Leona Lewis | |
|---|---|
 Lewis at the 2014Mercy For Animals charity event, in Los Angeles | |
| Born | Leona Louise Lewis (1985-04-03)3 April 1985 (age 39) Islington, London, England |
| Alma mater | BRIT School |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Discography | Leona Lewis discography |
| Labels | |
| Website | leonalewismusic |
Musical artist | |
| Signature | |
 | |
Leona Louise LewisOBE (born 3 April 1985) is a British singer, songwriter, actress, model, and activist. Born and raised inIslington,Inner London, she later attended theBRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology inCroydon. Lewis achieved national recognition when she won thethird series of the television talent showThe X Factor in 2006, winning a£1 million recording contract withSyco Music. Her winner's single, a cover ofKelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This", peaked at number one for four weeks on theUK Singles Chart and broke a world record by reaching 50,000 digital downloads within 30 minutes. In February 2007, Lewis signed a five-album contract in the United States withClive Davis's record label,J Records.
Lewis's success continued with the release of her debut studio album,Spirit (2007), which was certified 10× platinum in the UK and becamethe fourth best-selling album of the 2000s and one of thebest-selling albums in UK chart history. The lead single, "Bleeding Love", spent seven weeks at number one in the UK and was thebest-selling single of 2007. Her second studio album,Echo (2009), debuted at number one on theUK Albums Chart. In 2011, Lewis released the single "Collide", a collaboration with Swedish DJAvicii, and her debutextended play,Hurt: The EP. Her third studio album,Glassheart (2012), marked a new creative direction for Lewis, drawing inspiration fromdubstep andelectronic music. She began to record material for her first Christmas album during herGlassheart Tour, which took place in mid 2013.Christmas, with Love was released later that year and its lead single, "One More Sleep", peaked at number three in the UK.
In 2014, Lewis made her film debut inWalking on Sunshine, and her fourth studio album,I Am, was released the following year. In 2016, she made herBroadway debut asGrizabella in the revival ofAndrew Lloyd Webber's musicalCats, and the following year, she signed a modelling contract withWilhelmina Models. She then collaborated withCalum Scott on the single "You Are the Reason" (2018), and had a recurring role on the American television seriesThe Oath (2019). In 2021, Lewis joined theParamount+ showQueen of the Universe as a judge.
According to her record company, as of 2021, Lewis has sold over 35 million records worldwide.[1] She is the first British female solo artist to reach the top five with eight singles, surpassingOlivia Newton-John's record of seven. Lewis has won twoMOBO Awards, anMTV Europe Music Award, and twoWorld Music Awards. She is also a six-timeBRIT Award and three-timeGrammy Award nominee. Aside from her music and acting career, Lewis has publicly supported various charitable causes, particularlyanimal rights; she is alsovegan.
Leona Louise Lewis was born on 3 April 1985, inIslington, London, England,[2] to a father ofAfro-Guyanese descent and a mother with Welsh, Irish and Italian ancestry.[3][4] She has an older half-brother, Bradley, and a younger brother, Kyle.[4] Noticing Lewis's passion for singing, her parents enrolled her at theSylvia Young Theatre School and later at theItalia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, theRavenscourt Theatre School and theBRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology until they could no longer afford to do so, making cutbacks when necessary to help their daughter achieve her aspiration of being a singer.[4]
At the age of 17, Lewis decided to leave BRIT School to "get out there" and pursue a career in music. By then, she had already begun to write and record her own material, and she worked as a receptionist at a solicitor's office and as aPizza Hut waitress in order to fund the studio sessions.[4] At 18, Lewis secured a lead role inThe Lion King theatre show in Paris; however, she withdrew after injuring her back while she was ice-skating.[5]
Lewis recorded a demo album, calledTwilight, in collaboration with Spiral Music, a production company based inFulham, but it failed to secure her an album deal with any record companies.[6] Although the album was never released commercially, Lewis performed a couple of the tracks live onBBC Radio 1 music station in 2004.[7] Another demo album was recorded under license from UEG Entertainment,Best Kept Secret, which have reportedly claimed to have spent £70,000 trying to launch Lewis's career with no success. A track from the album, "Private Party", became a hit on the underground urban music scene in London in 2005.[7] Speaking about her struggle to secure a record contract, Lewis said, "I tried to secure a record deal by doing things my own way. I worked very hard but I never managed to land a contract. That's why I decided to audition forThe X Factor. It's programmes like these which provide the best place to showcase fresh new talent."[5]
Lewis auditioned for thethird series ofThe X Factor in 2006, singing "Over the Rainbow" for judgesSimon Cowell,Louis Walsh,Sharon Osbourne and guest judgePaula Abdul. She was placed in the 16–24 category, with Cowell as her mentor. Throughout the course of the show, Lewis was compared with artists such asMariah Carey,Whitney Houston andCeline Dion, performing songs by all three of them.[5] Lewis defeatedRay Quinn to win the competition on 16 December 2006, receiving 60% of over eight million televotes cast in the final.[8] As a prize for winning, Lewis signed a £1 million recording contract with Cowell's record label,Syco Music.[9] Upon winning, Lewis said:
I'm just shocked. It's unbelievable. I feel like my dream has come true, the dream I've been dreaming since a little girl has come true. There were points I thought, "You know what, I don't know if this is going to happen". But with the help from my friends and my family, they all kept telling me to believe in myself and keep on doing it and I did and now I'm here and thank you so much to them.[8]
Lewis's winner's single, a cover ofKelly Clarkson's song "A Moment Like This", was released on 17 December 2006.[8] In the United Kingdom, it broke a world record after being digitally downloaded more than 50,000 times in less than 30 minutes. The song became the 2006 UKChristmas number-one single, selling 571,000 copies in its first week and selling more than the Top-40 combined.[10] It spent four consecutive weeks atop theUK Singles Chart and was number one in Ireland for six weeks.[11] Despite being released on 17 December, "A Moment Like This" became the second best selling single in the United Kingdom in 2006,[12] and it has been certified platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments of over 600,000 copies.[13] As of December 2014, Lewis's version has sold 900,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[14]
In February 2007, Lewis signed a £5 million (US$9.7 million) five-album contract in the United States withClive Davis's record label,J Records,[15] and showcased for several American music executives.[15][16][17] A press release described how Cowell and Davis would work together in a "first-of-its-kind" partnership on both the song and producer selection for Lewis's debut album,Spirit.[18] Lewis recorded tracks for the album in London, Miami, Los Angeles, New York City andAtlanta,[19] where she worked with several songwriters and record producers includingDallas Austin,Walter Afanasieff,Salaam Remi,[20]Steve Mac,[21]Stargate[22] andNe-Yo.[23] It was released in November 2007 and entered both theIrish Albums Chart and theUK Albums Chart at number one, becoming the fastest-selling debut album in both countries, and the United Kingdom's fourth-fastest selling album of all time.[24][25][26]Spirit is one of the biggest-selling albums of all time in the UK[27] and is the best-selling debut album by a female artist in the 21st century.[28]
It was released in several other nations in January 2008, and it went to number one in New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Germany, South Africa and Switzerland.[29] Two more tracks were recorded in 2008 for the US release of the album: "Forgive Me", produced byAkon, and "Misses Glass", produced by Madd Scientist.[30] It was released in the United States in April 2008 and entered theBillboard 200 at number one, making Lewis the first British artist to reach number one with a debut album.[31] A special edition ofSpirit was re-released in November 2008 in Europe, including the songs "Forgive Me", "Misses Glass" and a cover of theSnow Patrol song "Run". The album again went to number one in the UK Albums Chart. The album was certified 9× platinum in the UK where it is thefourth best-selling album of the 2000s decade.[32][33]
Lewis's second single, "Bleeding Love", produced byRyan Tedder and written by Tedder andJesse McCartney, was released in October 2007 in the UK, where it sold 218,805 copies in its first week, giving it the biggest first-week sales of 2007 to date.[34][35] It entered theUK Singles Chart at number one, where it stayed for seven weeks, and in theIrish Singles Chart, it remained at number one for eight weeks.[36][37] It reached number one in the singles charts ofNew Zealand,Australia, France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Canada and the United States. "Bleeding Love" wonThe Record of the Year in December 2007.[38] In February 2008, "Bleeding Love" entered theBillboard Hot 100 at number 85 and then went on to peak at number one for four non-consecutive weeks. The song became the first track by a UK female to reach number one sinceKim Wilde's "You Keep Me Hangin' On" in 1987.[39] Lewis's third single, adouble A-side featuring "Better in Time" and "Footprints in the Sand", was released in the United Kingdom in March 2008, in aid ofSport Relief, and she visited South Africa for the charity.[40] The single reached a peak of number two in theUK singles chart selling over 40,000 copies in its first week of physical release. "Better in Time" was released as Lewis's second single in the US, where it peaked at number 11 in theBillboard Hot 100.[41] "Forgive Me" was released as Lewis's fifth single in November 2008; it reached number five in the UK.[42] "Run" was released as a download-only single in the UK, reaching number one and becoming the UK's fastest-selling download-only single, with 69,244 copies sold in two days.[43] Lewis's last single fromSpirit, "I Will Be", was released in January 2009, only in North America.[44]
In August 2008, Lewis performed "Whole Lotta Love" with guitaristJimmy Page ofLed Zeppelin at the2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Beijing, representing the handover to London as the host of the2012 Summer Olympics.[45] In September 2008, she joined several female singers to perform a single for the anti-cancer campaignStand Up to Cancer. The single,"Just Stand Up!", was performed live during the one-hour telethon that aired on all major US television networks.[46] Lewis received three nominations for the51st Grammy Awards in December 2008. "Bleeding Love" was nominated forRecord of the Year andBest Female Pop Vocal Performance andSpirit was nominated forBest Pop Vocal Album. She was nominated for fourBRIT Awards: or British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act, British Album forSpirit, and British Single for "Bleeding Love",[47] but despite being the favourite to win the most awards, she received none.[48] She won two awards at the 2008MOBO Awards: Best Album forSpirit and Best Video for "Bleeding Love".[49] In December 2008 Lewis was named 'Top New Artist' byBillboard magazine.[50]
Lewis's second album,Echo, was given a worldwide release in November 2009.[51] Production took place throughout 2009, including work withRyan Tedder,[52]Justin Timberlake,[53]Max Martin,[54] Arnthor Birgisson,[55]Kevin Rudolf,[56] andJohn Shanks.[57] It was recorded in Los Angeles and took nine months to produce.[58] Lewis described the album as "more guitar-driven" compared toSpirit.[59] Lewis performed her first full UK show at theHackney Empire in London on 2 November 2009, performing songs fromSpirit andEcho.[60][61]Echo reached number one in the UK Albums Chart and the top ten of Austria, Ireland and Switzerland.[62]Despite previous attempts from Lewis's lawyers to ban the release ofBest Kept Secret by UEG Music, claiming that the singer had not given her consent, the album was released in January 2009, when the label insisted it owned the rights to the music and Lewis would receive a 50% share of the album's profits. However, a television advert for the album was banned by theAdvertising Standards Authority, who said in a statement: "We considered that the claim 'Leona Lewis's new album' misleadingly implied it was the singer's latest recording rather than a new CD of tracks recorded some years ago."[63] The album was released to iTunes in standard and deluxe editions, and two EPs, "Private Party" and "Dip Down"/"Joy", were released in September 2009.
The first single released fromEcho was "Happy", which was written by Lewis, Tedder andEvan Bogart and produced by Tedder.[64] The single was released on 15 September 2009,[65][66] peaking at number two in the UK,[67] and reaching the top ten in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Japan and Switzerland.[68] Lewis also recorded thetheme song for the 2009 science fiction filmAvatar, directed byJames Cameron.[69] The song, "I See You", was written byJames Horner and Simon Franglen. It was nominated forBest Original Song at the67th Golden Globe Awards.[70] Another usage of Lewis's album can be found in "My Hands", which was used in the international release of theSquare Enix video gameFinal Fantasy XIII.[71] In January 2010, Lewis provided vocals on a cover of "Everybody Hurts", released to help raise money for victims of the2010 Haiti earthquake.[72] The second single fromEcho, "I Got You", was released in February 2010. In April 2010, she featured on a duet with Italian singerBiagio Antonacci, called "Inaspettata (Unexpected)", from his albumInaspettata.[73] They performed the song on the Italian TV showIo Canto on 22 October 2010.[74]Lewis performed a 13-piece set list at theRock in Rio festival in Lisbon, Portugal, on 22 May 2010, including songs fromSpirit andEcho.[75]
Lewis signed a book deal in January 2009 to release an illustrated autobiography in October 2009. The book,Dreams, contains mostly pictures taken by photographer Dean Freeman.[76] At a book signing forDreams on 14 October 2009, at thePiccadilly branch ofWaterstone's book store in central London, Lewis was assaulted by a 29-year-old man from south London who began punching her in the head. He was arrested at the scene;[77][78] the assailant was sectioned under theMental Health Act 2007[78] and was charged withcommon assault. He admitted to the offence and was hospitalised for an indeterminate period.[79]
Lewis's first tour, titledThe Labyrinth[80] supportingSpirit andEcho, started in May 2010.[81] Lewis was scheduled to tour North America from July to August 2010 supportingChristina Aguilera'sBionic Tour,[82] but Aguilera cancelled the tour, leaving Lewis's plans unknown.[83] A DVD of the tour, along with a ten-track CD, was released with the titleThe Labyrinth Tour Live from The O2 on 29 November 2010.[84]
Lewis began work on her third album,Glassheart,[85] shortly after she had completed The Labyrinth tour.[86] Though originally announced to be released on 28 November 2011 in the UK, it was eventually released in October 2012.[85] The album was released on theRCA Records brand afterRCA Music Group disbandedJ Records along withArista Records andJive Records.[87][88] Lewis describedGlassheart as "energetic, deep, [and] unique" and said it would have a darker tone. She citedTracy Chapman,Kate Bush andTears for Fears as the album's primary influences.[89] For the album, Lewis worked with numerous writers and producers includingAmmo,Jonas Quant,Chuck Harmony,Claude Kelly,Ryan Tedder,Fraser T Smith,Al Shux,Steve Robson,[90]Dallas Austin,[91]Rico Love[92] and Ne-Yo.[93][94]
Lewis released a single, the dance-pop song "Collide", written byAutumn Rowe and produced bySandy Vee, in the UK on 4 September 2011 and Germany on 9 September 2011.[90][95][96] It debuted on the official UK top 40 singles chart at number 4.[97][98] Furthermore, "Collide" charted at number one on theDance Club Songs (Billboard) in the US,[99] with theAfrojack remix nominated for Best Remixed Recording at the2012 Grammy Awards. Lewis released anEP on 9 December 2011,Hurt: The EP, containing three covers.[100] Lewis went on to perform on the American version ofX Factor,[101][102] and as the featured performer for the closing of the2011 Doha Film Festival, where she sang ten songs, including several cover versions.[103] In June 2012, she performed atBBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012 after being announced on 25 May 2011 as an ambassador for the event. It was the BBC's biggest ever free-ticketed live music event.[104][105] Following the announcement that Lewis would be an ambassador, she performed a specialLive Lounge at the Hackney Empire, with areggae version of "Better in Time", which incorporatedRihanna's "Man Down", and a cover ofLabrinth's "Let the Sun Shine".[106][107] At the Hackney Weekend, Lewis performed further cover versions and debuted the song "Come Alive" fromGlassheart.[108]
In August 2012, Lewis announced that the lead single fromGlassheart would be "Trouble", released on 7 October 2012.[109] It entered the UK Singles Chart at number seven. The album debuted at number three in the UK and at number four in Ireland, respectively. The second single, "Lovebird", failed to reach the UK top 200 in the absence of radio support.[110] Lewis embarked on a 16-date tour in the UK beginning in April 2013.[111]
In February 2013, Lewis left her management, Modest! Management.[112] It was announced that she would begin work on her fourth studio album, which would be released later in the year.[113] In July 2013, Lewis revealed that her new studio album would be a "Motown-influenced" Christmas collection, with both classic covers and original material. The album,Christmas, with Love, was released on 2 December 2013 and the lead single, "One More Sleep", was released on 5 November 2013. Lewis performed the song on the semi-final of thetenth series ofThe X Factor on 8 December 2013. The same day, "One More Sleep" debuted at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart withChristmas, with Love debuting at number 25 on the UK Albums Chart. A week later,Christmas, with Love advanced to number 13 and "One More Sleep" climbed 31 places to number 3, making it Lewis's highest-charting single since 2009's "Happy". With "One More Sleep" peaking inside the top five on the UK Singles Chart, Lewis set a new record for British female solo artist with the most top five singles in the history of the chart, bringing her total to eight. She has overtakenOlivia Newton-John's tally of seven top five singles.[114]
Lewis featured onMichael Bolton's cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" for hisalbum of the same name, which was released in May 2014.[115] The same month, she performed the traditional pre-match anthem "Abide with Me", and the national anthem "God Save the Queen", at theFA Cup Final,[116][117] and the song "La La La" withNaughty Boy at the2014 World Music Awards.[118]
In June 2014, Lewis had parted ways with Syco Music, and signed a new record deal withUniversal Music'sIsland Records UK.[119] Lewis later revealed that her departure from Syco had come after "several years" of consideration. She also stated that when she expressed her desire to part with the label, she was threatened with the public being told that she had been dropped instead of parting amicably. However, further creative differences in relation to her fifth studio album finally caused Lewis to leave the label. Of her departure, she stated, "I was asked to make a record that would not have been true to myself. By all means as an artist in this climate, I was thankful to even get the chance to make another record. But I cannot make music that does not speak to my soul, and as scary as it seemed, I could no longer compromise myself, and so I decided to leave".[120]
In April 2015, during an intimate showcase in London, Lewis revealed "Fire Under My Feet" to be the lead single from her fifth studio album.[121] The song premiered onBBC Radio 2 on 11 May 2015.[122] In July, "I Am" and "Thunder", were released as the album's second and third singles, respectively; "Thunder" served as the album's lead single in the US.[123][124] The albumI Am was released on 11 September 2015, in the UK. That day, Lewis announced her third headlining concert tour, titled theI Am Tour, which ran from February to March 2016.[125] On 13 September 2015, she performed songs fromI Am during her set on the main stage atRadio 2 Live in Hyde Park.[126] On 26 September 2015, Lewis appeared as a special guest at the Nashville concert onTaylor Swift'sThe 1989 World Tour, where the pair performed "Bleeding Love" as a duet. After the show, Swift took to Twitter, stating, "Oh my God @leonalewis sang 'Bleeding Love' tonight in Nashville and I may never recover".[127] In December 2015, Lewis performed a cover of "Girl Crush" withAdam Lambert at theCMT Artists of the Year event.[128] The performance earned the pair aCMT Music Award nomination in 2016.[129]
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Lewis split from Island Records in June 2016 because of "something that didn't click".[130] In December, she reimaginedHans Zimmer's "Now We Are Free" on the albumHans Zimmer: The Classics.[131] The following December, she paid tribute toLionel Richie with a performance at the 40th AnnualKennedy Center Honors.[132] In 2018, Lewis collaborated withCalum Scott on a new version of his song "You Are the Reason" recorded as a duet, withPitbull on "Amore", the lead single for the 2018 filmGotti, and with Hellberg on the song "Headlights". "You Are the Reason" peaked at number 43 in the UK and charted across the world, and was later certified gold by the BPI and platinum by the RIAA.[133] In 2018, Lewis performed at theNational Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C.,[134] and at the 92nd AnnualMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.[135] She appeared as a musical guest in an episode ofNBC's 2019 television showSongland, searching for upcoming songwriters.[136] Lewis recorded the winning song, "Solo Quiero (Somebody to Love)", which was written during the show.[137] In November 2019, she performed at theRoyal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, atRoyal Albert Hall, London, honouring servicemen and veterans.[138]
During this period, Lewis turned to acting. She appeared in a supporting role of Elena in the 1980s-inspired 2014 musical filmWalking on Sunshine.[139][140] She also made herBroadway debut, asGrizabella, in the July 2016 revival ofAndrew Lloyd Webber's musicalCats.[141] She left the role, after three months of playing the character, on 9 October 2016.[142] In 2018, she was cast in the recurring role of Amber Hall in theSony Crackle's TV seriesThe Oath, which premiered in February 2019.[143] Lewis also appeared as a judge on the UK TV seriesThe X Factor: The Band.[144]
In December 2020, Lewis sang alongsideSmokey Robinson,Tori Kelly andSam Fischer on a cover of "What The World Needs Now", with all proceeds going to theAmerican Red Cross.[145] Lewis announced she would tour withGary Barlow on his All the Hits Live 2021 tour, in November and December 2021 in arenas across the UK and Ireland.[146] It was her first time touring since the 2016I Am Tour.
In August 2021, Lewis featured alongside singerJames Morrison on the debut album of songwriterDiane Warren, on a song titled "Grow Old with Me".[147] On 28 October 2021, Lewis announced she would be a judge on theParamount+ seriesQueen of the Universe, which premiered in December.[148] In November 2021, Lewis released the song "Kiss Me It's Christmas", featuringNe-Yo.[149] The song features on the re-issue of the 2013 albumChristmas, with Love, titledChristmas, with Love Always, released on 19 November 2021.[149] In December 2021, Lewis was namedSpotify Equal UK and Ireland Artist of the Month.[150] In the same month, Lewis was a special guest on BBC One'sI Can See Your Voice Christmas special.[151] Lewis also performed at the Royal Carols: Together at Christmas carol concert atWestminster Abbey. The concert, hosted byCatherine, Duchess of Cambridge, celebrated the heroes and volunteers of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[152]
In March 2022, Lewis received a nomination at the 2022 Music Week Awards, for herChristmas, with Love Always marketing campaign in 2021.[153]
In October 2023, Lewis voiced the character of "London Lilly" inSnoop Dogg's children's seriesDoggyland.[14] In November 2023, Lewis starred in the animated Christmas filmGlisten and the Merry Mission, voicing the character "Glisten".[2] In November and December 2023, Lewis played various arenas and theatres across the UK on the Christmas with Love Tour.[154]
Lewis has amezzo-soprano vocal range, which spans fouroctaves,[157][158][159] and has had classical training. She has stated that she practices operatic scales every week. Music critic Neil McCormick, ofThe Daily Telegraph, has praised Lewis's technical skills: "Her mezzo-soprano range allows her to take melodies from luxurious low notes to high-flying falsetto, gliding with elegant power and impressive control through all kinds of fluctuations and modulations".[158] Stephen Thomas Erlewine ofAllMusic added, "Lewis can hit [high belted] notes but make it seem easy, never straining her voice and building nicely to the climax.... Unlike most divas, there is a human quality to her voice, as she's singing to the song, not singing to her voice".[160] In the same vein,Slant described Lewis's vocals as "technically unimpeachable" in a review of her albumEcho, but criticised them for "lacking any warmth or emotional expression".[161]
Lewis commented on the musical style of her debut album describing the album as "classic songs with a contemporary edge", withR&B and "fresh pop" styles, ballads and "soulful up-tempo numbers".[21] It has an American style, with someelectronic 1980s sounds. However, the songs are not beat-driven or following the latest trends but can be performed acoustically.[21] Lewis's second album,Echo, mixed pop and R&B; during an interview withVariety magazine, she said on the album's sound that she "wanted the album to have a little bit more of a live feel to it, with a little more live instrumentation."[162] In February 2011, talking about her third studio albumGlassheart, Lewis said that the album would be more experimental thanSpirit andEcho by embodying a "different" yet "classic" sound. She added, "I'm really, really excited about it. I'm working with some new producers, some up and coming people and it's going to be kind of a different sound – but still classic".[163] Lewis described it as "energetic, deep, [and] unique". She also commented that it would have a darker tone and that she would be putting her "heart into [her] lyrics".[164]
Lewis creditsWhitney Houston andMariah Carey among her major influences: "when I was growing up I used to listen to Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, those kind[s] of big powerful kind of singers so that influences a lot of my music and a lot of the songs I like to sing".[165] She also creditsSia,Taylor Swift,Tegan and Sara andBrittany Howard as some of her female inspirations,[166] as well asBeyoncé.[167]
In October 2008,The Times reported that Lewis had turned down a seven-figure sum fromMohamed Al Fayed to open aHarrods sale. Lewis commented that she turned down the deal on the grounds that Harrods is the only UK department store that continues to stock clothing made from animal fur:[168] "It wasn't a million pounds that I was offered, as the papers reported, but even if it had been, I still would have turned it down".[169] "I got a lot of flak for that. There were people who said I should have done it and given the money to charity, but that would have been such a contradiction."[170] She announced in October 2008 that she was in the "bargaining period" of launching her own ethical line of accessories throughTopshop[168][171] and that she was in the late stages of releasing her own perfume in Europe.[172] Her perfume,Leona Lewis, was launched by LR in July 2009.[173] In 2010, she set up a fashion company with her then-boyfriend, Lou Al-Chamaa, called LOA Clothing Ltd,[174] which was dissolved in 2012. In 2010, Lewis featured inModern Dog magazine, where she stated her love of dogs and horses, and her admiration for the McCartney family's stance against animal cruelty.[175]
In 2011, Lewis was a guest judge onPlatinum Hit,[176] and in May 2012, she returned toThe X Factor as a guest judge during auditions in London for theninth series.[177] In March 2013, Lewis was announced as the new brand activist forThe Body Shop[178] and released a cruelty-free makeup range.[179] She has also shown support for Little Kids Rock, a non-profit organization that works to restore and revitalize music education in disadvantaged US public schools, by donating items for auction to raise money for the organization.[180] In February 2016, she became a brand ambassador for Kiss Products.[181] Lewis headlinedCirque du Soleil'sOne Night for One Drop performance inLas Vegas in March 2016, to help to raise funds and awareness for critical water issues worldwide.[182] In June 2016, she released a charity single "(We All Are) Looking for Home", created in collaboration withDiane Warren for theVanderpump Dog Foundation's public service announcement, in opposition to theYulin Dog Meat Festival.[183]
Lewis signed a modelling contract withWilhelmina Models in 2017.[184] That year, she became ambassador ofMTV Staying Alive to "empower and educate the new generation" in the fight againstHIV/AIDS.[185] Lewis and MTV Staying Alive partnered withKiehl's to create a Creamy Eye Treatment, with £10 from every product sold going towards educating young people in preventing HIV/AIDS.[185] In 2018, she designed Christmas-themed jumpers with Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, with all net profits going towards the charity.[186] Moreover, she supports (RED)'sGlobal Fund to end AIDS, and in association with the appCalm contributed narration of a sleep story, thus providing 100,000 people with life-saving HIV medication.[187] Lewis, initially contracted to serve as a guest judge, became a permanent judge onThe X Factor: The Band in December 2019, joining during the Audience auditions.[188] That same month, Lewis opened a vegan cafe inPasadena called Coffee and Plants, which is plant-based with everything recyclable and a tree planted after 100 cups sold. The cafe works in partnership with Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, with proceeds of select items donated to the charity.[189]
In March 2020, Lewis hosted and performed at the youth empowerment eventWE Day, at Wembley. The event celebrates students, recognising their impacts on local and global issues. Lewis performed her duetYou Are The Reason with singerCalum Scott.[190] Whilst introducing the show and herself, Lewis stated "I'm someone who knows how far a voice can take you. I won a little show calledX Factor 14 years ago. And that never would have happened if I had not learnt to use my voice."[191] In May 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic, Lewis joined several performers during the One Humanity Live broadcast on social media, helping to raise funds forCOVID-19 initiatives, performing a cover of "True Colors".[192] Lewis continued her charitable work throughout 2020, releasing a cover ofRobbie Williams's "Angels" in honour of theNHS.[193] In December 2020, Lewis headlined theNSPCC's virtual Christmas concert raising money forChildline[194] and backedSave The Children's campaign to prevent child hunger at Christmas.[195] Furthermore, Lewis sang alongsideSmokey Robinson,Tori Kelly andSam Fischer on a cover of "What The World Needs Now", with all proceeds going to theAmerican Red Cross.[145] Lewis also continued to raise money, viaCameo, for Hopefield Animal Sanctuary and RED onWorld Aids Day, with 100% of the proceeds going to charity.[196]
In June 2021, Lewis was made the official patron of theHackney Empire, as part of its 120-year anniversary celebrations. Lewis will continue to mentor students and host workshops to champion the arts of the students at the historic venue.[197][198]
In April 2023, Lewis released the theme song "One Step Closer" to the newApple TV+ seriesJane. The series is inspired byDr. Jane Goodall and highlights animal activism and conservation, with its lead character Jane, a young girl, saving the planet and its animals. The song's writer,Diane Warren, donated some of the proceeds from the song to theJane Goodall Institute.[199] Lewis narratedIt's up to Us: A Children’s Terra Carta for Nature, People and Planet, in collaboration withKing Charles III andThe Prince's Trust, via Ecoflix, encouraging children to save the planet.[200][201] Furthermore, Lewis won the Sustainable Style Award at the Maison de Mode’s 2023 Sustainable Style Awards, recognising her support for sustainable initiatives and animal welfare.[202]
In October 2023, in collaboration withSnoop Dogg, the pair released a song onWorld Mental Health Day entitled "It's Okay" to help raise awareness for children’s mental health and wellness.[17]
Lewis was appointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the2024 New Year Honours for services to music and charity.[203]
In 2010, Lewis began dating Dennis Jauch, a professional dancer and choreographer. They married in July 2019 atSting's estate inTuscany, Italy.[204] Their daughter was born in July 2022.[205][206][207][208]
Lewis was vegetarian from the age of 12[20] and has beenvegan since September 2012.[209] She wonPETA's Sexiest Vegetarian, along withRed Hot Chili Peppers frontmanAnthony Kiedis, in 2008[210] and Europe's Sexiest Vegetarian in 2009, along with actorScott Maslen.[211] She also was named PETA's Person of the Year for 2008.[212] Lewis is a supporter ofWorld Animal Protection[213] and is a patron of the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary inBrentwood, Essex.[214]
Lewis does not drink alcohol.[215]
In September 2014, in an open letter to fans, Lewis revealed that she felt extremely depressed around the time of her departure from Syco.[216] She later emphasised that it was not clinical depression from which she had been suffering.[217] She credited her professional separation from Simon Cowell and her practice ofmeditation with helping her "still the madness".[120] In 2017, Lewis revealed she hasHashimoto's disease, detailing the pain and fatigue experienced because of the condition.[218]
In November 2019, Lewis sold her $2.25 million Californian ranch, inGlendale, upscaling to a $3.7 million property in the guard-gatedHidden Hills, Los Angeles.[219] She sold the property to Simon Cowell in 2020 for $3.9 million.[220] She purchased herStudio City home for $2.6 million in March 2021.[221]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Walking on Sunshine | Elena | Supporting role |
| 2023 | Glisten and the Merry Mission | Glisten | Animation voice role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006, 2012, 2018 | The X Factor | Herself | |
| 2007 | This Is Your Life | Featured performer | |
| Saturday Night Divas | Featured performer | ||
| 2008 | Divas II | Featured performer | |
| 2010 | The Labyrinth Tour: Live from the O2 | ||
| 2011 | Platinum Hit | Special guest judge | |
| Majors & Minors | Mentor | ||
| 2012 | Project Hackney[222] | ||
| 2018 | The Voice UK | Advisor (Series 7) | |
| The 92ndMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade | Featured performer | ||
| 2019 | The Oath | Amber Hall | Recurring role (6 episodes) |
| Songland | Herself | Musical guest | |
| Queen of Drags | Guest judge (Series 1, episode 3: "Fairytale") | ||
| The X Factor: The Band | Judge | ||
| 2021 | Queen of the Universe[223] | Judge | |
| I Can See Your Voice | Special guest (Christmas Special) | ||
| 2023 | Doggyland | London Lilly | |
| The Masked Singer | Herself | Guest judge (Christmas Special)[224] | |
| 2024 | Kindergarten: The Musical | Hedgehog Holmes | Voice role; Episode: "All or Muffin/Bring in 'da Cake, Bring in 'da Fun"[225] |
| Year(s) | Production | Role | Location | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Cats | Grizabella | Neil Simon Theatre | Broadway |
Co-headlining
Headlining
Support act
Are there other female musicians who inspire you? I love Sia. I think she's great. I love Taylor Swift. I think she portrays a good message. I love Tegan and Sara―they're so cool. I love Brittany [Howard], who is the lead singer of the Alabama Shakes. Those kinds of girls.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
| Preceded by | Winner ofThe X Factor 2006 | Succeeded by |
| Spirit (2007) | |
|---|---|
| Echo (2009) | |
| Hurt: The EP (2011) |
|
| Glassheart (2012) |
|
| Christmas, with Love (2013) | |
| I Am (2015) | |
| Stand-alone singles | |
| Featured songs | |
| Soundtracks | |
| Live albums | |
| Concert tours | |
