Harry Edward Styles was born on February 1, 1994, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, to Anne Twist and Desmond Styles. He spent his early years in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, where he developed a passion for music, inspired by artists like Elvis Presley and The Beatles. His parents divorced when he was seven, and he later gained step-siblings through his mother's remarriages. Styles attended Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School and worked part-time at a local bakery. He was the lead singer of the band White Eskimo, which won a local Battle of the Bands competition.

At 16, Styles auditioned for The X Factor as a solo artist, performing Steve Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely.' After being eliminated, he was grouped with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik to form One Direction. The group finished third but quickly gained international fame, releasing five successful albums: Up All Night, Take Me Home, Midnight Memories, Four, and Made in the A.M. They became one of the best-selling boy bands in history before their indefinite hiatus in 2016.