We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

Cody Simpson: I Became Famous at 13… I Had No Idea What It Would Cost

Mar 10, 2026
Guest
Cody Simpson
Cody Simpson, Australian singer-songwriter turned elite swimmer who rose to fame on YouTube, recounts his whirlwind teen stardom and the cost of early success. He talks about moving to LA at 13, battles with addiction and mental health, the discipline that saved him through a swimming comeback, and a fresh return to music with a new mindset.
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INSIGHT

Why 360 Deals Became The Default

  • Cody explains 360 deals arose as labels lost CD revenue and started taking a cut of all artist income to recoup advances.
  • He and his family accepted the deal young and only later understood they were effectively paying back touring, videos, tutoring and other costs from advances.
ANECDOTE

Touring Malls While Doing Math Homework

  • At 14–15 Cody toured malls, did radio promo and was homeschooled with tutors, sometimes doing homework backstage or on a tour bus.
  • He described absurd moments like doing long division in the bus before performing for thousands of screaming fans.
ANECDOTE

How Early Celebrity Relationships Began

  • Cody dated Kylie Jenner and later Gigi Hadid while young in LA, meeting through red carpets and a cold call for a nonexistent music video.
  • His relationships often grew from shared, unusual public-life contexts and offered emotional connection in a constrained social world.
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