Top Ten Music Artists with the Most Troubled Pasts

Ever thought that your life sucked? Well, here are some famous and critically acclaimed music artists who have most likely had it worse than you.

I probably missed a few, so feel free to add more.

The Top Ten

Jonathan Davis

Jonathan Howsmon Davis (born January 18, 1971), also known as JD and JDevil, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the nu metal band Korn, which is considered a pioneering act of the nu metal genre.... read more

Jonathan Davis, the lead singer of Korn, had a very troubling and sad childhood. His parents divorced when he was 3 years old, and he was sent to live with his father and stepmother, who tortured him in horrific ways. He suffered severe asthma attacks that almost resulted in his death when he was only 5. Jonathan has also revealed that he was sexually abused by a family friend, but his family didn't believe him when he tried to tell them. He later wrote the song "Daddy" about his traumatic experience. Additionally, he was bullied and harassed in school.

I feel bad for him. He went through a lot. He also makes great music.
Eminem

Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor, and music producer born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem has sold over 220 million records, making him the best-selling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he was a member of D12 and (with... read more

Eminem was raised by a single mother who was described as unstable and paranoid by a social worker. Since he usually ended up living in primarily Black neighborhoods, Eminem was often severely bullied. On one occasion, his arm was broken by a fellow student. As an adult (before his career), Eminem struggled to provide for his wife Kim and their young daughter Hailie. He was addicted to drugs for several years and overdosed on heroin once.
Axl Rose

William Bruce Rose Jr., better known as Axl Rose, is an American singer born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He is the founding member and lead vocalist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which rose to international fame with their debut album Appetite for Destruction (1987). Known for... read more

After reading that, I just have to feel so bad for the guy. What kind of father would do that to his own child?

Axl Rose was born to a teenage mother and a local criminal. His parents divorced when he was 2 years old, and he never got to know his biological father, who abducted and assaulted him before disappearing. Axl grew up in a strictly Christian household where he wasn't allowed to watch TV or listen to music, as his stepfather deemed them Satanic. His stepfather was also abusive, regularly beating Axl, his siblings, and his mother. At 17, Axl discovered his biological father's identity, changed his name, and became a juvenile delinquent, leading to multiple arrests. A few years later, he moved to LA with his friend Izzy and formed Guns N' Roses. In his later years, Axl suffered from bipolar disorder and depression, and he has mentioned attempting suicide several times by overdosing on painkillers.
50 Cent

Curtis James Jackson III, better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, and producer. He gained fame with his 2003 debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin', which was a commercial success and included hit singles like In da Club. In addition to music, he has built a diverse... read more

50 Cent was born and raised in a primarily Jamaican neighborhood in New York. His mother was a drug dealer who died in a fire when he was 8. After his father left him, 50 Cent was adopted by his grandma. He started dealing cocaine and other narcotics when he was about 12. In 1994, he was arrested for possession of drugs and weapons and was sent to a boot camp for 6 months. He has even been shot before.
Rob Thomas

Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the primary songwriter and lead singer of the rock band Matchbox Twenty. Thomas has also had a successful solo career and co-wrote and performed on the Santana hit "Smooth."
Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj, known professionally as Nicki Minaj (born December 8, 1982), is a Trinidadian-American rapper and pop artist. She is widely recognized for hits like "Anaconda," "Super Bass," "Starships," and her feature on "Bang Bang."... read more

Nicki Minaj lived with her grandma in Trinidad until she was 5. She moved in with the rest of her family after her mom bought a house in Queens, New York. Nicki's father became addicted to crack and alcohol and regularly threatened and hit her mom. It even got to the point where he burned down the house. Living in a rough neighborhood, Nicki witnessed many disturbing things such as shootings and drug deals.
Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the frontman of the grunge band Nirvana. Founded in 1987, Nirvana achieved global success in the early 1990s, reshaping rock music with albums like Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero. Cobain died... read more

Cobain was a very troubled man who suffered from depression and severe drug addiction. He had a bad relationship with both his parents and ran away from home more than once. He became addicted to drugs (mostly heroin), which led to Nirvana having to cancel several of their concerts. In 1994, he was found dead in his home. Most say that he committed suicide. Others think that his wife, with whom he had a rather toxic relationship, murdered him. Regardless of how he died, Kurt had a truly tragic life.
Gladys Knight

Gladys Maria Knight, known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author. She is best known for her work with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips. She has won multiple Grammy Awards over the course of her career.
Shania Twain

Shania Twain (born Eilleen Regina Edwards on August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, she is the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Her 1997 album Come On Over remains the... read more

Shania grew up in a rural area surrounded by poverty and a crumbling relationship. Her parents struggled to earn money, and Shania and the rest of her family often went hungry. Shania started singing in bars to help pay her family's bills. When she was 21, both her parents were killed in a car accident, and she was forced to adopt and take care of her younger siblings.
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more

The King of Pop was born into a large working-class family near Gary, Indiana. His father was very strict and regularly whipped Michael and his siblings. Michael said that during rehearsals, his dad emotionally and physically abused him, even sometimes telling his son things like "you have a big fat nose" or "get your ass back on stage." He was often beaten if he messed up during a rehearsal.

The Newcomers

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Ozzy Osbourne

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (December 3, 1948 - July 22 2025) was an English singer, songwriter, and television personality, often nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness." He rose to fame in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath.... read more
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Woody Guthrie

Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter and musician. His musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional, and children's songs, along with ballads and improvised works. He is best known for his iconic song "This Land Is Your Land."

The Contenders

Christina Aguilera

Christina María Aguilera is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to fame in the late 1990s with hits like "Genie in a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants," and she later showcased her vocal power in songs like "Beautiful" and "Hurt." Throughout her career, she's explored a range of... read more

During her childhood, Christina shared a house with an abusive father who often fought with her mother. She often used music as a way to escape her violent household. Luckily, her parents divorced, and she moved to the suburbs to live with her grandma.
Sammy Hagar

Samuel Roy "Sammy" Hagar, also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, musician, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in the 1970s with the band Montrose and later achieved commercial success as a solo artist and as the lead singer of Van Halen from 1985 to 1996... read more
Chester Bennington

Chester Charles Bennington (March 20, 1976 to July 20, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead vocalist of Linkin Park.
Before he became known for his work with Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of the post-grunge band Grey Daze, which was... read more
Corey Taylor

Corey Todd Taylor was born on December 8, 1973. He is an American musician, author, and actor best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the nu-metal band Slipknot and the hard rock/alternative metal band Stone Sour. Taylor has also published books and appeared in films and on television.... read more
Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey is a California-based singer and songwriter who currently lives in Malibu, California. She was born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant on June 21, 1985, in Manhattan, New York, to Robert England Grant Jr. and Patricia Ann Hill. She was raised in Lake Placid and has two younger siblings, Caroline... read more

Her childhood was basically being a lonely girl with alcohol problems who strongly feared the idea of her parents dying someday.
Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande‑Butera (born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her four‑octave vocal range has earned widespread critical praise, and her personal life continues to attract significant media attention. She has received numerous honors, including two Grammy Awards, a Brit... read more
Nikki Sixx

Nikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder, bassist, and primary songwriter of the band Mötley Crüe. He also founded the band Sixx:A.M. and authored several books, including The Heroin Diaries. Sixx has been an influential figure in the... read more

The bassist of Mötley Crüe, although most known for leading a glamorous lifestyle, had a troubled past. His dad left the family, and Sixx was sent to live with an abusive mother. He briefly moved in with his grandparents in Idaho, where he shoplifted, vandalized, and got expelled from school for selling drugs. His parents sent him back to his mom, and there, he learned to play bass guitar.
James Hetfield

James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer, and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the American thrash metal band Metallica. He helped form the iconic thrash metal group in 1981 after answering... read more