.5 million copies. The album's lead single of the same name reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. McCartney was one of the artists to win multiple awards at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards, including Choice Crossover Artist, Choice Male Artist and Choice Breakout, Male. The following year, he won Favorite Male Singer at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
His first headlining tour, also named Beautiful Soul, began on May 2, 2005, at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, California. The United States portion of the tour spanned 56 stops, ending on September 10, 2005, at the Madera District County Fair in Madera, California. In the fall of 2005, McCartney toured Australia, and opened for the Backstreet Boys in Europe in the summer of 2005. His July 9 performance at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California, was recorded, released as Live: The Beautiful Soul Tour in November 2005.
After the filming of Keith wrapped, McCartney began working on his second album, Right Where You Want Me×Right Where You Want Me9 September 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 30 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Right Where You Want Me3:332Just So You Know3:543Blow Your Mind3:114Right Back in the Water3:265Anybody3:216Tell Her4:007Just Go3:398Can’t Let You Go2:469We Can Go Anywhere3:3610Feelin’ You3:2611Invincible3:4412Daddy’s Little Girl2:44Disc 21[data track]2Because You Live (music video)3Beautiful Soul (karaoke version)4She’s No You (karaoke version)5Because You Live (karaoke version)6Beautiful Soul (acoustic version from Osaka live convention in Japan)3:537Without U (acoustic version from Osaka live convention in Japan)3:228I’ll Try3:539Crushin3:5310One Way or Another3:3111When You Wish Upon a Star3:0812The Second Star to the Right3:0413Winter Wonderland2:5114Best Day of My Life (karaoke audio track)3:2815Get Your Shine On (karaoke audio track)3:2216Good Life (karaoke audio track)3:2817What’s Your Name (karaoke audio track)4:0218That Was Then (karaoke audio track)3:49, co-writing all but one of the songs featured in it. Right Where You Want Me is more mature than his debut, reflecting his musical and personal growth since he recorded his debut album at age 15. Released by Hollywood Records on September 19, 2006, the album reached number 14 on the Billboard 200.

2007–2009: Songwriting and Departure

In the fall of 2007, McCartney co-wrote the hit song "Bleeding Love" with Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, produced by McCartney and Tedder for McCartney's third album, but gave it away to British singer Leona Lewis for her debut album Spirit. The song was nominated for Record of the Year at the 2009 Grammy Awards. McCartney recorded his own version, which was released on some editions of his Departure album.

McCartney released his third album, Departure×Departure2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Leavin'3:402It's Over4:093Rock You3:104How Do You Sleep?3:445Into Ya3:486Makeup3:547My Baby3:348Told You So4:049Relapse3:3810Runnin'3:4511Freaky3:3912Not Your Enemy4:1813Bleeding Love3:52, on May 20, 2008 in the United States and Canada. Musically, it is a departure from his early works, showcasing more mature themes. The album has reached number 14 on the Billboard 200.
The album's lead single, "Leavin'×Leavin'30 May 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Leavin' (Rhythmic Single)2Leavin' (Rhythmic Single)3:533Leavin’ (Extended Rhythmic Single)4:264Leavin’ (Album Version)5Leavin’ (Rhythmic Single Instrumental)3:526Leavin’ (A Capella)3:21", was released in March 2008, and reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving McCartney his highest-charting single to date. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA, selling over two million downloads on iTunes, becoming McCartney's highest-certified single as of early 2009. The second single, "It's Over×It's Over2008 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1It's Over - Radio Edit3:34", was released on August 26, 2008, and reached #62 on the Hot 100. McCartney promoted Departure on a co-headlining tour with Jordin Sparks, which began in August 2008 and ended in September. He also did solo shows at theaters and small venues to support the album while on tour with Sparks. Sparks also approached him to write some material for her.
McCartney re-released Departure on April 7, 2009. The re-release, Departure: Recharged, featured four new songs: "Body Language", "Oxygen", "Crash & Burn", and "In My Veins". The re-release also features a remix of "How Do You Sleep?×How Do You Sleep?2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1How Do You Sleep? (rap remix)3:302How Do You Sleep? (rhythmic remix)3:493How Do You Sleep? (album version - radio edit)3:174How Do You Sleep? (rhythmic remix - no rap)3:28" with rapper-actor Ludacris. The third single from the album was released from the re-release and was the remix of "How Do You Sleep?". It was much more successful than the second single, reaching #26 on the Hot 100. The fourth and final single from the album was also released from the re-release and was a new version of "Body Language" featuring T-Pain. The single reached #35 on the Hot 100.

2010–2014: Have It All and In Technicolor

The lead single from his fourth studio album Have It All×Have It AllStudio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Shake3:102One Night3:353The Writer4Club Hop5I Think She Likes Me6Tonight Is Your Night4:117I Don't Normally Do This8Undo9Have It All10Mrs. Mistake11Seasons (My Love Will Never Change), "Shake×Shake2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Shake3:102Shake3:103Shake3:10", was sent to radio on September 8, 2010 and was released digitally on September 21, 2010. The song peaked at #54 on the Hot 100. On October 18, 2010, it was announced that Have It All would be released in January 2011. On November 30, it was announced that the album release would be pushed up to December 28, 2010, the Tuesday following Christmas. On December 3, 2010, McCartney announced through his Facebook page that he pushed the release date for the album back to early 2011. On April 7, 2011, McCartney responded to a question on his Twitter page about the delay, saying it hinged on pickup of Locke & Key. On November 3, McCartney said via his WhoSay page "2012 is still the magic year for the record to finally come out." On May 6, 2012, McCartney's mother said on Twitter that the replacement of the President of his label, Hollywood Records, in January 2012 was delaying the release of his album. In the March 2013 issue of Glamouholic magazine that he has covered, an exclusive interview was conducted and he confirmed the release of his anticipated fourth studio album, after all the disbandments of his record label, within this year. Have It All, however, would go on to never be officially released.
On May 13, it was confirmed on On Air with Ryan Seacrest that McCartney would be joining the Backstreet Boys and DJ Pauly D on their In a World Like This Tour, which kicked off on August 2, 2013. On August 13, the singer released "Back Together×Back Together13 August 2013 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Back Together3:42", the lead single from his fifth studio album, published by the independent label Eight0Eight Records. He performed it live on the Today show on August 15, 2013. On December 10, 2013, McCartney released a four-song EP titled In Technicolor×In Technicolor22 July 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1In Technicolor, Pt. I1:412Back Together3:443Young Love3:224Superbad2:575All About Us3:436Checkmate3:307Punch Drunk Recreation3:108Goodie Bag3:009In Technicolor, Pt. II3:4210Tie the Knot3:2411The Other Guy3:3912So Cool3:2713Catch And Release3:26, Part 1, followed by the single "Superbad", released on May 6, 2014. McCartney's fifth studio album, In Technicolor, was released on July 22, 2014. The third single off the album, "Punch Drunk Recreation", was released on November 19, 2014.

2018–2021: The Resolution Tour Live, Dream Street Reunion, and New Stage

On March 23, 2018, McCartney announced the release of his new single "Better With You×Better With You23 March 2018 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Better With You3:18" with the music video featuring actress Danielle Campbell. He later released a second single titled "Wasted×Wasted14 September 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Wasted3:04" with a music video directed by Jason Lester, followed by the live album The Resolution Tour Live×The Resolution Tour Live28 October 2019 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Intro / How Do You Sleep ?4:532Leavin'3:333Selfless4:074Punch Drunk Recreation3:225She's No You2:526Soul4:067Shake3:158Medley: It's Over / Anybody / Because You Live3:519Just So You Know4:1310Body Language3:4311Told You So3:4612Right Were You Want Me3:0413Better With You3:3614Wasted3:0115Bleeding Love4:3616Beautiful Soul5:47.
In 2020, McCartney competed on the third season of The Masked Singer as "Turtle". He finished as the runner-up. On April 10, 2020, he released the music video for the single "Yours×Yours10 April 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Yours2:27". The single "Friends" was released on May 19, 2020. The official music video featured former Greek castmates Scott Michael Foster, Jacob Zachar, and Paul James.
On June 2, 2020, McCartney's former Dream Street bandmate Chris Trousdale died at a hospital in Burbank, California, at the age of 34 due to complications from an unknown illness during the COVID-19 pandemic in California. It was later revealed that COVID-19 was the main complication of Trousdale's death. On June 11, 2020, on what would be Trousdale's 35th birthday, McCartney and his former Dream Street bandmates Greg Raposo, Frankie Galasso, and Matt Ballinger reunited for a virtual performance of "It Happens Every Time" to pay tribute to him.
McCartney's fifth studio album, New Stage×New Stage8 October 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Discovering You2:322Yours2:273What If I Missed You3:084Friends2:155Party for Two3:166Selfless3:277New Stage2:358Highway2:429Kiss the World Goodbye2:3310Lemonade3:02 was released on October 8, 2021. The record was preceded by two singles: "Kiss The World Goodbye" and "Party for Two". To promote the album, McCartney embarked on his North American tour, to run from November 4 to December 8, 2021.

2024: All's Well

Three years after the release of his album New Stage×New Stage8 October 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Discovering You2:322Yours2:273What If I Missed You3:084Friends2:155Party for Two3:166Selfless3:277New Stage2:358Highway2:429Kiss the World Goodbye2:3310Lemonade3:02 (2021), McCartney released his fourth EP, All's Well, on April 5, 2024. With "racy lyrics and familiar early '00s pop sounds", the record was preceded by two singles: "Faux Fur×Faux Fur24 January 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Faux Fur2:14" and "Make a Baby×Make A Baby1 March 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Make a Baby2:10" featuring Yung Gravy. McCartney went on tour to promote the album, from April 12 (in Austin, Texas) to May 16 (in Los Angeles). McCartney briefly reunited with his former Dream Street bandmates after one of his performances on April 27, at the Empire Live in New York City, where they performed a rendition of their cover of "Sugar Rush" originally performed by A-Teens.

2025–present: Weightless

On July 18th, 2025 McCartney came on as a special guest on Matt Rife's Stay Golden Tour at Madison Square Garden. On September 19th, 2025 McCartney released his fifth EP Weightless×Weightless19 August 2025 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Trip2:322Dulce2:093Oh My My2:344Weightless2:38. The Weightless Tour kicked off in Washington DC on September 30, 2025. Starting November 17th, 2025 he opened for the Jonas Brothers on their Jonas20: Greetings from Your Hometown Tour until December 22nd, 2025.

Acting career

McCartney appeared with The Who's Roger Daltrey in A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. From 1998–2001, McCartney played Adam Chandler Jr. in the ABC soap opera All My Children, a role for which he earned two Young Artist Awards and two Daytime Emmy Award nominations. He also later starred in the short-lived series Summerland (2004–05), which aired on The WB for two seasons, playing orphaned teenager Bradin Westerly.
In 2005, McCartney appeared as himself on the Disney Channel show The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. In 2007, he starred as himself on the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana. In 2008, McCartney was also featured as the voice of JoJo McDodd in Horton Hears a Who! (2008). McCartney also voiced Theodore in the live-action Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise (2007–2015), in addition to voicing Terence in the Tinker Bell film series. He also voices Robin/Nightwing in the Young Justice series.

In 2008, McCartney co-starred along with Elisabeth Harnois in an independent teenage drama feature film, Keith, directed by Todd Kessler. It was his film debut, and features McCartney in the title role. Keith was released on September 19, 2008.
According to Entertainment Weekly, in December 2008, McCartney was negotiating to play against type in the role of the Fire Nation's Prince Zuko in M. Night Shyamalan's feature film adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. In February 2009, British actor Dev Patel replaced McCartney, whose tour dates conflicted with a boot camp scheduled for the cast to train in martial arts. McCartney has expressed an interest in directing and producing films and even considered enrolling in a film school.
McCartney appeared as a recurring character in the ABC Family series Greek for several episodes playing a star football talent who joins Kappa Tau. His character eventually decides to depledge the fraternity after citing pressures between football and Greek life combined with Rusty stealing his girlfriend Jordan.
McCartney also worked in several installments of the Square Enix video game series Kingdom Hearts. He was featured as Roxas in Kingdom Hearts II in 2006, and reprised the role in 2009 in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. He also provided the voice work for Ventus, a character in the video game of the same series Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep in 2010. He reprised both roles in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, released in 2012, as well as in Kingdom Hearts III, released in 2019.
McCartney also starred in the horror film Chernobyl Diaries, released on May 25, 2012. He appeared in the seventh season of the Lifetime Network series Army Wives in 2013, portraying a young soldier deployed to Afghanistan with an 18-year-old wife at home.
In the summer of 2014, McCartney had a guest-starring role in the ABC Family series Young & Hungry. McCartney played "Cooper", a computer hacker with a romantic interest in the show's lead, played by Emily Osment.
In 2016, McCartney appeared on Fear the Walking Dead as Reed, an aggressive member of a group of pirates.
Jesse McCartney's acting career also includes voice over work (or voice acting) with Breathe Bible.
On April 16, 2026, McCartney appeared as himself on the fifth season of Hacks. A longtime fan of the show, McCartney got in touch with series star Hannah Einbinder due to a poster of him appearing in her character Ava's childhood bedroom during Season 1. She admitted that she had grown up listening to his music, and told the show's producers that Ava would also have McCartney's poster on her bedroom wall. In turn, McCartney told Einbinder to let him know if they wanted him to appear on the show.

Philanthropy

In 2005, McCartney participated in "Come Together Now", a charity single to benefit the victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami and the 2005 Hurricane Katrina.
Later in 2005, McCartney signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in underserved public schools throughout the U.S.A. He sits on LKR's Honorary Board of Directors.
He has donated proceeds of his 2005 tour for disaster relief, recorded radio spots promoting the "Kids For A Drug-Free America" campaign, is a spokesperson for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and is involved in the charity SPACE, which was co-founded by a childhood friend of his mother's. McCartney performed at the Hope Rocks concert in 2005 to benefit the City of Hope Cancer Center. He appeared in the Concert for Hope on October 25, 2009, with Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.

Personal life

In September 2019, McCartney got engaged to Katie Peterson, his girlfriend of seven years. They married on October 23, 2021. On February 14, 2025, it was revealed that McCartney and his wife were expecting their first child. The couple's son was born prematurely in May 2025. In October 2026, they announced they were expecting their second child due March 2027.