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Sam Smith
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Sam Smith
Singer & Songwriter
b. May 19, 1992
“I didn’t become successful until I became myself.”
Sam Smith (they/them) is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning English pop singer and songwriter, most celebrated in the U.S. for his 2015 hit “Stay With Me.” Smith came out as nonbinary and adopted they/them pronouns in 2019.
Born in London, Smith was raised in Cambridgeshire, England. Smith’s father drove a truck, and his mother worked as a banker. As a youth, Smith took singing lessons with a local jazz artist and performed in various theater productions. Overweight and bullied for having “breasts,” Smith underwent chest liposuction at the age of 12.
Aged 18, Smith left for London to pursue a music career. Two years later, the music duo Disclosure featured Smith on their breakout single "Latch." The track, which showcased Smith's fluid tenor vocals, peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and received international attention. Smith’s next big break came in 2013, collaborating with Naughty Boy on the hit single "La La La," which soared to No. 1 in the UK.
In 2014 Capitol Records released Smith’s debut studio album, “In the Lonely Hour.” It achieved critical and commercial success, driven by hits such as "Money on My Mind," "I'm Not the Only One," and "Stay With Me." An international smash, “Stay With Me” reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for six Grammy Awards and won four: Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album.
In 2015 the James Bond movie “Spectre” used Smith’s “Writing’s on the Wall” as its theme song, winning Smith both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2022 Smith captured a fifth Grammy for their first U.S. No. 1 single, “Unholy” (with Kim Petras).
To date, Smith’s four studio albums and more than 35 singles have earned numerous additional nominations and awards, including an American Music Award, three Billboard Awards, four Brit Awards, and more than a dozen BMI London Awards.
Beyond music, Smith has been a conspicuous advocate for LGBTQ+ and gender-identity rights, particularly in the UK. In 2014 Smith came out as gay. Four years later, they came out as genderqueer. Smith has since performed in elaborate outfits, unabashedly celebrating their nonbinary identity and sexuality, perhaps most proudly in the 2023 music video “I’m Not Here to Make Friends.”
