Ella Mai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ella Mai
Ella Mai at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards
Background information
Birth name	Ella Mai Howell
Born	(1994-11-03) 3 November 1994 (age 31) London, England
Genres	R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	2014–Present
Labels	10 Summers Interscope
Producer(s)	Mustard

Ella Mai Howell (born on November 3, 1994) is a talented English R&B singer and songwriter. Her music career began in London in 2014. She first gained attention after releasing her song "Boo'd Up". This song became a huge success, reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Boo'd Up" also earned her a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. Her first album, called Ella Mai, came out in 2018 and was very popular. She has continued to release new music, including her album Heart on My Sleeve in 2022 and Do You Still Love Me? in February 2026. Ella Mai has won many awards, including several Billboard Music Awards and NAACP Image Awards.

Who is Ella Mai?

Ella Mai was born in London, England, on November 3, 1994. Her mother is from Jamaica, and her father is English-Irish. Ella's mother loved American jazz music and named her after the famous singer Ella Fitzgerald.

When Ella was 12, she moved with her mother to New York City because her mom got a teaching job there. It was a bit tough for Ella to get used to life in New York. She sometimes faced teasing because of her accent. She finished high school at Queens High School of Teaching before moving back to England when she was 17.

Starting Her Music Journey

Ella Mai started her singing career in 2014 while studying at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute in London. She even tried out for The X Factor with a group called 'Arize'. However, they didn't make it past the first audition, and the group later broke up.

From SoundCloud to a Record Deal

In 2015, Ella Mai shared some of her original songs online on SoundCloud. These songs were part of a four-track collection called an extended play (EP) titled Troubled. An American music producer named DJ Mustard discovered her music on Instagram. He was so impressed that he signed her to his record label, 10 Summers Records.

After signing, Ella Mai released a series of EPs. The first was Time in February 2016, followed by Change in November 2016, and Ready in February 2017. Her song "Boo'd Up" was on the Ready EP.

Breakthrough with "Boo'd Up"

"Boo'd Up" slowly became very popular on social media and in clubs. Ella Mai toured with singer Kehlani, which helped her music reach even more people. By spring 2018, "Boo'd Up" was playing everywhere on the radio.

Ella Mai in 2017

In April 2018, she released a music video for "Boo'd Up." The song quickly became a top ten hit in the US, making it her first big success. It reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also set a record for how long a song by a woman stayed at number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Later that year, she even joined Bruno Mars on his 24K Magic World Tour.

Debut Album Success

In August 2018, Ella Mai released another popular song, "Trip," which reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her first full album, also titled Ella Mai, came out in October 2018. It had 16 songs and featured other artists like Chris Brown, John Legend, and H.E.R.. The album was a big hit, and Ella Mai started her first tour in January 2019.

She also appeared on songs by other artists, like JID and Meek Mill. In November 2018, she performed on the TV show Saturday Night Live. "Boo'd Up" won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 2019. Ella Mai also won several Billboard Music Awards that year, including Top R&B Artist. In 2019, she even performed a fun sketch on Nickelodeon's show All That.

Recent Music and New Adventures

Heart on My Sleeve and Beyond

On October 2, 2020, Ella Mai released a new single called "Not Another Love Song." Then, in January 2022, she released "DFMU." Her second studio album, Heart on My Sleeve, was released on May 6, 2022. This album reached number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2023, she went on the Heart on My Sleeve Tour across North America.

New Music and Family Life

In November 2024, Ella Mai released her fifth EP, called 3. This was a surprise project to celebrate her 30th birthday. The lead song from the EP, "Little Things," became another top ten hit on the R&B charts. Her third studio album, Do You Still Love Me?, was released in February 2026.

In 2024, Ella Mai and basketball player Jayson Tatum welcomed their son.

Her Unique Music Style

Ella Mai has shared that many famous artists have influenced her music. These include Lauryn Hill, Chris Brown, Brandy, Beyoncé, Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, and Mariah Carey.

Music critics have described her sound as being similar to the soulful R&B music from the 1990s. They say her music shows confidence and a love for classic R&B.

Ella Mai's Albums

• Ella Mai (2018)
• Heart on My Sleeve (2022)
• Do You Still Love Me? (2026)

Touring the World

Headlining Tours

• The Debut Tour (2019–2020)
• Heart on My Sleeve Tour (2023)
• Do you still love me? Tour (2026)

Opening Act Tours

• Kehlani – SweetSexySavage Tour (2017)
• Ariana Grande – Sweetener World Tour (European Leg) (2019)
• Mary J. Blige – Good Morning Gorgeous Tour (2022)

Awards and Recognitions

Ella Mai has won many awards for her music. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Ella Mai para niños