John Legend
John Legend is a singer, songwriter and pianist whose gospel-rooted R&B runs from “Ordinary People” and “All of Me” to family songs, film music and his Pharrell Williams collaboration Muse.
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Latest
John’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Born
- December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio
- Birth name
- John Roger Stephens
- Work
- Singer, songwriter, pianist and producer
- Breakout
- Get Lifted (2004) and “Ordinary People”
- Education
- University of Pennsylvania, Class of 1999
- Milestone
- Completed his EGOT in 2018
Mini bio
How it started.
Born John Roger Stephens in Springfield, Ohio, John grew up surrounded by music. He asked for piano lessons at four and sang in church and school productions as a child. His grandmother, a church organist, taught him gospel piano. He later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999.
The first records.
Before his own debut, he played piano on Lauryn Hill’s “Everything Is Everything” and sang backing vocals for Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Signing with Kanye West’s GOOD Music led to Get Lifted in 2004. “Ordinary People” became his breakout hit, and he took home three Grammys in 2006, including Best New Artist.
Songs that travel.
“All of Me,” from Love in the Future, became one of his signature songs. With Common, he wrote “Glory” for Selma and won the 2015 Oscar for Original Song. His stage and television work includes co-producing Jitney and starring as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. Producing the latter earned him the 2018 Emmy that completed his EGOT.
Still making room for new sounds.
My Favorite Dream brought his voice to children’s songs and lullabies in 2024, with Sufjan Stevens producing. In 2026, Muse paired him with Pharrell Williams for a full album, extending a career that moves between piano ballads, soul, gospel and hip-hop collaborations.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 2026MuseSinger and songwriter; produced by Pharrell Williams
- 2025The Birds Don’t SingFeatured vocalist with Clipse and Voices of Fire
- 2024My Favorite DreamSinger and songwriter; produced by Sufjan Stevens
- 2014Glory, from SelmaCo-writer and performer with Common
- 2013All of MeSinger and songwriter
- 2004Get LiftedSinger, songwriter and co-producer
Stage and television
- 2018Jesus Christ Superstar Live in ConcertJesus Christ and executive producer
- 2017August Wilson’s JitneyCo-producer
Awards
- Grammy Award, 2025Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella for “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” with Jacob Collier and Tori Kelly. His thirteenth Grammy.
- Grammy Award, 2021Best R&B Album for Bigger Love.
- Primetime Emmy Award, 2018Outstanding Variety Special (Live), as an executive producer of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. This completed his EGOT.
- Tony Award, 2017Best Revival of a Play for August Wilson’s Jitney, as a co-producer.
- Academy Award, 2015Original Song for “Glory” from Selma, shared with Common.
- Three Grammy Awards, 2006Best New Artist, Best R&B Album for Get Lifted, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Ordinary People.”
Quotes
I really want every project to be my best project. Every album to be my best album.John Legend, The Associated Press
Speaking in October 2026 about continuing to challenge himself while making Muse.
Trivia
- His family had a singing group called the Stephens 5.
- Get Lifted was released on his 26th birthday, December 28, 2004.
- He performed “It Feels Good When You Sing A Song” with Hoots the Owl on Sesame Street in 2006.
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