John Legend Biography
John Legend is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, film producer, theatre director, and philanthropist. Prior to the release of Legend's debut album, Get Lifted (2004), he had collaborated with already established artists and signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music. Legend has sung on Jay-Z's "Encore", Alicia Keys's "You Don't Know My Name", Dilated Peoples' "This Way", Slum Village's "Selfish", Fort Minor's "High Road", and played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything". Legend's single "All of Me" from his fourth studio album Love in the Future (2013) was a Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit.
In 2007, Legend received the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Legend won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and Golden Globe Award in 2015 for co-writing the song "Glory" from the film Selma. He has also won eleven Grammy Awards. In 2017, Legend received a Tony Award for co-producing Jitney for the Broadway stage. In 2018, Legend portrayed Jesus Christ 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 one of 16 people and the first black man to have won all four of the following awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). Legend is also the second youngest person to have achieved this milestone. Since 2019, Legend has been featured as a coach on The Voice.
John Legend Awards and Nominations
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BroadwayWorld Awards - 2018 - Best Score  | ||
| John Legend, SpongeBob SquarePants | ||
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| Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2018 - Outstanding New Score | ||
| John LegendSpongeBob SquarePants | ||
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| Tony Awards - 2018 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | ||
| John LegendSpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical | ||
John Legend News
VIDEO: John Legend Shares Live Performance of 'Wonder Woman'
by Michael Major - Feb 10, 2023
Vevo, the world's leading music video network, announces the release of John Legend's live performance of 'Wonder Woman' off his latest album, LEGEND. 'Wonder Woman' follows John Legend's previous live performance of 'I Don't Love You Like I Used To.' Watch the new video performance now!
VIDEO: 5 of Our Favorite LA LA LAND Musical Moments
by Michael Major - Feb 9, 2023
As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, the hit movie musical La La Land is being adapted into a Broadway musical. Ahead of La La Land's Broadway arrival, we have compiled five of our favorite video musical moments from the film, including performances by Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and John Legend.
VIDEO: Jennifer Hudson Celebrates 100th Episode with John Legend
by Michael Major - Feb 9, 2023
Jennifer Hudson holds back tears as she celebrates the 100thÂepisode of âThe Jennifer Hudson Show' in addition to Warner Bros.â centennial year. Fellow EGOT winnerÂJohn LegendÂjoins Jennifer for the milestone show, surprising her with a bouquet of 100 flowers, and the two singers duet Simon & Garfunkelâs âBridge Over Troubled Water.â Watch videos!
NBC to Air BYRON ALLEN PRESENTS THE COMEDY AND MUSIC SUPERFEST
by Michael Major - Feb 8, 2023
Musical performers include John Legend, Gladys Knight, Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton and Earth Wind & Fire. Comedy performances include Kenan Thompson, Cedric The Entertainer, Howie Mandel, Tiffany Haddish, Jon Lovitz, Roy Wood Jr., Gary Owen, Tommy Davidson, Dane Cook, Gabriel Iglesias, and Loni Love.
by Michael Major - Feb 8, 2023
Patti and Jennifer discuss who should play Patti in a movie and she reminisces on past moments with Diana Ross, the Rolling Stones, and Prince before the singers perform a duet of âYou Are My Friend.â ÂDonât miss Patti and Jennifer sing to audience member Althea celebrating her 103rd birthday on the show! Watch the video clips from the episode now!
LA LA LAND Broadway Musical In the Works Directed By Bartlett Sher
by Michael Major - Feb 7, 2023
Marc Platt has announced that La La Land will be adapted into a Broadway musical directed by Bartlett Sher. The musical will feature music from the film's composer, Justin Hurwitz and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The book will be written by Ayad Akhtar and Matthew Decker.Â
VIDEO: Yvette Nicole Brown Reveals She Auditioned for Effie in DREAMGIRLS Before Jennifer Hudson
by Michael Major - Feb 7, 2023
Yvette Nicole Brown joins Jennifer Hudson on The Jennifer Hudson Show. She reveals she auditioned for the role of Effie in âDreamgirlsâ before Jennifer got the part and how her scenes were cut from the film.ÂBrown also discussed her reaction to seeing Jennifer Hudson in the film for the first time and her cut cameo with Jamie Foxx. Watch the video!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 6, 2023
Second Stage TheaterÂwill host a Winterâs Ball geared towards young professionals and arts patrons, featuring Michael R. Jackson and Common. The fundraising event will take place onÂMonday, February 27Âat The Pierre Hotel. See
Find Out Who Won at the 65th GRAMMY Awards - Complete List of Winners!
by Michael Major - Feb 5, 2023
Last night, the GRAMMY Awards aired live on CBS and Paramount Plus. Winners included Beyoncé and Kim Petras making history, plus Lizzo, Viola Davis, Sam Smith, Harry Styles, Bonnie Raitt, Samara Joy, Willie Nelson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more.
Viola Davis Achieves EGOT Status at the GRAMMYs
by Michael Major - Feb 5, 2023
Following her new GRAMMY win, Viola Davis has become the 18th person in history to achieve the EGOT status. Davis has won two Tony Awards for King Hedley II in 2001 and then for Fences in 2010. She won an Emmy Award for How to Get Away With Murder and an Oscar for reprising her stage role in the film adaptation of Fences.
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John Legend Videos
by Michael Major - Feb 10, 2023
Vevo, the world's leading music video network, announces the release of John Legend's live performance of 'Wonder Woman' off his latest album, LEGEND. 'Wonder Woman' follows John Legend's previous live performance of 'I Don't Love You Like I Used To.' Watch the new video performance now!
by Michael Major - Feb 9, 2023
Jennifer Hudson holds back tears as she celebrates the 100thÂepisode of âThe Jennifer Hudson Show' in addition to Warner Bros.â centennial year. Fellow EGOT winnerÂJohn LegendÂjoins Jennifer for the milestone show, surprising her with a bouquet of 100 flowers, and the two singers duet Simon & Garfunkelâs âBridge Over Troubled Water.â Watch videos!
by Michael Major - Feb 9, 2023
As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, the hit movie musical La La Land is being adapted into a Broadway musical. Ahead of La La Land's Broadway arrival, we have compiled five of our favorite video musical moments from the film, including performances by Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and John Legend.
by Michael Major - Feb 8, 2023
Patti and Jennifer discuss who should play Patti in a movie and she reminisces on past moments with Diana Ross, the Rolling Stones, and Prince before the singers perform a duet of âYou Are My Friend.â ÂDonât miss Patti and Jennifer sing to audience member Althea celebrating her 103rd birthday on the show! Watch the video clips from the episode now!
by Michael Major - Feb 7, 2023
Yvette Nicole Brown joins Jennifer Hudson on The Jennifer Hudson Show. She reveals she auditioned for the role of Effie in âDreamgirlsâ before Jennifer got the part and how her scenes were cut from the film.ÂBrown also discussed her reaction to seeing Jennifer Hudson in the film for the first time and her cut cameo with Jamie Foxx. Watch the video!
by Michael Major - Feb 3, 2023
Jennifer congratulates fellow EGOT winner Rita on her historic achievement as the first Hispanic and 3rdÂperson in history to receive the coveted honor and Rita shares how her husband encouraged her to move her awards out of the garage to display them with pride in the living room. Watch videos now!
by Stephi Wild - Aug 18, 2022
Randy Rainbow is back with his latest song parody, called 'Lock Him Up Yesterday', based on the song 'Yesterday' by The Beatles. Check out the video here!
by Nicole Rosky - Aug 4, 2022
Randy Rainbow is back with his favorite response to gun violence. Watch as he gives A Chorus Line's 'Dance Ten, Looks Three' a clever re-do in his latest spoof- 'Thoughts and Prayers'.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 4, 2022
The song is Produced, Orchestrated, Mixed, Mastered ByÂMichael J MoritzÂJr, with Vocal Arrangement byÂJesse Kissel. Piano is byÂMichael J MoritzÂJr, with Guitar fromÂJakob Reinhardt,ÂAdam DeAscentisÂon Bass, Tom Jorgensen on Drums, and Ryan Saranich on Sax. Jacob Reinhardt serves as Engineer.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 14, 2022
Randy RainbowÂis back with an all new song parody, this time taking on 'Dentist!' from Little Shop of Horrors, and putting his own spin on it for 'GURL, YOU'RE A KAREN'.
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John Legend Frequently Asked Questions
How many shows has John Legend written?
John Legend has written 1 shows including The Spongebob Musical (Original Music).
What awards has John Legend been nominated for?
Best Score (BroadwayWorld Awards) for SpongeBob SquarePantsOutstanding New Score (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for SpongeBob SquarePants andBest Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical .
What awards has John Legend won?
Best Score (BroadwayWorld Awards) for SpongeBob SquarePantsandOutstanding New Score (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for SpongeBob SquarePants.
FAQs
What was John Legend's first hit song? ›
"Ordinary People" is a song by American recording artist John Legend. It was written and produced by Legend and will.i.am for his debut album Get Lifted (2004). It was released as the album's second single and later certified gold by the RIAA.
What nationality is John Legend? ›John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and record producer.
Does John Legend have a degree? ›Upon graduation, he had scholarship offers from Georgetown and Harvard University. Legend decided to attend the University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude in 1999.
What made John Legend famous? ›While at college, John got his big musical break when he was introduced to Lauryn Hill and played piano on her song 'Everything is Everything,' which lead to him releasing his own music and signing with Kanye West's label in 2001.
What is John Legend salary? ›What is John Legend's net worth in 2023? John Legend's net worth in 2023 is estimated at a whopping $100 million, thanks to his work in music as well as film and TV, including The Voice.
What singer did John Legend Win The Voice with? ›Season 16 of The Voice brought John Legend to the Coaches' chair. Performing "Fields of Gold" by Sting, folk singer Maelyn Jarmon impressed all of the Coaches but ultimately chose Legend to lead her to victory, giving the "All of Me" singer the win in his very first season.