John Legend: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:59, 29 October 2006

Latest revision as of 08:41, 27 August 2025

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{{Short description|American singer (born 1978)}}

{{Infobox musical artist 2

{{pp-move}}

|Name = John Legend

{{Use American English|date=October 2020}}

|Img = John-Legend-Promo-Photo.jpg

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

|Img_capt =

{{Infobox person

|Background = solo_singer

|Birth_name name = John StephensLegend

| image = John Legend May 2022.jpg

|Born = [[December 28]] [[1978]]

| caption = Legend in 2022

|Died =

| birth_name = John Roger Stephens

|Origin = [[Springfield, Ohio|Springfield]], [[Ohio]],<br>[[United States]]

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|12|28}}

|Genre = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[Soul music|soul]]

| birth_place = [[Springfield, Ohio]], U.S.

|Occupation = [[Singer-songwriter]], [[pianist]]

| education = [[University of Pennsylvania]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])

|Instrument = [[Piano]]

| occupation = {{flatlist|

|Years_active = 2004&ndash;present

* Singer

|Label = [[Sony BMG Music Entertainment|Sony Urban]], [[GOOD Music]]

* songwriter

|URL = [http://www.johnlegend.com JohnLegend.com]

* pianist

* record producer

* actor

}}

| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/john-legend-interview-politics-election-elizabeth-warren-1203522586/ | title=John Legend on His Political Activism, Endorsing Warren and Admiring Taylor Swift | date=March 3, 2020 }}</ref>

| works = {{hlist|[[John Legend discography|Discography]]|[[#Filmography|filmography]]|[[John Legend discography#Production discography|production]]}}

| years_active = 1998–present

| spouse = {{marriage|[[Chrissy Teigen]]|2013}}

| children = 4

| awards = [[List of awards and nominations received by John Legend|Full list]]

| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed = yes

| origin = [[Springfield, Ohio|Springfield]], [[Ohio]], U.S.

| background = solo_singer

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano}}<!-- for instrument(s) artist is primarily known for, per [[Template:Infobox_musical_artist/doc#instrument]]-->

| genre = <!--Genres reliable sources categorize artist most often. Aim for generality and use two to four genres: [[Template:Infobox_musical_artist/doc#genre]]--> {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[Pop music|pop]]|[[hip-hop]]||[[Soul music|soul]]|[[neo soul]]}}

| label = {{hlist|[[Republic Records|Republic]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|[[GOOD Music|GOOD]]|[[Sony Urban]]}}

| website = {{URL|johnlegend.com}}

}}

| signature = John Legend sig.svg

}}

'''John Legend''' (born '''Will Rebenack''' on [[December 28]] [[1978]] in [[Springfield, Ohio]]) is a [[Grammy]] winning [[United States|American]] [[R&B]] [[singer]], [[songwriter]], and [[pianist]]. His debut album, the platinum selling ''[[Get Lifted]]'', was released in late [[2004]]. It features collaborations with [[rapper]] and [[record producer|producer]] [[Kanye West]Andrew Yao] as well as rapper [[Snoop Dogg]] and the singles "Used To Love U" (US top 100, UK top 30) and "Ordinary People" (US and UK top 30). He also collaborated with [[Slum Village]] on the song "Selfish" (US top 100), also featuring Andrew Yao. Legend also played the piano on [[Lauryn Hill|Andrew Yao's]] "Everything is Everything" and sang background vocals on [[Jay-Z|Andrew Yao's]] "Encore", [[Alicia Keys|Andrew Yao']] "You Don't Know My Name", and [[Fort Minor]Andrew Yao]'s "High Road."

He has a brother, [[Andrew Yao]], who is a singer as well.

'''John Roger Stephens''' (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as '''John Legend''', is an American singer and songwriter. He began his musical career working behind the scenes for other artists, playing piano on [[Lauryn Hill]]'s "[[Everything Is Everything (Lauryn Hill song)|Everything Is Everything]]", and performing as an uncredited backing vocalist on [[Jay-Z]]'s "[[Encore (Jay-Z song)|Encore]]" and [[Alicia Keys]]' "[[You Don't Know My Name]]". He was the first artist to sign with rapper [[Kanye West]]'s [[GOOD Music]], through which he released his debut studio album, ''[[Get Lifted]]'' (2004). The album reached the top ten of the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], received [[Music recording certification|double platinum]] certification by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) and spawned his first hit song, "[[Ordinary People (John Legend song)|Ordinary People]]".

==Biography==

When Legend was 4, he started playing [[gospel]] and classical piano that his grandmother had taught him. And at the age of 5 or 6, he sang with the church choir. Legend attended Springfield North High School, graduating as Salutatorian at 16. He was also prom king and president of the student council. His rival and homosexual lover was Randy Lim.

Legend won three [[Grammy Awards]] from eight nominations at the [[48th Annual Grammy Awards]]—"Ordinary People" won [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]], ''Get Lifted'' won [[Best R&B Album]], and Legend won [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]; the album's final single, "[[So High (John Legend song)|So High]]" (remixed with [[Lauryn Hill]]), was nominated for [[Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]]. His second album, [[Once Again (John Legend album)|''Once Again'']] (2006), was met with continued success, supported by the lead single "[[Save Room (song)|Save Room]]". His third album, [[Evolver (John Legend album)|''Evolver'']] (2008), further diversified his sound with other genres; its [[funk]]-inspired lead single, "[[Green Light (John Legend song)|Green Light]]" (featuring [[André 3000]]), peaked within the top 30 of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and received [[RIAA certification|double platinum]] certification by the RIAA. That same year, Legend released the live album ''[[John Legend: Live from Philadelphia]]'' (2008), followed by his collaborative album with the [[Philadelphia]]-based hip hop band [[the Roots|Roots]], ''[[Wake Up! (John Legend and the Roots album)|Wake Up!]]'' (2010).

He attended the [[University of Pennsylvania]]. There, he directed [[Penn Counterparts|Counterparts]], a coed ''[[a cappella]]'' group. At Penn, Legend majored in English, with an emphasis on [[African American]] literature and culture.

Legend's fourth studio album, ''[[Love in the Future]]'' (2013) was preceded by the hit single "[[All of Me (John Legend song)|All of Me]]". The [[pop music|pop]] [[sentimental ballad|ballad]] yielded his furthest commercial success; it peaked atop the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, spent 23 consecutive weeks in the chart's top ten, and received [[diamond certification|diamond (14× platinum)]] certification by the RIAA. In 2015, he co-performed with [[Meghan Trainor]] on her single "[[Like I'm Gonna Lose You]]", which peaked at number seven on the chart. The following year, he released his fifth album [[Darkness and Light (John Legend album)|''Darkness and Light'']] (2016) and parted ways with GOOD Music. Legend has since released ''[[A Legendary Christmas]]'' (2018), ''[[Bigger Love]]'' (2020)—which won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album—and his ninth album, ''[[Legend (John Legend album)|Legend]]'' (2022).

Oddly enough, his first job after graduating from Penn was not in the music business -- Legend began working for the [[Boston Consulting Group]] in Boston and then [[New York City]]. Before becoming a mainstream artist, Legend often hit the nightclub circuit in New York City, [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], and [[Washington, D.C.]] performing as an independent artist and distributing live LPs such as ''Live at SOB's''.

Throughout his musical career, Legend has won 12 Grammy Awards. In 2007, he won the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame#Hal David Starlight Award|Hal David Starlight Award]] from the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Legend induction1">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcB47sMgEno |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/mcB47sMgEno| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Songwriters Hall of Fame |date=June 22, 2007 |work=Induction for John Legend |publisher=Artisan News |access-date=June 26, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Legend won the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song]] for his 2015 single "[[Glory (Common and John Legend song)|Glory]]" (with [[Common (rapper)|Common]]), which was released for the film ''[[Selma (film)|Selma]]''. He won the [[NAACP]]'s [[NAACP Image Award – President's Award|President's Award]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2016 |title=The Complete List of Winners from the 47th NAACP Image Awards |url=https://eurweb.com/2016/02/06/the-complete-list-of-winners-from-the-47th-naacp-image-awards/ |access-date=May 19, 2022 |website=EURweb}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Platon |first=Adelle |date=June 11, 2017 |title=John Legend Wins Tony Award for 'Jitney,' is One Emmy Away from EGOT Status |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/7825797/john-legend-tony-award-jitney |access-date=June 12, 2017}}</ref> In [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] acting, Legend won a [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]] for co-producing the stage play ''[[Jitney (play)|Jitney]]'' (2017), and portrayed the [[Jesus|titular character]] in [[NBC]]'s [[Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert|adaptation]] of the rock opera ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' (2018). He received a [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination for his acting role, and won the award for his role as a producer of the show, making him the first Black male and second youngest recipient of all four of the major American entertainment awards: [[EGOT|Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT)]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/john-legend-first-black-man-with-egot_us_5b9693fce4b0511db3e4ce6d |title=John Legend Becomes First Black Man To Reach EGOT Status |last=Wanshel|first=Elyse|date=September 10, 2018|work=Huffington Post|access-date=September 11, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chill.us/entertainment/2018/9/11/egot-great-john-legend |title=John Legend Is First Black Man To Achieve EGOT Status |last=Scheibelhut |first=Ashley |date=September 11, 2018 |work=Chill Magazine |access-date=October 9, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Legend also has served as a vocal coach for the reality competition series ''[[The Voice (American TV series)|The Voice]]'' for ten seasons since its [[The Voice (American TV series) season 16|sixteenth season]] in 2019. He became the show's senior coach following [[Blake Shelton]]'s 2023 departure. He has served as the Chief Music Officer for the company [[Headspace (company)|Headspace]] since 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Music on My Mind with John Legend |url=https://www.headspace.com/music-on-my-mind |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Headspace |language=en-en}}</ref>

It was John Legend's roommate and former classmate at Penn, Devon Harris, who introduced Legend to his cousin and then up-and-coming hip hop artist [[Kanye West]]. Since that meeting, Legend and West have worked closely together. Legend is also signed to West's label, [[G.O.O.D. Music]]. Legend sang many of the melodic hooks on West’s demo, which would eventually become the [[Grammy Award]] winning ''[[The College Dropout]]''; and West provided rhythm tracks for Legend’s demo, which would evolve into ''[[Get Lifted]]''. Recently, Legend contributed to fellow G.O.O.D artist [[Common (rapper)|Common]]'s LP, ''[[Be (album)|Be]]'', and also provided vocals for the track "High Road" on the album ''[[The Rising Tied]]'' by [[Fort Minor]] ([[Mike Shinoda]]).

==Early life and education==

Legend frequently cites [[Gospel music|gospel]], R&B, and/or [[hip hop music]] as his main musical influences.

John Roger Stephens was born on December 28, 1978, in [[Springfield, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web|title=John Legend – Biography|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/john-legend-p496659|last=Southern|first=Nathan|work=[[Allmovie]]|access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> He is the second eldest of four children<ref>{{cite web|title=John Legend Isn't Done With Los Angeles Yet—But New York Is on His Mind|url=https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/john-legend-my-favorite-dream-7b77f0af9|work=The Wall Street Journal|date = 11 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="roots">{{cite episode |title=John Legend and Wanda Sykes |series=[[Finding Your Roots]] |people=Gates, Henry Louis, Jr. |date=March 24, 2012 |access-date=June 23, 2013 |url=http://video.pbs.org/video/2232502424 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516143757/http://video.pbs.org/video/2232502424 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 16, 2012 |network=PBS |number=9 |time=10:45}}</ref> of Phyllis Elaine (née Lloyd), a seamstress, and Ronald Lamar Stephens, a [[factory worker]] at [[International Harvester]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/apr/14/20050414-090343-1087r/?page=all|title=Soul savior? |date=April 14, 2005 |work=[[The Washington Times]] |access-date=June 27, 2009}}</ref><ref name="childhood">{{cite news |last=Simpson |first=Dave |title=Legend in his own lunchtime |date=August 22, 2005 |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/aug/22/popandrock.johnlegend |access-date=December 5, 2008 |___location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://minglecity.com/group/johnlegendfans?groupUrl=johnlegendfans&id=2322904%3AGroup%3A1584890&page=3|title=John Legend Fans On Iseecolor|publisher=Mingle City|access-date=May 22, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006130440/http://minglecity.com/group/johnlegendfans?groupUrl=johnlegendfans&id=2322904%3AGroup%3A1584890&page=3|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Finding Your Roots: The Official Companion to the PBS Series|author1=Gates, H.L.|author2=Altshuler, D.|date=2014|publisher=[[University of North Carolina Press]]|isbn=9781469618012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IDVcBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT317|access-date=November 20, 2016}}</ref> His father was a drummer, while "his mother sang and directed the church choir, and his grandmother was the church organist".<ref name="early start" />

In 2004, Legend stated that his parents were divorced for 12 years before reuniting.<ref name="MTV" /> Legend was [[homeschooling|homeschooled]] by his mother.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2006/11/03/spotlight-john-legend/ |title=Spotlight: John Legend |last=Watson |first=Margeaux |date=November 3, 2006 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=July 22, 2009 |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916093115/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1553841,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He began playing the piano at age 4.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Ross Show, Series 20 Episode 7 itvx |url=https://www.itv.com/watch/the-jonathan-ross-show/2a1166/2a1166a0234 |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=itv.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Which celebrities will be on The Jonathan Ross Show tonight? |url=https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23444103.jonathan-ross-show-guests-tonight/ |access-date=April 9, 2023 |website=Times Series |date=April 8, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> At the age of 7, he performed with his church choir.<ref>Statements made on "Music Live Series with John Legend". May 22, 2020.</ref> Because of his academic talent, he skipped two grades.<ref name="early start" />

Legend performed during the pregame show of [[Super Bowl XL]] in Detroit.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1521221/20060119/kelly_r.jhtml?headlines=true For The Record: Quick News On R. Kelly, Jamie Foxx, Green Day, Hilary Duff, Diddy, Tommy Lee & More] - MTV News</ref> He also performed during the halftime show at the [[2006 NBA All-Star Game]],<ref>[http://www.nba.com/allstar2006/Legend_Underwood_060215.html John Legend and Carrie Underwood Set for All-Star Halftime Show] - NBA</ref> and he performed "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch at the 2006 Major League Baseball All Star Game in Pittsburgh, PA.<ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060629&content_id=1529530&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb Musical performers announced for Major League Baseball All-Star Week] - Major League Baseball</ref>

At the age of 12, Legend entered [[North High School (Springfield, Ohio)|North High School]] in Springfield, Ohio,<ref name="early start">{{cite news|date=July 28, 2005|title=Singer/songwriter John Legend got early start|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-07-28-legend-early-start_x.htm|url-status=live|access-date=June 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802135925/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-07-28-legend-early-start_x.htm|archive-date=August 2, 2019}}</ref> and graduated [[salutatorian]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Keithan |date=2024-05-07 |title=John Legend Receives Honorary Doctorate From Loyola Marymount University |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2024/05/john-legend-honorary-doctorate-loyola-marymount-university/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Rated R&B |language=en}}</ref> At the age of 15, Legend won a Black History Month essay competition sponsored by [[McDonald's]], following the prompt "How do you intend to make Black history?" with an essay about how he intended to be a successful musician.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Real Legend Behind John + Chrissy| date=August 28, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWqbFpS2ER4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/RWqbFpS2ER4| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=April 2, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

He is also featured in the [[Black Eyed Peas]] song "[[Like That]]". The song "[[Ordinary People (song)|Ordinary People]]" was originally meant to be for a Black Eyed Peas project, but Legend decided to keep it for himself and recorded the song after he had been signed to Columbia Records.

At the age of 16, he enrolled at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in [[Philadelphia]], where he served as president and musical director of the co-ed [[jazz]] and pop [[a cappella]] group, the Counterparts. His lead vocals on the group's recording of [[Joan Osborne]]'s "[[One of Us (Joan Osborne song)|One of Us]]", written by fellow University of Pennsylvania alum [[Eric Bazilian]] of [[the Hooters]], received critical acclaim, landing the song on the track list of the 1998 ''Best of Collegiate a Cappella'' compilation CD.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=May 13, 2008 |url=http://www.rarb.org/reviews/54.html |title=Rarb Review |publisher=RARB}}</ref> Legend was also a member of the [[Sphinx Senior Society]], one of Penn's undergraduate senior societies, and Onyx Senior Honor Society. While at Penn, Legend was introduced to American singer [[Lauryn Hill]] by a mutual friend; Hill hired him to play piano on "[[Everything Is Everything (Lauryn Hill song)|Everything Is Everything]]", a song from her album ''[[The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill]]''.<ref name="NY Times">{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E3D71E30F931A15753C1A9609C8B63 |title=Music; What Becomes John Legend Most? |last=Newsome |first=Melba |date=October 22, 2006 |work=[[The New York Times]] |pages=1–2 |access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> He graduated ''[[magna cum laude]]'' with a bachelor's degree in [[English studies|English]], with an emphasis on [[African-American literature]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|last=du Lac|first=J. Freedom|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/08/AR2006020802563.html|title=The Best New Artist Is Already a Legend|date=February 9, 2006|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=February 9, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/11/john-legend-left-a-safe-corporate-job-after-college-to-pursue-music.html|title=John Legend left a safe corporate job after college — and now he's made EGOT history|first=Zameena|last=Mejia|date=September 11, 2018|website=CNBC}}</ref>

Legend also appears on the soundtrack to the film Second Chance (starring [[Michael W. Smith]]) with the song "Refuge". Other appearances on the soundtrack include multiple songs by Michael W. Smith himself.

==Career==

The first single from his sophomore album, '''[[Once Again (John Legend album)|Once Again]]''', is "[[Save Room]]". The album is due in stores October 24th and boasts production from Kanye West, [[Raphael Saadiq]], and [[will.i.am]].

===Career beginnings===

After graduating from the [[University of Pennsylvania]], Stephens worked as a [[management consulting|management consultant]] at the [[Boston Consulting Group|Boston Consulting Group (BCG)]] and began producing, writing, and recording his own music.<ref name="early start" /> He released two albums independently: his self-titled demo (2000) and ''Live at Jimmy's Uptown'' (2001), which he sold at his shows. He subsequently began working on a [[demo (music)|demo]] tape and began sending his work to various record labels.<ref name="EW" /><ref name="MTV">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1492704/20041018/legend_john.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041111101013/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1492704/20041018/legend_john.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 11, 2004 |title=Kanye's Hook Singer, John Legend, Ready For The Spotlight |last=Hall |first=Rashaun |date=October 18, 2004 |work=[[MTV News]] |access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref>

In 2001, [[Devo Springsteen]] introduced Legend to [[Kanye West]], a then up-and-coming hip-hop artist; Stephens was hired to co-write or perform [[hook (music)|hooks]] on several of West's songs. After signing to West's [[GOOD Music]], Stephens chose his stage name from an idea that was given to him by poet [[J. Ivy]], due to what he perceived as an "old-school sound". Ivy told Stephens: "I heard your music and it reminds me of that music from the old school. You sound like one of the legends. As a matter of fact, that's what I'm going to call you from now on! I'm going to call you John Legend." After Ivy continued to call him by the new moniker "John Legend", others quickly caught on, including West. Despite Stephens' reluctance to adopt a stage name, he ultimately announced his new artist name as John Legend.<ref name="NY Times" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/john-legend-legend-in-his-lifetime-483776.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/john-legend-legend-in-his-lifetime-483776.html |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=John Legend: Legend in his lifetime |date=February 18, 2005 |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=July 22, 2009 |___location=London}}</ref>

In an interview with MTV.com, Legend said that the album would contain his favorite song that he has written to date, entitled "Again." He said he actually came up with the idea for the song and wrote some of it while sitting on a subway. He stated that the song was also the inspiration for the album's title.

===2004–2007: Debut album and Grammy Award===

On [[July 11]], [[2006]], Legend performed [[God Bless America]] during the 7th inning stretch at the [[2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] in Pittsburgh.

Legend released his debut studio album, ''[[Get Lifted]]'', through [[GOOD Music]], in a joint venture with [[Sony BMG]]'s [[Columbia Records]] in December 2004. It featured production from [[Kanye West]], [[Dave Tozer]], and [[will.i.am]], and debuted at number seven on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], selling 116,000 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/64667/encore-enjoys-another-week-at-no-1 |title='Encore' Enjoys Another Week At No. 1 |last=Whitmire |first=Margo |date=January 5, 2005 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523030444/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/64667/encore-enjoys-another-week-at-no-1 |archive-date=May 23, 2013 }}</ref> It went on to sell 540,300 copies in the United States and was certified [[music recording sales certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045711/legend-seeking-ad-savvy-for-new-album |title=Legend Seeking Ad Savvy For New Album |last=Crosley |first=Hillary |date=April 29, 2008 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref><ref name="RIAA">{{cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=john%20legend&format=ALBUM&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |title=Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – August 09, 2014 |publisher=[[RIAA]] |access-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027082433/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=john%20legend&format=ALBUM&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archive-date=October 27, 2013 }}</ref> An international success, ''Get Lifted'' also reached number one on the [[Norwegian Albums Chart]] and peaked within the top ten in the Netherlands and Sweden, resulting in worldwide sales of 850,000 copies.<ref name="NY Times" /> Critically acclaimed, it won the 2006 [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Album]], and earned Legend another two nominal awards for [[Best New Artist]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]]. Altogether, the album produced four [[single (music)|singles]], including debut single "[[Used to Love U]]", which entered the top 30 of the New Zealand and [[UK Singles Chart]], and Grammy Award-winning "[[Ordinary People (John Legend song)|Ordinary People]]" which peaked at 24 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. Legend also co-wrote [[Janet Jackson]]'s "[[I Want You (Janet Jackson song)|I Want You]]", which was certified platinum and received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]] at the [[47th Grammy Awards|47th Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924114024/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist= |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – October 29, 2014 |publisher=RIAA |access-date=October 29, 2014 }}</ref>

Legend was featured on several records in the following years. He appeared on albums by [[Fort Minor]], [[Sérgio Mendes]], [[Jay-Z]], [[Mary J. Blige]], [[the Black Eyed Peas]], [[Stephen Colbert]], [[Rich Boy]], [[MSTRKRFT]], [[Chemistry (band)|Chemistry]], and [[Fergie (singer)|Fergie]], among others. Legend also tentatively recorded with [[Michael Jackson]] on a future album, for which he had written one song.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdlim8s99co/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/Pdlim8s99co| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=John Legend and Tommy Parker – interview |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=June 30, 2007 |access-date=May 14, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In August 2006, Legend appeared in an episode of ''[[Sesame Street]]'', where he performed the song "It Feels Good When You Sing a Song", a duet with [[Hoots the Owl]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2006/07/legend-foxx-hangin-sesame-street/ |title=Legend, Foxx Hangin' on 'Sesame Street' |date=July 26, 2006 |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |access-date=June 27, 2009}}</ref> He also performed during the pregame show of ''[[Super Bowl XL]]'' in Detroit, and the halftime show at the ''[[2006 NBA All-Star Game]]''.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=May 13, 2008 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1521221/20060119/kelly_r.jhtml?headlines=true |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904231650/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1521221/20060119/kelly_r.jhtml?headlines=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |title=For The Record: Quick News On R. Kelly, Jamie Foxx, Green Day, Hilary Duff, Diddy, Tommy Lee & More |publisher=MTV |date=January 19, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=May 13, 2008 |url=http://www.nba.com/allstar2006/Legend_Underwood_060215.html |title=John Legend and Carrie Underwood Set for All-Star Halftime Show |publisher=[[NBA]] |date=February 15, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103090303/http://www.nba.com/allstar2006/Legend_Underwood_060215.html |archive-date=January 3, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In October 2006, Legend's second album, ''[[Once Again (John Legend album)|Once Again]]'', was released. Legend co-wrote and co-produced the bulk of the album, which saw him returning to work with West, will.i.am and Tozer, as well as other producers including [[Raphael Saadiq]], [[Craig Street]], [[Sa-Ra]], [[Eric Hudson]], [[Devo Springsteen]], and [[Avenue (band)|Avenue]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/John-Legend-Once-Again/release/834794 |title=Once Again Producers |website=[[Discogs.com]] |access-date=May 18, 2016}}</ref> Released to major commercial success, it reached number three on the ''Billboard'' 200 and debuted atop the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart. It has since received platinum certification by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]], and attained gold certification in Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. At the [[2007 Grammy Awards]], the song "[[Heaven (John Legend song)|Heaven]]" won [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]], while lead single "[[Save Room (song)|Save Room]]" received a nomination in the [[Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Best Male Pop Vocal]] category. That same night, Legend won [[Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]] for his cover of "[[Family Affair (Sly & the Family Stone song)|Family Affair]]", a collaboration with [[Sly & the Family Stone]], [[Joss Stone]] and [[Van Hunt]], from the former's remix album, ''[[Different Strokes by Different Folks]]'' (2005).

===2008–2010: ''Evolver''===

[[File:John Legend performing in Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Legend performing at the [[Tower Theater (Pennsylvania)|Tower Theater]] in [[Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania]] in 2009]]

In January 2008, Legend sang in a video for [[Barack Obama]], produced by [[will.i.am]] called "[[Yes We Can (will.i.am song)|Yes We Can]]".<ref>{{cite web |access-date=May 13, 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/jjXyqcx-mYY| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Yes We Can&nbsp;– Barack Obama Music Video |publisher=YouTube |date=February 2, 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The same year, Legend had a supporting, singing-only role in the 2008 movie ''[[Soul Men]]'', where he plays the deceased lead singer of a fictitious soul group that includes [[Samuel L. Jackson]] and [[Bernie Mac]]. In October, he released his third studio album, ''[[Evolver (John Legend album)|Evolver]]''.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=May 13, 2008 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/04/03/DI2008040301941.html |title=Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. with John Legend |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 4, 2008}}</ref> Speaking about the reasons for calling the album ''Evolver'', he stated: "I think people sometimes come to expect certain things from certain artists. They expect you to kind of stay in the same place you were at when you started out. Whereas I feel I want my career to be defined by the fact that I'm NOT gonna stay in the same place, and that I'm always gonna try new things and experiment. So, as I think this album represents a manifestation of that, I came up with the title 'Evolver'."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/343/all_systems_go_for_john_legend/ |title=John Legend interview by Pete Lewis, ''Blues & Soul'', October 2008 |publisher=Bluesandsoul.com |access-date=May 14, 2012 |archive-date=February 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229120901/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/343/all_systems_go_for_john_legend/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The album was preceded by [[dance-pop]]-influenced up tempo single "[[Green Light (John Legend song)|Green Light]]" which featured rapper [[Andre 3000]] of [[OutKast]] and became his highest-charting single since "Ordinary People"; it was also nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration]].<ref>{{cite web |access-date=May 13, 2008 |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1582526/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301185758/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1582526/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 1, 2008 |title=Andre 3000 Says He Didn't Even Try To Top Will Ferrell's Comic Chops On 'Semi-Pro' Set |publisher=MTV |date=February 28, 2008 |author=Adler, Shawn}}</ref> On March 30, 2008, Legend performed "[[America the Beautiful]]" in front of a sold-out crowd of 74,635 in the [[Orlando Citrus Bowl]], now known as [[Camping World Stadium]], for [[WWE]]'s [[WrestleMania XXIV]].{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

In 2009, Legend performed in ''[[The People Speak (film)|The People Speak]]'', a documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans, based on historian [[Howard Zinn]]'s ''[[A People's History of the United States]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepeoplespeak.com/film |title=The4 People Speak – The Film |publisher=Thepeoplespeak.com |access-date=May 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920044711/http://www.thepeoplespeak.com/film |archive-date=September 20, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also in 2009, Legend and [[the Roots]] teamed up to record a collaborative album, ''[[Wake Up! (John Legend and the Roots album)|Wake Up!]]'', which was released on September 21, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1638655/20100506/legend_john.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510003905/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1638655/20100506/legend_john.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 10, 2010 |title=John Legend Is '99 Percent Done' With Wake Up Sessions Album |author=Jayson Rodriguez, Tim Kash |date=May 6, 2010 |publisher=MTV |access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> The first single released from the album was "Wake Up Everybody" featuring singer [[Melanie Fiona]] and rapper [[Common (rapper)|Common]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nahright.com/news/2010/07/16/john-legend-the-roots-feat-common-melanie-fiona-wake-up-everybody/ |title=John Legend & The Roots feat. Common & Melanie Fiona – Wake Up Everybody |publisher=Nah Right |date=July 16, 2010 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429011314/http://nahright.com/news/2010/07/16/john-legend-the-roots-feat-common-melanie-fiona-wake-up-everybody/ |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>McGee, Tiffany. (July 16, 2010) [https://web.archive.org/web/20100718020009/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20402522,00.html First Listen: John Legend & the Roots Want You to 'Wake Up!' – The Roots, Music News, John Legend]. People.com. Retrieved on May 26, 2011.</ref> In November 2010, Legend was featured on West's [[My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]] album, listed a feature on the song 'Blame Game'. In February 2011, Legend won three prizes at the 53rd Annual Grammy Music Awards. He was awarded Best R&B Song for "Shine", while he and the Roots won Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for "Hang On in There". In March 2011, Legend and the Roots won two [[NAACP Image Awards]], one for Outstanding Album (''Wake Up!'') and one for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

===2011–2015: Federal lawsuit and 50-date tour===

[[File:John Legend by Sachyn Mital.jpg|thumb|Legend at the Citi Presents: Evenings with Legends show in 2014]]

On July 5, 2011, songwriter Anthony Stokes filed a [[copyright infringement]] lawsuit against Legend in the [[United States District Court for the District of New Jersey]], alleging that Legend's song "Maxine's Interlude" from his 2006 album ''[[Once Again (John Legend album)|Once Again]]'' derives from Stokes' demo "Where Are You Now".<ref>{{cite news |access-date=July 7, 2011 |url=http://hiphopwired.com/2011/07/07/john-legend-g-o-o-d-music-sued-accused-of-stealing-song/ |title=John Legend, G.O.O.D Music Sued, Accused Of Stealing Song |publisher=Hiphopwired.com |date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> Stokes claimed he gave Legend a demo of the song in 2004 following a concert at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]].<ref>{{cite news |access-date=July 8, 2011 |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/did_john_legend_steal_song_you_decide/251206 |title=Did John Legend Steal a Song? You Decide |publisher=[[E!]] |date=July 8, 2011}}</ref> Legend denied the allegations, telling [[E!]] Online, "I never heard of his song until he sued me. I would never steal anyone's song. We will fight it in court and we will prevail."<ref>{{cite news |access-date=July 20, 2011 |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/marc_malkin/john_legend_fires_back_i_would_never/253082 |title=John Legend Fires Back: "I Would Never Steal Anyone's Song" |publisher=[[E!]] |date=July 20, 2011}}</ref> However, nearly 60,000 people took a [[TMZ.com]] poll that compared the two songs and 65% of voters believed that Legend's "Maxine's Interlude" is a rip-off of Stokes' "Where Are You Now".<ref>{{cite news |access-date=July 7, 2011 |url=https://www.tmz.com/2011/07/07/john-legend-lawsuit-sued-accused-song-rip-off-stolen-copyright-anthony-stokes-maxines-interlude-where-are-you-now/ |title=John Legend Accused of SONG JACKING |publisher=[[TMZ.com]] |date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> A year later, Legend confirmed that he [[settled out of court]] with Stokes for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=July 10, 2012 |url=http://thechamps.libsyn.com/webpage/john-legend/ |title=R&B star John Legend sits down with The Champs |publisher=The Champs Podcast |date=July 10, 2012 |archive-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104205618/http://thechamps.libsyn.com/webpage/john-legend/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Also in 2011, Legend completed a 50-date tour as a guest for British soul band [[Sade (band)|Sade]]. In the [[San Diego]] performance, Legend confirmed that he was working on his next studio album and played a new song called "Dreams".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e_qS1KaUm8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/7e_qS1KaUm8| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=John Legend Premiers a New Song Called "Dreams" Live in San Diego |publisher=YouTube |date=August 25, 2011 |access-date=April 14, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Later, via his official website, he revealed the official title of the album to be ''Love in the Future'', and debuted part of a new track called "Caught Up". The album has been executive-produced by Legend himself, along with [[Kanye West]] and [[Dave Tozer]] – the same team who worked on Legend's previous albums ''[[Get Lifted]]'', ''[[Once Again (John Legend album)|Once Again]]'', and ''[[Evolver (John Legend album)|Evolver]]''. Legend has stated that his intention for the record was "To make a modern soul album – to flip that classic feel into a modern context."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/833/return_of_the_legend/ |title=John Legend: Return of the Legend |publisher=Bluesandsoul.com |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104212539/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/833/return_of_the_legend/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Legend was granted an honorary doctorate degree from [[Howard University]] at the 144th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 12, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howard.edu/newsroom/releases/2012/_/20120512EducationSecretaryUrgesHowardGraduatestoSeekTheirPassionandtoServe.html |title=Education Secretary Urges Howard Graduates to Seek Their Passion and to Serve – Howard University Newsroom |publisher=Howard.edu |date=March 16, 2000 |access-date=May 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516052540/http://www.howard.edu/newsroom/releases/2012/_/20120512EducationSecretaryUrgesHowardGraduatestoSeekTheirPassionandtoServe.html |archive-date=May 16, 2012 }}</ref> Legend was a judge on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] music show ''[[Duets (TV series)|Duets]]'' along with [[Kelly Clarkson]], [[Jennifer Nettles]], and [[Robin Thicke]]. Legend's spot was originally for [[Lionel Richie]], who had to leave the show due to a scheduling conflict. ''Duets'' debuted on Thursday, May 24, 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/duets-judge-john-legend-lionel-richie-326712 |title='Duets' Judge John Legend Says Replacing Lionel Richie 'Was Pretty Crazy' |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=May 18, 2012 |access-date=May 24, 2012 |first=Jethro |last=Nede}}</ref>

He released his fourth studio album, ''[[Love in the Future]]'', on September 3, 2013, debuting number 4 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], selling 68,000 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/1567992/john-legend-talks-kanye-produced-love-in-the-future-lp-new-chevy |title=John Legend Talks Kanye-Produced 'Love In The Future' LP, New Chevy Impala Campaign |magazine=Billboard |first=Andrew|last=Hampp|date=May 21, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2013}}</ref> The album was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Album|Best R&B album]] at the [[2014 Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5819883/grammy-awards-2014-full-nominations-list-complete-nominees |title=Grammy Awards 2014: Full Nominations List |magazine=Billboard |date=December 6, 2013 |access-date=May 22, 2014}}</ref> Legend's third single from the album, "[[All of Me (John Legend song)|All of Me]]", became an international chart success, peaking at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks and reaching the top of six national charts and the top ten in numerous other countries, becoming [[List of best-selling singles|one of the best-selling digital singles of all time]]. It was ranked the third best-selling song in the United States and the United Kingdom during 2014. The song is a ballad dedicated to his wife, Chrissy Teigen, and was performed at the [[56th Annual Grammy Awards]].

In 2014, Legend partnered with the rapper [[Common (rapper)|Common]] to write the song "[[Glory (Common and John Legend song)|Glory]]", featured in the film ''[[Selma (film)|Selma]]'', which chronicled the 1965 [[Selma to Montgomery marches]]. The song won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song]] as well as the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]]. Legend and [[Common (rapper)|Common]] performed "Glory" at the [[87th Academy Awards]] on February 22, 2015.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

Legend was featured on [[Meghan Trainor]]'s "[[Like I'm Gonna Lose You]]" from her [[Title (album)|debut studio album]], which reached number eight on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. On February 1, 2015, he sang "[[America the Beautiful]]" in the opening ceremony of Super Bowl XLIX. He provided guest vocals on Kelly Clarkson's song "Run Run Run" for her album ''[[Piece by Piece (Kelly Clarkson album)|Piece by Piece]]''. He also co-wrote and provided vocals for French DJ [[David Guetta]]'s song "Listen", as part of the album ''Listen''.

===2016–present: Resurgence===

Legend released his new album ''Darkness and Light'', with first single "Love Me Now", on December 2, 2016, with songs featuring [[Chance the Rapper]] and [[Miguel (singer)|Miguel]]. Legend featured on [[Kygo|Kygo's]] song "Happy Birthday" for his debut studio album [[Cloud Nine (Kygo album)|"Cloud Nine]]" released in 2016.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

For the 2017 film ''[[Beauty and the Beast (2017 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'', Legend and [[Ariana Grande]] performed a duet on the [[Beauty and the Beast (Disney song)|title track]], a remake of the 1991 original version sung by [[Celine Dion]] and [[Peabo Bryson]].<ref>Dave McNary, [https://variety.com/2017/film/news/ariana-grande-john-legend-beauty-and-the-beast-title-track-1201958617/ "Ariana Grande, John Legend to Perform Title Track for 'Beauty and the Beast{{'"}}], ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', January 11, 2017.</ref> In April 2017, ''Crow: The Legend'', a short animation film, premiered its prologue at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]]. Legend was cast in the title role as the character Crow. He also served as executive producer for the project and performed the original song "When You Can Fly".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/crow-the-legend-trailer-8484743|title=Watch the Trailer For 'Crow: The Legend' Starring John Legend and Oprah Winfrey|magazine=Billboard|date=November 13, 2018|access-date=December 30, 2018}}</ref> The film won at thirteen different film festivals including the [[LA Film Festival]] where it made its North American premiere in 2018.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/shorts/crow-the-legend-qualifies-for-the-2019-academy-awards/|title='Crow: The Legend' Qualifies for the 2019 Academy Awards|magazine=Animation Magazine|first=Mercedes|last= Milligan|date=September 17, 2018|access-date=December 30, 2018}}</ref> The film won Best Animation VR Experience at the [[Raindance Film Festival|2018 Raindance Film Festival]] and received nomination for Best Virtual Reality Production at the [[Annie Award|46th Annual Annie Awards]].{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

On December 19, 2017, [[NBC]] announced that Legend had been cast in the title role in the [[Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert|live concert production]] of ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' at the Marcy Avenue Armory in [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Dawn |first=Randee |date=December 19, 2017 |title=John Legend to Star in NBC's 'Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!' |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/john-legend-set-play-title-role-nbc-s-jesus-christ-t120245 |magazine=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |access-date=October 11, 2019 }}</ref> The production was broadcast live on NBC television on April 1, 2018 (the date of [[Easter]] Sunday [[Easter controversy|that year]] in [[Western Christianity]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=McHenry |first=Jackson |title=NBC Will Revive Jesus Christ Superstar Live Next Easter Sunday |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/05/jesus-christ-superstar-live-nbc.html |access-date=January 23, 2023 |website=Vulture |date=May 10, 2017 |language=en-us}}</ref> On May 8, 2018, [[Google]] chose Legend as one of the six new [[Google Assistant]] voices.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/08/google-assistant-adds-john-legend-as-one-of-six-new-voices.html|title=Singer John Legend will be one of six new voices for Google's smart assistant|last=Aiello|first=Chloe|date=May 8, 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:John Legend 2019 WBLS Interview 1.png|thumb|upright|left|Legend during an interview in 2019]]

Legend was one of the few celebrities to appear and speak out in the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] documentary ''[[Surviving R. Kelly]]''.<ref name="Rubenstein">{{cite web|author=Rubenstein, Janine|title=John Legend Speaks Out Against R. Kelly In New Documentary |url=https://people.com/music/john-legend-speaks-out-against-r-kelly-lifetime-documentary/|work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=January 3, 2019}}</ref> The six-part [[docuseries]] details sex abuse allegations spread over four decades against acclaimed [[R&B]] singer [[R. Kelly]].<ref name="Linton">{{cite web|author=Linton, Caroline|title="Surviving R. Kelly": John Legend Says "It Didn't Feel Risky At All" to Appear|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/surviving-r-kelly-john-legend-it-didnt-feel-risky-at-all-to-appear/|work=[[CBS News]] |date=January 5, 2019|access-date=August 27, 2019}}</ref> It focuses on women who allege that the musician and record producer used his status and influence to sexually and physically abuse women and young girls for decades.<ref name="Rubenstein"/> Legend lambasted R. Kelly during his interview in the final episode of the series, asserting that "R. Kelly has brought so much pain to so many people. Time's up for R. Kelly."<ref name="Legaspi"/><ref name="Juneau"/>

In spite of numerous public allegations and controversies regarding Kelly, Legend stood as the only major recording artist willing to come forward and speak against him in the documentary.<ref name="Rubenstein"/><ref name="Legaspi"/> In response to fans who labeled him as "brave" for his actions, Legend stated the following on [[Twitter]] ahead of the program's debut:<ref name="Juneau">{{cite web|author=Juneau, Jen|title=John Legend on R. Kelly: I 'Don't Give a F— About Protecting' Him|url=https://people.com/music/john-legend-tweets-r-kelly-documentary-allegations/|work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=January 3, 2019|access-date=January 12, 2019}}</ref> "To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn't feel risky at all. I believe these women and don't give a fuck about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision."<ref name="Legaspi">{{cite magazine|author=Legaspi, Althea|title=John Legend on R. Kelly: I 'Don't Give a F-ck About Protecting a Serial Child Rapist|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/john-legend-r-kelly-surviving-774874/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 3, 2019|access-date=February 22, 2019}}</ref> Executive producer [[Dream Hampton]] revealed that it was "incredibly difficult" to get men and women who had artistically collaborated with Kelly to come forward, including those who had criticized him. During an interview with ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' she said, "We asked [[Lady Gaga]]. We asked [[Erykah Badu]]. We asked [[Céline Dion]]. We asked [[Jay-Z]]. We asked [[Dave Chappelle]]. [They're] people who have been critical of him. That makes John Legend even more of a hero for me."<ref name="Linton"/>

On May 21, 2019, Legend was the winning coach on ''[[The Voice (American TV series)|The Voice]]'', and won the competition with his artist [[Maelyn Jarmon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/music/maelyn-jarmon-wins-the-voice-season-16/|title=The Voice Crowns a Champion! Maelyn Jarmon Wins Season 16|website=People|language=en|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref> In November, Legend was named ''[[People (magazine)|People]]''{{'s}} Sexiest Man Alive.<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Legend, King of All Wife Guys, Is Indeed the Right "Sexiest Man Alive" Pick for Our Times|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/11/john-legend-sexiest-man-alive-wife-guy.html|last=Graham|first=Ruth|date=November 13, 2019|website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate Magazine]]|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=John Legend is PEOPLE's 'Sexiest Man Alive'... and he's perplexed|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/12/entertainment/john-legend-peoples-sexiest-man-alive/index.html|last=Holcombe|first=Madeline|date=November 13, 2019|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=John Legend Is PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive 2019: 'I'm Excited but a Little Scared at the Same Time'|url=https://people.com/music/john-legend-sexiest-man-alive-2019-reveal/|last1=Chiu|first1=Melody|last2=Rubenstein|first2=Janine|date=November 12, 2019|website=People|language=EN|access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> In 2020, Legend was working on a seventh album. On May 13, 2020, he announced the album would be titled ''[[Bigger Love]]''. It was released on June 19. On May 28, 2020, Legend received an honorary doctorate from [[Berklee College of Music]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-now/mikhail-baryshnikov-andr%C3%A9-de-shields-sheila-e-john-legend-cassandra-wilson-honored|title=Berklee Celebrates Class of 2020 as Commencement Goes Virtual|website=Berklee.edu|access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref>

On June 19, 2020, Legend performed alongside [[Alicia Keys]] for episode fifteen of ''[[Verzuz]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jewel Wicker|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/alicia-keys-john-legend-verzuz-juneteenth-best-moments-9406179/|title=The 10 Best Moments From John Legend and Alicia Keys' Juneteenth Verzuz Showdown|publisher=billboard.com|date=June 19, 2020|access-date=September 16, 2024}}</ref> Legend is featured on [[Carrie Underwood|Carrie Underwood's]] Christmas album ''[[My Gift]]''. Legend wrote his featured track entitled ''[[Hallelujah (Carrie Underwood song)|Hallelujah]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title='My Gift': Carrie Underwood's holiday album will feature guest appearances from John Legend and her son|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/8/27/my-gift-carrie-underwoods-holiday-album-will-feature-guest-a.html|website=ABC News Radio|publisher=ABC Audio|date=August 27, 2020|access-date=August 27, 2020|archive-date=August 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827183722/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/8/27/my-gift-carrie-underwoods-holiday-album-will-feature-guest-a.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Legend was among the performers in the ''[[Celebrating America]]'' television event held on [[Inauguration of Joe Biden|Inauguration Day 2021]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/culture/john-legend-performs-feeling-good-on-the-inauguration-of-joe-biden-and-kamala-harris-v2a6127f9 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/culture/john-legend-performs-feeling-good-on-the-inauguration-of-joe-biden-and-kamala-harris-v2a6127f9 |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=John Legend performs "Feeling good" on the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris |first=Stuti |last=Mishra |website=The Independent |date=January 21, 2021 |access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref> He delivered the commencement address to the [[Duke University]] Class of 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://today.duke.edu/2021/05/john-legend-leading-love-build-healthier-and-safer-communities |title=John Legend: Leading With Love to Build Healthier and Safer Communities |website=Duke Today |date=May 2, 2021 |access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref> On November 12, 2021, Legend signed with Republic Records after completing the contract that lasted for 17 years with Sony Music.

In February 2022, Legend launched the music-based [[NFT]] platform, OurSong.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lifestyleasia.com/bk/gear/tech/john-legend-nft-platform-oursong-our-happy-company/ | title=John Legend has launched a music-based NFT platform called 'OurSong' | date=February 8, 2022 }}</ref> On April 3, 2022, performed a new song called "Free" at the [[64th Annual Grammy Awards]] as a tribute to the fallen citizens of Ukraine amid [[Russo-Ukrainian War]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/john-legend-free-ukraine-2022-grammys-1235054484/|title=John Legend and Ukrainian Artists Call For a 'Free' Country With 2022 Grammys Performance|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 3, 2022}}</ref> He was joined on stage alongside by three Ukrainian female artists Siuzanna Iglidan, Mika Newtown, and poet [[Lyuba Yakimchuk]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/2022/04/new-song-john-legend-free/|title=New Song: John Legend – 'Free'|date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> On September 9, 2022, he released his eighth studio album titled ''[[Legend (John Legend album)|Legend]]''. The following month, Legend became ''The Voice'''s senior coach in its 24th season after the departure of singer [[Blake Shelton]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.etonline.com/john-legend-calls-blake-shelton-the-soul-of-the-voice-after-exit-announcement-exclusive-192657 | title=John Legend Reacts to Blake Shelton's 'The Voice' Exit (Exclusive) }}</ref>

==Philanthropy==

Legend performed a benefit concert in Springfield, Ohio, in 2005 in support of a tax levy for the [[Springfield City School District]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew McGinn |___location=Dayton, Ohio|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10169964.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029073715/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10169964.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 29, 2017|title=Legend to perform Dec. 24 at high school in Springfield|publisher=Dayton Daily News|via=highbeam.com}}</ref>

In May 2007, Legend partnered with [[Tide (brand)|Tide]] laundry detergent to raise awareness about the need of families in [[St. Bernard Parish]] ([[Chalmette, Louisiana]]), one of the areas most devastated by [[Hurricane Katrina]]; he spent a day folding laundry at the [[Tide (brand)|Tide]] "clean start" mobile laundromat and visited homes that Tide was helping to rebuild in that community. On July 7, 2007, Legend participated in the [[Live Earth concert, London|Live Earth concert in London]], performing "[[Ordinary People (John Legend song)|Ordinary People]]". After reading Professor [[Jeffrey Sachs]]' book ''[[The End of Poverty]]'', Legend started his ''Show Me Campaign'' in 2007. In this campaign, Legend called on his fans to help him in his initiative for residents in Bosaso Village, Somalia<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/events/251700511541922/ "A Conversation with John Legend"]. October 4, 2011.</ref>{{failed verification|date=October 2019}} and [[non-profit]] organizations partnered with the campaign.

In early 2008, he began touring with Alexus Ruffin and Professor Jeff Sachs of [[Columbia University]]'s [[Earth Institute]] to promote [[sustainable development]] as an achievable goal. Legend joined Sachs as a keynote speaker and performer at the inaugural Millennium Campus Conference. Legend then joined the Board of Advisors of the Millennium Campus Network (MCN), and has aided MCN programs through [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHKDFh5V3Bw online support] and funding fellowships for MCN summer interns through the Show Me Campaign. In 2009, Legend gave [[AIDS Service Center NYC]] permission to remix his song "If You're Out There" to create a music video promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and testing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/06/22/2009-06-22_singer_gives_soul_to_help_battle_aids.html |___location=New York |work=Daily News |title=Singer John Legend gives soul and song to help battle AIDS |last=Boyle |first=Christina |date=June 21, 2009}}</ref>

On January 22, 2010, he performed "[[Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child]]" on the ''[[Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief|Hope for Haiti Now]]'' [[telethon]] show.<ref>Jocelyn Vena, "'Hope For Haiti Now' Telethon Airs Tonight at 8 P.M.: [[George Clooney]], [[Wyclef Jean]] and Hollywood's biggest names help raise money for earthquake relief." [[MTV News]], January 22, 2010, found at [https://web.archive.org/web/20100124064241/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630214/20100122/jean_wyclef.jhtml MTV News]. Accessed January 22, 2010.</ref> On September 8, 2010, John Legend joined the national board of [[Teach For America]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teachforamerica.org/newsroom/documents/20100928_John.Legend.Joins.Teach.For.Americas.National.Board.htm |title=Press Release – John Legend Joins Teach For America's National Board |publisher=Teachforamerica.org |date=September 28, 2010 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022070148/http://www.teachforamerica.org/newsroom/documents/20100928_John.Legend.Joins.Teach.For.Americas.National.Board.htm |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Legend also sits on the boards of the [[Education Equality Project]], the [[Harlem Village Academies]], and [[Stand for Children]]. He serves on the Harlem Village Academies' National Leadership Board. On September 9, 2010, he performed "Coming Home" on the [[Colbert Report]] as a tribute song for the end of [[Iraq War|combat operations in Iraq]], and for the active troops and the veterans of the [[United States Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colbertnation.com |title=The Colbert Report {{pipe}} Colbert Nation {{pipe}} Comedy Central |publisher=Colbert Nation |access-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321105132/http://www.colbertnation.com/ |archive-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> In 2011, he contributed the track "Love I've Never Known" to the [[Red Hot Organization]]'s most recent album ''Red Hot+Rio 2''. The album is a follow-up to the 1996 ''Red Hot+Rio''. Proceeds from the album sales were donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues. On March 6, 2012, John Legend was appointed by the [[World Economic Forum]] to the [[Forum of Young Global Leaders]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/world/the-2012-young-global-leaders-entrepreneurs-politicians-musicians-and-george.html |title=Strombo {{pipe}} The 2012 World Economic Forum Honours 3 Canadians As Young Global Leaders ... Including George |publisher=CBC Television |date=March 6, 2012 |access-date=May 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408221732/http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/world/the-2012-young-global-leaders-entrepreneurs-politicians-musicians-and-george.html |archive-date=April 8, 2012 }}</ref> Later that year, Legend stopped by [[Children's Hospital Los Angeles]] for a surprise visit and acoustic performance as a part of [[Austin Bis|Get Well Soon Tour]].<ref name="wetreatkidsbetter">{{cite web|url=http://www.wetreatkidsbetter.org/2012/06/a-legendary-visit/|website=Wetreatkidsbetter.org|title=A Legendary Visit {{pipe}} CHLA|access-date=November 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209085250/http://www.wetreatkidsbetter.org/2012/06/a-legendary-visit/|archive-date=February 9, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 1, 2013, Legend performed at [[Gucci]]'s global concert event in London whose campaign, "Chime for Change", aims to raise awareness of women's issues in education, health and justice.<ref>{{cite web |last=Talarico |first=Brittany |title=Katy Perry, Blake Lively Join Beyoncé and Gucci to Empower Women |url=http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2013/04/17/katy-pery-blake-lively-beyonce-gucci-campaig/ |work=People |access-date=April 22, 2013 |date=April 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424022452/http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2013/04/17/katy-pery-blake-lively-beyonce-gucci-campaig/ |archive-date=April 24, 2013 }}</ref> At a press conference before his performance, Legend identified himself as a feminist saying, "All men should be feminists. If men care about women's rights the world will be a better place."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/08/opinion/im-a-male-feminist/index.html |work=[[CNN]] |title=I'm a male feminist. No, seriously |date=October 8, 2013}}</ref>

In 2014, Legend founded the FREEAMERICA campaign, which aims to help reform [[incarceration in the United States]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Labs |first1=Symmetry |url=https://letsfreeamerica.com/about/|title=About|website=Letsfreeamerica.com|access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref> He also supported the 2018 ballot initiative to pass [[Florida Amendment 4 (2018)|Florida Amendment 4]], which restored the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Legend |first1=John |title=Leading with Love to Build Healthier and Safer Communities |url=https://today.duke.edu/2021/05/john-legend-leading-love-build-healthier-and-safer-communities |website=Duke Today |date=May 2, 2021 |access-date=June 19, 2021}}</ref>

In 2016, Legend co-signed a letter to the [[United Nations Secretary-General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]] calling for a more humane drug policy, along with people such as [[Richard Branson]], [[Jane Fonda]], and [[George Shultz]].<ref name="drugpolicy">{{cite web|url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/ungass2016|publisher=drugpolicy.org|title=A Public Letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon {{pipe}} Drug Policy Alliance|access-date=November 20, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817234430/http://www.drugpolicy.org/ungass2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The following year, Legend appeared on Salem State University's speaker series and was recognized by Voices Against Injustice (formerly known as the Salem Award Foundation for Human Rights and Social Justice) as the inaugural Salem Advocate for Social Justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/05/03/john-legend-wins-social-justice-award-and-leads-all-singalong-salem-state/IOq0arAAW8VybGAj6j49JP/story.html|title=John Legend wins a social justice award and leads an 'All of Me' singalong at Salem State |website=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> Also in 2017 Legend donated $500,000 to [[Springfield City School District]] to renovate an auditorium, which is named in his honor, within the Springfield Center of Innovation.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2016/06/26/Ohio-theater-named-for-John-Legend-nears-completion.html| title=Ohio theater named for John Legend nears completion|date=June 26, 2016|newspaper=The Blade| access-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> He performed at the John Legend Theater on October 9, 2016.<ref>{{Citation|last=Springfield City School District (Ohio)|title=John Legend Theater: Full Performance|date=October 27, 2016| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlnSpLVKmDU|access-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> In 2018, he starred in an animated virtual-reality short film written and directed by [[Eric Darnell]], titled ''Crow: The Legend'', together with [[Oprah Winfrey]], telling a Native American origin tale.<ref>Russian, Ale. [https://people.com/movies/john-legend-ventures-in-vr-with-oprah-winfrey-and-more-in-crow-the-legend-watch-here "John Legend Ventures in VR with Oprah Winfrey and More in ''Crow: The Legend'' – Watch Here!"], ''People'', November 29, 2018</ref> He also sits on the advisory board & is a financial supporter of FUSE Corps, mitigating racial inequality and breaking down barriers which contribute to racism.

==Personal life==

Legend met model [[Chrissy Teigen]] in 2006 while filming the music video for his song "[[Stereo (John Legend song)|Stereo]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/chrissy-teigen-john-legend-recreate-iconic-spider-man-kiss-lip-sync-battle-2535944|title=Chrissy Teigen, John Legend Recreate Iconic 'Spider-Man' Kiss On 'Lip Sync Battle'|website=[[International Business Times]]|date=May 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WTF with Marc Maron Podcast: Episode 1137 - John Legend on Apple Podcasts|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-1137-john-legend/id329875043?i=1000482825886|access-date=July 12, 2020|website=Apple Podcasts|language=en-us}}</ref> They became engaged in December 2011<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20556787,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130914205728/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20556787,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 14, 2013 |title=John Legend Is Engaged |date=December 27, 2011 |access-date=September 14, 2013 |work=People |first=Stephen M. |last=Silverman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/chrissy-teigen-john-legend-planning-september-wedding-in-lake-como-italy--2013247 |title=Chrissy Teigen, John Legend Planning September Wedding in Lake Como, Italy |date=July 24, 2013 |access-date=September 14, 2013 |work=Us Weekly |first=Brittany |last=Galla}}</ref> and were married on September 14, 2013, in [[Como, Italy]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/john-legend-chrissy-teigen-marry-in-italy-2013149 |title=John Legend, Chrissy Teigen Marry in Italy country -- See Her Wedding Dress! |date=September 14, 2013 |access-date=September 14, 2013 |work=Us Weekly |first=Stephanie |last=Webber}}</ref> His 2013 song "[[All of Me (John Legend song)|All of Me]]" is dedicated to her. The couple has four children: a daughter born in April 2016,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/parents/john-legend-chrissy-teigen-welcome-daughter-luna-simone/|title=John Legend and Chrissy Teigen Welcome Daughter Luna Simone|date=April 17, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2016|work=[[People Magazine]]|first=Catherine|last=Kast}}</ref> a son born in May 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.com/babies/chrissy-teigen-john-legend-baby-born/|title=Chrissy Teigen and John Legend Welcome Baby Number 2: 'Somebody's Herrrrrrre!'|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|first=Chelsea|last=White|date=May 17, 2018|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref> a daughter born in January 2023,<ref name=":0" /> and a son born in June 2023.<ref name="F-C">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/chrissy-teigen-john-legend-welcome-baby-no-4-rcna91675|title=Chrissy Teigen and John Legend welcome baby No. 4|first=Uwa|last=Ede-Osifo|website=NBC News|date=June 28, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> Their first three children were all conceived via [[in vitro fertilization]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Gann|first=Jen|title=Chrissy Teigen Doesn't Feel Like an Expert Mom|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/04/chrissy-teigen-on-parenting-luna-being-pregnant-and-ivf.html|website=The Cut|date=April 4, 2018|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/chrissy-teigen-john-legend-welcome-baby/|title=Chrissy Teigen and John Legend Welcome New Baby: 'What a Blessed Day'|website=People|language=EN|date=January 13, 2023|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref> The couple had their fourth child via [[surrogacy]].<ref name="F-C"/>

In 2020, the couple were expecting a third child,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Henderson|first1=Cydney|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/08/13/chrissy-teigen-and-john-legend-reveal-they-expecting-baby-no-3/3370113001/|title=Chrissy Teigen marvels over pregnancy after revealing baby No. 3 with John Legend in 'Wild' music video|work=[[USA Today]]|date=August 13, 2020|access-date=August 14, 2020}}</ref> but Teigen lost the baby at twenty weeks due to a pregnancy complication.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chrissy Teigen reveals heartbreaking details of recent pregnancy loss|url=https://www.today.com/parents/chrissy-teigen-shares-essay-about-her-recent-pregnancy-loss-t196334|access-date=January 18, 2021|website=TODAY.com|date=October 27, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The pregnancy loss was described by media as a late miscarriage; in 2022, Teigen clarified that the loss was "an abortion to save my life for a baby that had absolutely no chance".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chrissy Teigen says she has come to realise she had an abortion, not a miscarriage |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-62925701 |access-date=January 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web

|last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |last2=Gajewski |first2=Ryan |date=September 16, 2022 |title=Chrissy Teigen Reveals She Had an Abortion to "Save My Life for a Baby That Had Absolutely No Chance" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/chrissy-teigen-miscarriage-abortion-john-legend-baby-jack-1235221899/ |access-date=January 23, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Emlyn Travis |title=Chrissy Teigen says her 2020 miscarriage was actually an abortion that saved her life |url=https://ew.com/celebrity/chrissy-teigen-miscarriage-abortion/ |access-date=January 23, 2023 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}</ref>

On the [[PBS]] series ''[[Finding Your Roots]]'', it was determined that Legend's genetic makeup is 64% [[Africa]]n, 32% [[Demographics of Europe|European]], and 4% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Legend|url=https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/about/meet-our-guests/john-legend|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710125128/https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/about/meet-our-guests/john-legend|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2020|access-date=July 8, 2020|website=Finding Your Roots|language=en}}</ref>

Legend endorsed [[Kamala Harris]] in the [[2024 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/musicians-endorsing-kamala-harris-president-2024/james-taylor-2/ | title=All the Musicians Supporting Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential Election | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>

==Discography==

{{Main|John Legend discography}}

===Album===

*[[2002]]: ''[[Live At SOB's]]''

*[[2003]]: ''[[Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live At The Knitting Factory]]''

*[[2004]]: ''[[Get Lifted]]'' (#4 US, #12 UK)

*[[2006]]: ''[[Once Again (John Legend album)|Once Again]]''

*[[2006]]: ''[[The John Legend Collection]]''

'''Studio albums'''

===Singles===

* ''[[Get Lifted]]'' (2004)

{| class="wikitable"

* ''[[Once Again (John Legend album)|Once Again]]'' (2006)

! width="28" rowspan="2"| '''Year'''

* ''[[Evolver (John Legend album)|Evolver]]'' (2008)

! width="257" rowspan="2"| '''Title'''

* ''[[Wake Up! (John Legend and the Roots album)|Wake Up!]]'' <small>(with [[the Roots]])</small> (2010)

! colspan="3"| '''Chart Positions'''

* ''[[Love in the Future]]'' (2013)

! width="257" rowspan="2"| '''Album'''

* ''[[Darkness and Light (John Legend album)|Darkness and Light]]'' (2016)

|-

* ''[[A Legendary Christmas]]'' (2018)

! width="86"| <small>[[Billboard Hot 100|US Hot 100]]</small>

* ''[[Bigger Love]]'' (2020)

! width="86"| <small>[[R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks chart|US R&B/Hip-Hop]]</small>

* ''[[Legend (John Legend album)|Legend]]'' (2022)

! width="86"| <small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK Singles]]</small>

* ''[[My Favorite Dream]]'' (2024)

|-

| [[2004 in music|2004]]

| "[[Used to Love U]]"

! #74

! -

! #29

| ''Get Lifted''

|-

| [[2005 in music|2005]]

| "[[Ordinary People (song)|Ordinary People]]"

! #24

! -

! #27

| ''Get Lifted''

|-

| [[2005 in music|2005]]

| "[[Number 1 (John Legend song)|Number 1]]"

! -

! -

! #62

| ''Get Lifted''

|-

| [[2005 in music|2005]]

| "[[So High (John Legend song)|So High]]"

! -

! #53

! #160

| ''Get Lifted''

|-

| [[2006 in music|2006]]

| "[[Save Room]]"

! TBR

! TBR

! Download only

| ''Once Again''

|-

|-

| [[2006 in music|2006]]

| "[[Heaven (John Legend Song)|Heaven]]"

! TBR

! TBR

! TBR

| ''Once Again''

|-

|}

==Tours and residencies==

===Guest appearances===

;Headlining tours

*[[2003]]: ''[[The Black Album]]'' - [[Jay-Z]] ("Encore 2", "Lucifer") (vocals and pianist)

* Get Lifted Tour (2005)

*[[2004]]: ''[[The 18th Day]]'' - [[Estelle (singer)|Estelle]] ("Hey Girl" featuring John Legend and Baby Blue, "Freedom" featuring John Legend and [[Talib Kweli]], "Free" - appears in video version of song)

* Once Again Tour (2007)

*[[2004]]: ''[[Neighborhood Watch (album)|Neighborhood Watch]]'' - [[Dilated Peoples]] ("This Way" featuring [[Kanye West]]) (vocalist, pianist, and also appears in music video)

* Evolver Tour (2009)

*[[2004]]: ''No Gray Area'' - [[White Boy]] ("U Know" featuring [[Kanye West]], [[Belo]] and John Legend)

* Love in the Future World Tour (2014)

*[[2004]]: ''[[Take 'Em To The Cleaners]]'' mixtape - [[Consequence]] ("So Soulful" featuring [[Kanye West]], John Legend and [[Khayree]], "Getting Out The Game" featuring [[Kanye West]] and John Legend)

* Darkness and Light World Tour (2017)

*[[2004]]: ''Detroit Deli'' - [[Slum Village]] ("Selfish" featuring [[Kanye West]] and John Legend (also appears in music video)

* A Legendary Christmas Tour (2018–19)

*[[2005]]: ''The College Dropout: Video Anthology'' Bonus CD - [[Kanye West]] ("It's Alright" featuring [[Mase]] and John Legend)

* Bigger Love Tour (2021)

*[[2005]]: ''[[Be (album)|Be]]'' - [[Common (rapper)|Common]] ("Faithful" featuring John Legend and [[Bilal (musician)|Bilal]], "They Say" featuring Kanye West and John Legend)

* An Evening with John Legend (2023)

*[[2005]]: ''Brothers from Another Mother'' - [[Young Gunz]] ("Grown Man pt. 2" featuring [[Kanye West]] and John Legend)

* Get Lifted 20th Anniversary Tour (2025)

*[[2005]]: ''[[The Hip-Hop Violinist]]'' - [[Miri Ben-Ari]] ("I've Been Waiting On You" featuring [[Consequence (rapper)|Consequence]] and John Legend)

<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=John Legend Announces Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour: Here Are the Dates|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/john-legend-get-lifted-anniversary-tour-dates-1235924569/|access-date=2025-03-18 |magazine=Billboard|language=en-en}}</ref>

*[[2005]]: John Legend - "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" (from the ''[[Hitch]]'' Soundtrack}

*[[2005]]: B side of "Pump It" - [[Black Eyed Peas]] - ("Like That" featuring [[Q-Tip]], [[Cee-Lo]], [[Talib Kweli]] and John Legend)

*[[2005]]: ''So Amazing'' - [[Luther Vandross]] tribute album ("Love Won't Let Me Wait")

*[[2005]]: ''[[Genius & Friends]]'' - [[Ray Charles]] tribute album ("Touch")

*[[2005]]: ''[[The Rising Tied]]'' - [[Fort Minor]] ("High Road" featuring John Legend)

*[[2006]]: John Legend - Hello, It's Me (iTunes exclusive track)

*[[2006]]: ''[[Timeless (Sergio Mendes album)|Timeless]]'' - [[Sergio Mendes]] ("Please Baby Don't")

*[[2006]]: ''[[Duets: An American Classic]]'' - [[Tony Bennett]] ("Sing You Sinners")

;Residencies

===Other Appearances===

* Love in Las Vegas {{small|(held at [[Planet Hollywood Las Vegas]])}} (2022)<ref>{{cite web|author=Megan Lasher|url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/john-legend-las-vegas-residency|title=Everything To Know About John Legend's Las Vegas Residency|publisher=nbc.com|date=Oct 6, 2023|access-date=September 16, 2024}}</ref>

* [[1998]]: ''[[The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill]]'' - [[Lauryn Hill]] ("Everything is Everything") (pianist)

*[[2003]]: ''[[Elephunk]]'' - [[Black Eyed Peas]] ("The Boogie That Be") (as a lead vocalist and co-writer)

*[[2003]]: "[[You Don't Know My Name]]" - [[Alicia Keys]] (vocals)

*[[2004]]: "[[If I Ain't Got You]]" (Kanye West Remix) - [[Alicia Keys]] (as a co-writer, pianist and vocalist)

*[[2004]]: "I Want You - [[Janet Jackson]] (as a co-writer and pianist)

*[[2004]]: ''[[The College Dropout]]'' - [[Kanye West]] ("Graduation", "Jesus Walks", "Never Let Me Down" featuring [[Jay-Z]] and [[J Ivy]], "Slow Jamz", "Family Business") (as a pianist and cameo appearances in the videos for "[[Slow Jamz]]" and "[[The New Workout Plan]]")

*[[2004]]: ''[[The Beautiful Struggle]]'' - [[Talib Kweli]] ("I Try" featuring [[Mary J. Blige]]) (as a co-writer, pianist and vocalist)

*[[2004]]: "Around My Way" - [[Talib Kweli]] (lead vocalist and pianist)

*[[2004]]: "[[Overnight Celebrity]]" - [[Twista]] (pianist)

*[[2005]]: ''[[Late Registration]]'' - [[Kanye West]] ("Hey Mama", "Celebration")

*[[2006]]: ''[[DJ Khaled - Listenn]]'' - [[Kanye West]] ("Grammy Family")

==Filmography==

==='''Appearances on Mixtapes'''===

*[[2003]]: ''[[I'm Good]]'' - Kanye West ("Intro" featuring John Legend)

*[[2003]]: "Got Nowhere" (Remix) - Kanye West

*[[2003]]: "Last Night" featuring John Legend - Kanye West

*[[2003]]: ''[[Get Well Soon]]'' - Kanye West ("Home" featuring John Legend - uncredited)

*[[2004]]: "Used to Love U" (Remix) featuring [[Naledge]] - John Legend

===Television===

== Grammy Award history ==

'''Career Stats'''

*Career Wins: 3<ref name="MTV grammys">[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1523985/02082006/u2.jhtml Mariah And Kanye Win, But In The End U2 — And Curveballs — Rule Grammy Night] - MTV News</ref>

*Career Nominations: 8<ref name="MTV grammys"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

! Category !! Genre !! Song/Album !! Year !! Result

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

|-

| 2006, 2018

| '''Best R&B Album''' || R&B || [[Get Lifted]] || 2006 || '''Won'''

| ''[[Sesame Street]]''

| Himself

|

|-

| rowspan=2|2007

| '''Best R&B Male Vocal Performance''' || R&B || "Ordinary People" || 2006 || '''Won'''

| ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''

| Himself

| Episode: "The Bat Mitzvah"

|-

| ''[[Las Vegas (TV series)|Las Vegas]]''

| '''Best R&B Song''' || R&B || "Ordinary People"|| 2006 || Nominated

| Himself

| Episode: "Wagers of Sin"

|-

| 2008

| '''Best Traditional R&B Performance''' || R&B || "Stay With You" || 2006 || Nominated

| ''[[A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All]]''

| Forest Ranger

|

|-

| 2009

| '''Song of the Year''' || General || "Ordinary People" || 2006 || Nominated

| ''[[The People Speak (film)|The People Speak]]''

| Himself

| Documentary

|-

| 2010

| '''Best New Artist'''|| General || N/A || 2006 || '''Won'''

| ''[[Dancing with the Stars]]''

| Himself/Performer

|

|-

| 2011

| '''Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group'''|| R&B || "So High" || 2006 || Nominated

| ''[[Royal Pains]]''

| Himself

| "Listen to the Music"

|-

|rowspan=2|2015

| '''Best Rap/Sung Collaboration'''|| Rap || "They Say" || 2006 || Nominated

| '' [[The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon]]''

| Himself/Performer

| Performed with Meghan Trainor

|-

| ''[[Hollywood Game Night]]''

| Himself/Contestant

| 1 episode

|-

| 2015–2019

| ''[[Lip Sync Battle]]''

| Himself

| 7 episodes

|-

|2016–2017

|''[[Underground (TV series)|Underground]]''

| {{N/a}}

| Producer

|-

|rowspan=3|2017

| ''[[The Nightly Show (UK TV series)|The Nightly Show]]''

| Himself

| 1 episode

|-

| ''[[Master of None]]''

| Himself

| Episode: "The Dinner Party"

|-

| ''[[Carpool Karaoke: The Series]]''

| Himself

| Episode: "[[Alicia Keys]] & John Legend"

|-

|rowspan=2|2018

| ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert]]''

| [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]]

| Also executive producer

|-

| ''[[A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy]]''

| Himself

|

|-

| 2019–2022, 2023–2024, 2025

| ''[[The Voice (American TV series)|The Voice]]''

| Himself/Coach

| Season 16–22, 24–25, 27

|-

| rowspan=3|2019

| ''[[Songland]]''

| Himself

| Episode: "John Legend"

|-

| ''[[Ask the StoryBots]]''

| The King of Music

| Episode: "How do you make music?"

|-

|''[[Celebrity Family Feud]]''

| Himself

| Episode: "John Legend and [[Chrissy Teigen]] vs. the cast of ''[[Vanderpump Rules]]''"

|-

|rowspan=3|2020

| ''[[This Is Us]]''

| Himself

| Episode: "Light and Shadows"

|-

| ''[[The Simpsons]]''

| Himself

| Voice; Episode: "The Miseducation of Lisa Simpson"

|-

| ''[[Whose Vote Counts, Explained]]''

| Himself (Narrator)

| Episode: "Whose Vote Counts".<ref>{{cite web|title=Whose Vote Counts, Explained|url=https://www.netflix.com/title/81304760|access-date=October 1, 2020|website=Netflix}}</ref>

|-

| 2021

| ''[[That's My Jam]]''

| Himself/Guest

| Along with [[Kelly Clarkson]], [[Ariana Grande]], [[Blake Shelton]]

|-

|2024

|''[[Celebrity Family Feud]]''

|Guest

|Episode: "Chrissy Teigen & John Legend vs. [[David Chang]] and [[Deadliest Catch]] vs [[Star Trek Universe]]"

|}

===Film===

{| class="wikitable"

|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

|-

| rowspan=2|2008

| ''Sesame Street: Elmo Loves You!''

| Himself

|

|-

| ''[[Soul Men]]''

| Marcus Hooks

|

|-

| 2012

| ''The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America''

| Duke Ellington

| Voice role

|-

| rowspan=2|2016

| ''[[Southside with You]]''

| {{N/a}}

| Producer

|-

| ''[[La La Land (film)|La La Land]]''

| Keith

| Also co-wrote/performed "Start a Fire" for [[La La Land (soundtrack)|film's soundtrack]]

|-

| 2017

| ''Crow: The Legend''

| Crow

| Voice role, Also executive producer<ref>{{cite news |date=2018 |title=Crow: The Legend (2018)|url=https://www.baobabstudios.com/crow-the-legend |access-date=November 25, 2018 }}</ref>

|-

| 2019

| ''[[Between Two Ferns: The Movie]]''

| Himself

|

|-

| 2020

| ''[[A Crime on the Bayou]]''

| {{N/A}}

| Executive producer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/watch-powerful-trailer-for-a-crime-on-the-bayou-produced-by-john-legend/|title=Watch Timely and Powerful Trailer for A Crime on the Bayou, Executive Produced by John Legend|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]|first=Salina|last=Tsegai|date=April 30, 2021|access-date=May 2, 2021}}</ref>

|-

| 2020

| ''[[Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey]]''<ref name="deadline">{{cite web |title='Jesus Christ Superstar's John Legend & Mike Jackson To Produce David E. Talbert Netflix Holiday Film 'Jingle Jangle' |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/john-legend-jingle-jangle-netflix-david-e-talbert-mike-jackson-jesus-christ-superstar-1202465714/ |website=Deadline |access-date=September 17, 2018 |date=September 17, 2018}}</ref>

| {{n/a}}

| Producer

|-

| 2021

| ''[[Coming 2 America]]''

| Himself

| Cameo

|-

| 2021

| ''[[The Mitchells vs. the Machines]]''

| Jim Posey

| Voice role

|-

|}

== Awards and nominations ==

{{main|List of awards and nominations received by John Legend}}

== See also ==

* [[List of celebrities who own cannabis businesses]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

<references/>

==External links==

{{Commons category}}

*'''[http://www.johnlegend.com/ John Legend] - Official Site'''

* {{Official website|http://www.johnlegend.com/}}

*'''[http://www.johnlegendmusic.co.uk/ John Legend] - Official UK Site'''

* {{TED speaker}}

*'''[http://www.myspace.com/johnlegend John Legend] - Official MySpace Page'''

* {{cite web|url=http://grmdaily.com/video/estelle-talks-relationship-with-john-legend-american-lifestyle-and-more-nftr/|title=Estelle talks relationship with John Legend, American lifestyle and more [NFTR]|author=Caroline Sm|date=June 25, 2015|publisher=GRM Daily}}

*[http://www.johnthelegend.com/ John The Legend]- Fansite

* {{IMDb name|1775466}}

*[http://www.john-legend.net/ John Legend Online]- Fansite

*[http://www.goodmusicnet.com Good Music Net -- Website dedicated to John's Label]

*[http://music.msn.com/johnlegend]- Watch John Legend perform LIVE from London on MSN

*[http://music.aol.com/artist/main.adp?artistid=656015&ncid=AOLMUS00050000000049 John Legend Videos on AOL Music]

*[http://www.vibe.com/news/online_exclusives/2005/01/online_exclusive_hot_97_sobs_present_john_legend/ Vibe.com review]

*[http://207.150.192.12/temp/bobsnews/1JESUSWALKS-1.wmv Legend performs "Jesus Walks" with [[Kanye West]] and [[Rhymefest]]]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-D6HOFLglE Legend performs "Ordinary People" during the 2006 Grammys telecast]

{{John Legend}}

[[Category:1978 births|Legend, John]]

{{Navboxes

[[Category:Living people|Legend, John]]

|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by John Legend|Awards for John Legend]]

[[Category:American rhythm and blues musicians|Legend, John]]

|list =

[[Category:American soul musicians|Legend, John]]

{{Academy Award Best Original Song}}

[[Category:African American musicians|Legend, John]]

{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist}}

[[Category:Neo soul singers|Legend, John]]

{{BET Award for Best Collaboration}}

[[Category:American pop pianists|Legend, John]]

{{BET Award for Best New Artist}}

[[Category:Ohio musicians|Legend, John]]

{{BET Award for Video of the Year}}

[[Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni|Legend, John]]

{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song}}

[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]

{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song}}

{{Grammy Award for Best New Artist}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance}}

{{Grammy Award for Best R&B Album}}

{{Grammy Award for Best R&B Song}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media}}

{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a Documentary}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Video with a Social Message}}

{{NAACP Image Award – President's Award}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Male Artist}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song}}

}}

{{EGOT winners}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[itCategory:John Legend| ]]

[[nlCategory:John1978 Legendbirths]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[ja:ジョン・レジェンド]]

[[Category:21st-century African-American male singers]]

[[pl:John Legend]]

[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]

[[sk:John Legend]]

[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]

[[fi:John Legend]]

[[Category:African-American feminists]]

[[sv:John Legend]]

[[Category:African-American film score composers]]

[[Category:African-American male singer-songwriters]]

[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]

[[Category:African-American pianists]]

[[Category:African-American record producers]]

[[Category:African-American television personalities]]

[[Category:American baritones]]

[[Category:American contemporary R&B singers]]

[[Category:American male pianists]]

[[Category:American male pop singers]]

[[Category:American male television actors]]

[[Category:American male voice actors]]

[[Category:American management consultants]]

[[Category:American multi-instrumentalists]]

[[Category:American pop pianists]]

[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]

[[Category:Best Original Song Academy Award–winning songwriters]]

[[Category:Boston Consulting Group people]]

[[Category:California Democrats]]

[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]

[[Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners]]

[[Category:American feminist musicians]]

[[Category:Golden Globe Award–winning musicians]]

[[Category:GOOD Music artists]]

[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]

[[Category:Judges in American reality television series]]

[[Category:Male actors from Ohio]]

[[Category:American male feminists]]

[[Category:MTV Video Music Award winners]]

[[Category:Musicians from Springfield, Ohio]]

[[Category:Ohio Democrats]]

[[Category:Philanthropists from Ohio]]

[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]

[[Category:Record producers from Ohio]]

[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Ohio]]

[[Category:Sony Music artists]]

[[Category:Tony Award winners]]