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Top 20 Interesting Facts about John Legend

Originally published by Diana K in November 2022 and Updated by Julius R in January 2024

鈥淪oul is about authenticity. Soul is about finding the things in your life that are real and pure.鈥�

鈥揓ohn Legend

Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend is known for such acclaimed albums as ‘Get Lifted’ and ‘Love in the Future.

John Roger Stephens, also known as John Legend. Born on December 28, 1978, in Springfield Ohio, John showed musical potential at an early age. His grandmother taught him to play his first instrument, which was the piano.

He grew up playing and singing in his church鈥檚 choir. His talent at that age was amazing, labeling him a child prodigy. Growing up, he listened to music from Michael Jackson, LL Cool J, Boyz II Men, and MC Hammer.

In 2013, American songwriter and singer John Legend released his solo song 鈥淎ll of Me鈥�, which became his first 鈥楬ot 100鈥� number single and won him numerous awards. The song was dedicated to his then-fianc茅e, model Chrissy Teigen, who he married that same year. The song is about his declaration of his love for her, and his full compassion and acceptance of her imperfections.

Below are the top 20 interesting facts about John Legend.

1. John Legend has won it All

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John Legend was the first African American man to win all four major North American entertainment awards christened EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony).

Legend is a man of many talents and he has been rewarded for it. He is only one of 15 people ever to receive the highly coveted EGOT status. EGOT represents someone who has received an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.

He achieved the coveted EGOT status at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys when he won an award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. This achievement saw him joining celebs like Rita Moreno, Audrey Hepburn and Whoopi Goldberg in its exclusive ranks.

Legend, who was an executive producer for the show, alongside composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and lyricist Tim Rice all achieved EGOT status that night for producing the live show.  They became the 13th, 14th, and 15th people in history to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award.

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2.  He hails from A Musical Family

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Legend comes from an ordinary family with extraordinary talents, he showed a keen interest in music from an early age. He started performing for his church choir at the age of four. From the age of seven, he started playing the piano.

John Legend’s talent is moving and impressive, but it’s not just a gift from nature. From a very early age, his passion for art and music was infused into him by his very artistic family. Both his parents were very involved in the church and loved gospel music.

His father was a drummer, his mother was a singer and conducted a choir, and his grandmother was a pianist. Growing up around all of that, it was almost impossible young John wouldn’t feel attracted to music, and it probably has a lot to do with how good at it he is.

3. His Music Career Took Shape in College

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Legend skipped two grades, starting high school at only 12 years old. Upon graduation, he had scholarship offers from Georgetown and Harvard University but decided to attend the University of Pennsylvania.

While he was in college, although he majored in English, John Legend dedicated all his spare time to the music. During his time at college, he served as the president and music director for a musical group named 鈥楥ounterparts.鈥�

Being in such a high-profile school, he was able to meet a lot of people from the music business, and although his mainstream success wouldn’t come until years later, it was a very formative experience for him.

He got to record a demo and be a part of the school’s acapella group, but the most important thing was his collaboration with singer Lauryn Hill. In 1998 she asked him to play piano on her song Everything Is Everything, for her album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

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4.  John Legend was Good in Academics

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While Legend’s musical abilities are widely hailed, his academic background is quite impressive as well. Legend was homeschooled by his mother for a large portion of his childhood and he quickly excelled. Legend skipped two grades, starting high school at only 12 years old.

With impeccable high school grades, Legend was offered a spot in the Ivy League at Harvard, but also contemplated going to Georgetown University or Morehouse College. He ultimately turned down Harvard for another Ivy League school, The University of Pennsylvania graduating magna cum laude in 1999.

Upon graduation, he had scholarship offers from Georgetown and Harvard University. Legend decided to attend the University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude in 1999.

Furthermore, John Legend Was a Spelling Bee Champion at Age 10.

5. John Legend鈥檚 big Heart

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John Legend’s philanthropy and advocacy has focused on building just, equitable and thriving communities. In 2007, Legend started The Show Me Campaign to give every child access to quality education.

In 2014, Legend launched LRNG Innovators in partnership with The National Writing Project and with support from The MacArthur Foundation. LRNG Innovators’ mission was to empower teachers to redesign learning. In essence, helping the students of today be better prepared for the world of tomorrow.

He later founded FreeAmerica organization that focuses on criminal justice reform and in 2018, with the help of New Profit, launched the Unlocked Futures accelerator, which is a program to help people released from prison start businesses.

Moreover, in 2015, Legend donated $500,000 dollars to help renovate an old theater in his hometown of Springfield which was later renamed the John Legend Theater.

6. Kanye West helped get John Legend signed

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No matter how talented someone is, at the end of the day, who you know is a crucial part of finding success in the entertainment industry. Lucky for Legend, he just so happened to be a college roommate with music producer Devo Springsteen who was Kanye West鈥檚 cousin. Springsteen introduced Legend to West and they immediately started making music together.

The story goes like this; Legend’s college roommate had a cousin who moved from Chicago. “He wasn’t famous,” Legend revealed. “He was just some cousin that made beats as far as I knew. But he was Kanye West before everybody knew who Kanye West was.”

The introduction was a fateful one that led to Legend and West working together to get Legend signed by major labels. Legend released his debut album, Get Lifted, on Kanye’s label GOOD Music in 2004.

7. He Owns a Wine Label

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To John Legend John wine is a Part of His ‘Creative Process’ in the Studio, he always wanted to create a wine label but only because he wanted to be hands-on during the process. A mutual acquaintance hooked Legend up with wine impresario Jean-Charles Boisset, and they came up with LVE (Legend Vineyard Exclusive).

The LVE Collective is a subscription membership wine club. Four times a year, Legend hand-selects 3 bottles of LVE & Raymond wines to send to his members.

Members receive benefits such as 20% wine savings; complimentary tastings at Raymond and Boisset wineries in Napa Valley and Burgundy, France; exclusive event invites; first access to new special edition LVE releases, and more.

8. John Legend, the Musical Doctor

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In 2014, Legend returned to the University of Pennsylvania to deliver the commencement speech and received an honorary Doctor of Music degree. The 鈥淥rdinary People鈥� singer was awarded the Music degree at the University鈥檚 258th commencement ceremony.

In addition, Legend delivered a 20-minute commencement speech. In his speech, the Grammy award-winning singer encouraged the graduates to 鈥済o all-in鈥� and approach professional and personal pursuits with passion as they begin the next chapter of their lives.

He also touched on love and hate. 鈥淲e鈥檙e taught when we鈥檙e young that the opposite of love is hate, but it鈥檚 not,鈥� Legend said. 鈥淗ate is a byproduct, hate is a result. Being a hater isn鈥檛 cool 鈥� nobody wants that. But hate comes from one thing: fear. Fear is the opposite of love.鈥�

9.   John Legend is not his real name

John Roger Stephens, later known as John Legend, was born on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio. Legend got his name from the poet J. Ivy, who described his sound as “old-school, like one of the legends.” The name stuck because Legend chose it for his stage name years later.

He just started calling me ‘The Legend’ because he thought I sounded like one of our old-school soul legends,” he told host Jimmy Fallon. “It just caught on with our little group of friends and then they were like, ‘We should call you John Legend.  ‘ And it just really was in our little circle.”

James Ivy Richardson II is an American performance poet, spoken word artist, songwriter, and author. He is a three-time HBO Def Poet and is known for his performance on Kanye West鈥檚 Grammy Award winning debut album The College Dropout, which featured him on the song Never Let Me Down along with Jay-Z.

Ivy is currently the Chicago Chapter President of the Recording Academy and is the first Spoken-Word Artist to hold a Chapter President seat in the history of the Recording Academy.

10.  John Legend was a Business Consultant before his Music Stardom

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While performing in New York nightclubs at the start of his career, Legend was a consultant for Boston Consulting Group. In an interview with CNBC, Legend said of his experience, “I think it just ups your level of expectation for the kind of business you want to work with. And how you work in teams, how you come to good decisions as a team, and I think all of those things helped me in my career, as a musician.”

Boston Consulting Group, Inc. is an American global management consulting firm founded in 1963 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the Big Three along with Bain & Company and McKinsey & Company. Boston Consulting Group is a global consulting firm that partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities.

11. He is also an advocate for social justice and education

John Legend is a dedicated advocate for social justice and education. He started something called the Show Me Campaign to help make sure all kids get a good education. This campaign focuses on changing the way we do things so that every child has the chance to learn well. Legend believes that education is super important, and he works hard to make sure it’s good for everyone, no matter where they come from.

Apart from the Show Me Campaign, he supports many other charitable things. He cares about justice and fairness in society. Whether it’s speaking up for those who don’t have a voice or helping people in need, Legend uses his fame to make a positive impact. He’s not just about making great music; he’s also about making the world a better place for everyone.

12. He has also made appearances on both television and films

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John Legend is known for being a very talented Musician but over the past few years, he has also started branching out into acting. Legend showcased his natural charisma by serving as a coach on several seasons of the hit singing competition show “The Voice.” He helped aspiring artists hone their vocal abilities and gave constructive feedback. Expanding his repertoire, Legend has made various cameo appearances in popular TV programs like the family drama “This Is Us.”

His most prominent acting role came in the 2016 critically acclaimed movie “La La Land,” where he played a musician friend of the main character. Even though Legend does not have extensive formal training as an actor, he has proven to have an innate ability to take on these roles with finesse and appeal. With his versatility and widespread fanbase, we will likely see more of John Legend on both the big and small screens in the future.

13. Legend is also an animal lover

John Legend’s love extends beyond the world of music, television, and film 鈥� he’s also known for being an animal lover. Whether it’s sharing moments with furry friends on social media or expressing his concern for animal welfare, Legend has shown his soft spot for our four-legged companions. Animal lovers often have a special connection with pets and advocate for their well-being.

Legend’s appreciation for animals may include supporting causes related to animal rights, rescue organizations, or creating awareness about responsible pet ownership. Many celebrities use their platforms to raise awareness about issues close to their hearts, and in Legend’s case, his love for animals is another facet of his compassionate and caring personality.

14. Legend is also ping pong enthusiast

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John Legend is also an avid ping pong enthusiast. Legend has showcased his passion for the sport, and to take it a step further, he co-owns a ping pong bar in Los Angeles. The bar provides a space for people to enjoy the game in a social and vibrant setting. Being a ping pong pro is not only a hobby for Legend but also a way to engage with his community and fans in a fun and interactive manner.

It adds a playful and recreational dimension to his multifaceted personality. Whether he’s making beautiful music, acting on the screen, advocating for social justice, or smashing a ping pong ball across the table, John Legend continues to surprise and delight audiences with the many facets of his talents and interests.

15. He is also a football fanatic

If there is one thing that rivals John Legend’s passion for music, it is his life-long obsession with football, specifically his hometown team – the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite his busy schedule performing concerts or being on set for his various film and television projects, Legend somehow always finds time to watch Eagles games during football season. He even frequently attends games in person to cheer on his team amongst die-hard Eagles fans at Lincoln Financial Field.

His wife Chrissy Teigen often accompanies him to these games and shares funny snippets on social media showing how intensely Legend gets into the matches as he enthusiastically roots for the Eagles. Win or lose, he is a devoted superfan for his “Iggles” as the team is affectionately called in Philly. His team spirit is unwavering, even when the Eagles miss key plays or lose tough games. And of course, when they won Super Bowl LII, there was probably no one prouder than John Legend celebrating the major championship.

16.John Legend is also a foodie

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John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are quite the foodie couple. They love cooking up elaborate, flavorful meals together at home when their schedules allow. Both John and Chrissy have adventurous palates and aren’t afraid of spices, complex flavors, or foods that some may find intimidating to cook like bone marrow or steak tartare. Their social media feeds often feature mouthwatering dishes featuring fresh ingredients prepared perfectly thanks to their culinary skills and enthusiasm for being in the kitchen.

Whether it is John’s savory braised short ribs or Chrissy’s spicy Thai noodles, their creations highlight different cuisines from around the world. Cooking together has become a creative outlet for John and Chrissy amidst their busy lives. Testing new recipes or putting fun twists on food origins has strengthened their bond at home too. Their loved ones, including their two children, also get to benefit from the delicious meals the musical icon and model concoct in tandem as a shared passion.

17. He is also a political activist

John Legend is not only a celebrated artist but also a committed political activist. Using his influential platform, he actively raises awareness about critical issues such as social injustice, voting rights, and criminal justice reform. Legend has gone beyond just speaking out; he has campaigned alongside politicians and organized rallies to address these pressing concerns.

His involvement in political activism reflects a deep commitment to positive social change. Whether through his music or public presence, Legend consistently advocates for a fair and just society. His efforts include speaking up against inequality, participating in campaigns to encourage voter engagement, and supporting reforms in the criminal justice system.

18. Legend is also a businessman

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John Legend is not only a creative force in the entertainment industry but also a savvy businessman. Recognizing the potential for diversification, he has strategically invested in various ventures outside of music. Legend’s business portfolio includes ventures such as clothing lines, restaurants, and media companies.

His foray into the fashion industry with clothing lines showcases his entrepreneurial spirit and a keen eye for style. Additionally, investing in restaurants suggests an interest in the hospitality sector, demonstrating a willingness to explore diverse business opportunities.

19. He is also piano prodigy

John Legend’s musical prowess extends to his exceptional piano skills, which he has honed through years of dedicated practice. His proficiency on the piano is a defining aspect of his artistry, setting him apart as a versatile and accomplished musician. Legend frequently incorporates intricate piano solos into his live performances, providing audiences with a firsthand experience of his virtuosity and musical depth.

These solos not only showcase his technical mastery but also highlight the emotional and expressive elements he brings to his music. The piano serves as a central instrument in many of Legend’s compositions, contributing to the soulful and melodic qualities that define his signature sound.

20. He is also a family man and spends most times with his family

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John Legend works tirelessly on his music and business ventures, yet he still prioritizes carving out quality time for his beloved family in fact he is a family man . He and wife Chrissy Teigen, who have been married since 2013, have two young children – daughter Luna and son Miles. Despite his hectic schedule performing concerts worldwide or being on-set filming projects, Legend is known to be a loving, hands-on father who cherishes his daily moments with his kids.

Whether it’s cooking up homemade meals, playing games and dancing together in the living room, or travelling on fun family vacations, he doesn’t take his precious family time for granted. His social media also gives candid glimpses into his family life – doting on the kids, celebrating Chrissy’s achievements, and enjoying celebrations like birthdays or holidays together. At Legend family gatherings, John often plays the piano and sings for his relatives too.

In conclusion, John Legend’s journey is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and unwavering passion. His story reminds us that anyone, regardless of background or circumstance, can achieve their dreams and make a difference in the world.