Tori Kelly

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tori Kelly was a would-be child star who learned how to follow her own muse and bring her music to her fans through the Internet. She gained recognition after posting videos on YouTube as a teenager, and her cover of Frank Ocean's "Thinkin' 'Bout You" was viewed 17 million times. In addition to her online presence, Kelly developed a significant fan base through her live performances, including supporting Ed Sheeran at Madison Square Garden in November 2013 and embarking on her tours, such as her "Fill a Heart" tour.

Born into a musical household -- her father sang and played bass, and her mother was proficient on keyboards and saxophone. Kelly grew up listening to gospel and was influenced by pop and R&B acts such as Jeff Buckley, Lauryn Hill, and Jill Scott. Kelly developed ambitions to be a professional musician at an early age, and when she was 10, she appeared on the TV talent competition "Star Search." In 2004, she was a contestant on "America's Most Talented Kids," winning in her first appearance and moving on to the championship tournament. Her appearance on "America's Most Talented Kids" led to a deal with Geffen Records, but she and the label parted ways before she could release any material.

After auditioning for "American Idol" but failing to make the final 24, Kelly embraced a new approach; she had been learning to play guitar, and she started working on original songs and recording them on her personal computer. Kelly began posting videos of her performances on YouTube. Kelly proved there were paying customers in her new fan base when she digitally released an album, "Handmade Songs" by Tori Kelly, which she recorded herself and featured her playing most of the instruments; the album sold well enough to hit No. 9 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 6 on Soundscan's New Artist tally.

Kelly followed the success of Handmade Songs with a series of live dates, headlining clubs and theaters, and opening at larger venues for Jewel and Ed Sheeran. Scooter Braun, who helped guide Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen to stardom, became Kelly's manager, and she scored a contract with Capitol Records, which released her EP "Foreword" in the fall of 2013. Subsequently, she signed with Epic Records and released a new song, "Missin' U," in 2023.

Throughout her career, Kelly has released numerous albums and EPs, including her debut studio album, "Unbreakable Smile," which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and her second studio album, Hiding Place, which received two Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance/Song. Her latest work includes a Christmas album, "A Tori Kelly Christmas," released in 2020, and her fourth EP, titled "Tori," announced in 2023.

Beyond her music, Kelly has also made her mark in the film industry, voicing Meena in the animated film Sing in 2016 and reprising the role in the sequel, Sing 2, in 2021. She has also appeared on TV shows such as Billboard, Fuse, Popstar!, and Rolling Stone. Moreover, she has been nominated for numerous awards, including the BET Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Grammy Awards, and Radio Disney Music Awards.