John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, and actor. He began his musical career working behind the scenes for other artists, playing piano on Lauryn Hill’s “Everything Is Everything,” and making uncredited guest appearances on Jay-Z’s “Encore” and Alicia Keys’s “You Don’t Know My Name”. He was the first artist signed to Kanye West’s GOOD Music, through which he released his debut album, Get Lifted (2004). The album reached the top ten on the Billboard 200, received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and included his first hit song, “Ordinary People.”
Legend received two Grammy Awards from eight nominations at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards; “Ordinary People” won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, while Legend himself won Best New Artist. Moreover, Get Lifted was nominated for Best R&B Album, while its other single, “So High” (remixed with Lauryn Hill) was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. His second album, Once Again (2006) was met with continued critical and commercial success, supported by the lead single “Save Room.” His third album, Evolver (2008) further diversified his artistry; its funk-inspired lead single, “Green Light” (featuring André 3000) peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received double platinum certification by the RIAA. That same year, Legend released the live album John Legend: Live from Philadelphia (2008), followed by a collaborative album with Philadelphia-based hip hop band The Roots titled Wake Up! (2010).
His fourth studio album, Love in the Future (2013) was preceded by the hit single “All of Me.” The pop ballad reached his furthest commercial success as it peaked on the Billboard Hot 100, spent 23 consecutive weeks in the chart’s top ten, and received diamond (14× platinum) certification by the RIAA. In 2015, he co-performed with Meghan Trainor on her single “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”, which peaked at the number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, he released his fifth album Darkness and Light (2016) and departed from GOOD Music. Legend has since released A Legendary Christmas (2018), Bigger Love (2020)—which won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album—and his ninth album, Legend (2022).
For his music, Legend has received a total of 12 Grammy Awards. In 2007, he received the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[2] Legend won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and Golden Globe Award in 2015 for co-writing and co-performing the song “Glory” (with Common) for the film Selma. In 2017, Legend won a Tony Award for co-producing Jitney for the Broadway stage.[3] In 2018, Legend portrayed the titular character in NBC’s adaptation of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his acting role and won for his role as a producer of the show, making him the first Black male and second youngest recipient of all four of the major American entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT).[4][5] Legend is also the recipient of the NAACP’s President’s Award.[6] Legend has been a vocal coach for the reality competition series The Voice from its sixteenth season to its twenty-second season, and again from its twenty-fourth season.
Early life
John Roger Stephens was born on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio.[7] He is the eldest of four children[8] of Phyllis Elaine (née Lloyd), a seamstress, and Ronald Lamar Stephens, a factory worker at International Harvester (which also has a factory in Springfield, Ohio and is now Navistar).[9][10][11][12] His father was a drummer, while “his mother sang and directed the church choir, and his grandmother was the church organist.”[13] In 2004, Legend stated that his parents were divorced for 12 years before reuniting.[14] Legend was homeschooled by his mother.[15] He began playing the piano at age 4.[16][17] At the age of 7, he performed with his church choir.[18] Because of his academic talent, he skipped two grades.[13]
At the age of 12, Legend attended North High School in Springfield, Ohio, from which he graduated as salutatorian of his class four years later.[13] At the age of 15, Legend won a Black History Month essay competition run by McDonald’s, following the prompt “How do you intend to make Black history?” with an essay about how he intended to be a successful musician, according to an interview on the Carlos Watson Show.[19]
After enrolling at the University of Pennsylvania at 16, Legend served as the president and musical director of the co-ed jazz and pop a cappella group the Counterparts. His lead vocals on the group’s recording of Joan Osborne’s “One of Us” (written by fellow Penn alum Eric Bazilian of the Hooters) received critical acclaim, landing the song on the track list of the 1998 Best of Collegiate a Cappella compilation CD.[20] Legend was also a
