Alex Warren
{{Short description|American singer and influencer (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alex Warren
| image = Image Alex W (cropped).jpg
| caption = Warren performing in 2023
| alt =
| birth_name = Alexander Warren Hughes
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|9|18}}
| birth_place = Carlsbad, California, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|YouTuber}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Kouvr Annon|2024}}
| website = {{URL|alexwarrenofficial.com}}
| years_active = 2019–present
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| instruments = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| label = Atlantic Records
| genre = Folk-pop{{cite web |last1=Donelson |first1=Marcy |title=You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1) Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/youll-be-alright-kid-chapter-1-mw0004384050 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=September 27, 2024}}
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox YouTube personality
| embed = yes
| channel_handle = AlexWarren
| channel_display_name = Alex Warren
| genre = {{hlist|Prank|vlog}}
| subscribers = 3.08 million
| views = 529 million
}}
| module3 = {{Infobox TikTok personality
| embed = yes
| page = alexwaarren
| page_display_name = Alex Warren
| followers = 18 million
| likes = 1.1 billion
| stats_update = March 26, 2025
}}
}}
Alexander Warren Hughes (born September 18, 2000) is an American singer, songwriter, YouTuber, and influencer. He was a founding member of the collaborative TikTok group the Hype House from 2019 to 2022. He began independently releasing music in 2021 before getting signed to Atlantic Records the following year. His 2024 single "Burning Down" from his debut studio album, You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1) (2024), was his first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His 2025 single "Ordinary" topped the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Early and personal life
Alexander Warren Hughes was born on September 18, 2000{{Cite Instagram |user=alexwaarren |postid=CxW3VUtxBaI |title=Thank you all for the birthday wishes. I love y’all so much🤍 |date=September 18, 2023}}{{cite web |author1=Lorenz, Taylor |title=Hype House and the Los Angeles TikTok Mansion Gold Rush |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/style/hype-house-los-angeles-tik-tok.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=March 26, 2025 |date=January 3, 2020 |quote=He still thinks it sounds cooler, but then Alex Warren, 19, suggested the name Hype House, and Chase was outvoted.}} in Carlsbad, California, where he was also raised.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Carl |title=Alex Warren: Get to know the Ordinary hitmaker |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/alex-warren-ordinary-interview/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=March 26, 2025 |date=March 5, 2025}} He has two sisters and one brother. His father died from kidney cancer when he was nine years old and his mother, who was an alcoholic, kicked him out of the house at age 18, leaving him homeless and frequently sleeping in friends' cars.{{cite web |title='Phenomenal demand': Buzz for TikTok star's debut NZ gig prompts venue upgrade |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/youtube-and-tiktok-sensation-alex-warren-gets-nz-venue-upgrade-due-to-phenomenal-demand/WTKQYNSO5NEJ7EYPP6KRXWYHHQ/ |website=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=March 26, 2025 |date=February 16, 2025}} She died in 2021. Warren began dating Kouvr Annon, a fellow former member of the Hype House whom he met on Snapchat, in 2018.{{cite web |last1=Keller |first1=Joel |title='Hype House' Netflix Review: Stream It Or Skip It? |url=https://decider.com/2022/01/07/hype-house-netflix-review/ |website=Decider |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=January 7, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Flam |first1=Charna |title=All the Details from Musician Alex Warren and Kouvr Annon's Romantic Garden Wedding (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/inside-hype-house-stars-alex-warren-and-kouvr-annon-garden-wedding-exclusive-details-8670256 |website=People |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=July 12, 2024}} She moved to California from her parents' home in Hawaii to live with Warren out of his car. The couple got engaged on New Year's Eve in 2022 and married in June 2024 in Escondido, California.{{cite web |last1=McNeal |first1=Stephanie |title=Is It Rude to Vlog at an Influencer's Wedding? |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/heres-why-a-vlog-of-tiktokers-alex-warren-and-kouvr-annons-wedding-is-causing-so-much-drama |website=Glamour |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=June 27, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Lyttle |first1=Zoey |last2=Caruso |first2=Skyler |title=Alex Warren Performs Wedding Song About Wife Kouvr Annon Alongside Engaged Ballet Dancers at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |url=https://people.com/alex-warren-performs-at-the-2024-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-in-nyc-8747859 |website=People |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=November 28, 2024}} He is Catholic and has stated that his songs are inspired by worship music.{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Mark |title=Ordinary singer Alex Warren was homeless and sleeping in friends' cars - now he's number one |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpdew83lg3jo |publisher=BBC News |access-date=March 30, 2025 |date=March 29, 2025}}
Career
=Social media=
Warren started making YouTube videos at age 10 and began posting skateboarding-focused content to Instagram in May 2015. He was a co-founder and member of the Los Angeles–based TikTok collective the Hype House, the name of which he came up with, in November 2019.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Sophie |title=Alex Warren Scores Maiden U.K. No. 1 With Viral Hit 'Ordinary' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/alex-warren-ordinary-number-1-uk-singles-chart-1235928473/ |website=Billboard |access-date=March 26, 2025 |date=March 21, 2025}} By then, he had accrued more than 600 thousand subscribers on his YouTube channel, where he posted prank videos filmed in a first-person style, and 3.8 million followers on his TikTok account.{{cite web |last1=Jennings |first1=Rebecca |title=The misery of the Hype House |url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22877013/hype-house-netflix-show? |website=Vox |access-date=March 26, 2025 |date=January 26, 2021}} In early 2020, social media users, particularly fans of YouTuber David Dobrik, widely accused Warren of copying Dobrik's video style, mannerisms, and laugh.{{cite web |author1=Tenbarge, Kat |title=A TikTok star is being accused of copying one of the biggest personalities on YouTube, but he says the internet has it all wrong |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/alex-warren-david-dobrik-denies-copying-hype-house-tiktok-youtuber-2020-2 |website=Business Insider |access-date=March 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215142314/https://www.businessinsider.com/alex-warren-david-dobrik-denies-copying-hype-house-tiktok-youtuber-2020-2 |archive-date=February 15, 2020 |date=February 14, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Bonfiglio |first1=Nahila |title=TikTok star Alex Warren accused of stealing ideas from David Dobrik |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/alex-warren-david-dobrik-copycat/ |website=The Daily Dot |access-date=26 March 2025 |date=17 April 2020}} He was nominated for the Streamy Award for First Person in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Geoff |title=David Dobrik, Emma Chamberlain, James Charles Lead This Year's Pack Of Streamy Nominees |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2020/10/21/david-dobrik-emma-chamberlain-james-charles-lead-streamys-nominees/ |website=Tubefilter |access-date=March 26, 2025 |date=October 21, 2020}} Also in 2020, Warren became the host of AwesomenessTV's reality competition series Next Influencer on YouTube, wherein participants lived in a TikTok content house.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-16 |title=AwesomenessTV Announces Alex Warren-Hosted Reality Show Set In A TikTok Collab House |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2020/11/16/awesomenesstv-alex-warren-reality-show-project-305/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US}}
Warren starred in Hype House, Netflix's reality series about the titular collective, which premiered in January 2022.{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-04-23 |title=TikTok's Hype House is coming to Netflix — but don't expect to see its biggest stars |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-04-23/tiktok-hype-house-is-coming-to-netflix |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} His role on the show primarily revolved around his struggles to maintain his popularity on social media and his attempts to do so through his prank videos, including by staging a fake wedding with Annon.{{cite web |last1=McNeal |first1=Stephanie |title=Netflix's 'Hype House' Is So Sad |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/hype-house-netflix-review |website=BuzzFeed News |access-date=March 31, 2025 |date=January 7, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Madden |first1=Emma |title=Teen utopia or capitalist commune? Netflix’s Hype House is the most depressing show on TV |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/teen-utopia-capitalist-commune-netflixs-hype-house-depressing/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=March 31, 2025 |date=January 13, 2022}} By early 2022, Warren's YouTube channel had more than 2.6 million subscribers, while his TikTok account had 14 million followers.{{cite web |last1=Baxter-Wright |first1=Dusty |title=Which TikTok stars live in Netflix's Hype House? |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/celebrity/g31988966/who-lives-in-the-hype-house-tiktok/ |website=Cosmopolitan |access-date=March 26, 2025 |date=January 7, 2022}} He left the Hype House in 2022, which disbanded later that year.{{cite web |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Chartbreaker: How Alex Warren Turned a Painful Past Into 'Something That Can Help People' — And a Breakthrough Hit |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/alex-warren-burning-down-radio-january-2025-chartbreaker-interview-1235879331/ |website=Billboard |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=January 21, 2025}} He later stated that there had been a "falling out" within the collective and that he did not get paid for his contributions. Also in 2022, he created the Locked in with Alex Warren podcast.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-15 |title=Why Alex Warren's Locked In Podcast Is a Space for Influencers to Share "Traumatic Experiences" |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1327370/why-alex-warrens-locked-in-podcast-is-a-space-for-influencers-to-share-traumatic-experiences |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=E! Online}}{{Cite web |date=2022-04-21 |title=Alex Warren gets 'Locked In' with Tana Mongeau in his new podcast |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2022/04/21/wheelhouse-dna-locked-in-with-alex-warren-tana-mongeau-podcast/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US}} By 2024, he had more than 16.3 million followers on TikTok.
=Music=
Warren has named Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes as inspirations on his decision to become a musician and also listed Benson Boone and David Kushner as influences on his music.{{cite web |last1=Media |first1=Griffin |title=Alex Warren On His Social Media, Music Journey |url=https://www.news9.com/story/66a2c478bdf4f39bf97c9f7d/alex-warren-on-his-social-media-music-journey |publisher=News on 6 |access-date=March 27, 2025 |format=Video |date=July 25, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Kitamura |first1=Hannah |title=Interview: Alex Warren |url=https://sites.bu.edu/wtbu/2024/10/24/interview-alex-warren/ |publisher=WTBU |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=October 24, 2024}} In June 2021, Warren independently released his debut single, "One More I Love You", which he began writing at age 13 about the death of his father.{{Cite web |last=Walthall |first=Catherine |date=2022-09-03 |title=Alex Warren Drops Autobiographical Record Label Debut, "Headlights" |url=https://americansongwriter.com/alex-warren-drops-autobiographical-record-label-debut-headlights/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}} It was followed by the singles "Screaming Underwater", released in September of that year, and "Remember Me Happy".{{Cite web |last=Lochrie |first=Conor |date=2021-09-17 |title=Get To Know: influencer turned emotional singer-songwriter Alex Warren |url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/get-to-know-influencer-turned-emotional-singer-songwriter-alex-warren/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Tone Deaf |language=en-AU}} In August 2022, Warren signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and began working on a self-produced docuseries, I Hope You're Proud, chronicling the time leading up to his signing.{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=2022-08-18 |title=Alex Warren Signs With Atlantic Records: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/record-labels/alex-warren-signs-atlantic-records-1235128025/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} His debut single through the label, "Headlights", was released the following month.{{Cite magazine |last=Zemler |first=Emily |date=2022-09-02 |title=Alex Warren Faces His Demons on Reflective New Single 'Headlights' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alex-warren-headlights-music-video-1234585565/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} His singles "Give You Love", "Change Your Mind", and "Chasing Shadows" were released in June, July, and December 2023, respectively.{{Cite web |last= |title=Alex Warren Gets Vulnerable About His Brother's Suicide Attempts in His New Music Video — Watch (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/alex-warren-change-your-mind-music-video-premiere-exclusive-7561004 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=People |language=en}}
In February 2024, Warren released the single "Before You Leave Me", which became his first entry on the UK Singles Chart in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 80. His single "Save You a Seat", which was used in more than 144 thousand TikTok videos by late 2024, debuted at number 11 on Billboard{{'}}s Digital Song Sales chart in April 2024, his first entry on a Billboard chart. His single "Carry You Home" was released in June 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.wdjx.com/videos/alex-warren-carry-you-home/|title=Alex Warren "Carry You Home" |publisher=WDJX|date=June 18, 2024|access-date=July 1, 2024}} "Carry You Home" became Warren's second song to chart in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart in April 2025, and also charted on Billboard{{'}}s Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay, Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, and Canadian Hot 100 charts.{{cite web |last1=Long Decter |first1=Rosie |title=Alex Warren Hits the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 With Anthemic Folk Song 'Carry You Home' |url=https://ca.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/alex-warren-carry-you-home |website=Billboard Canada |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=July 10, 2024}} He performed it at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that year. His September 2024 single "Burning Down" was his first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 69 in October.{{cite web |last1=Zellner |first1=Xander |title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Alex Warren Ignites With New Single 'Burning Down' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/alex-warren-burning-down-hot-100-first-timers-1235789685/ |website=Billboard |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=October 1, 2024}} The song also peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart in March 2025.{{cite web |last1=Griffiths |first1=George |title=Extraordinary! Alex Warren celebrates first-ever Number 1 single |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/alex-warren-ordinary-uk-number-1-single/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=March 21, 2025}} A remix of the song with Joe Jonas was released in December 2024.{{cite web |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Alex Warren & Joe Jonas Bring the Fire to the Studio for 'Burning Down' Performance Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/alex-warren-joe-jonas-burning-down-performance-video-1235846212/ |website=Billboard |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=December 6, 2024}} You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1), his debut studio album, was released on September 27, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Zellner |first1=Xander |title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Alex Warren Ignites With New Single 'Burning Down' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/alex-warren-burning-down-hot-100-first-timers-1235789685/ |website=Billboard |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=October 1, 2024}}
In February 2025, Warren released the single "Ordinary". It soon became popular on TikTok and, the following month, Warren performed it on the Netflix reality television series Love Is Blind{{'}}s season 8 reunion episode, which was the show's first musical performance and led to an increase in streams for the song.{{cite web |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Alex Warren's 'Ordinary' Gets Streaming Boost After 'Love Is Blind' Reunion: Here's the Team That Put the Collab Together |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/alex-warren-ordinary-streaming-boost-love-is-blind-reunion-1235926624/ |website=Billboard |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=March 19, 2025}} "Ordinary" topped the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and appeared on the Hot 100 later that month.{{cite web |title= Old Mervs debut in the top 5 |url= https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/old-mervs-debut-in-the-top-5 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=March 30, 2025 |date=March 28, 2025}} His international Cheaper Than Therapy tour began in February 2025 and is scheduled to run until August 2025.{{cite web |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Alex Warren Performs 'Ordinary' on 'Love Is Blind' Reunion |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/alex-warren-performs-ordinary-love-is-blind-reunion-1235919370/ |website=Billboard |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=March 10, 2025}} In April 2025, Warren performed an upcoming collaboration with American singer Jelly Roll at the 2025 Stagecoach Festival, titled "Bloodline".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/jelly-roll-collaboration-alex-warren-bloodline|title=Surprise Jelly Roll Announcement Goes Viral & Fans Are Going Crazy|last=Orfanides|first=Effie|magazine=Men's Journal|date=April 29, 2025|access-date=May 17, 2025}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
= Singles =
= Other charted songs =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NZ Hot {{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2024-10-04|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=October 7, 2024|access-date=October 4, 2024}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Catch My Breath"
| rowspan="3"| 2024 | 17 | rowspan="2"| You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1) |
| scope="row"| "You'll Be Alright, Kid"
| 23 |
| scope="row"| "Burning Down (Alex's Version)"
| 26 | {{N/A|Non-album song}} |
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Warren, Alex}}
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:American television hosts
Category:Catholics from California
Category:Participants in American reality television series
Category:People from Carlsbad, California
Category:Singers from California
Category:Songwriters from California