Chris Martin

Coldplay frontman and singer-songwriter · age 49

Chris Martin photo

life in chapters

15 milestones from birth to now, with Chris's age at every one.

1970s

  1. Birth

    Born March 2, 1977

1990s

  1. age ~21 Career milestone

    Forms Coldplay with university friends

    lead singer and co-founder

    Martin and bandmates settle on the name Coldplay, launching the group that would become one of the era's biggest acts.

2000s

  1. age 23 Release

    Releases debut album Parachutes

    frontman and songwriter

    Coldplay's first album, featuring the breakthrough single "Yellow," launches the band to international fame.

  2. age 25 Release

    Releases A Rush of Blood to the Head

    as Coldplay frontman

    Coldplay release their second studio album, with Chris Martin on vocals. It features 'Clocks', 'The Scientist' and 'In My Place', and wins the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.

  3. age 26 Marriage

    Marries Gwyneth Paltrow

    groom

    Martin marries Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow in a secret ceremony in California, days after the couple announce they are expecting their first child. The pair separate in 2014 and divorce in 2016.

  4. age 26 Award

    Wins Grammy Record of the Year for 'Clocks'

    as Coldplay frontman and co-writer

    'Clocks' wins Record of the Year at the 46th Grammy Awards. Martin shares the songwriting credit with bandmates Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion.

  5. age 28 Release

    Releases X&Y

    as Coldplay frontman

    Coldplay release their third album, which tops charts around the world and becomes the best-selling album of 2005 globally.

  6. age 31 Release

    Releases Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

    as Coldplay frontman

    Coldplay release their fourth studio album. Its title track becomes the band's first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later wins Song of the Year at the Grammys.

  7. age 31 Award

    Wins Grammy Song of the Year for 'Viva la Vida'

    as Coldplay frontman and co-writer

    'Viva la Vida' wins Song of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards, with Martin among the credited songwriters. The band also takes Best Rock Album and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group.

2010s

  1. age 37 Release

    Releases Ghost Stories

    as Coldplay frontman

    Coldplay release their sixth studio album, an intimate set that arrives months after Martin and Paltrow announce their separation.

  2. age 38 Career milestone

    Headlines the Super Bowl 50 halftime show

    headline performer

    Coldplay leads the Super Bowl 50 halftime performance alongside Beyonce and Bruno Mars.

2020s

  1. age 47 Release

    Releases the album Moon Music

    frontman and songwriter

    Coldplay puts out Moon Music, the companion to Music of the Spheres.

  2. age ~48 Career milestone

    Music of the Spheres tour becomes the most-attended concert tour in history

    as Coldplay frontman

    Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour surpasses Taylor Swift's Eras Tour to become the most-attended concert tour in history. It sells more than 13 million tickets and grosses over $1.5 billion by the time it pauses in 2025.

  3. age 48 Career milestone

    Pauses record-setting Music of the Spheres tour at Wembley

    headline performer

    Coldplay concludes the current leg of its Music of the Spheres World Tour at London's Wembley Stadium, setting a Guinness World Record for the longest single-run residency at the venue, with plans to resume in 2027.

  4. age 49 Career milestone

    Headlines the first FIFA World Cup final halftime show

    headline act and curator

    Coldplay headline the first Super Bowl-style halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final, staged at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Martin curates the set, which debuts 'We Dance' with the Muppets and the PS22 Chorus.

age 49 now

Still going