Victoria Loren Kelly (born December 14, 1992) is an American singer-songwriter, and voice actress. She first gained recognition after posting videos on
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
as a teenager, and made it through to Hollywood week on the
ninth season of ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to ...
'' in 2010. Thereafter, she independently released her self-produced debut
EP in 2012, ''
Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly''.
In 2013, after
Scooter Braun became her manager, Kelly signed with
Capitol Records
Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of not ...
. Her second EP and first major-label release, ''
Foreword
A foreword is a (usually short) piece of writing, sometimes placed at the beginning of a book or other piece of literature. Typically written by someone other than the primary author of the work, it often tells of some interaction between the ...
'' (2013), followed soon after. Kelly's debut studio album ''
Unbreakable Smile'' (2015) peaked at number two on the
''Billboard'' 200 chart in the United States with its lead single, "
Nobody Love
"Nobody Love" is a song by American singer Tori Kelly. The track was released as the lead single from her debut studio album, '' Unbreakable Smile'', on February 8, 2015. The song was written by Kelly, Max Martin, Rickard Göransson, and Savan K ...
", marking her first appearance on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart.
Kelly was nominated for
Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967. The official guidelines are as ...
at the
58th Grammy Awards, and voiced Meena in the animated film ''
Sing
Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...
'' (2016), which she reprises in the 2021 sequel, ''
Sing 2''. Her second studio album ''
Hiding Place'' (2018) peaked at number 35 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart and received two
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...
, for
Best Gospel Album and
Best Gospel Performance/Song
The Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song is category at the annual Grammy Awards. It was first awarded in 2015. It combines two previously separate categories in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music field, Best Gospel Song (for songwr ...
, respectively. In 2019, Kelly released her third studio album ''
Inspired by True Events
''Inspired by True Events'' is the third studio album by American singer Tori Kelly. It was released on August 9, 2019, through Schoolboy and Capitol Records. The album is a coming-of-age record, interspersed with deeply personal moments and enc ...
'' followed by her fourth studio album in 2020, ''
A Tori Kelly Christmas
''A Tori Kelly Christmas'' is the first Christmas music, Christmas album and the fourth studio album, by American singer Tori Kelly. It was released on October 30, 2020, through School Boy Records, Schoolboy and Capitol Records. It is Kelly's firs ...
'' which also marked her first Christmas album.
Life and career
Early life and career beginnings
Kelly was born in
Wildomar, California. Her father, Allwyn, is of
Afro-Jamaican and
Puerto Rican ancestry, while her mother, Laura, is of
Irish and
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
descent. She has a younger brother named Noah. Growing up, she was exposed to a variety of music by her parents. "I give them a lot of credit for just playing all different genres, and no genre was off limits," she said when asked about her upbringing. Kelly is a
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...
. Faith plays a part in her songwriting, though she does not consider herself a part of the
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely aroun ...
genre. Kelly appeared on the show ''
Star Search
''Star Search'' was an American television show that was produced by T.P.E./Rysher Entertainment from 1983 to 1995, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Al Masini. A relaunch was produced by 2929 Productions from 2003 to 2004. On both versio ...
'', but lost to vocalist
Tiffany Evans, who won the title of Junior Champion in the junior singer division.
In 2004, she participated on ''
America's Most Talented Kids
''America's Most Talented Kid'' was an American television series that premiered on NBC on March 28, 2003. In each round, three age groups (3-7, 8-12, 13-16) of talented children would perform songs, dance numbers, magic, and other forms of ente ...
'', singing
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
's "
Keep on Singin' My Song" and won, beating out musician
Hunter Hayes
Hunter Easton Hayes (born September 9, 1991) is an American multi-genre singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is proficient at more than 30 instruments.
Hayes released his self-titled debut album in 2011. It reache ...
. She made a second appearance on the show in the Tournament of Champions, but lost to
Antonio Pontarelli, a rock musician. At age twelve, Kelly accepted a record deal with
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label established by David Geffen and owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M Records imprint.
Founded in 1980, Geffen Records has been a part of Interscope Geffen A&M since 1999 and h ...
, but both sides agreed to end the contract due to creative differences. In 2007, Kelly began posting videos to YouTube, at the age of 14. The first video she uploaded was a cover of
John Wesley Work Jr.
John Wesley Work Jr. (August 6, 1871 – September 7, 1925) was the first African-American collector of folk songs and spirituals, and also a choral director, educationalist and songwriter. He is now sometimes known as John Wesley Work II, to di ...
's "
Go Tell It on the Mountain", which she originally performed back in December 2004. Kelly gained recognition for her acoustic cover, with a fellow YouTuber named Angie Girl, of
Frank Ocean
Christopher Francis "Frank" Ocean (born Christopher Edwin Breaux; October 28, 1987), is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. His works are noted by music critics for featuring avant-garde styles and introspective, elliptical lyrics. Ocean ...
's "
Thinkin Bout You".
Despite failing to reach the top 24 on ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to ...
'', she took a new tack in her music, learning how to play the guitar, composing original song pieces, and recording them herself on her computer. Tori began posting her performances on YouTube, and quickly reached over 1,000,000 subscribers.
2010–2014: ''Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly'' and ''Foreword''
In 2010, Tori auditioned for Season 9 of ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to ...
'' in Denver, Colorado and made it through to Hollywood Week but did not reach the "Top 24" of the artists. She had claimed that she was 'devastated' but she had given it her all. Afterwards, she was asked to take part in a youth version of the 1985 charity song "
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album '' We Are the World''. Wi ...
" titled "We Are the World: The Next Generation". On May 1, 2012, she released her first EP, titled ''Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly'', which was released on her own label, Toraay Records. Kelly wrote, produced, engineered, and recorded the EP by herself in her bedroom. Shortly after its release, the EP made it to the Top 10 Pop Albums list on iTunes. She called the EP a "warm up" to a full-length album that was to come in the future. As of 2013, it had sold more than 14,000 copies and reached number nine on the US Heatseekers Albums chart.
In February 2013, Kelly released a single called "Fill a Heart", which she wrote for the "Child Hunger Ends Here" campaign by
ConAgra Foods
Conagra Brands, Inc. (formerly ConAgra Foods) is an American consumer packaged goods holding company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Conagra makes and sells products under various brand names that are available in supermarkets, restauran ...
and
Feeding America. The song was later performed by British boy band
The Wanted
The Wanted are a British-Irish boy band consisting of group members Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness and Nathan Sykes and, until his death in 2022, Tom Parker. The group was formed in 2009 and signed a worldwide contract to ...
on ''
Dancing With the Stars
''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the form ...
''. Starting in April 2013, Kelly performed at eight venues across continental U.S. for her "Fill a Heart" tour, helping out at the cities' food banks during the day. She has performed in venues such as the Troubador and the Roxy in Los Angeles, the
Gramercy Theater in New York and
Bush Hall
Bush Hall is located at 310 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush, West London, England. Originally a dance hall, it is now an independent music venue with a capacity of 400.
Bush Hall was built in 1904. It was used as a soup kitchen during World Wa ...
in London. She has also been featured in magazines such as ''
Teen Vogue
''Teen Vogue'' is an American online publication, formerly in print, launched in January 2003, as a sister publication to ''Vogue'', targeted at teenagers. Like ''Vogue'', it included stories about fashion and celebrities. Since 2015, following ...
'', ''
Elle
''Elle'' (stylized ''ELLE'') is a worldwide women's magazine of French origin that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, together with culture, society and lifestyle. The title means "she" or "her" in French. ''Elle'' is considered the w ...
'' and ''
Glamour''.
During mid-2013, Kelly's newly assigned manager
Scooter Braun introduced her to the heads of
Capitol Records
Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of not ...
. She had been "very skeptical" about signing with a major record label in fear that things would not work out in her favor. "I'd been burned before. But when I met those guys, I had never felt that way: They were fans and really got me." On September 6, 2013, she was signed to
Capitol Records
Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of not ...
.
In September 2013, she was picked as
Elvis Duran
Elvis Duran (born Barry Brian Cope; August 5, 1964) is an American radio personality. He is the host of the daily morning radio program ''Elvis Duran and the Morning Show'' in New York on WHTZ, Z100 and in syndication on Premiere Networks.
Bef ...
's
Artist of the Month and was featured on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
's ''
Today
Today (archaically to-day) may refer to:
* Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now''
* Current era, present
* The current calendar date
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 ...
'' show hosted by
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathryn Lee Gifford ( née Epstein; born August 16, 1953) is an American television presenter, singer, songwriter, actress and author. From 1985 to 2000, she and Regis Philbin hosted the talk show ''Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee''. Gifford is ...
and
Hoda Kotb
Hoda Kotb ( ; arz, هدى قطب, ''Hudā Quṭb''; ; born August 9, 1964) is an American broadcast journalist, television personality, and author. She is a main co-anchor of the NBC News morning show '' Today'' and co-host of its entertainm ...
, where she performed live her single "Dear No One". Kelly announced on ''The Today Show'' that her major label debut, a second EP, titled ''
Foreword
A foreword is a (usually short) piece of writing, sometimes placed at the beginning of a book or other piece of literature. Typically written by someone other than the primary author of the work, it often tells of some interaction between the ...
'', would be released on October 22, 2013, on
Capitol Records
Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of not ...
. By the end of November the EP had sold more than 16,000 copies, debuting at number 16 on the US
''Billboard'' 200. Kelly was the sole supporting act to
Ed Sheeran
Edward Christopher Sheeran (; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently re ...
at Madison Square Garden on November 1, 2013, and supported Sam Smith on their
In the Lonely Hour
''In the Lonely Hour'' is the debut album by English singer and songwriter Sam Smith. It was released in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2014 via Capitol UK and Method Records. In the United States, it was released on 17 June 2014 through Capitol ...
UK tour in October 2014. Kelly wrote and recorded a song called "Silent" for ''The Giver: Music Collection'', supporting the film adaptation (''
The Giver
''The Giver'' is a 1993 American young adult dystopian novel written by Lois Lowry, set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. In the novel, the society has taken away p ...
'') of the novel ''
The Giver
''The Giver'' is a 1993 American young adult dystopian novel written by Lois Lowry, set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. In the novel, the society has taken away p ...
'', which was released on iTunes on August 5, 2014. On August 7, 2014, Kelly posted a live acoustic version of the song on her YouTube channel; which has over 2.6 million views as of October 2015.
Kelly was featured on "
Lullaby
A lullaby (), or cradle song, is a soothing song or piece of music that is usually played for (or sung to) children (for adults see music and sleep). The purposes of lullabies vary. In some societies they are used to pass down cultural knowledg ...
" by British rapper
Professor Green
Stephen Paul Manderson (born 27 November 1983), better known by his stage name Professor Green or simply Pro Green, is an English rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, television personality and mental health activist from London.
Growing up on ...
, which was released in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2014. The song peaked at number four on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
, thus providing Kelly with her first top ten song in the United Kingdom.
Kelly was featured on the medley "
Winter Wonderland
"Winter Wonderland" is a song written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith. Due to its seasonal theme, it is often regarded as a Christmas song in the Northern Hemisphere. Since its original recording by Richard Himbe ...
"/"
Don't Worry Be Happy
"Don't Worry, Be Happy" is a 1988 song by American musician Bobby McFerrin, released as the first single from his fourth album, '' Simple Pleasures'' (1988). It was the first ''a cappella'' song to reach number-one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 c ...
" on
Pentatonix
Pentatonix (abbreviated PTX) is an American a cappella group from Arlington, Texas, currently consisting of vocalists Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee. Characterized by their pop-style arrangem ...
's album ''
That's Christmas to Me'' that was released in October 2014. On December 1, 2014, it was announced that Tori Kelly was one of MTV's Artist's To Watch. She privately performed two songs for MTV: "Funny" and "Dear No One"; both can be found on her Artist To Watch page. Her "Funny" performance was aired on MTV for several weeks.
2015–2017: ''Unbreakable Smile'' and other projects
Throughout 2014, Kelly worked with Braun on her debut album in which she had contributions from
Toby Gad
Tobias "Toby" Gad (born 28 March 1968) is a Los Angeles-based German music producer/songwriter, best known for co-writing John Legend's biggest hit, " All of Me," the fifth-highest certified single in RIAA history, and for co-writing and produ ...
,
, and
Ed Sheeran
Edward Christopher Sheeran (; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently re ...
. The lead single from the album, "
Nobody Love
"Nobody Love" is a song by American singer Tori Kelly. The track was released as the lead single from her debut studio album, '' Unbreakable Smile'', on February 8, 2015. The song was written by Kelly, Max Martin, Rickard Göransson, and Savan K ...
", was released on February 8, 2015. It was written by Rickard Goransson,
, and Tori Kelly herself. Kelly performed "
Nobody Love
"Nobody Love" is a song by American singer Tori Kelly. The track was released as the lead single from her debut studio album, '' Unbreakable Smile'', on February 8, 2015. The song was written by Kelly, Max Martin, Rickard Göransson, and Savan K ...
" at the
2015 Billboard Music Awards. The album, entitled ''
Unbreakable Smile'', was released on June 23, 2015,
and debuted at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200. Kelly performed "Should've Been Us" at the
2015 MTV Video Music Awards. In October 2015, Kelly covered the song "
Colors of the Wind
"Colors of the Wind" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz for Walt Disney Pictures' 33rd animated feature film, '' Pocahontas'' (1995). The film's theme song, "Colors of the Wind" was originally recorded by A ...
" from Pocahontas on the ''
We Love Disney'' album. "
Hollow" was released on October 22, 2015 as the first single from the new edition of ''Unbreakable Smile''. In the same month, Kelly became the brand-ambassador of
William Rast
William Rast is an American clothing line founded by Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala. It is most known for their premium jeans. On October 17, 2006, Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala put on their first fashion show to launch their new William R ...
, the clothing line co-founded by
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
. In late 2015, Kelly received a nomination for
Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967. The official guidelines are as ...
at the
58th Grammy Awards.
She performed at the ceremony with English singer
James Bay
James Bay (french: Baie James; cr, ᐐᓂᐯᒄ, Wînipekw, dirty water) is a large body of water located on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean, of which James Bay is the southernmost p ...
. She became the first artist in history to perform a
Christian pop song at the
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
s.
Kelly recorded an updated version of
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant (born November 25, 1960) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She began in contemporary Christian music (CCM) before crossing over to pop music in the 1980s and 1990s. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christia ...
's 1991 single "
Baby Baby", with Grant herself. Commemorating its 25th anniversary, when Kelly was still 23, the song was released on April 29, 2016. Kelly made her cinematic debut in the animated movie ''
Sing
Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...
'' (2016), voicing Meena the elephant. On July 10, 2016, Kelly released an original song "
Blink of an Eye" to honor her friend
Christina Grimmie
Christina Victoria Grimmie (March 12, 1994 – June 10, 2016) was an American singer and YouTuber. In 2009, she began posting covers of popular songs onto YouTube. After releasing her debut EP, '' Find Me'' (2011), her YouTube channel reached ...
, on the one-month anniversary of her killing during a meet and greet at
The Plaza Live in
Orlando, Florida
Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures re ...
, on June 10, 2016, while on tour with
Before You Exit
Before You Exit is an American pop rock band originally from Orlando, Florida, now based in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of brothers Connor, Riley, and Toby McDonough.
In August 2009, they self-released their debut EP, ''A Sh ...
.
On May 7, 2017, Kelly played the
Beale Street Music Festival in
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mo ...
opening for
Soundgarden at what would be one of their final performances before frontman
Chris Cornell
Christopher John Cornell (né Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017) was an American singer and musician best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary lyricist and songwriter for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave ...
committed suicide on May 17. On June 9, Kelly and
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
Lecrae
Lecrae Devaughn Moore (born October 9, 1979), mononymously known as Lecrae, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record and film producer, record executive, actor, and entrepreneur.
He is the president, co-owner and co-founder of the ...
, released the single "
I'll Find You", with Kelly as the featured artist. The accompanying music video was released on July 28, 2017. It features various St. Jude Hospital patients, and Kelly and Lecrae singing over a black backdrop. It peaked at No. 11 on the
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart, No. 1 on the
Hot Christian Songs
Hot Christian Songs is a music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It ranks the popularity of Christian songs using the same methodology developed for the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the magazine's flagship songs c ...
and No. 17 on the
Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. She also collaborated with country singer
Chris Lane
Christopher Eric Lane (born November 9, 1984) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has released one album as frontman of the Chris Lane Band, a second album, '' Girl Problems'', and a third album, '' Laps Around the Sun''. via B ...
on his single "
Take Back Home Girl" which has since charted at No. 57 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. In September 2017, Kelly announced her engagement to basketball player André Murillo.
2018–2019: ''Hiding Place'' and ''Inspired by True Events''
On March 30, 2018, Kelly released the single "Help Us to Love" featuring the HamilTones, which served as the lead single to her second studio album. On May 20, 2018, she announced her and Murillo's marriage in an
Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
post. On August 23, Kelly revealed on her personal Instagram that her album, ''
Hiding Place'', would be released on September 14. The second single of the album, "
Never Alone", was released on August 24. On September 7, Kelly announced a tour in support of the album. The album won
Best Gospel Album and "
Never Alone" won
Best Gospel Performance/Song
The Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song is category at the annual Grammy Awards. It was first awarded in 2015. It combines two previously separate categories in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music field, Best Gospel Song (for songwr ...
at the
61st Annual Grammy Awards
The 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys hosted. During her opening monologue, Keys brought out Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and fo ...
.
On January 18, 2019, Kelly announced that she would be going on The Acoustic Sessions tour starting in February. Tickets went on sale on January 25 along with the release of her new lead single "Change Your Mind" for her upcoming third studio album. On June 26, 2019, Kelly announced her third studio album ''
Inspired by True Events
''Inspired by True Events'' is the third studio album by American singer Tori Kelly. It was released on August 9, 2019, through Schoolboy and Capitol Records. The album is a coming-of-age record, interspersed with deeply personal moments and enc ...
'' which was released on August 9, 2019.
2020–present: ''A Tori Kelly Christmas'' and other work
On July 22, 2020, Kelly released a cover of
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name ...
's "
Time Flies
Time Flies may refer to:
* '' Tempus fugit'', a Latin phrase usually translated as "time flies"; an admonition against procrastination
Film
* ''Time Flies'' (1944 film), a British comedy directed by Walter Forde
* ''Time Flies'' (2013 film), a ...
" as the first single of her EP ''
Solitude
Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation, meaning lack of socialisation. Effects can be either positive or negative, depending on the situation. Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think, or rest without distu ...
''. On August 11, three days before the EP's release, Kelly released "
Unbothered
''Unbothered'' is the second studio album by American rapper Lil Skies. It was released on January 22, 2021, by All We Got Entertainment and Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Wiz Khalifa and Lil Durk. The deluxe versio ...
" as the second single. Kelly released ''Solitude'' on August 14 which includes four original songs which she wrote while in quarantine during the
coronavirus pandemic. On July 30, 2020, Kelly featured artist on
Jacob Collier
Jacob Collier (; né Moriarty; born 2 August 1994) is an English singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. His music incorporates a combination of jazz with elements from many other musical genres, and often features extensive use of reha ...
's "
Running Outta Love", from his album ''
Djesse Vol. 3
''Djesse Vol. 3'' is the third record in the ''Djesse'' series and fourth album by English musician Jacob Collier, released on 14 August 2020. ''Djesse'' is a collection of four volumes that was announced 29 October 2018. The title ''Djesse'', w ...
''. A version for ''
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'' is an American late-night news and liberal political satire talk show hosted by Stephen Colbert, which premiered on September 8, 2015. Produced by Spartina Productions and CBS Studios, it is the second ...
'' was released on August 3.
On October 7, Kelly announced a Christmas album, ''
A Tori Kelly Christmas
''A Tori Kelly Christmas'' is the first Christmas music, Christmas album and the fourth studio album, by American singer Tori Kelly. It was released on October 30, 2020, through School Boy Records, Schoolboy and Capitol Records. It is Kelly's firs ...
'', which was released on October 30. The album was produced by
Babyface. Two extra songs, another original and a cover of "
All I Want for Christmas Is You", were released as bonus tracks exclusively at Target. In late 2020, Kelly also competed on
season 4 of ''
The Masked Singer'' as "Seahorse". Kelly made it to the semi-finals of the competition, before being unmasked in a triple elimination alongside
Chloe Kim
Chloe Kim (born April 23, 2000) is an American snowboarder and two-time Olympic gold medalist. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, she became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal when she won gold in the women's snowboard halfpi ...
as "Jellyfish" and
Taylor Dayne
Taylor Dayne (born Leslie Wunderman; March 7, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She rose to fame in 1987 after her debut single " Tell It to My Heart". Dayne achieved six additional U.S. top-10 singles, including "Love Will ...
as "Popcorn".
In 2021, Kelly recorded a cover of "
Waving Through a Window
"Waving Through a Window" is the second song from Act 1 of the 2015 musical ''Dear Evan Hansen'', which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics.
Synopsis
Lyrical analysis
The final chorus is b ...
" for the soundtrack album of the
2021 film adaptation of ''
Dear Evan Hansen
''Dear Evan Hansen'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Steven Levenson. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety, "who invents an important role for himself in a t ...
,'' produced by
Justin Goldner. On November 2, 2021, she published her first book, ''The Curly Girl Blues''. That same year, she reprised her role as Meena in ''
Sing 2''.
Discography
* ''
Unbreakable Smile'' (2015)
* ''
Hiding Place'' (2018)
* ''
Inspired by True Events
''Inspired by True Events'' is the third studio album by American singer Tori Kelly. It was released on August 9, 2019, through Schoolboy and Capitol Records. The album is a coming-of-age record, interspersed with deeply personal moments and enc ...
'' (2019)
* ''
A Tori Kelly Christmas
''A Tori Kelly Christmas'' is the first Christmas music, Christmas album and the fourth studio album, by American singer Tori Kelly. It was released on October 30, 2020, through School Boy Records, Schoolboy and Capitol Records. It is Kelly's firs ...
'' (2020)
Tours
Headlining
* Where I Belong Tour (2015)
*
Unbreakable Tour (2016)
* Hiding Place Tour (2018)
* The Acoustic Sessions Tour (2019)
Supporting
* Sam Smith –
In the Lonely Hour Tour (2015)
Filmography
Film
Television
Awards and nominations
The following is a list of awards and nominations received by Tori Kelly.
Awards
Personal life
Kelly married André Murillo, a professional basketball player in Germany, in 2018.
Kelly is a practicing
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...
.
Notes
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Tori
1992 births
Living people
21st-century American singers
21st-century Christians
21st-century American women singers
American child singers
American Christians
American women singer-songwriters
American Idol participants
American people of German descent
American people of Irish descent
American people of Jamaican descent
American people of Puerto Rican descent
Record producers from California
American soul singers
American gospel singers
American voice actresses
Christians from California
Grammy Award winners
People from Canyon Lake, California
People from Wildomar, California
Schoolboy Records artists
Singer-songwriters from California
American women record producers
American contemporary R&B singers