174-396: John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend , is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He began his musical career working behind the scenes for other artists, playing piano on Lauryn Hill 's " Everything Is Everything ," and performing as an uncredited backing vocalist on Jay-Z 's " Encore " and Alicia Keys ' " You Don't Know My Name ". He was
348-702: A Joint Session of Congress to ask for quick passage of a bill to eliminate restrictions on voting , praising the courage of the activists. The march on the highway to Montgomery takes place, and, when the marchers reach Montgomery, King delivers a speech on the steps of the State Capitol . On June 18, 2008, Variety reported that screenwriter Paul Webb had written an original story about Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson for Celador 's Christian Colson , which would be co-produced with Brad Pitt 's Plan B Entertainment . In 2009, Lee Daniels
522-502: 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". A year later, Legend confirmed that he settled out of court with Stokes for an undisclosed amount. Also in 2011, Legend completed a 50-date tour as a guest for British soul band Sade . In the San Diego performance, Legend confirmed that he was working on his next studio album and played
696-792: 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 derives from Stokes' demo "Where Are You Now". Stokes claimed he gave Legend a demo of the song in 2004 following a concert at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . 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." However, nearly 60,000 people took
870-538: A pay-per-view music video of the song "Social Drugs" through her website. Those who purchase the $ 15 video would only be able to view it three times before it expired. In addition to the video, Hill began selling autographed posters and Polaroids through her website, with some items listed at upwards of $ 500. For the first time since 1997, the Fugees performed in September 2004 at Dave Chappelle's Block Party in
1044-571: A teen actress . She landed a role in the soap opera As the World Turns (1991), and starred in the off-Broadway play Club XII alongside MC Lyte . Her performance as Rita in the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) was widely praised. Hill gained further prominence as the frontwoman of the hip hop trio Fugees , which she formed in 1990 with fellow musicians Wyclef Jean and Pras . Their second album, The Score (1996), peaked atop
1218-667: A 1970 cover of a Mahalia Jackson song 'Walk With Me Lord' cover by Martha Bass and the Harold Smith Majestics Choir. Selma premiered in Los Angeles at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre during AFI Fest on November 11, 2014, after which it received a standing ovation. It opened in limited release in the United States on December 25, 2014, including in Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta, before its wide opening on January 9, 2015. The film
1392-524: A basketball game. Due to its popularity, subsequent games featured a recording of her rendition. In 1988, Hill appeared as an Amateur Night contestant on It's Showtime at the Apollo . She sang her version of the Smokey Robinson track " Who's Lovin' You ", garnering an initially harsh reaction from the crowd. She persevered through the performance. Hill attended Columbia High School , where she
1566-409: A blog a 1996 divorce document from Haiti . The two had been living in a high-end Miami hotel, but around 2003 she moved out into her own place in that city. Hill later said that she and Marley "have had long periods of separation over the years". Hill slowly worked on a new album and it was reported that by 2003, Columbia Records had spent more than $ 2.5 million funding it, including installing
1740-428: A childhood friend of Coretta Scott King and the wife of Dr. Sullivan Jackson (played by Kent Faulcon ), while John Lavelle joined to play Roy Reed , a reporter covering the march for The New York Times . On June 10, it was announced that the film's producer, Oprah Winfrey , would portray Annie Lee Cooper , a 54-year-old woman who tried to register to vote and was denied by Sheriff Clark —whom she then punched in
1914-570: A civil rights activist and attorney general for civil rights for the Department of Justice in the 1960s. Dylan Baker was added to the cast on July 17 to play FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover , who carried out extensive investigations of King and his associates. Principal photography began May 20, 2014, around Atlanta , Georgia . Filming took place around Marietta Square and Rockdale County Courthouse in Conyers . The Conyers scene involved
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#17327914797202088-462: A collaboration with Sly & the Family Stone , Joss Stone and Van Hunt , from the former's remix album, Different Strokes by Different Folks (2005). In January 2008, Legend sang in a video for Barack Obama , produced by will.i.am called " Yes We Can ". The same year, Legend had a supporting, singing-only role in the 2008 movie Soul Men , where he plays the deceased lead singer of
2262-748: A day folding laundry at the 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 in London , performing " 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 and non-profit organizations partnered with
2436-402: A dynamic figure of human-scale contradictions, flaws and supremely shrewd political skills." Praise was not unanimous; writing about why Selma was not nominated for more Academy Awards, Adolph Reed Jr. , political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania , opined that "now it's the black (haute) bourgeoisie that suffers injustice on behalf of the black masses." The film won and
2610-418: A fictitious soul group that includes Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac . In October, he released his third studio album, Evolver . 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
2784-507: A future album, for which he had written one song. 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 . He also performed during the pregame show of Super Bowl XL in Detroit, and the halftime show at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game . In October 2006, Legend's second album, Once Again ,
2958-544: A hero for me." On May 21, 2019, Legend was the winning coach on The Voice , and won the competition with his artist Maelyn Jarmon . In November, Legend was named People 's Sexiest Man Alive. 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 . On June 19, 2020, Legend performed alongside Alicia Keys for episode fifteen of Verzuz . Legend
3132-445: A little crazy." Hill began writing a screenplay about the life of Bob Marley , in the production of which she planned to play his wife Rita . She also began producing a romantic comedy about soul food with a working title of Sauce , and accepted a starring role in the film adaptation of Toni Morrison 's novel Beloved ; she later dropped out of both projects due to pregnancy. She also reportedly turned down acting roles in
3306-416: A long post to her Tumblr , Hill said that she had gone "underground" and had rejected pop culture's "climate of hostility, false entitlement, manipulation, racial prejudice, sexism, and ageism." She added, "When I was working consistently without being affected by the interferences mentioned above, I filed and paid my taxes. This only stopped when it was necessary to withdraw from society, in order to guarantee
3480-407: A love for—I don't know if it was necessarily for academics, more than it just was for achieving, period. If it was academics, if it was sports, if it was music, if it was dance, whatever it was, I was always driven to do a lot in whatever field or whatever area I was focusing on at the moment." While a freshman in high school, through mutual friends, Prakazrel "Pras" Michel approached Hill about
3654-498: A more extreme position. Wallace and Al Lingo decide to use force at an upcoming night march in Marion, Alabama , using state troopers to assault the marchers. A group of protesters runs into a restaurant to hide, but troopers rush in and beat and shoot Jimmie Lee Jackson . King and Bevel meet with Cager Lee, Jackson's grandfather, at the morgue. King speaks to ask people to continue to fight for their rights. Harassing phone calls with
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#17327914797203828-550: A more humane drug policy, along with people such as Richard Branson , Jane Fonda , and George Shultz . 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. Also in 2017 Legend donated $ 500,000 to Springfield City School District to renovate an auditorium, which
4002-629: A music group he was creating. Hill and Pras began under the name Translator Crew. They came up with this name because they wanted to rhyme in different languages. Another female vocalist was soon replaced by Michel's cousin, multi-instrumentalist Wyclef Jean . The group began performing in local showcases and high school talent shows. Hill was initially only a singer, but then learned to rap too; instead of modeling herself on female rappers like Salt-N-Pepa and MC Lyte , she preferred male rappers like Ice Cube and developed her flow from listening to them. Hill later said, "I remember doing my homework in
4176-480: A new song called "Dreams". 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 , and Evolver . Legend has stated that his intention for
4350-463: A performance in Vatican City , spoke of the "corruption, exploitation, and abuses" in reference to the molestation of boys by Catholic priests in the United States and the cover-up of offenses by Catholic Church officials. High-ranking church officials were in attendance, but Pope John Paul II was not present. The Catholic League called Hill "pathologically miserable" and claimed her career
4524-407: A period of writer's block . In terms of production, Hill collaborated with a group of musicians known as New Ark, consisting of Vada Nobles , Rasheem Pugh, Tejumold Newton, and Johari Newton. Hill later said that she wanted to "write songs that lyrically move me and have the integrity of reggae and the knock of hip-hop and the instrumentation of classic soul" and that the production on the album
4698-519: A person. It may not be a proper follow-up to her first album, but it is fascinating." Rolling Stone called the album "a public breakdown", and Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times said the album's title opened Hill up for jokes that she had become unhinged. NME wrote that " Unplugged 2.0 is a sparse and often gruelling listen, but there is enough genius shading these rough sketches to suggest that all might not yet be lost." With
4872-651: A portrayal of federal judge Frank Minis Johnson , who ruled that the third and final march could go forward. In Newton County, Georgia , filming took place at Flat Road, Airport Road, Gregory Road, Conyers, Brown, Ivy and Emory Streets, exteriors on Lee Street, outside shots of the old Newton County Courthouse, shots of the Covington Square, and an interior night shoot at the Townhouse Café on Washington St. In Alabama, scenes were shot in Selma , centering on
5046-603: A producer on Santana 's album Supernatural (1999) earned her a second-consecutive Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Her live album of newly recorded material, MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 (2002), peaked within the top five on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Ultimately, Hill dropped out of the public eye, only periodically releasing songs such as " Black Rage (Sketch) " and " Nobody ". In 2023, Hill co-wrote
5220-443: A prominent recorder, engineer, and mixer on Miseducation , described the album as a "powerfully personal effort by Hill" and said, "It was definitely her vision." Hill responded that New Ark had been appropriately credited and now were seeking to take advantage of her success. New Ark requested partial writing credits on most of the tracks on the album as well as monetary reimbursement. After many delays, depositions took place during
5394-595: A racist? My music is universal. And I believe in God. If I believe in God, then I have to love all of God's creations. There can be no segregation." In 1996, Hill founded the Refugee Project, a non-profit outreach organization that sought to transform the attitudes and behavior of at-risk urban youth. Part of this was Camp Hill, which offered stays in the Catskill Mountains for such youngsters; another
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5568-639: A recording of sexual activity implied to be King and another woman lead to an argument with Coretta; she knows it is a fabrication, but the strain of constant death threats has taken its toll on her. King is criticized by members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). As the Selma-to-Montgomery march is about to begin, King talks to Young about delaying it for a day so he can spend some time with his family, but Young convinces King to let
5742-501: A recording studio in the singer's Miami apartment and flying different musicians around the country. By 2002, Hill had shut down her non-profit Refugee Project. She said, "I had a nonprofit organization and I had to shut all that down. You know, smiling with big checks, obligatory things, not having things come from a place of passion. That's slavery. Everything we do should be a result of our gratitude for what God has done for us. It should be passionate." In December 2003, Hill, during
5916-524: A screenwriting credit on the finished film due to a stipulation within Webb's original contract that entitled him to the sole credit. In early 2014, Oprah Winfrey came on board as a producer along with Pitt, and by February 25 Paramount Pictures was in final negotiations for the US and Canadian distribution rights. On April 4, 2014, it was announced that Bradford Young would be the director of photography of
6090-493: A seamstress, and Ronald Lamar Stephens, a factory worker at International Harvester . His father was a drummer, while "his mother sang and directed the church choir, and his grandmother was the church organist". In 2004, Legend stated that his parents were divorced for 12 years before reuniting. Legend was homeschooled by his mother. He began playing the piano at age 4. At the age of 7, he performed with his church choir. Because of his academic talent, he skipped two grades. At
6264-476: A small crowd, for a taping of an MTV Unplugged special. A live album of the concert, titled MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 , was released in May 2002 and featured only her singing and playing an acoustic guitar. Unlike the near-unanimous praise of Miseducation , 2.0 sharply divided critics. AllMusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying that the recording "is the unfinished, unflinching presentation of ideas and of
6438-491: A song. King, other SCLC leaders, and black Selma residents march to the registration office to register. After a confrontation in front of the courthouse, a shoving match occurs as the police go into the crowd. Cooper fights back, knocking Sheriff Jim Clark to the ground, leading to the arrest of Cooper, King, and others. Alabama Governor George Wallace speaks out against the movement. Coretta meets with Malcolm X , who says he will drive whites to ally with King by advocating
6612-452: A songwriter on the song. Around 2001, Marley and Hill's third child, Joshua Omaru , was born. He was followed a year later by their fourth, John Nesta. While Hill sometimes had spoken of Marley as her husband, they never married, and along the way she was informed that Marley had been previously married at a young age. According to a 2003 Rolling Stone report, he had never secured a divorce. Marley later disputed this and made public to
6786-522: A strong alternative to the gangsta idiom, and Hill stated, "We're trying to do something positive with the music because it seems like only the negative is rising to the top these days. It only takes a drop of purity to clean a cesspool." Singles from The Score included " Fu-Gee-La " and " Ready or Not ", which highlighted Hill's singing and rapping abilities, and the Bob Marley cover " No Woman, No Cry ". Her rendition of " Killing Me Softly " became
6960-423: A surprise visit and acoustic performance as a part of Get Well Soon Tour . 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. 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
7134-457: A week; she also stopped doing interviews, watching television, and listening to music. She started associating with a "spiritual advisor" named Brother Anthony. Some familiar with Hill believe Anthony more resembled a cult leader than a spiritual advisor, and thought his guidance probably inspired much of Hill's more controversial public behavior. She later described this period of her life to Essence saying "People need to understand that
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7308-428: Is a very sexist industry. They'll never throw the 'genius' title to a sister." While recording the album, when Hill was asked about providing contracts or documentation to the musicians, she replied, "We all love each other. This ain't about documents. This is blessed." Released on August 25, 1998, the album received rave reviews from contemporary music critics, and was the most acclaimed album of 1998. Critics lauded
7482-619: Is featured on Carrie Underwood's Christmas album My Gift . Legend wrote his featured track entitled Hallelujah . Legend was among the performers in the Celebrating America television event held on Inauguration Day 2021 . He delivered the commencement address to the Duke University Class of 2021. 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
7656-689: Is named in his honor, within the Springfield Center of Innovation. He performed at the John Legend Theater on October 9, 2016. 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. 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. Legend met model Chrissy Teigen in 2006 while filming
7830-506: Is shown on national television and the wounded are treated at Brown Chapel , the movement's headquarter church. Movement attorney Fred Gray asks federal Judge Frank Minis Johnson to let another attempt at the march go forward. President Johnson demands that King and Wallace cease their activities and sends Assistant Attorney General John Doar to convince King to postpone the next march. Numerous white Americans, including Viola Liuzzo , Archbishop Iakovos , and James Reeb , arrive to join
8004-408: The 50 Great Voices by NPR , Hill was listed as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone . In 2015, she was named the greatest female rapper by Billboard . Her other accolades include eight Grammy Awards —the most for any female rapper . With over 50 million records sold worldwide, she is one of the best-selling female rappers of all time . Hill began her career as
8178-567: The Billboard 200 , and led her to become the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album . The album included the hit singles " Killing Me Softly ", " Fu-Gee-La ", and " Ready or Not ". As a soloist, she made her debut guest appearance on Nas 's 1996 single " If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) ". After the Fugees' disbandment the following year, Hill wrote, produced, and directed
8352-531: The Miami Herald , commented that: Unlike most biopics about heroic men who shaped our history or helped bring about change (such as 2013's Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom or The Butler ), Selma doesn't feel like freeze-dried hagiography . Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote: "DuVernay's look at Martin Luther King's 1965 voting-rights march against racial injustice stings with relevance to
8526-622: The 46th Annual Annie Awards . On December 19, 2017, NBC announced that Legend had been cast in the title role in the live concert production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Marcy Avenue Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn . The production was broadcast live on NBC television on April 1, 2018 (the date of Easter Sunday that year in Western Christianity ). On May 8, 2018, Google chose Legend as one of
8700-603: The 48th Annual Grammy Awards —"Ordinary People" won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance , Get Lifted won Best R&B Album , and Legend won Best New Artist ; the album's final single, " 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 (2006), was met with continued success, supported by the lead single " Save Room ". His third album, Evolver (2008), further diversified his artistry with other genres; its funk -inspired lead single, " Green Light " (featuring André 3000 ) peaked within
8874-718: The American Film Institute Festival on November 11, 2014, began a limited US release on December 25, and expanded into wide theatrical release on January 9, 2015, two months before the 50th anniversary of the march. The film was re-released on March 20, 2015 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the historical march. The film was nominated for Best Picture and won Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards . It also received four Golden Globe Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Drama , Best Director and Best Actor , and won for Best Original Song . In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. of
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#17327914797209048-476: The Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn . The concert featured Hill's nearly a cappella rendition of "Killing Me Softly". The event was recorded by director Michel Gondry and was released on March 3, 2006, to universal acclaim. The Fugees also appeared at BET Awards 2005 during June 2005, where they opened the show with a 12-minute set. One track, "Take It Easy", was leaked online and thereafter
9222-576: 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 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
9396-476: The Billboard Hot 100, spent 23 consecutive weeks in the chart's top ten, and received a 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 (2016) and departed from GOOD Music. Legend has since released A Legendary Christmas (2018), Bigger Love (2020)—which won
9570-529: 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 . He also co-wrote and provided vocals for French DJ David Guetta 's song "Listen", as part of the album Listen . Legend released his new album Darkness and Light , with first single "Love Me Now", on December 2, 2016, with songs featuring Chance
9744-470: The Billboard R&;B Albums chart for six weeks. It went on to sell about 10 million copies in the United States, and 20 million copies worldwide. During 1998 and 1999, Hill earned $ 25 million from record sales and touring. Hill, along with Blige, Missy Elliott , Meshell Ndegeocello , Erykah Badu , and others, found a voice with the neo soul genre. The first single released from the album
9918-764: The Bloody Sunday march to the Edmund Pettus Bridge , and in Montgomery, Alabama , where, in 1965, King led civil rights demonstrators down Dexter Avenue toward the Alabama State Capitol at the conclusion of the third march from Selma. Jason Moran composed the music for the film, marking his debut in the field. Common (who plays James Bevel ) and John Legend released the accompanying track " Glory " in December 2014, ahead of
10092-511: The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and began producing, writing, and recording his own music. 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 tape and began sending his work to various record labels. In 2001, Devo Springsteen introduced Legend to Kanye West , a then up-and-coming hip-hop artist; Stephens
10266-559: The NAACP 's President's Award in 2016. In Broadway acting, Legend won a Tony Award for co-producing the stage play Jitney (2017), and portrayed the titular character in NBC 's adaptation of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar (2018). He received a 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
10440-632: The RIAA , and attained gold certification in Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. At the 2007 Grammy Awards , the song " Heaven " won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance , while lead single " Save Room " received a nomination in the 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 ",
10614-689: The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) accepts his Nobel Peace Prize . Four black girls walking down stairs in the Birmingham, Alabama 16th Street Baptist Church are killed by a bomb set by the Ku Klux Klan . Annie Lee Cooper attempts to register to vote in Selma, Alabama , but is prevented by the white registrar. King meets with Lyndon B. Johnson and asks for federal legislation to allow black citizens to register to vote unencumbered, but
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#173279147972010788-605: 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". The film won at thirteen different film festivals including the LA Film Festival where it made its North American premiere in 2018. The film won Best Animation VR Experience at the 2018 Raindance Film Festival and received nomination for Best Virtual Reality Production at
10962-519: The best-selling albums of all time worldwide and was ranked number one on Apple Music's 100 Best Albums list. Its lead single, " Doo Wop (That Thing) " debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 , and was listed as a Song of the Century by the RIAA. Its follow-up singles, " Ex-Factor " and " Everything Is Everything " both peaked within the top 40 on the chart. At the 41st Grammy Awards , she set
11136-514: The 1993 release Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit , playing Rita Louise Watson, an inner-city Catholic school teenager with a surly, rebellious attitude. In it, she performed the songs " His Eye Is on the Sparrow " (a duet with Tanya Blount ) and " Joyful, Joyful ". Director Bill Duke credited Hill with improvising a rap in a scene: "None of that was scripted. That was all Lauryn. She was amazing." Critic Roger Ebert called her "the girl with
11310-476: The 1999 film The Best Man and later received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals . In November 1998, New Ark filed a fifty-page lawsuit against Hill, her management, and record label, claiming that Hill "used their songs and production skills, but failed to properly credit them for the work" on Miseducation . The musicians claimed to be the primary songwriters on two tracks, and major contributors on several others, though Gordon Williams,
11484-530: The 2006 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album , and earned Legend another two nominal awards for Best New Artist and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance . Altogether, the album produced four 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 " which peaked at 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 . Legend also co-wrote Janet Jackson 's " I Want You ", which
11658-493: The 30th Annual NAACP Image Awards . In May 1999, she became the youngest woman ever named to Ebony magazine 's 100+ Most Influential Black Americans list; in November of that year, the same publication named her as one of "10 For Tomorrow" in the "Ebony 2000: Special Millennium Issue". In May 1999, she made People magazine 's 50 Most Beautiful People list. The publication, which has called her "model-gorgeous", praised
11832-415: The 5-foot-4-inch (1.63 m) Hill for her idiosyncratic sense of personal style. In June 1999, she received an Essence Award , but her acceptance speech, where she said there was no contradiction in religious love and servitude and "[being] who you are, as fly and as hot and as whatever", drew reaction from those in the public who thought she was not a good role model as a young, unwed mother of two. This
12006-486: The Entertainer , Lenny Kravitz , and Liam Neeson . On March 26, 2014, British actor Tom Wilkinson was added to the cast to play US President Lyndon B. Johnson. On April 7, it was announced that British actress Carmen Ejogo would play Dr. King's wife, Coretta Scott King . On April 15, actor and rapper Lakeith Stanfield had reportedly joined the cast to play civil rights protester Jimmie Lee Jackson , who
12180-474: The FBI monitor and harass King. Having served as Johnson's top domestic policy assistant (including on issues of civil rights) and as U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare , Califano questioned whether the writer and director felt "free to fill the screen with falsehoods, immune from any responsibility to the dead, just because they thought it made for a better story". Historian David E. Kaiser said that
12354-512: The Fugees split to work on solo projects, which Jean later blamed on his tumultuous relationship with Hill and the fact he married his wife Claudinette while still involved with Hill. Meanwhile, in the summer of 1996 Hill had met Rohan Marley , a son of Bob Marley and a former University of Miami football player . Hill subsequently began a relationship with him, while still also involved with Jean. Hill became pregnant in late 1996, and on August 3, 1997, Marley and Hill's first child, Zion David,
12528-689: The Grammy Award for Best R&B Album—and his ninth album, Legend (2022). Throughout his musical career, Legend has received a total of 12 Grammy Awards. In 2007, he won the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame . Legend won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and Golden Globe Award for his 2015 single " Glory " (with Common ), which was released for the film Selma . He won
12702-486: The Lauryn Hill they were exposed to in the beginning was all that was allowed in that arena at that time ... I had to step away when I realized that for the sake of the machine, I was being way too compromised. I felt uncomfortable about having to smile in someone's face when I really didn't like them or even know them well enough to like them." She also spoke about her emotional crisis, saying, "For two or three years I
12876-517: The Rapper and Miguel . Legend featured on Kygo's song "Happy Birthday" for his debut studio album "Cloud Nine " released in 2016. For the 2017 film Beauty and the Beast , Legend and Ariana Grande performed a duet on the title track , a remake of the 1991 original version sung by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson . In April 2017, Crow: The Legend , a short animation film, premiered its prologue at
13050-533: 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. On January 22, 2010, he performed " Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child " on the Hope for Haiti Now telethon show. On September 8, 2010, John Legend joined the national board of Teach For America . Legend also sits on
13224-658: The US Billboard 200 , selling 116,000 copies in its first week. It went on to sell 540,300 copies in the United States and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). 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. Critically acclaimed, it won
13398-403: The United States and more than 20 million copies worldwide. In the 1996 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll , The Score came second in the list of best albums and three of its tracks placed within the top 20 best singles. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album , and was later included on Rolling Stone ' s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time . The Score garnered praise for being
13572-585: The age of 12, Legend entered North High School in Springfield, Ohio and graduated salutatorian . 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. At the age of 16, he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia , where he served as president and musical director of
13746-460: The album concerned her frustration with the Fugees; "I Used to Love Him" dealt with the breakdown of the relationship between Hill and Wyclef Jean. Other songs such as "To Zion" spoke about her decision to have her first baby (Zion David Marley, the first of five she was to have with Rohan Marley ), even though some at the time encouraged her to have an abortion so to not interfere with her blossoming career. Indeed, Hill's pregnancy revived her from
13920-553: The album's blending of the R&;B, doo-wop, pop, hip-hop, and reggae genres and its honest representation of a woman's life and relationships. David Browne , writing in Entertainment Weekly , called it "an album of often-astonishing power, strength, and feeling", and praised Hill for "easily flowing from singing to rapping, evoking the past while forging a future of her own". Robert Christgau quipped, " PC record of
14094-614: The bathroom stalls of hip-hop clubs." While growing up, Hill took acting lessons in Manhattan . She began her acting career in 1991 appearing with Jean in Club XII , MC Lyte's Off-Broadway hip-hop rendering of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night . While the play was not a success, an agent noticed her. Later that year, Hill began appearing on the soap opera As the World Turns in a recurring role as troubled teenager Kira Johnson. She subsequently co-starred alongside Whoopi Goldberg in
14268-504: The bathroom, on toilet paper, on the wall. She writes it in the mirror if the mirror smokes up. She writes constantly. This woman does not sleep". One of the few public appearances Hill made in 2008 was at a Martha Stewart book signing in New Jersey, perplexing some in the press. In April 2009, it was reported that Hill would engage in a 10-day tour of European summer festivals during mid-July of that year. She performed two shows for
14442-519: The big joyful voice", although he thought her talent was wasted, while Rolling Stone said she "performed marvelously against type ... in the otherwise perfunctory [film]". Hill also appeared in Steven Soderbergh 's 1993 motion picture King of the Hill , in a minor but pivotal role as a 1930s gum-popping elevator operator. Soderbergh biographer Jason Wood described her as supplying one of
14616-839: 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 combat operations in Iraq , and for the active troops and the veterans of the United States Armed Forces . In 2011, he contributed
14790-617: 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 online support and funding fellowships for MCN summer interns through
14964-411: The cast to play Mahalia Jackson , a singer and friend of King. On May 7, Andre Holland joined the cast to play politician and civil rights activist Andrew Young. On May 8, Tessa Thompson was cast to play the role of Diane Nash , a civil rights activist and founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee . On May 9, Deadline confirmed that rapper and actor Common had been cast in
15138-447: The ceremony, Hill broke another record by becoming the first woman to win five times in one night, taking home the awards for Album of the Year , Best R&B Album , Best R&B Song , Best Female R&B Vocal Performance , and Best New Artist . During an acceptance speech, she said, "This is crazy. This is hip-hop!" Hill had brought forth a new, mainstream acceptance of the genre. In February 1999, Hill received four awards at
15312-688: 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 ", 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. 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
15486-477: The couple had a fourth child, a son, born via surrogacy on June 19, 2023. In 2020, the couple was expecting a third child, but Teigen lost the baby at twenty weeks due to a pregnancy complication. 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". On the PBS series Finding Your Roots , it
15660-533: The departure of singer Blake Shelton . Legend performed a benefit concert in Springfield, Ohio in 2005 in support of a tax levy for the Springfield City School District . In May 2007, Legend partnered with 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
15834-540: The depiction of the relationship between Johnson and King "was the only thing I would question in the movie. Everything else, they got 100 percent right". According to Young, the two were always mutually respectful, and King respected Johnson's political problems. On television, Young pointed out that it was US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy who had signed the order that allowed the FBI to monitor King and other SCLC members and that it happened before Johnson took office. Some Jews who marched with King at Selma wrote that
16008-417: The direction the world was headed, it also featured the singing of CeeLo Green and the signature guitar runs of Carlos Santana ). She was also nominated for Best R&B Song for " All That I Can Say ", which she had written and produced for Mary J. Blige . Also, her concocted duet with Bob Marley on " Turn Your Lights Down Low " for the 1999 remix tribute album Chant Down Babylon additionally appeared in
16182-403: 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'." The album was preceded by dance-pop -influenced up tempo single " Green Light " which featured rapper Andre 3000 of OutKast and became his highest-charting single since "Ordinary People"; it
16356-571: The father remains publicly unknown. In February 2012, Hill performed a new song titled "Fearless Vampire Killer", during a sold-out performance at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. In late 2012, Hill toured with rapper Nas ; her portion of the tour, titled Black Rage, is named after her song, released October 30. Hill has described the song as being "about the derivative effects of racial inequity and abuse" and "a juxtaposition to
16530-467: The film Selma is a work of art about the people of Selma, not a documentary. DuVernay said in an interview that she did not see herself as "a custodian of anyone's legacy". In response to criticisms that she rewrote history to portray her own agenda, DuVernay said that the movie is "not a documentary. I'm not a historian. I'm a storyteller." Lewis wrote in an op-ed for The Los Angeles Times : "We do not demand completeness of other historical dramas, so why
16704-512: The film a rare grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale. Richard Roeper of The Chicago Sun Times praised the film as "an important history lesson that never feels like a lecture. Once school is back in session, every junior high school class in America should take a field trip to see this movie." Joe Morgenstern , writing for The Wall Street Journal , wrote: "At its best, Ava DuVernay's biographical film honors Dr. King's legacy by dramatizing
16878-474: The film omits any mention of the Jews who contributed significantly to the civil rights movement, effectively "airbrushing" Jews out of the film, particularly Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel , who appeared in news photos at the front of the march with King. Director DuVernay and US Representative John Lewis , who is portrayed in the film marching with King during the civil rights movement, responded separately that
17052-513: The film's depiction of Johnson as obstructing Dr. King's civil rights efforts—when, in fact, he helped get important legislation passed—advances a false narrative that American whites are "hopelessly infected by racism and that black people could and should depend only on themselves". Andrew Young — SCLC activist and official, and later U.S. congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, and mayor of Atlanta—told The Washington Post that
17226-534: The film's theatrical release. A protest anthem, "Glory" refers to the 2014 Ferguson protests and earned both the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Academy Award for Best Original Song . The soundtrack album Selma: Music from the Motion Picture was released digitally on December 23, 2014 and physically on January 13, 2015. Among the other songs featured in the film was
17400-442: The film. In 2010, Daniels (who was the attached director at the time) confirmed that the lead role of King would be played by British actor David Oyelowo . King was one of four main roles played by British actors (the other roles being those of King's wife, President Johnson, and Alabama Governor Wallace). Actors who had confirmed in 2010 but who did not appear in the 2014 production include Robert De Niro , Hugh Jackman , Cedric
17574-431: 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." 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. In response to fans who labeled him as "brave" for his actions, Legend stated the following on Twitter ahead of
17748-400: The first artist to sign with 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 , received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and spawned his first hit song, " Ordinary People ". Legend won three Grammy Awards from eight nominations at
17922-757: The first time. She increased the tempo and urgency from the original recording, but at times had difficulty in communicating with her band. Hill continued touring, including a set at the 6th Annual Jazz in the Gardens, in Miami Gardens , Florida in December. In Spring 2011, Hill performed at the Coachella Valley Music Festival , New Orleans Jazz Fest , and at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas . In July 2011, Hill gave birth to her sixth child, Micah, her first not with Rohan Marley;
18096-570: The group's breakout hit. Buttressed by what Rolling Stone publications later called Hill's "evocative" vocal line and her "amazing pipes", the track became pervasive on pop, R&B, hip hop, and adult contemporary radio formats. It won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals . On the album, Hill combined African-American music and Caribbean music influences with socially conscious lyrics. Newsweek mentioned Hill's "irresistibly cute looks" and proclaimed her "the most powerful new voice in rap". When she
18270-436: The group, she was frequently referred to by the nickname "L. Boogie". Hill's image and artistry, as well as her full, rich, raspy alto voice, placed her at the forefront of the band, with some fans urging her to begin a solo career. The Fugees' second album, The Score (1996), peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and stayed in the top ten of that chart for over half a year. It sold about seven million copies in
18444-499: The here and now. Oyelowo's stirring, soulful performance as King deserves superlatives." David Denby , writing for The New Yorker , wrote: "This is cinema, more rhetorical, spectacular, and stirring than cable-TV drama." Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post gave the film four out of five stars, and wrote: "With Selma , director Ava DuVernay has created a stirring, often thrilling, uncannily timely drama that works on several levels at once ... she presents [Martin Luther King Jr.] as
18618-419: The historic ones without violating the copyright. She recalled spending hours listening to King's words while hiking the canyons of Los Angeles. While she did not think she would "get anywhere close to just the beauty and that nuance of his speech patterns", she did identify some of King's basic structure, such as a tendency to speak in triplets (saying one thing in three different ways). DuVernay did not receive
18792-566: The jaw and knocked down. Jeremy Strong joined the cast to play James Reeb , a white Unitarian Universalist minister from Boston who was murdered in Selma after the second attempt at the march. On June 12, it was reported that Giovanni Ribisi joined the cast to play Lee C. White , an adviser to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson on strategies regarding the Civil Rights Movement. Alessandro Nivola also joined to play John Doar ,
18966-473: The latter part of 2000. In part, the case illustrated the difficult boundaries between songwriting and all other aspects that went into contemporary arranging, sampling, and recording. The suit was eventually settled out of court in February 2001, with Hill paying New Ark a reported $ 5 million. A friend of Hill's later said of the suit, "That was the beginning of a chain effect that would turn everything
19140-469: The letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans, based on historian Howard Zinn 's A People's History of the United States . Also in 2009, Legend and the Roots teamed up to record a collaborative album, Wake Up! , which was released on September 21, 2010. The first single released from the album was "Wake Up Everybody" featuring singer Melanie Fiona and rapper Common . In November 2010, Legend
19314-450: The list of best albums and "Doo Wop (That Thing)" second in best singles. In November 1998, Marley and Hill's second child, Selah Louise , was born. Of being a young mother of two, Hill said, "It's not an easy situation at all. You have to really pray and be honest with yourself." In the run-up to the 1999 Grammy Awards , Hill became the first woman to be nominated in ten categories in a single year. In addition to Miseducation works,
19488-844: The live stage and performed in stops across New Zealand and Australia on the Raggamuffin Music Festival . Many of the songs that Hill had performed and recorded over the past six years were included on an April 2010 unofficial compilation album titled Khulami Phase . The album also features a range of other material found on the Ms. Hill compilation. Hill appeared at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, California , in June 2010, her first live American performance in several years. An unreleased song called " Repercussions "
19662-513: The major American entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony ( EGOT ) in 2018. Legend also has served as a vocal coach for the reality competition series The Voice for nine seasons since its sixteenth season in 2019. He became the show's senior coach following Blake Shelton 's 2023 departure. John Roger Stephens was born on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio . He is the eldest of four children of Phyllis Elaine (née Lloyd),
19836-487: The march begin as scheduled without him, saying he can join later. The marchers, including John Lewis of SNCC, Hosea Williams of SCLC, and Selma activist Amelia Boynton , cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge and approach a line of state troopers who put on gas masks. The troopers order the marchers to turn back and, when the marchers hold their ground, the troopers attack with clubs, horses, tear gas , and other weapons. Lewis and Boynton are among those badly injured. The attack
20010-496: The mixed reviews and no significant radio airplay, 2.0 debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The album was later certified Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA ; and has received retrospective praise by music critics. Her song "Mystery of Iniquity" from the album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rap Solo Performance , and was used as an interpolation by Kanye West for his single " All Falls Down " featuring Syleena Johnson , leading to Hill being credited as
20184-459: The music video for Aretha Franklin 's single " A Rose Is Still a Rose ", and co-produced for Whitney Houston 's album My Love Is Your Love (1998). Her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998), was met with widespread critical acclaim. Its release made Hill the first female rapper to both debut atop the Billboard 200 and receive a diamond certification by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); it remains one of
20358-595: The music video for his song " Stereo ". They became engaged in December 2011 and were married on September 14, 2013, in Como, Italy . His 2013 song " All of Me " is dedicated to her. The couple has four children: a daughter born in April 2016, a son born in May 2018, and a daughter born in January 2023. Their first three children were all conceived via in vitro fertilization . On June 28, 2023, Teigen announced on social media that
20532-494: The music-based NFT platform, OurSong. 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 . He was joined on stage alongside by three Ukrainian female artists Siuzanna Iglidan, Mika Newtown, and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk . On September 9, 2022, he released his eighth studio album titled Legend . The following month, Legend became The Voice' s senior coach in its 24th season after
20706-442: 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. 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
20880-439: The nominations included her rendition of " Can't Take My Eyes Off You " for the 1997 film Conspiracy Theory , which had appeared on Billboard charts, and Hill's writing and producing of " A Rose Is Still a Rose ", which became a late-in-career hit for Aretha Franklin . She appeared on several magazine covers, including Time , Esquire , Rolling Stone , Teen People , and The New York Times Fashion Magazine . During
21054-504: The president responds that, although he understands Dr. King's concerns, he has more important projects. King travels to Selma with Ralph Abernathy , Andrew Young , James Orange , and Diane Nash . James Bevel greets them, and other SCLC activists appear. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover tells Johnson that King is a problem, and suggests they disrupt his marriage. Coretta Scott King has concerns about her husband's upcoming work in Selma. King calls singer Mahalia Jackson to inspire him with
21228-679: The program's debut: "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." 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
21402-424: The racist brutality that spurred him and his colleagues to action." A. O. Scott of The New York Times praised the acting, directing, writing, and cinematography, and wrote: "Even if you think you know what's coming, Selma hums with suspense and surprise. Packed with incident and overflowing with fascinating characters, it is a triumph of efficient, emphatic cinematic storytelling." Rene Rodriguez, writing in
21576-475: The rapper Common to write the song " Glory ", featured in the 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 performed "Glory" at the 87th Academy Awards on February 22, 2015. Legend was featured on Meghan Trainor 's " Like I'm Gonna Lose You " from her debut studio album , which reached number eight on
21750-500: The record for the most nominations in one night for a female , and became the first rapper to win Album of the Year . In 1999, Hill became the first rapper to be featured on the cover of Time magazine, received a President's Award from the NAACP for her humanitarian work, and released the Bob Marley duet " Turn Your Lights Down Low ". Furthermore, she produced and wrote Mary J. Blige 's single " All That I Can Say ". Her work as
21924-523: The record was "To make a modern soul album – to flip that classic feel into a modern context." Legend was granted an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Howard University at the 144th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 12, 2012. Legend was a judge on the ABC music show Duets along with Kelly Clarkson , Jennifer Nettles , and Robin Thicke . Legend's spot was originally for Lionel Richie , who had to leave
22098-638: The remake for A Star Is Born (the movie was later released in 2018, with the part going to Lady Gaga ), Dreamgirls (the role of Deena, later played by Beyoncé ), Charlie's Angels (the part that went to Lucy Liu ), The Bourne Identity , The Mexican , The Matrix Reloaded , and The Matrix Revolutions . In 2000, Hill dropped out of the public eye. The pressures of fame began to overwhelm her. She disliked not being able to go out of her house to do simple errands without having to worry about her physical appearance. She fired her management team and began attending Bible study classes five days
22272-648: The role of James Bevel , the Director of Direct Action and Director of Nonviolent Education of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference , who was married to Diane Nash during the events of the film. On May 16, Trai Byers was added to the cast to play James Forman , a civil rights leader active in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. On June 20, Deadline reported that Colman Domingo had been cast to play SCLC activist Ralph Abernathy . On May 28, Stephan James
22446-587: The safety and well-being of myself and my family." Selma (film) Selma is a 2014 historical drama film directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Paul Webb . It is based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches which were initiated and directed by James Bevel and led by Martin Luther King Jr. , Hosea Williams , and John Lewis . The film stars actors David Oyelowo as King, Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon B. Johnson , Tim Roth as George Wallace , Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King , and Common as Bevel. Selma premiered at
22620-450: The script were represented. Most controversy in the media centered on the film's portrayal of President Johnson and his relationship with King. According to people such as LBJ Presidential Library director Mark Updegrove and Joseph A. Califano Jr. , Johnson was a champion of civil rights legislation and a proactive partner of King, and they accused the film of falsely depicting Johnson as a reluctant, obstructionist political actor who had
22794-414: The second march. Marchers cross the bridge again and see the state troopers lined up, but the troopers turn aside to let them pass. King, after praying, turns around and leads the group away, which again draws sharp criticism from SNCC activists. That evening, Reeb is beaten to death by an angry white mob on a street in Selma. After a hearing, Judge Johnson approves the march. President Johnson speaks before
22968-446: The show due to a scheduling conflict. Duets debuted on Thursday, May 24, 2012. He released his fourth studio album, Love in the Future , on September 3, 2013, debuting number 4 on the Billboard 200 , selling 68,000 copies in its first week. The album was nominated for Best R&B album at the 2014 Grammy Awards . Legend's third single from the album, " All of Me ", became an international chart success, peaking at number one on
23142-807: The single " Praise Jah in the Moonlight " for her son YG Marley . Since the 2000s, her music has been frequently sampled by numerous artists, while Hill herself has been inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress , the Grammy Hall of Fame , and the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame . Lauryn Noelle Hill was born on May 26, 1975, in East Orange, New Jersey . Her mother, Valerie Hill,
23316-420: The site's critical consensus reads: "Fueled by a gripping performance from David Oyelowo, Selma draws inspiration and dramatic power from the life and death of Martin Luther King Jr. – but doesn't ignore how far we remain from the ideals his work embodied." On Metacritic , the film has a score of 79 out of 100, based on 52 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave
23490-556: The six new Google Assistant voices. Legend was one of the few celebrities to appear and speak out in the Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly . The six-part docuseries details sex abuse allegations spread over four decades against acclaimed R&B singer R. Kelly . 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. Legend lambasted R. Kelly during his interview in
23664-550: The statement 'life is good,' which she believes can only be so when these long standing issues are addressed and resolved." In June 2012, Hill was charged with three counts of tax fraud or failing to file taxes (Title 26 USC § 7202 Willful failure to collect or pay over tax) not tax evasion on $ 1.8 million of income earned between 2005 and 2007. During this time she had toured as a musical artist, earned royalties from both her records and from films she had appeared in, and had owned and been in charge of multiple corporations. In
23838-454: The studio with the goal of making a new album. Later that same year, an album titled Ms. Hill , which featured cuts from Miseducation , various soundtrack contributions and other "unreleased" songs, was released. It features guest appearances from D'Angelo, Rah Digga and John Forté . Also in June 2007, Hill released a new song, " Lose Myself ", on the soundtrack to the film Surf's Up . In early 2008, Marley and Hill's fifth child, Sara,
24012-482: The top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 and received 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, Wake Up! (2010) with Philadelphia -based hip hop band the Roots . Legend's fourth studio album, Love in the Future (2013) was preceded by the hit single " All of Me ". The pop ballad saw his furthest commercial success as it peaked atop
24186-517: The tour and passed out on stage during the start of her second performance and left the stage. She refused to provide refunds for angry consumers. On June 10, Hill's management informed the promoters of the Stockholm Jazz Festival , which she was scheduled to headline, that she would not be performing due to unspecified "health reasons". Shortly afterward, the rest of the tour was canceled as well. In January 2010, Hill returned to
24360-660: 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 . Later that year, Legend stopped by Children's Hospital Los Angeles for
24534-436: The warmest scenes in the film. Hill graduated from Columbia High School in 1993. Pras, Hill and Jean renamed their group Fugees , a derivative of the word "refugee", which was a derogatory term for Haitian Americans . Hill began a romantic relationship with Jean. The Fugees, who signed a contract with Columbia / Ruffhouse Records in 1993, became known for their genre blending, particularly of reggae, rock and soul, which
24708-566: The world will be a better place." In 2014, Legend founded the FREEAMERICA campaign, which aims to help reform incarceration in the United States . He also supported the 2018 ballot initiative to pass Florida Amendment 4 , which restored the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions. In 2016, Legend co-signed a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling for
24882-432: The year—songs soft, singing ordinary, rapping skilled, rhymes up and down, skits de trop , production subtle and terrific". In 2017, NPR rated the album as the second-best album of all time created by a woman. It sold nearly 423,000 copies in its first week (boosted by advance radio play of two non-label-sanctioned singles, " Lost Ones " and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You") and topped the Billboard 200 for four weeks and
25056-401: Was " Doo Wop (That Thing) ", which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It exemplified Hill's appeal, combining feelings of self-empowerment with self-defense. Other charted singles from the album were " Ex-Factor ", which has been sampled by Drake and Cardi B , " Everything Is Everything " and "To Zion". In the 1998 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll , Miseducation came second in
25230-582: Was "in decline". The following day, several reporters suggested that Hill's comments at the Vatican may have been influenced by her spiritual advisor, Brother Anthony. In 2004, Hill contributed a new song, "The Passion", to The Passion of the Christ: Songs . A remix version with John Legend of his " So High " ended up receiving a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals . Around this time, Hill began selling
25404-439: Was 21 years old, Hill was still living at home with her parents. She had been enrolled at Columbia University during this period, and considered majoring in history as she became a sophomore, but left after about a year of total studies once sales of The Score went into the millions. In 1996, she responded to a false rumor on The Howard Stern Show that she had made a racist comment on MTV , saying "How can I possibly be
25578-399: Was a member of the track team, cheerleading squad and was a classmate of actor Zach Braff . She also took violin lessons, went to dance class, and founded the school's gospel choir. Academically, she took advanced placement classes and received primarily 'A' grades . School officials recognized her as a leader among the student body. Later recalling her education, Hill commented, "I had
25752-452: Was a repetition of criticism she had received after the birth of her first child, and she had said that she and Marley would soon be married. In early 2000, Hill was one of the producers to share the Grammy Award for Album of the Year awarded for Santana 's 1999 multi-million-selling Supernatural , whereon she had written, produced, and rapped on the track "Do You Like the Way" (a rumination on
25926-459: Was also cited as a contributing factor. Hill began touring on her own, although to mixed reviews; often arriving late to concerts (sometimes by over two hours), performing unpopular reconfigurations of her songs and sporting an exaggerated appearance. On some occasions, fans booed her and left early. In June 2007, Sony Records said Hill had been recording through the past decade, had accumulated considerable unreleased material and had re-entered
26100-538: Was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration . 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 . In 2009, Legend performed in The People Speak , a documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of
26274-920: Was an English teacher and her father, Mal Hill, a computer and management consultant. She has one older brother named Malaney who was born in 1972. Her Baptist family moved to New York for a short period before settling in South Orange . Hill has said of her musically oriented family: "there were so many records, so much music constantly being played. My mother played the piano, my father sang, and we were always surrounded by music." Her father sang in local nightclubs and at weddings. While growing up, Hill frequently listened to Curtis Mayfield , Stevie Wonder , Aretha Franklin , and Gladys Knight ; years later she recalled playing Marvin Gaye 's What's Going On repeatedly until she fell asleep to it. In middle school, Hill performed " The Star-Spangled Banner " before
26448-465: Was away from all social interaction. It was a very introspective time because I had to confront my fears and master every demonic thought about inferiority, about insecurity or the fear of being black, young and gifted in this western culture." She went on to say that she had to fight to retain her identity, and was forced "to deal with folks who weren't happy about that." In July 2001, while pregnant with her third child, Hill unveiled her new material to
26622-668: Was born. The couple lived in Hill's childhood house in South Orange after she bought her parents a new house down the street. Hill had a cameo appearance in the 1997 film Hav Plenty . In 1998, Hill took up another small, but important role in the film Restaurant ; Entertainment Weekly praised her portrayal of the protagonist's pregnant former girlfriend as bringing vigor to the film. Hill recorded her solo record The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill from late 1997 through June 1998 at Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica . The title
26796-664: Was born. The couple were not living together, although Marley considered them "spiritually together" even while listing himself as single on social media. Hill later said that she and Marley "have [had] a long and complex history about which many inaccuracies have been reported since the beginning" and that they both valued their privacy. By August 2008, Hill was living with her mother and children in her hometown of South Orange, New Jersey. Reports in mid-2008 claimed that Columbia Records then believed Hill to be on hiatus. Marley disputed these claims, telling an interviewer that Hill has enough material for several albums: "She writes music in
26970-506: Was certified platinum and received a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards . 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 , and Fergie , among others. Legend also tentatively recorded with Michael Jackson on
27144-428: Was confirmed to be portraying the role of SNCC activist John Lewis in the film. On May 29, Wendell Pierce joined the film to play civil rights leader Hosea Williams . On May 30, Cuba Gooding Jr. was set to play civil rights attorney and activist Fred Gray . On June 3, British actor Tim Roth signed on to play Alabama governor George Wallace. On June 4, Niecy Nash joined the cast to play Richie Jean Jackson ,
27318-510: Was determined that Legend's genetic makeup is 64% African , 32% European , and 4% Native American . Legend endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 US Presidential election. Studio albums Lauryn Hill Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is often credited for breaking barriers for female rappers, popularizing melodic rap, and pioneering neo soul for mainstream audiences . In addition to being named one of
27492-632: 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. On July 5, 2011, songwriter Anthony Stokes filed
27666-504: Was feeling at the time, even though I was documenting my distress as well as my bursts of joy." The Fugees embarked on a European tour in late 2005. Old tensions between Hill and the other members of the group soon resurfaced, and the reunion ended before an album could be recorded; Jean and Michel both blamed Hill for the split. Hill reportedly demanded to be addressed by everyone, including her bandmates, as "Ms. Hill"; she also considered changing her moniker to "Empress". Hill's tardiness
27840-477: Was first experimented on their debut album, Blunted on Reality , released in 1994. It reached No. 62 on the Billboard Top R&;B/Hip-Hop Albums chart but overall sold poorly and was met by poor critical reviews due to their management's insistence they adopt gangsta rap attitudes. Although the album made little impact, Hill's rapping on "Some Seek Stardom" was seen as a highlight. Within
28014-506: Was hired to co-write or perform 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
28188-490: Was inspired by the book The Mis-Education of the Negro (1933) by Carter G. Woodson and The Education of Sonny Carson , a film and autobiographical novel. The album featured contributions from D'Angelo , Carlos Santana , Mary J. Blige and the then-unknown John Legend . Wyclef Jean initially did not support Hill recording a solo album, but eventually offered his production help; Hill turned him down. Several songs on
28362-412: Was intended to make the music sound raw and not computer-aided. Hill spoke of pressure from her label to emulate Prince , wherein all tracks would be credited as written and produced by the artist with little outside help. She also wanted to be appreciated as an auteur as much as Jean had within the Fugees. She also saw a feminist cause: "But step out and try and control things and there are doubts. This
28536-479: Was introduced to American singer Lauryn Hill by a mutual friend; Hill hired him to play piano on " Everything Is Everything ", a song from her album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill . He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English , with an emphasis on African-American literature in 1999. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania , Stephens worked as a management consultant at
28710-613: Was leaked via the Internet in late July 2010, debuting at No. 94 on Billboard 's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (and peaked at No. 83 the following week), making it her first Billboard chart appearance as a lead artist since 1999. Hill joined the Rock the Bells hip-hop festival series in the U.S. during August 2010, and as part of that year's theme of rendering classic albums, she performed The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in its entirety for
28884-410: Was nominated for several awards in 2014–15. The historical accuracy of Selma ' s story has been the subject of controversy about the degree to which artistic license should be used in historical fiction . The film was criticized by some for its omission of various individuals and groups historically associated with the Selma marches, while others challenged how particular historical figures in
29058-620: Was production of an annual Halloween haunted house in East Orange. Hill also raised money for Haitian refugees, supported clean water well-building projects in Kenya and Uganda, and staged a rap concert in Harlem to promote voter registration . A 1997 benefit event for the Refugee Project introduced a board of trustees for the organization that included Sean Combs , Mariah Carey , Busta Rhymes , Spike Lee , and others as members. In 1997,
29232-470: Was released as an Internet single in late September. It peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard R&;B Chart . In 2005, she told USA Today , "If I make music now, it will only be to provide information to my own children. If other people benefit from it, then so be it." When asked how she now felt about the songs on 2.0 , she stated "a lot of the songs were transitional. The music was about how I
29406-489: Was released on Blu-ray and DVD on April 14, 2015. Selma received critical acclaim, with particular praise given to DuVernay's direction and Oyelowo's performance, though it was met with some criticism for its historical inaccuracies, which largely centered on the perceived vilification of Johnson and the omission of several prominent Jewish civil rights leaders. On Rotten Tomatoes , the film holds an approval rating of 99% based on 314 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10;
29580-507: 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 . 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
29754-627: Was reportedly in early talks to direct the film, with financing by Pathé . Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner of Plan B joined as co-producers along with participation of Cloud Eight Films. In 2010, reports indicated that The Weinstein Company would join Pathe and Plan B to finance the $ 22 million film, but by the next month Daniels had signed on with Sony to re-write and direct The Butler . In an interview in August 2010, Daniels said that financing
29928-458: Was screened in the Berlinale Special Galas section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2015. It was released by Pathé and their distribution partner 20th Century Fox on February 6, 2015, in the United Kingdom. Paramount Pictures gave the film a limited re-release in the US on March 20, 2015, to honor the historical march's 50th anniversary, and another re-release in January 2021 to celebrate Black History Month . Selma
30102-422: Was shot and killed on a nighttime march and whose death led James Bevel to initiate the Selma to Montgomery marches. On April 22, Lorraine Toussaint joined the cast to portray Amelia Boynton Robinson , who was very active in the Selma movement before SCLC arrived and was the first African-American woman in Alabama to run for Congress. On April 25, it was announced that R&B singer Ledisi had been added to
30276-724: Was there for the Selma project, but he had to choose between The Butler and Selma , and chose The Butler . In July 2013, it was said that Ava DuVernay had signed on to direct the film for Pathé UK and Plan B, and that she was revising the script with the original screenwriter, Paul Webb. DuVernay estimated that she re-wrote 90 percent of Webb's original script. Those revisions included rewriting King's speeches, because, in 2009, King's estate licensed them to DreamWorks and Warner Bros. for an untitled project to be produced by Steven Spielberg . Subsequent negotiations between those companies and Selma 's producers did not lead to an agreement. DuVernay drafted alternative speeches that evoke
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