2010–2011: Career beginnings Before her K-pop debut, Ailee was signed under Muzo Entertainment, an independent agency in
New York City and New Jersey. Under that label she collaborated with several artists, including Johnnyphlo and
Philadelphia-based rapper Decipher. Before moving to South Korea, Ailee created the
YouTube channels "mzamyx3" and "aileemusic" to bring attention to her singing on the web. Ailee moved to South Korea in 2010 after she landed a music label audition through her uncle's connections. She sang "Resignation" by
Big Mama during the audition and was recruited for
YMC Entertainment on the spot. She also sang in Decipher and
Jay Park's song "Catch Me If You Can". In September 2011, Ailee and Wheesung were featured on the
MBC's
Chuseok special episode of
Singer and Trainee. Ailee performed "
Halo" by
Beyoncé to a positive reaction from the audience. Following her performance of "Halo", judge
BMK said, "Wherever she goes, she has the potential to be a big star. She definitely has the voice." After the judges had graded all the participants, Ailee was the first-place winner.
2012: Debut and commercial success On February 9, 2012, Ailee released her debut single "
Heaven" along with the music video, which featured
Gi Kwang of
Beast. On the same day, she made her debut stage performance of "Heaven" on
M Countdown.
Billboard commented, "From her debut single, Ailee proved that she had an ability beyond her years to communicate the deeper experiences one feels in love. In this dedication track, Ailee's partner protected her and taught her how to love in a harsh world." The success of the single helped Ailee win her first award at the 2012
Cyworld Digital Music Awards. The single received the Song of the month (February) and Rookie of the month at the award ceremony. On October 16, 2012, Ailee released her debut
EP,
Invitation, with the title track "I Will Show You". The EP contained a total of six tracks. It was produced by producers such as Kim Do-hoon, Lee Hyun-seung, Park Guen-tae, Duble Sidekick, Wheesung, and featured artists such as
Verbal Jint,
Swings and
Simon Dominic. She has also received the Mnet America Rising Star Award, a special award presented by Mnet America at the pre-show of
55th Grammy Awards.
2013–2014: Commercial popularity , where she received the award for Best New Artist. On July 12, 2013, Ailee released her second Ep, titled ''
A's Doll House''. The EP's title track, "
U&I" topped various music charts within four hours of release. On November 6, 2013, Ailee made her Japanese debut with Japanese-version of "Heaven" and "Starlight" under
Warner Music Japan. On January 6, 2014, Ailee released a single titled "Singing Got Better", produced by Wheesung. The song peaked at number one upon released on various music chart. The single has received the Best Vocal Performance at the
2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards. On September 25, 2014, Ailee released her third EP, titled
Magazine. The EP's title track, "Don't Touch Me" peaked at number one upon released on various music chart. The single received the Digital Bonsang at the 2015
Golden Disc Awards.
2015–2016: Breakthrough with Vivid After wrapping up her joint
Unite the Mic Tour with
Jay Park and
San E in
Toronto in March 2015, plans were revealed for Ailee to hold a solo concert three years after her debut. Her first solo concert, titled
Fatal Attraction, was held on July 4, 2015, at the
Olympic Hall. Ailee was joined on stage several times by different artists who helped her sing her many duets and collaborations. She sang "Shut Up" with
Showry, "Like Nobody Knows" and "Comma 07" with
Cheetah, "Wash Away" and "Officially Missing You" with
Geeks, "NimA" and "Shower of Tears" with
Baechigi, and "Touch My Body" and "Let"s Go Travel" with
Shin Bo-ra. Ailee's first full-length album
Vivid was released on September 30, 2015. She won her first trophy for this promotion on October 7, 2015, on
Show Champion. Ailee was awarded the Best Female Vocal Award for the third consecutive year at the
2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards, for "Mind Your Own Business". On July 13, 2016, Ailee was confirmed to participate as a judge on
Superstar K 2016. On August 23, 2016, Ailee released her single "If You", which subsequently topped the Gaon Weekly Chart for Digital Download. On October 5, 2016, Ailee released her EP
A New Empire, along with the music video for "Home" that was officially released on LOEN and YMC Entertainment's official YouTube channel.
A New Empire peaked at number 10 on the
Gaon Album Chart, and number nine on the US World Albums (
Billboard) Chart. On December 2, 2016, Ailee was again awarded with Best Vocal Performance at the
2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards, this time for "If You", a record-breaking fourth consecutive win in the category.
2017–2018: OST success and solo concert tours On January 7, 2017, Ailee released her debut American single "Fall Back" through WestSide Entertainment under the alias A.Leean. She also released the ballad "
I Will Go to You Like the First Snow" () on the same day as part nine in a series composed of singles for the South Korean cable television series
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. The single topped the
Gaon Digital Chart for three consecutive weeks. The single earned Ailee the Best OST Award at the 2017 Korea Cable TV Awards. The soundtrack has also received several accolades, including the best original soundtrack award at the
Seoul International Drama Awards, the
Mnet Asian Music Awards, the
Melon Music Awards, the
Seoul Music Awards and the
Golden Disc Awards. , July 2019 Ailee previously held two Christmas concerts in Seoul titled
Welcome Home at
Kyunghee University's Grand Peace Palace on December 24–25, 2016. Due to the success of the concerts, it was announced that Ailee would be holding her first nationwide tour, titled
Welcome Home Tour, which started in
Daegu on April 1, 2017. On June 25, 2017, in The City Hall at
Taipei International Convention Center, Ailee held her first solo concert in Taiwan titled
Ailee – Hello Taipei 2017. On November 18 and 19, Ailee held two concerts at the Pechanga Theater in
California, selling out a total of 2,600 tickets combined. On March 18, 2018, Ailee performed "I Will Show You" at the
closing ceremony of the
2018 Paralympic Winter Games at the
Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium. On September 14, 2018, Ailee was chosen as a member of the South Korean cultural delegation, alongside other selected South Korean artists, for the third inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, North Korea, where she performed her OST "I Will Go to You Like the First Snow". On November 23, 2018, Ailee announced her second nationwide tour, titled
I Am: Ailee.
2019–2023: Album releases continued touring Ailee released her second studio album, titled
Butterfly, on July 2, 2019, with the lead single "Room Shaker". On September 10, 2019, Ailee announced on Instagram that she started a new company named, "Rocket3 Entertainment" after being signed with
YMC Entertainment for eight years. On December 13, 2019, Ailee released her first English language single under American label, Sun and Sky Records. The single, entitled "Sweater", was hailed as "a heart-wrenching-yet-soothing ballad" by
Billboard. Ailee released her fifth extended play titled ''I'm
on October 6, 2020, with the lead single "When We Were In Love". The music video was released on October 12, 2020, and was directed by Will Kim. On November 8, 2020, Ailee released "Blue Bird", an OST that would be part nine of singles for the South Korean drama Start-Up''. On May 7, 2021, Ailee released her sixth extended play titled ''
Lovin', ahead of the release of her third studio album. The extended play includes two lead singles, "Make Up Your Mind" and "Spring Flowers". On July 22, 2021, Ailee joined The L1ve as their first official artist. On October 14, 2021, it was announced that Ailee will be releasing her third studio album Amy'' on October 27, with the lead single "Don't Teach Me". On March 7, 2022, Ailee released her English studio album ''I'm Lovin' Amy''. In July 2022, it was announced that Ailee's contract with The L1ve would expire later that month. On July 31, A2Z Entertainment announced that Ailee had signed on with the agency. On November 3, 2022, announced that the '2022 Ailee National Tour Concert 'One Step More', scheduled to take place on the 5th and 6th, has been postponed to January 28 and 29, 2023, on the aftermath of the
Seoul Halloween crowd crush. On September 1, 2023, Ailee released her single "I'll Hold You".
2025–present: (Me)moir On March 20, 2025, Ailee released her seventh extended play,
(Me)moir. ==Personal life==