John Legend

John Legend, born John Roger Stephens, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist known for his work in soul and rhythm and blues. He is one of a small number of artists to have won competitive Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards, a distinction commonly abbreviated as EGOT, and he is widely recognized for ballads such as "All of Me" and "Ordinary People."

Early life

Legend was born on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio. He grew up in a musical household and began performing in church at a young age, singing and playing piano in gospel settings. A strong student, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied English and was involved in a cappella and choral groups. After graduating he worked briefly in management consulting while pursuing music in the evenings.

Career

Before his solo breakthrough, Legend collaborated with and contributed to recordings by several established artists, building a reputation as a session musician and songwriter. He became associated with Kanye West's circle, and his debut studio album, Get Lifted, was released in 2004 to commercial and critical success, earning him Grammy recognition. The album included the single "Ordinary People," which became one of his signature songs.

He followed with further albums that blended soul, pop, and R&B, and over the years accumulated numerous Grammy Awards. His 2013 single "All of Me," written for his wife, model and television personality Chrissy Teigen, became an international hit and one of the best-selling singles of its era; it appeared on his album Love in the Future. His Oscar came for co-writing the song "Glory" with Common for the film Selma, and his Tony was earned as a producer of the Broadway revival of the August Wilson play Jitney; he has also won Emmy recognition for televised work, which together completed his EGOT.

Recent work

Legend has remained active as a recording and touring artist, releasing additional studio albums and holiday music, including a Christmas collection. He became known to television audiences as a coach on the singing competition The Voice, appearing across multiple seasons, and he has performed at numerous high-profile events. He has also pursued business and philanthropic ventures, including criminal-justice reform advocacy through his Free America campaign, and has continued to release new music while maintaining a public profile through television and live performance. He and Chrissy Teigen married in 2013 and have several children together.