Addison Rae - Diet Pepsi

After her failed debut single “Obessed” failed to enter the Hot 100 in 2021, Addison Rae took steps to grow her mainstream fame via film roles in “He’s All That” and “Thanksgiving”. Powered by her millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram, Rae has continued to grow her star in the three years since, teasing new music along the way.

Her major label debut single “Diet Pepsi” has since surpassed 100 million Spotify streams and peaked at number 54 on the Hot 100. It’s a catchy pop tune that sounds very similar to Britney Spears and Tinashe’s 2016 song “Slumber Party”. Rae’s airy vocals along with the soft atmospheric production lends itself to a slinky pop tune that cleverly references the song title. Needless to say, this is a major swing from social media influencer turned singer to a serious pop singing career.

Only time will tell if she ends up having a fruitful pop career or if this ends up being a vanity project like so many other failed pop stars. With her massive following, good looks, youth, and serviceable voice, I can imagine her having a career like Selena Gomez, a celebrity who has had massive pop success while often treating music as a part-time job. Columbia Records is the home of megastars like Beyoncé, Adele, and Harry Styles so Addison Rae will be in good company as she moves towards the release of her upcoming album. With more songs like “Diet Pepsi”, Addison Rae may have a bright pop career after all.