John Legend Biography

Fast Facts

• Grew up in a musical family; began taking piano lessons and performing in church at a young age
• Graduated from high school at age 16 and was salutatorian of his class
• Served as choir director at Bethel AME Church in Scranton, PA, for nine years
• At 19, played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything," a key song on her 1998 CD The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
• Changed name from John Stephens to John Legend after friend and poet J
• Ivy nicknamed him "The Legend" during a studio session
• Did session work for a diverse roster of artists, including Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson and Kanye West
• First album, Get Lifted, debuted at No
• 7 on the Billboard 200 in 2004