John Roger Stephens, better known by his stage name John Legend, is a singer, songwriter, and musician from the United States. His albums ‘Once Again’ and ‘Darkness and Light’ are among his most well-known. Legend, who was born in the United States and raised in Springfield, Ohio, has always had a passion for music. At the age of four, he began singing in his church choir. He began playing the piano at the age of seven. He was the president and music director of a musical group called ‘Counterparts’ while in college. Legend has worked with artists such as Kanye West, Britney Spears, and Lauryn Hill on his several studio albums. He earned a ‘Oscar’ in 2015 for his song ‘Glory,’ which he wrote for the historical film ‘Selma.’ He has also received a number of other notable honors, including 10 ‘Grammy’ awards and a ‘Golden Globe Award.’ He is also an actor who starred in the film ‘La La Land,’ which was a box office success and won six ‘Oscars.’ He is well-known for his charity endeavors, such as raising awareness for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Childhood and Adolescence
Ronald Lamar Stephens and Phyllis Elaine Stephens gave birth to John Roger Stephens on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio, United States. He began singing in the church choir at the age of four, having always been interested in music. His grandma also taught him how to play the piano.
He was homeschooled for a few years before enrolling at the ‘North High School.’ He later attended the ‘University of Pennsylvania,’ despite being offered admission to ‘Harvard University’ and scholarships from ‘Georgetown University’ and ‘Morehouse College.’
He was the president and musical director of the ‘Counterparts,’ a pop a cappella group. He was inducted into famous societies such as the ‘Sphinx Senior Society’ and the ‘Onyx Senior Honor Society’ as a result of his extraordinary abilities.
Lauryn Hill was introduced to him when he was in college. He was then engaged to work on the song “Everything Is Everything” from Lauryn Hill’s album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
Career of John Legend
John Roger Stephens used to play in nightclubs and put on shows all across the country in the beginning of his career. He also worked with well-known musicians including Alicia Keys and Kanye West.
In 2004, he released his debut album, ‘Get Lifted.’ The album did well, peaking at number seven on the ‘Billboard 200,’ with hit songs including ‘Ordinary People,’ ‘Number One,’ and ‘So High.’ It garnered largely excellent reviews and was nominated for a Grammy Award for ‘Best R&B Album’ in 2006.
Stephens gradually grew in fame, appearing on several notable albums by well-known artists such as Fort Minor, Jay-Z, and Stephen Colbert. During this period, he was given the stage name John Legend.
His second studio album, ‘Once Again,’ was released in 2006. The album became a great hit after debuting at number three on the ‘US Billboard 200.’ Legend earned his second ‘Grammy Award’ for ‘Best Male R&B Vocal Performances’ for the smash song ‘Heaven.’
His following album, ‘Evolver,’ came out in 2008 and was even more successful. The album debuted at number four on the ‘US Billboard 200,’ selling over 600,000 copies in the United States alone. He cooperated with the hip hop group ‘The Roots,’ and released the album ‘Wake up!’ two years later. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for ‘Best R&B Album’ in 2010.
‘Love in the Future,’ his fourth album, was released in 2013. The album was a big success, peaking at fourth place on the ‘US Billboard 200,’ selling 68,000 copies in its first week of release. He earned a ‘Oscar’ in 2015 for the song ‘Glory,’ which he co-wrote with rapper Lonnie Rashid Lynn for the film ‘Selma.’
In 2016, he published his fifth album, ‘Darkness and Light.’ In the same year, he also starred in the Academy Award-winning picture ‘La La Land.’
In 2017, Legend and Ariana Grande performed a duet for the film “Beauty and the Beast.”
In April 2017, he was cast in the short animation film ‘Crow: The Legend.’
John Legend was cast in the live concert version of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at the ‘Marcy Avenue Armory’ in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on December 19, 2017. In April 2018, NBC broadcasted a live broadcast of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’
For the 2019 season of ‘The Voice,’ Legend was named the winning coach. On May 21, 2019, he and Maelyn Jarmon won the reality show.
Major Projects of John Legend
John Legend’s studio album ‘Wake Up,’ on which he collaborated with the hip hop group ‘The Roots,’ is one of his most important and successful works. The album debuted at number eight on the ‘US Billboard 200,’ selling 63,000 copies in its first week and winning the 2010 ‘Grammy Award’ for ‘Best R&B Album.’ The majority of critics gave it positive reviews.
John Legend’s notable works include ‘Love in the Future,’ which was released in 2013. The album opened at number four on the ‘US Billboard 200,’ with hits including ‘Open Your Eyes,’ ‘All Of Me,’ and ‘Dreams.’ It became a hit in various countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, South Africa, and New Zealand, where it topped the charts. The majority of the feedback was good.
Legend’s most significant and critically acclaimed work is the song “Glory,” which was published in 2014. Legend collaborated with rapper Lonnie Rashid Lynn on the track. It was used as the theme song for the historical drama film ‘Selma,’ which was released in 2014. The song debuted at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It was also popular in places like Spain, Belgium, and Australia. Legend was awarded a ‘Oscar’ at the 87th ‘Academy Prizes’ for the song, which received multiple awards.
John Legend’s fifth studio album is titled ‘Darkness & Light.’ The album debuted at number 14 on the ‘US Billboard 200,’ with singles including ‘Love Me Now’ and ‘I Know Better.’ Within the first week of its publication, 26,000 copies were sold.
Achievements & Awards
John Legend has been nominated for a lot of accolades over his career. He won the ‘Oscar’ for ‘Best Original Song’ in 2015 for his smash hit ‘Glory,’ which he released the year before. He has received numerous honors, including the Grammy Award, the NAACP Image Award, the Soul Train Award, and the Golden Globe Award.
Personal Experiences
Before proposing to Chrissy Teigen in 2011, John Legend dated her for four years. In 2013, they married. In 2016, they welcomed their first child, a daughter called Luna Simone.
The song ‘All of Me’ (2013) was written in honor of his wife, and the music video was shown at their wedding.
Teigen revealed her pregnancy with Legend’s second child on Instagram on November 21, 2017. They welcomed their newborn child, Miles, in May of this year.
He is also active in a number of social causes and humanitarian endeavors. He is a supporter of a number of organizations and causes, including the New York-based ‘Harlem Village Academies,’ which operates many charter schools.
Legend contributed $500,000 to the ‘Springfield City School District’ in 2017 to rebuild an auditorium named after him.
Estimated Net Worth
His net worth is believed to be $75 million.