The year is 1989. The artist is Janet Jackson. The album is Rhythm Nation 1814. But given the album's themes of social conscience — racism, poverty, substance abuse — the GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter/producer's iconic album and accompanying music video are just as relevant today as ever.

Released Sept. 19, 1989, Rhythm Nation 1814 gifted us with some of Jackson's biggest career hits, including "Rhythm Nation," "State Of The World," "Miss You Much," "Alright," and "Black Cat." With the help of producers/songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson dedicated the album to what she saw in the news on CNN, particularly the Stockton playground murders in California in early 1989.

"You couldn't help but somehow be impacted by the things that were going on," Jam told Billboard in 2014. "It was a crazy time. The Reagan years were ending. There were school shootings. There were all these unbelievable things starting to happen. We're all sitting around watching this going, 'Man, that's messed up. Somebody needs to do something about this.'"

<iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OAwaNWGLM0c" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Despite its political leanings, Rhythm Nation 1814 also provides a healthy dose of romance and dancing, which spawned a record-breaking seven Top 5 hits while the album itself landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Jackson also conceptualized a long-form music video to promote the LP under the direction of Dominic Sena.

The 30-minute "telemusical" incorporated three tracks from the album: "Miss You Much," "The Knowledge" and "Rhythm Nation." It follows two young men who want to pursue music only to be hindered by drug use and trafficking. The visuals feature Jackson and her dancers in unisex military attire dancing in a post-apocalyptic warehouse. It was filmed in black-and-white to portray racial unity in the newly designed "Rhythm Nation."

<iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" height="450" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" src="https://embed.music.apple.com/us/album/rhythm-nation-1814/1043290055?app=music" width="660"></iframe>

Rhythm Nation 1814 marks a peak in Jackson's career, and accordingly she earned her first career GRAMMY win at the 32nd GRAMMY Awards for Best Music Video — Longform for the short film accompanying the album. In total, she earned seven GRAMMY nominations for Rhythm Nation 1814 between the 32nd and 33rd GRAMMYs, including a nod for Producer Of The Year (Non-Classical), making her the first woman to earn the distinction.

A dazzling assembly of living legends and young hitmakers shared the stage at the Beverly Hilton, where the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala underscored the importance of preserving and celebrating transcendent recordings.

Eleven albums and three singles were inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame as part of this year's class. The inducted recordings span the many moods, shades and colors to be found across nearly a century of popular music: the angst-ridden alternative rock of Radiohead's OK Computer, the joyful bounce of Amor Prohibido by the late tejano icon Selena, the melancholic introspection of Nick Drake's initially underrated Pink Moon, and the defiant brilliance of 2Pac's All Eyez On Me.

Here are six of the most poignant moments from the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, which honored this year's class of inducted recordings.

The Sound Of Heart Is Truly Timeless

(L-R) Nancy Wilson and Ann Wilson of Heart perform onstage during the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on Friday, May 08, 2026, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills | Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

In the summer of 1975, Seattle band Heart released its debut album, Dreamboat Annie — a majestic fusion of ragged arena rock and lilting folk textures. Fronted by singer Ann Wilson and guitarist Nancy Wilson, Heart were one of the first major women-led bands of the 1970s. Now 75 and 72, respectively, the sisters were in rare form at the Gala, delivering raucous versions of their hits "Magic Man," "Dreamboat Annie," and "Crazy On You." "Mike Fisher was the merman, the captain who set the course," Ann Wilson said as she received the honor, highlighting the artistic contribution of the founding member. "We were the original gypsy tribe," Nancy quipped. Their performance showed how their iconic first album has survived the test of time with grace.

There Would Be No Americana Without Lucinda Williams

Lucinda Williams accepts an honor onstage during the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on Friday, May 8, 2026, at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. | Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Call it alternative country, bluesy roots music, or Americana. Regardless of classification, Lucinda Williams' Car Wheels on a Gravel Road remains one of the grand albums of the 1990s. Its soulful tapestry of thorny guitar licks and the singer/songwriter's passionate vocalizing ignited a new wave of interest in music that reflected the emotional soundscape of America. Backed by an enthusiastic house band, Williams had no trouble recreating the lethal mixture of ferocity and delicate sorrow found in the album's title track and the radio smash "Can't Let Go."

The Social Message Of Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 Marches On

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Good Morning America (@goodmorningamerica)

There was no need for Janet Jackson to perform any songs from her 1989 concept album Rhythm Nation 1814. Her moving speech, which had the capacity crowd hanging from every word, was more than enough. "Rhythm Nation still resonates," she said, accepting the album's induction alongside co-producer Jimmy Jam. "It's an ongoing force that fights bigotry and promotes understanding. It transcends all borders, nationalities and faiths." "I hope you hear my heart's desire when we first created this suite of songs," Jimmy Jam added. "The prayer driving [them] remains the same: that peace prevails."

Sometimes All You Need Is A Sultry Voice — And A Jazz Trio

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GRAMMY Museum (@grammymuseum)

The second recipient of the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award, singer/songwriter Norah Jones sang luminous versions of two Charles classics, backed by bass and drums: "Seven Spanish Angels" and "Hallelujah I Love Her So." Jones, who won two Grammy Awards, including the Grammy for Record Of The Year, for her 2004 duet with Charles on "Here We Go Again," spoke warmly about working with the legendary performer. "His music is everything to me," she said. "And I wouldn't be anything without listening to him."

Never Underestimate The Sacred (And Profane) Power Of Funk

George Clinton with Funkadelic perform onstage during the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala Friday, May 8, 2026, at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. | Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Perhaps the Gala's most indelible moment — and definitely the most rapturous – happened during the induction of Maggot Brain, the 1971 powerhouse by George Clinton's Funkadelic. Wearing all kinds of extravagant hats and glittery outfits, 84-year-old Clinton — joined by Erykah Badu, Funkadelic guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight, and the house band led by an ecstatic Cheche Alara on keyboards — performed the album's first 13 minutes (the title track, followed by the hypnotic "Can You Get To That.") It was a wonderful jam session, seeped in psychedelia, shades of cosmic rock, and impossibly funky grooves. Badu made it even more personal and poignant when she recalled being 5 years old and witnessing her mother lose her mind with joy when a Funkadelic track played on the radio.

A Visionary Record Label Celebrates In Style

Teddy Swims performs onstage during the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on Friday, May 8, 2026, at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. | Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

From Prince and Joni Mitchell to Madonna and Fleetwood Mac, Warner Records, this year's recipient of the Visionary Of Music Award, has nurtured the careers of many legendary artists. Warner's Co-Chairmen Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson emphasized the importance of musicians taking risks and daring to be different. But music speaks louder than words, and it was two of the label's stars that gave the Gala its lush finale: Teddy Swims displayed his charisma on intense renditions of "Mr. Know It All" and "Lose Control," while Josh Groban premiered his recently released 10th album CINEMATIC with a velvety "Brucia La Terra" and, joined by Take 6, a stirring "Stand By Me."

The Grammy Museum is honoring multi-Grammy-Award-winning singer, songwriter and pianist Norah Jones with the Ray Charles Architect Of Sound Award at the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum. Taking place Friday, May 8, at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, the evening will honor the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings, which were announced in February. Jones will take the stage for a special performance during the evening, which will also feature one-of-a-kind musical moments from a lineup of artists to be announced soon. 

The 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala will also recognize Warner Records as the 2026 label honoree in celebration of its enduring contributions to recorded music and its role in championing artists across generations.

The 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings include 11 albums and three songs that exhibit qualitative or historical significance and are at least 25 years old. Spanning nearly a century of recorded music, the newly inducted recordings range from 2Pac's All Eyez On Me to Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 to Radiohead's OK Computer. Others include recordings by Alice Coltrane, Bertha "Chippie" Hill, Ella Jenkins, Eric B. & Rakim, Funkadelic, Heart, Lucinda Williams, Nick Drake, The Rouse Brothers, Selena, and The Soul Stirrers. Eligible recipients will receive an official certificate from the Recording Academy.

With 14 new titles added, the Grammy Hall Of Fame currently totals 1,179 inducted recordings.

See the full list of the 2026 recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame below.

See the full list of all recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.

Tables and seats for the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala are now available for purchase.

Learn More About Norah Jones

With a career defined by timeless songwriting, unmistakable musicianship and a singular voice that has resonated across jazz, pop, soul, and country, Norah Jones has built a body of work that is both intimate and influential. Her artistry has shaped the sound of modern music for more than two decades, making her a fitting recipient of an honor that celebrates enduring creative impact.

"I'm so honored to receive the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award," Jones said. "Ray Charles was my musical hero, and he changed the way so many of us hear and feel music. To be recognized in connection with his legacy, and as part of a night that also celebrates such important recorded works, is special for me."

"Norah Jones represents the kind of artistry that leaves a lasting imprint on music and culture," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said. "Her work reflects a deep musicality, emotional honesty, and a spirit of exploration that echoes the legacy of Ray Charles himself. We are honored to celebrate Norah, this year's Grammy Hall Of Fame recordings, and Warner Records as part of an evening dedicated to the enduring impact of great music."

"Norah Jones has created a body of work defined by emotional honesty, musical depth, and a voice that is instantly recognizable," Grammy Museum President/CEO Michael Stickasaid. "Her artistry has resonated across generations and genres, which makes her a remarkable recipient of this honor. We're also proud to recognize Warner Records and to celebrate this year's Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings — enduring works that continue to shape our understanding of music's history and impact."

Learn More About The Ray Charles Architect Of Sound Award

Inspired by the boundless genius of Ray Charles — whose legacy as a performer, pianist, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur forever transformed the musical landscape — the Ray Charles Architect Of Sound Award recognizes an artist whose influence echoes across generations. The award celebrates artists who transcend genre, redefine creativity, and leave an indelible mark on music and culture. Whether through innovation in sound, groundbreaking artistry, or an unwavering commitment to musical excellence, the recipient embodies the pioneering spirit of Ray Charles, one of music's greatest architects.

"Ray Charles was a singular artist whose influence continues to reach across every corner of music, and this award was created to honor that same spirit of originality, excellence and lasting impact," Ray Charles Foundation President Valerie Ervin said. "Norah Jones is an artist whose work reflects those qualities so beautifully, and we are thrilled to see her recognized with this year's Architect of Sound Award."

Multi-Grammy-Award-winning artist Jon Batiste received the inaugural Ray Charles Architect Of Sound Award in 2025.

2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Inducted Recordings

• ALL EYEZ ON ME — 2Pac (Album)

• AMOR PROHIBIDO — Selena (Album)

• CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD — Lucinda Williams (Album) 

• DREAMBOAT ANNIE — Heart (Album)

• "JESUS GAVE ME WATER" — The Soul Stirrers (Single) 

• JOURNEY IN SATCHIDANANDA — Alice Coltrane (Album) 

• MAGGOT BRAIN — Funkadelic (Album)

• OK COMPUTER — Radiohead (Album) 

• "ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL" — The Rouse Brothers (Single)

• PAID IN FULL — Eric B. & Rakim (Album)

• PINK MOON — Nick Drake (Album) 

• RHYTHM NATION 1814 — Janet Jackson (Album) 

• "TROUBLE IN MIND" — Bertha "Chippie" Hill (Single) 

• YOU’LL SING A SONG AND I’LL SING A SONG — Ella Jenkins (Album)

About The Grammy Hall Of Fame

The Grammy Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973. The inducted recordings are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees.

Former Grammy Awards Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich will produce the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, alongside Ron Basile, Chantel Sausedo, Lindsay Saunders Carl, and Lynne Sheridan. Grammy- and Latin-Grammy-Award-winning composer, producer and conductor Cheche Alara will serve as musical director. Esteemed journalist Anthony Mason will return as host.

For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to halloffame@grammymuseum.org.

The Recording Academy today revealed the 2026 inducted recordings to the distinguished Grammy Hall Of Fame. This year’s additions include 11 albums and three songs that exhibit qualitative or historical significance and are at least 25 years old.

The 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings span nearly a century of recorded music and range from 2Pac's All Eyez On Me to Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 to Radiohead's OK Computer. Others include recordings by Alice Coltrane, Bertha "Chippie" Hill, Ella Jenkins, Eric B. & Rakim, Funkadelic, Heart, Lucinda Williams, Nick Drake, The Rouse Brothers, Selena, and The Soul Stirrers.

Eligible recipients will receive an official certificate from the Recording Academy. With 14 new titles added, the Grammy Hall Of Fame currently totals 1,179 inducted recordings.

See the full list of the 2026 recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame below.

See the full list of all recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.

The inducted recordings will be honored at 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, presented by the Grammy Museum and the Recording Academy, on May 8 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles; performers at the gala will be announced at a later date.

Tables and seats for the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala are now available for purchase.

"It's a privilege to recognize these influential recordings as the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame inductees," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said. "Each selection reflects the creativity, craft and cultural impact that recorded music can carry across decades. We're honored to help preserve these works and celebrate the artists and communities behind them, so their legacies continue to inspire generations to come."

"The Grammy Hall Of Fame is a vital bridge between music's past and present — honoring recordings that changed the way we listen, create and connect," Grammy Museum President/CEO Michael Sticka added. "We're proud to celebrate this year's class at the Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala this May."

2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Inducted Recordings

• ALL EYEZ ON ME — 2Pac (Album)

• AMOR PROHIBIDO — Selena (Album)

• CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD — Lucinda Williams (Album) 

• DREAMBOAT ANNIE — Heart (Album)

• "JESUS GAVE ME WATER" — The Soul Stirrers (Single) 

• JOURNEY IN SATCHIDANANDA — Alice Coltrane (Album) 

• MAGGOT BRAIN — Funkadelic (Album)

• OK COMPUTER — Radiohead (Album) 

• "ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL" — The Rouse Brothers (Single)

• PAID IN FULL — Eric B. & Rakim (Album)

• PINK MOON — Nick Drake (Album) 

• RHYTHM NATION 1814 — Janet Jackson (Album) 

• "TROUBLE IN MIND" — Bertha "Chippie" Hill (Single) 

• YOU’LL SING A SONG AND I’LL SING A SONG — Ella Jenkins (Album)

About The Grammy Hall Of Fame

The Grammy Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973. The inducted recordings are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees.

Former Grammy Awards Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich will produce the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, alongside Ron Basile, Chantel Sausedo, Lindsay Saunders Carl, and Lynne Sheridan. Grammy- and Latin-Grammy-Award-winning composer, producer and conductor Cheche Alara will serve as musical director. Esteemed journalist Anthony Mason will return as host.

For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to halloffame@grammymuseum.org.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on May 9, 2023 for Mental Health Awareness Month. It was updated on Oct. 10, 2025 with additional artists for World Mental Health Day.

Sharing mental health issues with close family or specialized medical professionals can be challenging enough. Add in the pressures of fame and being in the public eye, and any struggles are exponentially more difficult to cope with.

In recent years, though, mental health has become a much more widely discussed topic in celebrity culture. Several artists have used their music and their platform to open up about their own struggles with depression, anxiety and the like, from Bruce Springsteen to Selena Gomez.

In honor of World Mental Health Day, GRAMMY.com spotlights 13 artists who have spoken openly about their mental health journeys, whether in their music, interviews or initiatives. Through honesty, vulnerability and advocacy, these performers are helping fans feel seen — and proving that music can be a powerful force for healing and change.

Lewis Capaldi

Like Sheeran, Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi has also given fans an unfiltered look at his mental health journey. In his 2023 Netflix documentary How I'm Feeling Now, he opened up about living with anxiety and Tourette's syndrome — struggles that ultimately led him to step back from touring.

On a July 2025 episode of Theo Von's "This Past Weekend" podcast, Capaldi revealed he suffered a major panic attack in Chicago just weeks before Glastonbury Festival in 2023. "I was, like, backstage convulsing and having this crazy panic attack, mental episode," he explained. "It was really, really bad –- I said yes to way too much and I took way too much on."

After two years focusing on therapy and recovery, Capaldi returned to Glastonbury in June 2025, playing a full set to a massive, supportive crowd. "After these two years off, I really wanted to come back and do Glastonbury and sort of as a mental sort of win," he told Von. "Finish the thing that I couldn't finish before."

Billie Eilish

While Billie Eilish's music has been raw and real from the start, it has become increasingly more vulnerable throughout the years. Whether in her songs or in interviews, the star has opened up about dealing with body dysmorphia, depression and thoughts of self-harm — hoping to inspire fans to speak up when they are hurting, and to know that it gets better.

"It doesn't make you weak to ask for help," she asserts in a 2019 video for Ad Council's Seize The Awkward campaign, which features stars discussing mental health.

Eilish's lyrics often mirror that honesty. In "everything i wanted," she sings, "If I could change the way that you see yourself/ You wouldn't wonder why you hear/ 'They don't deserve you.'" And in "listen before i go," she delivers one of her most vulnerable lines: "Take me to the rooftop, I want to see the world before I stop breathing." Her willingness to write so openly about pain and self-doubt has made her music deeply personal for fans of all ages.

"Kids use my songs as a hug," she told Rolling Stone in 2019. "Songs about being depressed or suicidal or completely just against-yourself — some adults think that's bad, but I feel that seeing that someone else feels just as horrible as you do is a comfort. It's a good feeling."

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has been one of pop's most vocal advocates for mental health awareness, using both her platform and her art to spark conversation. In 2012, she and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, co-founded the Born This Way Foundation to support youth mental health and promote kindness and community worldwide.

Upon accepting Best Pop/Duo Group Performance for "Shallow" at the 2019 GRAMMYs, Gaga pointed out the importance of addressing mental health issues, as A Star Is Born did. "A lot of artists deal with that. We've got to take care of each other. So, if you see somebody that's hurting, don't look away," she said. "And if you're hurting, even though it might be hard, try to find that bravery within yourself to dive deep, tell somebody, and take them up in your head with you."

Gaga has also been candid about her personal experiences with mental illness and medication. In a 2020 interview with Apple Music, Gaga shared that Chromatica's "911" is about an antipsychotic medication called Olanzapine which the pop star is prescribed. "It's because I can't always control things that my brain does," she explained. "I know that. And I have to take medication to stop the process that occurs."

Through both her foundation and deeply personal songs, Gaga continues to challenge stigma and remind fans that seeking help is a form of strength. She also champions programs like the Be There Certificate and annual youth surveys on mental wellness — efforts that extend her message beyond lyrics.

Selena Gomez

As one of the most-followed stars on social media, Selena Gomez has often used her platform to discuss her mental health and connect with others. In 2022, the singer launched a startup called Wondermind, which is focused on "mental fitness" and helping users maintain strong mental health.

Just a few months later, Gomez shared another deeply personal chapter of her mental health journey in the Apple TV+ documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me. The film captures the highs and lows she's faced while living with depression and bipolar disorder — moments of exhaustion, reflection and resilience that reveal the weight behind her fame.

Its companion song, also titled "My Mind & Me," turns that internal struggle into something achingly relatable. She opens with, "Wanna hear a part to my story? I tried to hide in the glory/ And sweep it under the table so you would never know." Later, she admits, "My mind and me, we don't get along sometimes/ And it gets hard to breathe/ But I wouldn't change my life." The track closes with a message of solidarity: "If somebody sees me like this, then they won't feel alone now."

For Gomez, that kind of openness wasn't easy — even sharing it with the world came with hesitation. "Because I have the platform I have, it's kind of like I'm sacrificing myself a little bit for a greater purpose," she explained in a 2022 cover story with Rolling Stone. "I don't want that to sound dramatic, but I almost wasn't going to put this out. God's honest truth, a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure I could do it."

Janet Jackson

The physical and emotional abuse suffered by the famous Jackson family is well documented in books, documentaries and TV dramatizations. But it's only been in recent years that Janet Jackson has talked about her own depression, which she has referred to as "intense." Her son Aissa has helped her heal from mental health challenges that have followed her all of her life.

"In my forties, like millions of women in the world, I still heard voices inside my head berating me, voices questioning my value," she wrote in a 2020 ESSENCE cover story. "Happiness was elusive. A reunion with old friends might make me happy. A call from a colleague might make me happy. But because sometimes I saw my failed relationships as my fault, I easily fell into despair.

HyunA

In 2019, K-pop star HyunA revealed to fans on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with depression and panic disorder. As she told PEOPLE in 2024, sharing her experience was a difficult but important decision in an industry where mental health is rarely discussed.

"At first, I was scared that when I spoke about these things, people would leave and forget about me because of this health issue, but I also knew that there were fans and people that always supported me for a long time," she said. "That's when I decided to be honest and speak about this. After that, I felt more responsibility and obligation to think more about my own health and those who have the same symptoms as me. It gave them power to see that, 'Oh, we are in the same situation, but she's trying to do her thing and inspiring herself.'"

The singer noted that she's discovered that true strength comes from prioritizing her mental health. Her focus today is on finding balance, embracing change and protecting her peace beyond the stage.

"I also often ask myself, 'Are you OK?'" she added to PEOPLE. "But one day, I realized that it's OK to say that I'm not OK. After that, I was able to have a better balance of work and life."

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato has long been open about her mental health journey and her mission to end stigma through honesty and advocacy. Speaking to TODAY, she opened up about experiencing suicidal ideations and depression at just 7 years old; it would be another 10 years before she'd be diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

"There were so many sleepless nights, so many tears, and I didn't know why I was feeling that way," she said. "And when I got the diagnosis, there was a sense of relief that came with it, because I thought, 'I can put a name to this, and this is why.'"

Since then, the singer has been candid about her experiences with addiction and an eating disorder, joking that she "should have earned a doctorate degree" for the time she's spent in treatment and therapy.

Lovato has used those lessons to fuel her advocacy — launching the Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health campaign and documenting her recovery in the 2017 film Simply Complicated and the 2021 docuseries "Dancing with the Devil." In 2020, she extended her message of hope and transparency through "OK Not To Be OK," a collaboration with Marshmello created to spark open conversations around mental health.

Shawn Mendes

In 2019, Shawn Mendes first publicly addressed his struggles with anxiety in the dynamic — and GRAMMY-nominated — hit "In My Blood." Three years later, the singer postponed his 2022 tour in order to focus on his mental health, opening up an important conversation to his legion of fans.

"The process was very difficult," he said in an interview with Wall Street Journal. "A lot of doing therapy, a lot of trying to understand how I was feeling and what was making me feel that way. And then doing the work to help myself and heal. And also leaning on people in my life to help a little bit.

"It's been a lot of work, but I think the last year and a half has been the most eye-opening and growing and beautiful and just healing process of my life," he continued. "And it just really made me see how culture is really starting to get to a place where mental health is really becoming a priority."

Beyond his music, Mendes has consistently used his platform to support mental health awareness. Through the Shawn Mendes Foundation, he's amplified organizations making a difference in this space — awarding Wonder Grants to several mental health nonprofits in late 2023 and encouraging fans to take part in Mental Health Action Day in 2024.

Big Sean

Big Sean first began publicly talking about his long-held depression and anxiety through his music, in songs like "Deep Reverence" ("Look, I ain't think I had the thought of suicide in me/ Until life showed me all these different sides of me/ Too many times I thought the reaper was outside for me"). In 2021, the rapper doubled down on his mission to speak up in a series of educational videos for Mental Health Awareness Month, alongside his mother, Myra Anderson.

"I was just keeping it real because I was tired of not keeping it real," he said in an interview with ESSENCE that year. "I was tired of pretending I was a machine and everything was cool and being politically correct or whatever. I just was like, I'm a just say how I feel."

Like many of his peers, he hopes that his honesty will help others. "Whatever they can apply to their life and better themselves and maybe it just even starts a whole journey in a different direction as far as upgrading and taking care of themselves and bossing up themselves," he added. "Whatever they're trying to do, I hope it helps them get to that place."

Read More: 10 Times Hip-Hop Has Given A Voice To Mental Health: Eminem, J. Cole, Logic & More Speak Out

Ed Sheeran

In early 2022, Ed Sheeran endured a series of personal tragedies. His wife, Cherry Seaborn — six months pregnant with their second daughter, Jupiter — was diagnosed with a tumor and underwent surgery the same day he performed at London's Wembley Stadium. Days later, his close friend Jamal Edwards died unexpectedly at 31, followed soon after by the death of Australian cricket player Shane Warne.

He opened up about the grief, depression and suicidal thoughts that resulted on his sixth studio album, 2023's Subtract, as well as a four-episode Disney+ docuseries, "Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All." "Running from the light/ Engulfed in darkness/ Sharing my eyes/ Wondering why I'm stuck on the borderline," he sings on Subtract cut "Borderline," which touches on battling suicidal thoughts.

Sheeran expanded on those feelings in an interview with Rolling Stone, revealing that he's battled deep depression at various points in his life. "I felt like I didn't want to live anymore… You're under the waves drowning… and you can't get out of it," he said, adding that those feelings "seemed selfish, especially as a father. I feel really embarrassed about it."

As he told the magazine, he began therapy — something he says wasn't common where he grew up, but has been "deeply helpful" for him. "No one really talks about their feelings where I come from," he explains. "People think it's weird getting a therapist in England… I think it's very helpful to be able to speak with someone and just vent."

Bruce Springsteen

Even an artist as successful and celebrated as Bruce Springsteen has faced depression. In his 2016 autobiography Born to Run, the 20-time GRAMMY winner cites a difficult relationship with his father and a history of mental illness in the family, sharing that he has sought treatment throughout his life.

"I was crushed between 60 and 62, good for a year, and out again from 63 to 64," he wrote in the book. In that time, he released his 2012 album, Wrecking Ball, which featured a raw track called "This Depression." "Baby, I've been down, but never this down I've been lost, but never this lost," he sings on the opening verse.

As his wife, Patti Scialfa, told Vanity Fair in 2016, "He approached the book the way he would approach writing a song … A lot of his work comes from him trying to overcome that part of himself."

Tomorrow X Together

Tomorrow X Together (TXT) are using their platform to help end the stigma around talking about mental health. The K-pop group — Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai — recently launched a new initiative with UNICEF called "Together for Tomorrow" to promote open dialogue and empathy around mental wellness.

"Mental health is a hot topic worldwide and also the music that we're doing is talking about empathy," Taehyun told PEOPLE. "The values that UNICEF holds and this campaign holds and also our music holds went hand in hand."

Their advocacy echoes the context of their music, which often explores the challenges of youth and mental health. In Beomgyu's song "Panic," he performs and co-writes a message of resilience: "Beneath the dark night/ Let's not stay here, but move on/ In the days of bruises/ Every step we take/ You and I/ Will find our way through."

"Of course we did go through those struggles and the pains and that's why we know that there are so many out there going through the same," Hueningkai added in the PEOPLE interview. "That's why we decided to talk, so that people can feel safe to raise their voices."

Additional reporting from Clara Faulkner.