A MODERN
BIOGRAPHY ARCHIVE
THE COLLECTION / MusicARCHIVE № 054
1996 —   SINGER

JENNIE

Jennie KimJan 16, 1996South Korea

What happened at what age?
Where were they at your age?

In 2010, the year she turned 14, she gave up her studies in New Zealand, returned to Korea, applied to a YG Entertainment audition herself and became a trainee. In 2012, she appeared in G-Dragon’s “That XX” music video. In 2013, she featured on “Black,” the title track of G-Dragon’s second studio album.

The breakthrough yearThe year she turned 20, on Aug. 8, 2016, she debuted as part of Blackpink with Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa. Her debut track “Whistle” took first place on major music sites within an hour of release, after six years as a trainee.

The year she turned 22, she released her first solo single, “Solo.” It took first place on eight domestic music charts on the day it came out. In 2019, she played Coachella for the first time with Blackpink. In 2020, “Solo” became the most-streamed song by a Korean solo singer on Spotify. In 2021, the same song passed 300 million streams.

In 2022, her role in HBO’s The Idol became known, her first acting job since her debut six years earlier. In May 2023, The Idol screened at Cannes, and in October she released the special single “You & Me.” In December she announced her own label, Odd Atelier.

In 2024, she featured on Zico’s “Spot!” and in October released “Mantra” after partnering with Columbia Records. In March 2025, she released her first solo studio album, Ruby, and in April she played Coachella as a soloist. In December she won the top prize at the Melon Music Awards for Ruby.

The year she turned 30, she won Artist of the Year at the Golden Disc Awards in January, and in April she was the only Korean named to Time’s list of 100 most influential people. In August she headlined Lollapalooza Chicago and released the EP Fallen Angel.

Jennie (born Jan 16, 1996) debuted with Blackpink on Aug 8, 2016, the year she turned 20, and became known from her debut song “Whistle.” She released her first solo single, “Solo,” on Nov 12, 2018, the year she turned 22, and her first solo studio album, Ruby, on Mar 7, 2025, the year she turned 29.

Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.

Full timeline · 28 records2010 — 2026   ＋
AGE / YEAR

  1. 14 · 2010
    Trainee

    Becomes a YG Entertainment trainee

    Said she studied in New Zealand for five years, came back to Korea to pursue music, applied to a private audition herself and became a trainee a month after passing. Her time as a trainee lasted six years.

    Source 03 · OSEN (Korean) · Appearance on You Quiz on the Block · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Blackpink’s four members profiled · opens in a new tabSource 04 · Wikipedia (Korean) · Jennie (born 1996) · opens in a new tab The study abroad and audition story is from a TV program and news reports. The year she became a trainee is from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.
  2. 16 · 2012
  3. 17 · 2013
  4. 22 · 2018
    Key moment

    Releases her first solo single “Solo”

    First of the Blackpink members to release a solo project. It came out at 6 p.m. on the 12th, reached No. 1 on Melon within an hour and took first place on eight domestic music charts that night. It reached No. 1 in 40 countries on iTunes. Teddy wrote the lyrics, and Teddy and 24 wrote the music.

    Source 08 · Kukinews (Korean) · Solo debut day · opens in a new tabSource 09 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · “Solo” tops eight music charts · opens in a new tab
  5. 23 · 2019
  6. 24 · 2020
  7. 25 · 2021
  8. 26 · 2022
  9. 27 · 2023
  10. 27 · 2023
  11. 27 · 2023
  12. 28 · 2024
  13. 28 · 2024
  14. 29 · 2025
    Key moment

    Releases her first solo studio album, Ruby

    Released at midnight on the 7th. She produced it herself, and it has 15 songs including the title track “Like Jennie.” It sold 1 million copies worldwide and tied the highest UK album chart position for a Korean solo artist. Around the album she held The Ruby Experience, a series of shows in the U.S., Korea and Europe.

    Source 20 · The Fact (Korean) · First studio album Ruby · opens in a new tabSource 21 · JTBC (Korean) · Three years on her own · opens in a new tab
  15. 29 · 2025
  16. 29 · 2025
  17. 29 · 2025
  18. 29 · 2025
  19. 29 · 2025
  20. 30 · 2026
  21. 30 · 2026
    Single

    Appears on the remix of Tame Impala’s “Dracula”

    A remix of Tame Impala’s song, first released in October 2025, came out with her on it. The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed in the top 10 for 16 straight weeks, the longest run for a K-pop artist.

    Source 26 · Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · “Dracula” 16 weeks in the Hot 100 top 10 · opens in a new tab The article gives no release date, so only the month is shown. The 16-week run is as of the chart dated Sept. 14, 2026 (local time).
  22. 30 · 2026
  23. 30 · 2026
  24. 30 · 2026
  25. 30 · 2026
  26. 30 · 2026
  27. 30 · 2026

END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2010–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.

02 / QUICK ANSWERS

Q & AFrequently asked

How old was Jennie when she debuted?
In 2016, the year she turned 20. She debuted as a member of Blackpink on Aug 8, 2016 with the single album Square One, after six years as a trainee.
How old was Jennie when she became famous?
In 2016, the year she turned 20, she became known as soon as she debuted. Her debut track “Whistle” took first place on major music sites within an hour of release and No. 1 on Melon’s weekly composite chart for two straight weeks. Before that, she had appeared in a G-Dragon music video in 2012.
When did Jennie debut as a solo artist?
In 2018, the year she turned 22. Her single “Solo” came out on Nov 12, 2018. She was the first Blackpink member to release a solo project, and it reached No. 1 on eight domestic music charts and in 40 countries on iTunes.
What label is Jennie with?
Her solo activities run through Odd Atelier, a label she founded in November 2023. She announced it on Dec 24, 2023, and YG Entertainment continues to handle Blackpink’s group activities.
How old is Jennie?
Born in 1996, she turns 30 in 2026 (30 as of Sep 21, 2026).
04 / ABOUT THE ARCHIVE

A LIFE,
IN CHAPTERS.

What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.

COLLECTION054Jennie / JENNIE

Music · South Korea
Jan 16, 1996 —

Sources and method28 SOURCES   ＋

Ages are counted from the birth year 1996: the year of the event minus 1996, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.

  1. Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Blackpink’s four members profiled ↗Jennie born in 1996, age 20, six years as a trainee, studied in New Zealand. Appeared in G-Dragon’s “That XX” music video in 2012 and featured on “Black,” the title track of his second studio album, in 2013
  2. OSEN (Korean) · One day before Blackpink’s debut ↗“That XX” music video in 2012, “Black” feature in 2013. Teddy wrote and directed the composition of the whole debut release; double title tracks “Boombayah” and “Whistle”
  3. OSEN (Korean) · Appearance on You Quiz on the Block ↗Aired May 7, 2025. Five years studying in New Zealand, applied to a private audition herself, became a trainee a month after passing, six years as a trainee
  4. Wikipedia (Korean) · Jennie (born 1996) ↗Birth name Kim Jennie, born Jan. 16, 1996 in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Basis for years not confirmed in news reports
  5. Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Blackpink press conference ↗Showcase in Nonhyeon-dong on Aug. 8, 2016. Seven years after 2NE1 in 2009; Jennie a trainee for six years; debut songs “Whistle” and “Boombayah”
  6. News1 (Korean) · Blackpink’s 10th debut anniversary ↗Debuted Aug. 8, 2016 with the single album Square One. Mini album Deadline in February 2026 sold 1.77 million copies in its first week
  7. Star News (Korean) · “Whistle” craze from the debut ↗“Whistle” took first place on major music sites within an hour of release and No. 1 on Melon’s weekly composite chart in the second and third weeks of August 2016
  8. Kukinews (Korean) · Solo debut day ↗“Solo” was released Nov. 12, 2018 and reached No. 1 on Melon and other major music charts by 7 p.m., an hour after release
  9. Sports Chosun (Korean) · “Solo” tops eight music charts ↗Released at 6 p.m. on the 12th; No. 1 on eight music charts and in 40 countries on iTunes. Lyrics by Teddy, music by Teddy and 24
  10. JTBC (Korean) · Coachella solo stage ↗Performances on April 14 and 21, 2025 Korea time, about 50 minutes and 13 songs. Blackpink was the first K-pop sub-headliner in 2019 and the first Asian main headliner in 2023
  11. OSEN (Korean) · “Solo” top Korean solo song on Spotify ↗Oct. 16, 2020. At 240.8 million streams it passed “Gangnam Style” at 240.6 million
  12. Sports Donga (Korean) · “Solo” reaches 300 million Spotify streams ↗Passed 300 million streams on June 30, 2021, the first by a Korean solo artist
  13. OSEN (Korean) · Cast in HBO’s The Idol ↗Trailer released July 18, 2022. Produced and written by The Weeknd, co-created by Sam Levinson. First acting role in six years since her 2016 debut
  14. Herald Economy (Korean) · Negative reviews for The Idol ↗Played Dyanne. Invited to the non-competition section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, screened May 22. Negative reviews from Time, Variety and Rolling Stone; 9% on Rotten Tomatoes
  15. News1 (Korean) · “You & Me” release ↗Released at 1 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2023. A song from her solo stage on the world tour, in two tracks: the tour original and the Coachella remix
  16. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Odd Atelier founded ↗Announced on her own social media on Dec. 24, 2023. From 2024 her solo activities run through the company she founded
  17. Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Odd Atelier ↗The label was founded in November 2023. YG Entertainment handles group activities; group exclusive contract announced Dec. 6
  18. Sports Donga (Korean) · Zico “Spot! (feat. Jennie)” ↗Released at 6 p.m. on April 26, 2024. Zico’s 11th digital single, hip-hop
  19. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · “Mantra” released ↗Audio and music video released Oct. 11, 2024. Label OA Entertainment in partnership with Columbia Records; directed by Tanu Muino. One year after “You & Me”
  20. The Fact (Korean) · First studio album Ruby ↗Released at midnight on March 7, 2025. Self-produced, 15 songs including the title track “Like Jennie”
  21. JTBC (Korean) · Three years on her own ↗Columbia partnership; Ruby at 1 million copies and tied the highest UK album chart position for a Korean solo artist; The Ruby Experience; first K-pop solo act on the Coachella Outdoor Theatre, 50 minutes and 13 songs; Time 100
  22. JTBC (Korean) · Jennie is a genre of her own ↗Jan. 10, 2026: Artist of the Year (Daesang) at the 40th Golden Disc Awards at Taipei Dome; EP Fallen Angel; first Korean female solo headliner at Lollapalooza, 18 songs; festival list
  23. Ilgan Sports (Korean) · 2025 Melon Music Awards ↗Dec. 20, 2025 at Gocheok Sky Dome. Won Record of the Year, Top 10 and Millions Top 10 for Ruby
  24. The Fact (Korean) · EP Fallen Angel ↗Digital release at 1 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2026, physical release due Oct. 30. One year and five months after Ruby. Deadline tour July 5, 2025 to Jan. 26, 2026; “Jump” on July 11; mini album on Feb. 27, 2026
  25. News1 (Korean) · “Less than a Lover” announced ↗Released at 1 p.m. on July 24, 2026. Took part in the lyrics, music work and music video direction; previewed at festivals
  26. Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · “Dracula” 16 weeks in the Hot 100 top 10 ↗Tame Impala’s solo song released October 2025; remix with Jennie released February 2026. Peaked at No. 5, 16 straight weeks in the top 10, the longest for a K-pop artist
  27. The Fact (Korean) · Apology over the 10th anniversary event ↗Weverse post on Aug. 17, 2026. Fan event at the National Museum of Korea on Aug. 8: 40 invited guests, about 30 minutes
  28. Newsis (Korean) · Named to the Time 100 ↗Announced April 15, 2026 local time. The only Korean on the list; tribute written by Gracie Abrams

Fact-checked: 2026.09.21 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.