![Glee](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/glee-reboot-ftr.jpg?quality=100)
‘Glee’s success was almost eclipsed by its many controversies. See Lea Michele and more stars from the hit show.
Glee premiered on FOX on May 19, 2009 and changed TV forever. The show was an instant sensation, launching careers and kicking off six seasons of choir covers.
Glee helped kick off the careers of Lea Michele, Darren Criss, and Naya Rivera. And the Ryan Murphy/Brad Falchuk-crafted show delighted fans with a parade of A-List singing guests, like Gwyneth Paltrow, Neil Patrick Harris, and Idina Menzel. The cast won a SAG Award for Outstanding Ensemble cast in their first season and stars like Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer walked away with Emmy and Golden Globe awards during the show’s historic run.
While things appeared in perfect harmony on screen, the Glee family has dealt with more than its fair share of controversy. Star Cory Monteith died in 2013 of a drug overdose and in Jul. 2020, Naya Rivera drowned while swimming with her son. And since Glee wrapped, reports of on-set rivalries and bullying by Lea Michele emerged from several sources.
A lot has happened since the show ended on March 20, 2015. Learn more about where all of your favorite Gleeks are today in our gallery here.
Lea Michele
![Lea Michele](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lea-michele-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Cory Monteith
![Cory Monteith](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cory-montieth-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Matthew Morrison
![Matthew Morrison](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/matthew-morrison-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Naya Rivera
![Naya Rivera](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/naya-rivera-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Amber Riley
![Amber Riley](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/amber-riley-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Mark Salling
![Mark Salling](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/mark-salling-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Jane Lynch
![Jane Lynch](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/jane-lynch-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Heather Morris
![Heather Morris](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/heather-morris-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Dianna Agron
![Dianna Agron](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/dianna-agron-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Darren Criss
![Darren Criss](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/darren-cirss-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Kevin McHale
![Kevin McHale](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/kevin-mchale-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Jenna Ushkowitz
![Jenna Ushkowitz](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/jenna-ushowitz-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)
Chris Colfer
![Chris Colfer](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/chris-colfer-glee-then-and-now-ec-shutterstock.jpg?w=680)