• John Legend began playing the piano at the age of 4. He told Q magazine: "I was four and I begged my mom to get me piano lessons. I was a precocious little kid. There was a lot of music in our house so I think me wanting to play was me trying to be a part of what was going on. It was a chance to perform."
• Legend met his model wife Chrissy Teigen on the video shoot for "Stereo." He recalled to UK Cosmopolitan magazine: "It was kind of touchy-feely and like a very backwards introduction - before we even knew each other, we were feeling each other up! So that helped break the ice. It wasn't a proper date but it was sexy."
• Legend married Chrissy Teigen on September 14, 2013 in Como, Italy and the black-and-white video for "All Of Me" shows scenes from the newlyweds' honeymoon in Italy. There's also actual footage of their first kiss as a married couple.
• His birth name is John Stevens. Legend chose his performing moniker as he perceived it to have an old-school sound. The singer told Billboard magazine: "You have to have enough confidence in yourself to say, 'Hey, I could do this.' And part of that was saying, 'Hey, I'm gonna go ahead and assume this kind of heavy, bold name' and try to go out there and live up to it."
• He was introduced to Kanye West in 2001 by his college roommate Devo Springsteen, who is also West's first cousin. Legend was hired to sing during the hooks of the then up-and-coming hip-hop artist's music and his contribution to "Jesus Walks" made him an "it" voice. The pair have since regularly contributed to each other's albums.
• John Legend is very intelligent. After graduating from North High School, he had scholarship offers from Harvard, Georgetown and Morehouse. Legend elected to attend the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in English with an emphasis on African American literature.
• John Legend keeps to a certain routine for life on tour and a different one for life at home when he's working on his music. He explained during a Reddit AMA: "On tour, I'm focused on resting my voice and staying physically prepared to give a great show every night. I don't talk much during the day. I don't drink alcohol on tour. I drink lots of water. I work out in the morning. I make sure I take a nap before the show.... "
  
  "When I'm writing the album, I like to schedule writing sessions rather than just hope inspiration randomly comes to me. I like to schedule my creativity so that I'm more proactive about searching for inspiration. It makes me more productive and prolific. Every song won't be great, but I create 50-80 songs every album, in the hopes that a significant portion will be great."
• The first album that John Legend played on was The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. While in college, a friend introduced Legend to Lauryn Hill, who then hired him to play piano on "Everything Is Everything."
• John Legend won the 2015 Best Original Song Oscar for "Glory," the theme to Selma.
• In 2014 John Legend told US magazine that he eats half a rotisserie chicken before every performance.
• Legend's first paid acting gig was as one of Kyra Sedgwick's lovers in 2005's Loverboy.
• In 2018, Legend produced and portrayed the title figure in the NBC adaptation of the Jesus Christ Superstar rock opera. He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role as a producer of the show, making him the 15th person (and the first black man) to complete the his rare and coveted Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony (or EGOT) status.

Comments

More Songfacts:

The UnforgivenMetallica

On Metallica's "The Unforgiven," James Hetfield modeled his vocals on Chris Isaak

Somebody That I Used To KnowGotye

45% of the royalties for "Somebody That I Used To Know" go to the estate of the Brazilian classical guitarist Luiz Bonfá, whose song "Seville" Gotye sampled.

Light My FireThe Doors

"Light My Fire" was the first song Doors guitarist Robby Krieger wrote. Looking for a universal theme, he decided to write about one of the four elements (air, earth, water, fire).

All The Young DudesMott the Hoople

All The Young Dudes "carry the news" because it was intended for a David Bowie concept album where Ziggy Stardust spreads the news in a world with electricity.

I Love ItIcona Pop

Icona Pop considers "I Love It" a kiss-off to their boyfriends: "we just wanted to get the song out and get the pigs to hear it," Jawo said.

Piano ManBilly Joel

Billy Joel is surprised that "Piano Man" is so successful. He called it "an old, long song about a guy at a depressing piano bar."

Editor's Picks

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.