Jennie (singer)
Jennie Kim, known mononymously as Jennie or by the stage name Jennie Ruby Jane, is a South Korean singer, rapper, songwriter, and actress. Born in South Korea, she moved to New Zealand in 2004 and returned to South Korea to successfully audition for YG Entertainment in 2010. She rose to prominence as a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink, which debuted in August 2016 and became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.
In November 2018, Jennie released her debut single "Solo", which topped South Korea's Circle Digital Chart and the US Billboard World Digital Songs chart. The music video for "Solo" was the first by a Korean female soloist to surpass one billion views on YouTube. Her 2023 singles "You & Me" and "One of the Girls" achieved commercial success worldwide, with "You & Me" reaching number one on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart. After establishing her own label, Odd Atelier, in 2023, Jennie earned her second number-one single in South Korea with "Spot!" and signed with Columbia Records in 2024. Her debut studio album, Ruby, sold one million copies worldwide and tied as the highest-ranked album by a Korean solo artist on the UK Albums Chart. It spawned the Billboard Global 200 top-five hits "Mantra" and "Like Jennie"; the former broke the record for the highest-charting song by a Korean female soloist on the UK Singles Chart, while the latter became Jennie's third number-one single in South Korea.
Jennie made her acting debut under the stage name Jennie Ruby Jane in the 2023 HBO television series The Idol. Her accolades include four Golden Disc Awards, six MAMA Awards, three Melon Music Awards, and a Circle Chart Music Award. She became the first artist to win Artist of the Year at the 40th Golden Disc Awards, the first solo artist to win Record of the Year at the 2025 Melon Music Awards, and the first Korean soloist to win a Billboard Women in Music Award. The most-followed Korean person on Instagram, Jennie is known for her musical versatility and fashion image, and has been dubbed the "Human Chanel", for which she serves as a global ambassador.
Early life and education
Jennie Kim was born on January 16, 1996, an only child. She was initially reported to be born in Cheongdam-dong, a ward of Gangnam District, Seoul, but she revealed in episode three of Apartment 404 that she was actually born in Bundang in Seongnam. She attended Cheongdam Elementary School in Seoul before moving to New Zealand. When she was eight years old, she went on a trip with her family to Australia and New Zealand. When her mother asked her if she liked New Zealand and wanted to stay, Jennie replied "yes". One year later, she was sent to study at Waikowhai Intermediate School in Auckland and lived with a home-stay family. Jennie spoke about learning a new language on the MBC's documentary English, Must Change to Survive. During her adolescent years, she dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer. After completing intermediate, she enrolled at ACG Parnell College.Jennie first heard of K-pop while in New Zealand, particularly finding an interest in YG Entertainment's music. Her mother planned to move her to Florida in the United States at the age of 14 to continue her studies to become a lawyer or teacher; but she did not like the idea and was concerned about not finding work she liked while living alone. Her family supported her decision, and she moved back to South Korea in 2010, where she studied at Cheongdam Middle School. Jennie auditioned for YG Entertainment that same year, singing Rihanna's "Take a Bow", and joined the label as a trainee. Through High Cut Korea, she revealed because she was afraid of strangers and reluctant to take initiative, she could barely introduce herself during her audition. The company urged her to embrace the role of a rapper; most songs she covered included raps and she was the only trainee fluent in English at the time. Along with her native Korean, she also knows basic Japanese and has learned French.
Career
2012–2017: Beginnings and debut with Blackpink
On April 10, 2012, Jennie was introduced through a photo titled "Who's that girl?" via the official blog of YG Entertainment. Her photograph soon became the most searched topic on portal sites under the name "Mystery Girl". On August 30, YG Entertainment released a YouTube video through their blog titled "YG Trainee - Jennie Kim", in which she covered B.o.B.'s song "Strange Clouds" featuring Lil Wayne. On September 1, Jennie made her first public appearance as the lead actress in G-Dragon's music video "That XX" from his extended play One of a Kind.In January 2013, another video titled "Jennie Kim - YG New Artist", in which she covered the song "Lotus Flower Bomb" by rapper Wale, was released. In March, Lee Hi featured Jennie on her B-side track, "Special" from her debut album, First Love. In August, Jennie featured on Seungri's B-side track "GG Be" from his extended play Let's Talk About Love. In September, she featured on G-Dragon's B-side track "Black", recording the hook in less than five days before the release of his album Coup d'Etat. On September 8, she made her first stage appearance alongside G-Dragon on SBS' Inkigayo.
On June 1, 2016, Jennie was the first member to be revealed for YG Entertainment's newest girl group, its first in seven years since 2NE1. On August 8, 2016, she debuted as a member of Blackpink, alongside Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa, with the release of their single album Square One alongside double A-side singles "Boombayah" and "Whistle". According to band-mate Jisoo, Jennie was responsible for the general duties and decision making of the group. Jennie recounted her six-year experience as a trainee through V Live, stating each month a group, dance, and solo song were performed for the label's CEO, producers and artists to watch and evaluate the progress of their training. She also recalled memories preparing outfits and songs, making musical accompaniments, and practicing choreography. In 2018, Blackpink signed with Interscope Records in a global partnership with YG Entertainment.
2018–2021: Rising popularity and solo debut
Jennie appeared with Blackpink member Jisoo on Running Man in July 2018. A video of Jennie crying after going through a horror room with Lee Kwang-soo went viral in South Korea, gaining over one million views on one site and a total of over three million views across multiple platforms, VODs, and social media. She was subsequently selected as one of the best variety stars of 2018 following her discovery on Running Man. Jennie was invited to the show again after attracting attention during her previous appearance. Jennie was said to have ranked first among casting choices and received multiple offers from different variety shows. On October 1, Jennie was confirmed to join as a cast member for SBS' new variety show Village Survival, the Eight, her first permanent casting in a television series.In mid-October 2018, an announcement of Jennie's official solo debut was made. Following a series of promotional teasers, it was revealed she would release a single album titled Solo with a lead single of the same name. In the midst of preparation for her debut, it was decided that her single "Solo" would first be revealed through Blackpink's In Your Area tour in Seoul on November 10, ahead of release two days later. The song was described as a hip hop track with pop elements and was designed to showcase Jennie's sides as both a "delicate girl" and "independent woman". To promote the single, YG Entertainment aired the Jennie – 'Solo' Diary series on YouTube, sharing glimpses of her work throughout the promotion period of the single.
Upon release, "Solo" debuted on Gaon Music Chart at number one and achieved a triple crown for simultaneously topping the domestic digital, download, and streaming charts. The single remained on the digital and mobile charts for two further consecutive weeks and on the streaming chart for a further three consecutive weeks. "Solo" was certified platinum for streaming by the KMCA and soon won the Song of the Year award for the month of November at the eighth Gaon Chart Music Awards, as well as the Digital Bonsang award at the 34th Golden Disc Awards. Overseas, "Solo" topped the Billboard's World Digital Songs chart. At the time of release, the music video for "Solo" became the most viewed by a female Korean solo artist of all time within a 24 hour period on YouTube. Jennie also became the first and only female Korean solo artist to surpass 300 million views on the platform within six months of release. On November 25, Jennie received her first music show win as a solo artist on Inkigayo, and went on to receive a Triple Crown by winning three times.
On April 12 and 19, 2019, Jennie became the first Korean solo artist to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where she performed "Solo" during Blackpink's set at the festival. Her performance was included in "The 10 Best Things We Saw at Coachella 2019" list by Billboard, which called it "mind-blowing" and "stunning" for fans and casual passersby.
Jennie co-wrote the song "Lovesick Girls" for Blackpink, which was released on October 2, 2020, as the third single from the group's debut studio album, The Album. On January 31, 2021, Jennie performed a revamped version of "Solo" during Blackpink's livestream concert, The Show. The remix included a new rap verse written by Jennie and an extended tropical dance break.
2022–2023: Acting debut and independent label
During Blackpink's Born Pink World Tour starting in October 2022, Jennie debuted a new solo song titled "You & Me". She performed a remixed version of the song with a new rap verse during Blackpink's setlist as the headlining act of Coachella in April 2023. On July 2, she performed this version of the song alongside "Solo" during Blackpink's headlining concert at BST Hyde Park in London.In 2023, Jennie made her acting debut under the stage name Jennie Ruby Jane in the HBO television series The Idol, which was created by and starred Canadian singer the Weeknd. The show was critically panned and was cancelled after its first season. However, Jennie's role as Dyanne, a backup dancer and close friend to the pop star Jocelyn, received praise, with a widely circulated clip of her in the show outviewing the premiere of the show on HBO. Jennie first teased a collaboration with the Weeknd for the soundtrack of The Idol by playing a snippet of the song at a launch party for her Calvin Klein capsule collection. The song, "One of the Girls" by the Weeknd, Jennie, and Lily-Rose Depp, was released on June 23 as part of the extended play The Idol Episode 4 .
Following the conclusion of the Born Pink World Tour, it was announced on October 4, 2023, that "You & Me" would be officially released as a special single two days later. The song debuted at number seven on the Billboard Global 200 and topped the Billboard Global Excl. US chart, becoming Jennie's first solo number-one song on the latter. It peaked at number four on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart, while in the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart and reached number one on the UK Singles Downloads Chart and UK Singles Sales Chart, making Jennie the first Korean female soloist to top those charts. On November 22, 2023, Jennie was invested by King Charles III as an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire alongside her bandmates during a special investiture at Buckingham Palace, which was also attended by South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol.
The song "One of the Girls" gained viral popularity on video sharing platform TikTok due to Blinks' support of Jennie's parts of the song, with fans praising her "enchanting vocals". As a result, it was released for digital download and streaming as an official single on December 8 and subsequently sent to US rhythmic contemporary radio. The song became her first entry as a solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 51 in March 2024, breaking the record for the highest-charting song by a K-pop female soloist. It spent 20 weeks on the chart, surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, and made Jennie the first Korean female solo artist to receive a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart, making her the Blackpink member with the highest-charting solo material in the UK. It also reached number ten on the Billboard Global 200 and number seven on the Global Excl. US, becoming her second top-ten hit on both charts.
On December 6, YG Entertainment announced that Jennie, along with the other members of Blackpink, had renewed their contracts for group activities and that the members' individual contracts were still under discussion. On December 24, Jennie revealed that she founded her own record label, called Odd Atelier, in November 2023. YG Entertainment confirmed on December 29 that Jennie and the other Blackpink members agreed not to proceed with a contract with the label for individual activities.