Billie Eilish’s Childhood Dream Comes True: From Justin Bieber Fanatic to Musical Collaborator
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Before she became a global superstar, Billie Eilish was a devoted—and deeply emotional—fan of Justin Bieber. Her intense admiration during her preteen years was so profound that her parents seriously considered therapy to help her cope with the overwhelming feelings. Fast forward to 2019, and Eilish fulfilled that childhood dream by collaborating with Bieber on a remix of her hit song Bad Guy.
In a 2020 episode of her Apple Music show me & dad radio, Eilish and her mother, Maggie Baird, opened up about those early years. Baird recalled driving a young Billie to dance studios while she sobbed listening to Bieber’s 2012 ballad As Long As You Love Me, highlighting the emotional depth of her daughter’s connection to the music. The reactions were intense enough that Eilish’s parents worried about her well-being, describing the pain as “so intense, it caused you so much pain,” and seriously contemplating therapy.
Multiple media outlets—including HELLO!, NYLON, E! Online, and The Independent—have documented how Eilish’s fandom involved daily crying episodes and overwhelming emotion. The intensity of this experience is symbolically captured in the cover art for the Bad Guy remix, which features a throwback photo of Eilish surrounded by Bieber posters.
The collaboration itself, released on July 11, 2019, saw Bieber add a fresh verse and ad-libs to Bad Guy, a track from Eilish’s debut album WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? For Eilish, working with Bieber was a monumental moment—a full-circle achievement of childhood dreams.
Critics offered mixed opinions on the remix. Billboard’s Andrew Unterberger described Bieber’s addition as a “fun contribution,” while Stereogum’s Chris DeVille felt his vocals felt somewhat out of place. Regardless of the critical reception, the personal significance for Eilish was unmistakable. GRAMMY.com noted how the collaboration underscored the journey from star-struck fan to peer and partner in the music industry.
Billie Eilish’s story is a powerful reminder of how childhood passions can shape and inspire lifelong ambitions—and how dreams once fueled by music can, in time, become a reality on the global stage.
