Haley Reinhart facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Haley Reinhart
Reinhart performing at the Hotel Café in October 2018
Born	Haley Elizabeth Reinhart (1990-09-09) September 9, 1990 (age 34) Wheeling, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Harper College
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	2011–present
Television	American Idol F Is for Family
Musical career
Genres	Pop jazz rock blues soul neo soul R&B funk
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Independent (2014–present) Concord Records (2017) 19 (2011–2014) Interscope Records (2011–2012)

Haley Elizabeth Reinhart (born September 9, 1990) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress from Wheeling, Illinois. She became well-known after finishing third in the tenth season of American Idol. In July 2011, Reinhart signed a record deal with Interscope Records. Her first album, Listen Up!, was released on May 22, 2012. It was praised by critics. She later became the first American Idol contestant to perform at Lollapalooza, a big music festival.

In 2015, Reinhart became very famous for performing with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox. Their jazz cover of Radiohead's "Creep" was a huge hit. It stayed on Billboard's Jazz Digital Songs chart for 58 weeks. In the same year, her cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" became super popular online. This song was used in a commercial for Extra Gum. It reached number 16 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. The song was later certified Platinum, meaning it sold over a million copies. Reinhart won awards for the song in 2016. She also started her voice acting career as Bill Murphy in the Netflix animated show F Is for Family on December 18, 2015. She continued this role in later seasons of the show.

Her second album, Better, came out on April 29, 2016. The first song from the album was "Better", released on April 8. The album reached number 22 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart. She went on a tour across the United States in the summer of 2016 to support the album. She also toured Europe in May and June 2017. Reinhart's third album, What's That Sound?, was released on September 22, 2017. It included four singles, like "Baby It's You", released on June 16, 2017. She toured the US in the fall of 2017 for this album.

In 2018, Reinhart was featured on Jeff Goldblum's first album, The Capitol Studios Sessions. She also sang on Vicetone's song "Something Strange", which reached number 23 on Billboard's Dance/Mix Show Airplay charts. On June 1, 2018, she released the song "Last Kiss Goodbye". It charted at number 15 on Billboard's Jazz Digital Songs chart. Reinhart's fourth album, Lo-Fi Soul, was released on March 27, 2019. It had four singles, including "Don't Know How to Love You", released on September 14, 2018. She toured North America in the fall of 2019 to support this album.

Reinhart made her first live-action movie appearance in the 2020 film We Can Be Heroes. On September 4, 2022, she released her new EP, "Off the Ground". She continued her "Off the Ground Tour" across North America in winter 2023.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Haley Elizabeth Reinhart was born in Wheeling, Illinois, on September 9, 1990. Her parents, Patti Miller-Reinhart and Harry Reinhart, are both musicians. She has a younger sister, Angela, who is also a singer and songwriter. Haley is of German, Irish, and Italian background.

When she was about three years old, her parents would let her sing on stage with their band, Midnight. She started singing seriously around age seven or eight. Her parents' band played rock songs from the 1960s and 1970s. When she was nine, Haley sang "Blue" by LeAnn Rimes at a big event and the audience loved it. She has written poetry since she was eight and has been in many poetry contests. She also loves acting games and has been in plays and musicals since she was a child. Haley started writing songs in middle school. She had hundreds of songs saved on her phone before it broke. She always wanted to audition for American Idol and even won an award in middle school for being "Most Likely to Be on American Idol".

Haley went to Mark Twain Elementary School, O.W. Holmes Middle School, and Wheeling High School. In high school, she discovered jazz music when she joined the school's vocal group, Midnight Blues. She performed at the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival and Umbria Jazz Festival with her high school's jazz band. After high school, she studied jazz at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois from 2009 to 2010. She also led a band in college that covered classic rock songs by groups like Led Zeppelin. Before American Idol, she worked as a lifeguard at a waterpark for three years.

American Idol Journey

Auditions and Hollywood Week

Reinhart performing with Casey Abrams and Paul McDonald on the Idols Live Tour, July 2011

Haley first tried out for the ninth season of American Idol in Chicago but did not make it to Hollywood. However, she returned the next year for the tenth season in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She advanced after singing The Beatles' "Oh! Darling".

She moved through the Hollywood rounds by singing songs like "Breathless" and "God Bless the Child". In the Las Vegas Round, she teamed up with other singers to perform The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road". This helped her get into the top 48. Haley was chosen as a semi-finalist and then voted into the Top 12 after singing "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys.

Live Shows and Elimination

During the live shows, Haley was in the bottom three singers four times. However, she kept going thanks to her memorable performances. She sang "House of the Rising Sun" and "I (Who Have Nothing)" in the later weeks. She was eliminated in third place, with Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina moving on to the finale. She sang "Bennie and the Jets" as her farewell song. Even though the judges sometimes criticized her, fans loved her unique style.

Many of her performances on YouTube have over a million views, including "Rolling in the Deep", "Bennie and the Jets", and "House of the Rising Sun". She received three standing ovations from the judges in a row for "The House of the Rising Sun", "I (Who Have Nothing)", and Led Zeppelin's "What Is and What Should Never Be". Her duet with Casey Abrams on "Moanin'" was also very popular. In the American Idol Finale, Haley sang "Steppin' Out with My Baby" with jazz singer Tony Bennett, which also got a standing ovation.

Many famous musicians and celebrities supported Haley during her time on Idol. These included Robert Plant, Lady Gaga, Jimmy Page, Kelly Clarkson, and Adam Lambert.

Performances and Results Summary

Music Career After Idol

First Album and Early Projects (2011-2013)

Reinhart in July 2011

After American Idol, Haley Reinhart signed with Interscope Records. She toured with the other Top 11 American Idol contestants in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2011. She also released an EP with her popular performances from the show.

Haley spent 2011 and 2012 working on her first album, Listen Up!. She wanted it to feel "organic" and "real," with deep meaning. She wrote or co-wrote most of the songs. The album's first song, "Free", was released on March 20, 2012. She performed "Free" and other songs at various events, including a concert at the Hard Rock Cafe and on the TV show 90210. "Free" was also used as the goodbye song for the TV show So You Think You Can Dance.

Her album Listen Up! came out on May 22, 2012. It was praised by critics for its old-school sound and mix of jazz, funk, and soul. In August 2012, Reinhart performed songs from her album at the Lollapalooza festival. She was the first American Idol contestant to do this. Later in 2012, she performed jazz songs at Carnegie Hall.

New Music and Viral Success (2014-2015)

Reinhart performing with Casey Abrams, Mark Ballas, and Dylan Chambers at Room 5 Lounge in Los Angeles, 2014

Haley started working on a new EP in 2013. In 2014, she raised money online to make a music video for her song "Show Me Your Moves". The video was filmed in the Mojave Desert and released on July 30, 2014. She performed new songs at small shows in Los Angeles, sometimes with Casey Abrams.

In 2015, Reinhart started working with Postmodern Jukebox. This group creates old-fashioned versions of modern pop songs. Her cover of Radiohead's "Creep" with them became a huge hit. It was number one on the Billboard Digital Jazz Songs chart for many weeks. This video has over 100 million views and is the most-watched video on their channel. She also covered songs like "All About That Bass" and "Oops!... I Did It Again" with them. Haley toured with Postmodern Jukebox in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Reinhart and Casey Abrams performing, June 2014

In late 2015, Reinhart became even more famous when her cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love" was used in an Extra Gum commercial. The song became very popular online and was streamed over 200 million times on Spotify. It was certified Platinum in 2023, meaning it sold over a million copies. The commercial also won awards.

Haley also started her voice acting career in 2015. She played a young boy named Bill Murphy in the Netflix animated show F Is for Family. She also sang "O Holy Night" for one of the episodes.

Better Album and Tours (2016)

Haley Reinhart performing at a Live Concert in Cologne with Postmodern Jukebox, March 2015

In 2016, Reinhart returned to American Idol for its final season to mentor contestants. She also continued to promote her song "Can't Help Falling in Love" on radio tours.

Her second album, Better, was released on April 29, 2016. It included new songs and her popular cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love". She described Better as a mix of funk and rock with a soulful feel. The album's main song, "Better", had a music video released on April 27. Better reached number 22 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart.

To support the album, Reinhart went on her first solo tour in the US in June 2016. She also planned a European tour for September and October, which was later moved to May and June 2017.

Third Album and More Voice Acting (2017)

Reinhart performing at Musik & Frieden in Berlin on May 25, 2017

Haley started working on her third album in January 2017. The album, What's That Sound?, was released on September 22, 2017. It included 11 covers of classic 1960s songs and 3 original songs. She said the album was a tribute to the music that influenced her growing up. The first song from the album, "Baby It's You", was released on June 16, 2017. She toured the US in the fall of 2017 to support the album.

In 2017, she continued her voice role as Bill Murphy in the second season of F is for Family. She also partnered with Walmart for a commercial, singing a cover of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life".

New Music and Collaborations (2018-2019)

Haley and Casey at Hotel Cafe in 2018

On June 1, 2018, Reinhart released the song "Last Kiss Goodbye". It was a bossa nova-inspired pop song. She also joined jazz pianist Jeff Goldblum as a singer on his album, The Capitol Studios Sessions, released on November 9, 2018. They performed together on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote the album.

Reinhart performing at the Hotel Cafe in October 2018

Reinhart also worked with the EDM duo Vicetone on their song "Something Strange", released on November 2, 2018. She continued her role as Bill Murphy in the third season of F is for Family.

On September 14, 2018, Reinhart released "Don't Know How to Love You", the first song from her fourth album, Lo-Fi Soul. The album was released on March 27, 2019. She toured North America in April 2019 to support the album. She also released an EP called Bulletproof with covers of "Bulletproof" and other songs. In late 2019, she released several holiday cover songs like "Santa Baby".

On December 25, 2020, Reinhart made her film acting debut in Robert Rodriguez's superhero movie We Can Be Heroes, released on Netflix.

Recent Releases (2020-Present)

Reinhart released her first live song, "Change", on January 3, 2020. On April 21, 2020, she released a studio cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart". She continued as a regular cast member for the fourth season of F is for Family, released on June 12, 2020.

In September 2022, she released her EP "Off the Ground". She continued touring for this EP in North America in winter 2023.

Artistic Style and Voice

Musical Style

Haley Reinhart's music mixes pop with older styles like retro-pop and traditional jazz. Her performances on American Idol were often praised for their jazz and blues influences, combined with a rock feel. Her first album was known for blending different music types like pop, R&B, rock and roll, and soul. She wants her music to feel "real" and have "substance."

Critics have compared her neo-soul and R&B sounds to modern singers like Adele and Amy Winehouse. Her retro pop, disco, and jazz sounds have been compared to artists like Nancy Sinatra and Aretha Franklin. Some have said she has the wild energy of Janis Joplin, the class of Ella Fitzgerald, and the influence of Etta James.

Vocal Abilities

Reinhart is a light lyric soprano, and her voice can cover three octaves. Her voice is known for its unique rasp and growl, which she can control very well. She can easily switch from soft whispers to powerful singing. Her voice is also described as "smoky" and rich. She is praised for how versatile her voice is and for her use of falsetto (a high voice).

She is also known for her scatting (singing nonsense syllables like a jazz instrument) and yodeling. Haley learned her early vocal skills from her mother and never had professional training. Her father taught her scatting and call-and-response techniques when she was young.

Musical Influences

British singer Corinne Bailey Rae is one of Reinhart's modern musical influences

Haley is inspired by many types of music, including rock and roll, funk, pop, jazz, blues, and African percussion. This is because her parents listened to a wide variety of music. She says The Beatles and band members Paul McCartney and John Lennon are her biggest musical influences. She admires how they could sing with both smooth, bluesy voices and raw, powerful voices. She also looked up to artists like Sarah Vaughan and Tony Bennett when she was growing up.

When she was a child, she watched Kelly Clarkson win the first season of American Idol, which made her want to be on the show. During Idol, judges often compared her voice and style to Janis Joplin. This comparison encouraged her to add rock elements to her performances. Some of her modern influences include Christina Aguilera, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Janelle Monáe. She respects them for staying true to their music.

For acting, she is inspired by Lucille Ball, Ann-Margret, and Nancy Sinatra. She also likes surrealist cinema and films like Big Fish and Pleasantville.

Personal Life

Friendships and Family

Reinhart Performing with Casey Abrams at Room 5 Lounge in Los Angeles, June 2014

Haley Reinhart is best friends with Casey Abrams, who was also on American Idol season ten. They see each other as musical soulmates. They often helped each other on Idol and have worked together on many songs and live shows since then. Haley is also close with the other contestants from her season.

Haley was the first American Idol contestant to perform on stage with a parent during the show. Her father played guitar for her performance of "What Is and What Should Never Be".

Haley is in a relationship with singer and musician Drew Dolan. They announced their engagement on November 13, 2022.

Giving Back to the Community

Haley Reinhart has been involved in many charity events. After American Idol, she worked with Habitat for Humanity and Starkey Hearing Foundation. She also wanted to help charities that fight domestic violence and bullying. She believes in sending out good messages and helping others.

In 2011, she performed at the Holiday Tree Lighting at L.A. Live, which raised money to help people experiencing homelessness. In 2012, her performance with Slash and Myles Kennedy helped raise funds for brain health research. She also performed at the Girls Who Rock concert, which supports girls' education worldwide. Haley partnered with Tip Cup to raise money for MusiCares, a group that helps musicians in need. She disguised herself and sang in a public place, and people donated money.

In 2015, she performed for children at UC Davis Children's Hospital with Casey Abrams. In 2016, she performed at a concert to support the Children's Cancer Association. .....

In 2017, Reinhart was a guest judge for Rally Idol, a concert featuring children affected by cancer. All money raised went to the Rally Foundation, which helps find cures for childhood cancers. ..... In 2020, she performed at a fundraising event for the Bushfires in Australia and at a charity concert to help people experiencing homelessness in California.

Discography

• Listen Up! (2012)
• Better (2016)
• What's That Sound? (2017)
• Lo-Fi Soul (2019)
• Off the Ground (2022)

Concert Tours

Filmography

• American Idol (2011, 2012, 2016, 2022)
• Hell's Kitchen (2012)
• 90210 (2012)
• Real Music Live (2013)
• F Is for Family (2015–2021)
• We Can Be Heroes (2020)
• Americana (short film) (2022)

Images for kids

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  Haley Reinhart on April 10, 2015

See also

In Spanish: Haley Reinhart para niños