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Background[]
John Legend ( b. 28 December 1978 ) is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. He is however particularly acclaimed and known for his work as a pianist, musician, composer, and songwriter. He has appeared in a number of music videos as well as live action television and cinematic roles; and voice acting performances.
Legend began his musical career as a pianist, songwriter, and vocalist for a number of musical artists including Lauryn Hill, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, will.i.am, Fergie, and Michael Jackson, among others. He also wrote and released his own original songs including "Used to Love U"; "Ordinary People"; "Who Do We Think We Are"; "Save Room"; "So High"; "All of Me"; and "Glory". He has sold over 10 million albums with several of them being multi-platnium rated.
Legend is also known for starring as the titular character in the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert TV Special. Over the course of his career, Legend has received numerous accolades and awards including 12 Grammys; an Academy Award; a Golden Globe; a Tony Award; an Emmy; and the Hal David Starlight Award.
Biography[]
Personal Life[]
Filmography[]
- Chappelle's Show (2004) 1 episode
- The 10th Annual Walk of Fame Honoring Smokey Robinson (2004)
- Soul Train (2005) 1 episode
- Loverboy (2005)
- Kanye West: College Dropout - Video Anthology (2005)
- Save the Music Concert (2005)
- Showtime at the Apollo (2005) 1 episode
- Barend en Van Dorp (2005) 1 episode
- Def Poetry (2005) 1 episode
- Top of the Pops (2005) 2 episodes
- Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005)
- 25 Strong: The BET Silver Anniversary Special (2005)
- Come Together Collaborative: Come Together Now (2005)
- American Dreams (2005) 1 episode
- John Legend: Live at the House of Blues (2005)
- The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2005)
- Music Cares Person of the Year: Brian Wilson (2005)
- The Best Hit USA (2005-08) 3 episodes
- The Tonight Show (2005-22) 17 episodes
- Peapod Benefit Concert (2006)
- Legends Ball (2006)
- DJ Khaled Makes a Video: Grammy Family (2006)
- Sesame Street (2006) 1 episode
- JCPenney Jam: The Concert for America's Kids (2006)
- John Legend at Bowery Ballroom, NYC (2006)
- Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic (2006)
- Tony Bennett: An American Classic (2006)
- The Tyra Banks Show (2006) 2 episodes
- Star Academy (2006) 1 episode
- Nobel Peace Prize Concert (2006)
- Blaxploitation to Hip Hop (2006)
- Pam Grier Super Foxy (2006)
- The Oprah Winfrey Show (2006-11) 3 episodes
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2006-19) 7 episodes
- Las Vegas (2007) 1 episode
- Happy Birthday Elton! From Madison Square Garden, New York (2007)
- Live Earth (2007)
- Control Room Presents (2007) 1 episode
- Movies Rock (2007)
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2007) 1 episode
- An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Smokey Robinson (2008)
- The BET Honors (2008)
- Making of a Legend (2008)
- John Legend: Live from Philadelphia (2008)
- American Idol (2008) 1 episode
- Soul Men (2008)
- A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! (2008)
- A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the Brave (2008)
- Top 40 Videos of 2008 (2008)
- Dancing with the Stars (2008-10) 2 episodes
- The Colbert Report (2008-10) 3 episodes
- Entertainment Tonight (2008-23) 90 episodes
- We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (2009)
- Soundtrack for a Revolution (2009)
- TV One Night Only: Live from the Essence Music Festival (2009)
- Austin City Limits Music Festival (2009)
- The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert (2009)
- The People Speak (2009)
- Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief (2010)
- John Legend Evolver Tour 2009: Live from the Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley (2010)
- VH1 Rock Docs (2010) 1 episode
- Dow Live Earth Run for Water (2010)
- America: The Story of the US (2010) 2 episodes
- Gulf Aid: Concert for the Coast (2010)
- Music (2010)
- The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear (2010)
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2010) 1 episode
- John Legend Wishes Zindi Mandela a Happy 50th Birthday (2010)
- In Performance at the White House the Motown Sound (2010)
- Royal Pains (2011) 1 episode
- The 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2011)
- Broke* (2011)
- Cookies & Cocktails (2011)
- The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America (2012)
- Bizarre Foods America (2012) 1 episode
- Duets (2012) 9 episodes
- Global Citizen Festival (2012)
- CMA Country Christmas (2012)
- Live with John Legend (2012)
- Black Cab Sessions USA (2012) 1 episode
- Project Runway (2013) 1 episode
- TED Talks Education (2013)
- The Sound of Change Live (2013)
- At Home with John Legend (2013)
- Chelsea Lately (2013) 1 episode
- Playing It Forward: John Legend (2013)
- Soul Power! (2013) 1 episode
- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful (2014)
- The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles (2014)
- A MusiCares Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2014)
- Snack Off (2014) 1 episode
- CMT Crossroads (2014) 1 episode
- Hollywood Game Night (2014-20) 3 episodes
- Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life an All Star Grammy Salute (2015)
- Why Not Us? (2015)
- Pop Wrapped TV (2015) 2 episodes
- Rock in Rio (2015) 1 episode
- FabLife (2015) 4 episodes
- Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America (2015)
- Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert (2015)
- Taraji and Terrence's White Hot Holidays (2015)
- Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live (2015)
- Lip Sync Battle (2015-19) 7 episodes
- Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall (2016)
- Kocktails with Khloe (2016) 1 episode
- Greatest Hits (2016) 2 episodes
- Loose Women (2016) 1 episode
- La La Land (2016)
- The Toycracker: A Mini-Musical Spectacular (2016)
- Access Hollywood (2016-23) 19 episodes
- Underground (2017) 1 episode
- Taking the Stage: African American Music and Stories That Changed America (2017)
- Stayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees (2017)
- Carpool Karaoke (2017) 1 episode
- Master of None (2017) 1 episode
- Black Girls Rock! 2017 (2017)
- The Voice (2017-?) series regular
- Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (2018)
- Elton John: I'm Still Standing - A Grammy Salute (2018)
- Families Belong Together: Los Angeles (2018)
- Ask the StoryBots (2018) 1 episode
- Quincy (2018)
- Sunday's Best: Celebrating 40 Years of CBS Sunday Morning (2018)
- Crow: The Legend (2018)
- A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy (2018)
- Surviving R. Kelly (2019) 4 episodes
- Elvis All-Star Tribute (2019)
- Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul (2019)
- Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019)
- Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration (2019)
- Saturday Night Live (2019) 1 episode
- Hitsville: The Making of Motown (2019)
- Celebrity Family Feud (2019) 2 episodes
- Rhythm + Flow (2019) 1 episode
- John Legend: Christmas Under the Stars (2019)
- Sherman's Showcase (2019-22) 6 episodes
- Dave Chappelle: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2020)
- Sergio Mendes in the Key of Joy (2020)
- This Is Us (2020) 1 episode
- The Voice: Nick Who? (2020)
- Chrissy's Court (2020) 1 episode
- The Great New York Foodathon: A Star-Studded Special to Benefit City Harvest (2020)
- One World: Together at Home (2020)
- Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince (2020)
- Saving OurSelves: BET COVID-19 Relief Effort (2020)
- The Disney Family Singalong Volume 2 (2020)
- John Legend and Family: Bigger Love Father's Day (2020)
- A One-Time Special (2020)
- The Voice: One Love (2020)
- The Simpsons (2020) 1 episode
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High Table Read (2020)
- Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes - At Home Holiday Special (2020)
- My Gift: A Christmas Special from Carrie Underwood (2020)
- The Year: 2020 (2020)
- Forward: The Future of Black Music (2021) 1 episode
- The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song (2021) 2 episodes
- The Voice: Together Forever (2021)
- Coming 2 America (2021)
- Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days (2021)
- Sergio Mendes & Friends: A Celebration (2021)
- The 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2021)
- That's My Jam (2021) 1 episode
- The Mitchells vs the Machines (2021)
- Strictly Come Dancing (2022) 1 episode
- A Grammy Salute to the Beach Boys (2023)
- Christmas at Graceland (2023)
Trivia[]
- Is one of the very few and rare EGOT entertainment elites; meaning that he has separately won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. Among his fellow EGOT winners are such legendary figures as Audrey Hepburn, Mel Brooks, Elton John, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Further, he is the first black male to have achieved the EGOT.
Quotes[]
- "Experience is a great teacher."
- "Soul is about authenticity. Soul is about finding the things in your life that are real and pure."