Who Is Shirley Manson? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Shirley Manson is a talented Scottish singer-songwriter, born on August 26, 1966, making her 58 years old as of 2025. She is best known as the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Garbage, which soared to fame in the 1990s. Manson began her career in music in the late 1980s, and her distinctive voice and powerful stage presence quickly set her apart in the industry.
| Occupation | Rock Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 26, 1966 |
| Age | 58 Years |
| Birth Place | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country |
Popularity
Shirley Manson's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Shirley Manson stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) and weighs around 130 pounds (59 kg). Her body measurements are often cited as 36-28-36 inches (91-71-91 cm). With her striking red hair and unique fashion sense, Manson remains a fashion icon and a figure of inspiration for many young artists.
Reviewing a live Garbage performance, Jon Pareles of The New York Times commented, "Temptress, lover, sufferer, scrapper – those have been Ms. Manson's personae since Garbage started in 1995. In other eras she might have been a pop torch singer, a soul belter or a new-wave frontwoman: a Shirley Bassey, a Dusty Springfield, or a Chrissie Hynde.
There's a little of each of them in her voice" also stating "In the course of each song she let her voice rise in anger, contempt or passion". Green Left Weekly, in a review of Garbage, remarked that Manson "vocalist and guitarist, has a powerful voice, which soars and dips like a bird. It can plead or demand.
It can sound dreamy or psychotic." Reviewing a 2012 live Garbage performance, Catherine Gee of The Daily Telegraph noted that Manson "remains a striking performer whose distinctive contralto snarl can still raise the hairs on the back of your neck." In a review of Garbage, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described Manson's voice as "thin and ai
ry", whilst Mike Diver of the BBC stated Manson owned "a snarl in her voice but [was] equally capable of a purr to melt away any resistance." also adding "even at her most vulnerable, Manson maintains her controlling condition".
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Shirley Manson has kept her personal life quite private. She was previously married to English actor and director Billy Bush, but they divorced in 2003. Manson has been candid about her relationships in the past but has not disclosed any formal information regarding a boyfriend or partner. She values her privacy, focusing on her career and personal growth.
Her father, a descendant from the fishing community of Northmavine, was a university lecturer, while her mother was a big band singer who had been adopted by a Lothian-based family at an early age and took on the family name MacDonald. Manson was named after an aunt, who was herself named after Charlotte Brontë's novel Shirley.
She has two sisters: Lindy-Jayne who is two years older and Sarah who is two years younger. They were brought up in the Comely Bank and Stockbridge areas of Edinburgh in an old Victorian three-storey house.
She attended Broughton High School and her childhood education was informed by the Church of Scotland (her father was her Sunday school teacher) until age 12.
Net Worth and Salary
Shirley Manson's estimated net worth in 2025 is around $20 million. Her wealth primarily comes from her successful music career with Garbage, which has produced numerous hit albums and singles. Additionally, Manson has ventured into acting, appearing in various TV shows and films, which has also contributed to her income.
Manson's lyrics became more overtly political for Garbage's fourth record, 2005's Bleed Like Me, which after the surprise success of lead-in single "Why Do You Love Me", posted some of the band's highest chart positions upon release. Garbage began an extended hiatus in October 2005.
During this period, in 2007, Garbage reformed to perform a short set at a benefit show to raise cash to pay for Wally Ingram's medical treatment, shared song ideas via the internet, recorded new material, and filmed a music video to promote the band's Absolute Garbage greatest hits compilation.
Garbage returned to the studio in 2010 to write and record material for a fifth album, entitled Not Your Kind of People and subsequently released in May 2012, thus ending the band's seven-year hiatus from recording.
Career, Business, and Investments
Shirley Manson’s career has been marked by several significant milestones. She rose to fame with Garbage's self-titled debut album, released in 1995, which included massive hits like "Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When It Rains". Over the years, Garbage has released multiple critically acclaimed albums, maintaining a loyal fan base. In 2025, Manson continues to engage in various artistic projects, including songwriting, collaborating with other artists, and delving into the business side of music with her own label.
Manson is also known for her work on the screen, having starred in TV series such as Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Her investments and business ventures include partnerships with various brands, focusing on fashion and philanthropic efforts.
Shirley Ann Manson FRSA (born 26 August 1966) is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and musician who is the lead singer of the rock band Garbage. Known for her distinctive deep voice, forthright style, and rebellious attitude, her accolades include nominations for two Brit Awards and seven Grammy Awards.
Manson's musical career began in her teens, when she was approached to perform backing vocals and keyboards for the band Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. She was later approached by the band's record label with the idea of launching her as a solo artist, and recorded an album with her band Angelfish.
Social Network
Shirley Manson is active on various social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, where she shares insights into her personal life, music, and advocacy work. Her online presence reflects her unique personality and allows her to connect with fans on a deeper level. She often uses her platform to discuss social issues and empower others, particularly women in the music industry.
Following the troubled production of Garbage's fourth album Bleed Like Me (2005), the group went on hiatus; during this period, they released a greatest hits album (2007). Manson began to write and record solo material in 2006, and played Catherine Weaver on the science fiction television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008).
Garbage reunited in 2010, and have since released three more albums: Not Your Kind of People (2012), Strange Little Birds (2016), and No Gods No Masters (2021). The band have sold over 17 million records as of 2017. Manson also hosted the music podcast The Jump with Shirley Manson (2019–2021).
Education
Shirley Manson attended Murrayfield Primary School and continued her education at the local secondary school. She developed an affinity for music early on and went on to study at the Edinburgh College of Art, where she honed her skills in creativity and performance. This foundation laid the groundwork for her successful career in music and entertainment.
Despite not having considered herself an artist until her forties and still not considering herself a musician, Manson's first experiences with music are rooted in her childhood and she received education in playing many instruments.
Her first public performance was in 1970, at age four, singing "Never Smile at a Crocodile" with her older sister in an amateur show held at the local Church Hill Theatre.
Enrolled at Flora Stevenson Primary School, she received instruction in recorder, clarinet, and fiddle, and learned ballet and piano from extramural classes at age seven, when she also joined a choir. Manson was a member of Girlguiding UK throughout this period of her youth as a Brownie and a Girl Guide.
She attended the City of Edinburgh Music School, the music department of Broughton High School. At about age nine, Manson joined the school orchestra.
While at Broughton, she became an active member of its drama group, performing in amateur dramatic and musical performances such as The American Dream and The Wizard of Oz, while also singing with the Waverley Singers, a local girl choir.
A 1981 Edinburgh Festival Fringe production of Maurice the Minotaur, in which Manson played a prophet, was awarded a Fringe First award by The Scotsman newspaper.
