John Legend

A member of the select group of EGOT winners, including twelve Grammy Award wins and an Academy Award for Best Original Song, John Legend is a singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer known for his distinct vocals and songwriting style. His contributions to the music industry have garnered him a vast international fan base and a series of Top 10 platinum-selling albums.

Legend's debut studio album, "Get Lifted" (2004), made an impressive mark on the Billboard 200 and received double platinum certification. His following albums "Once Again" (2006) and "Evolver" (2008) each reached #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop charts, while "Love in the Future" (2013) and "Darkness and Light" (2016) broke into the top 5. His more recent album, "Bigger Love" (2020), won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Legend has collaborated with prominent figures in the music industry throughout his career and has written for various artists on bestselling recordings, including Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, and Kanye West.

Legend's career is highlighted not only by his musical achievements but also by his acting and television roles. He portrayed the titular character in NBC's adaptation of "Jesus Christ Superstar" (2018), for which he won a Tony award, and served as a vocal coach on the reality competition series "The Voice," where he won the competition with his artist, Maelyn Jarmon, in 2019.

Legend has long used his platform for social activism. He launched the Show Me Campaign in 2007, which fights to break the cycle of poverty through education. In 2015, he furthered his advocacy with the launch of #FREEAMERICA, a multi-year cultural change campaign centered on ending mass incarceration. His efforts have earned him recognition, including the BET Humanitarian of the Year award, the CARE Humanitarian Award for Global Change, and the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award from Africare. He also sits on the Boards of Teach for America, Stand for Children and the Harlem Village Academies and serves on the advisory council for Turnaround.

In addition to his musical and humanitarian impacts, Legend has also made strides in the digital space, launching the music-based NFT platform, OurSong, in February 2022. He closed a 17-year contract with Sony Music and signed with Republic Records in November 2021.