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 2011. After the show, she signed a record deal with Interscope Records. Her first album, Listen Up!, came out in May 2012 and was praised by critics. She was also the first American Idol contestant to perform at the famous Lollapalooza music festival.

In 2015, Haley became even more famous for working with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox. They made jazz covers of popular songs. Their jazz version of Radiohead's "Creep" was a huge hit, staying on the Billboard Jazz Digital Songs chart for over a year. That same year, her cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" became a viral sensation. It was used in a commercial for Extra Gum and reached number 16 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. This song was later certified Platinum, meaning it sold over a million copies. Haley won awards for this song, including a Cannes Lion and a Clio Award. She also started her voice acting career in December 2015, playing Bill Murphy in the Netflix animated show F Is for Family. She continued this role for all five seasons of the series.

Her second album, Better, was released on April 29, 2016. The main song from the album was "Better". The album reached number 22 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart. She toured the United States and Europe to support the album. Haley's third album, What's That Sound?, came out on September 22, 2017, through Concord Records. It included four singles, like "Baby It's You". She also toured the US for this album.

In 2018, Haley sang on Jeff Goldblum's first album, The Capitol Studios Sessions, and on Vicetone's song "Something Strange", which was a hit on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay charts. She released a single called "Last Kiss Goodbye" in June 2018. Her fourth album, Lo-Fi Soul, was released on March 27, 2019. It featured songs like "Don't Know How to Love You". She toured North America to support this album. In 2020, Haley made her first live-action movie appearance in We Can Be Heroes. She released a new EP called "Off the Ground" on September 4, 2022, and continued her "Off the Ground Tour" in 2023.

Early Life and Musical 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 musician. Haley has German, Irish, and Italian family roots.

When she was about three years old, her parents would let her sing with their band, Midnight. She started singing seriously around age seven or eight, performing rock songs from the 1960s and 1970s with Midnight. At nine, she sang "Blue" at a tattoo convention and got a great reaction from the audience. Haley has written poetry since she was eight and has competed in poetry slam events. She also loves improv and has been in plays and musicals since she was a child. She started writing songs in middle school. Haley always dreamed of auditioning for American Idol.

She went to Mark Twain Elementary School, O.W. Holmes Middle School, and Wheeling High School. In high school, she discovered jazz music through her school's vocal group, Midnight Blues. She even performed at the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival and Umbria Jazz Festival with her high school jazz band. After high school, she studied jazz at Harper College from 2009 to 2010. These experiences helped her sing jazz songs in famous places like Switzerland and Italy.

American Idol Journey

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

Haley first tried out for American Idol in 2009 but didn't make it to the Hollywood rounds. She tried again the next year for the tenth season in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She impressed the judges by singing The Beatles' "Oh! Darling" and moved forward.

She continued to do well in the Hollywood rounds, singing songs like "Breathless" and "God Bless the Child". In the Las Vegas round, she teamed up with Naima Adedapo and Jacob Lusk to sing "The Long and Winding Road", which got them all into the Top 48. Haley was chosen as a semi-finalist and then voted into the Top 12 after singing "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys.

Even though she was in the bottom three singers four times, she kept going. She gave memorable performances of "House of the Rising Sun" and "I (Who Have Nothing)". She finished in third place, behind Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina. For her farewell performance, she sang "Bennie and the Jets". The judges sometimes criticized her song choices, but fans loved her unique style.

Haley is the only contestant from season 10 to have over a million views on six of her YouTube performance videos. Her performances of "The House of the Rising Sun", "I (Who Have Nothing)", and Led Zeppelin's "What Is and What Should Never Be" earned her three standing ovations from the judges in a row. She also performed "Moanin'" with fellow contestant Casey Abrams, which was considered one of the best duets of the season. At the American Idol Finale, Haley sang "Steppin' Out with My Baby" with jazz legend Tony Bennett, which also received a standing ovation.

Many famous musicians and celebrities, like Robert Plant, Lady Gaga, Jimmy Page, and Kelly Clarkson, supported Haley during her time on American Idol.

Performances and Results on American Idol

Post Idol Career and Albums

Reinhart in July 2011

After American Idol, Haley signed with Interscope Records. She joined the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2011 and released an EP with her best performances from the show. This EP sold well, reaching number 37 on the Billboard 200.

Haley spent 2011 and 2012 working on her first album, Listen Up!. She wanted it to feel "organic" and have "substance." She wrote or co-wrote most of the songs. The album's first single, "Free", was released in March 2012. She promoted it by performing at the Hard Rock Cafe and on the TV show 90210. "Free" did well in the Philippines. Listen Up! came out in May 2012 and was praised for its retro, soulful sound. Haley performed songs from the album at the 2012 Lollapalooza festival, making her the first American Idol contestant to do so. Later, she performed jazz songs at Carnegie Hall.

In 2013, Haley traveled to Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia to promote American Idol's twelfth season. She also wrote songs for other artists.

Collaborations and Viral Success

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. She used a crowdfunding campaign to make a music video for her song "Show Me Your Moves," which was filmed in the Mojave Desert and released in July 2014. She performed new songs at small shows in Los Angeles, sometimes with Casey Abrams. In 2014, she signed a deal with Ole, an independent management company, to help fund her music. She also performed jazz versions of classic rock songs with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.

Reinhart and Casey Abrams performing, June 2014

In 2015, Haley began collaborating with Postmodern Jukebox, a group that creates vintage-style covers of modern pop songs. Her cover of Radiohead's "Creep" with them became very popular, getting over 100 million views on YouTube. She also covered songs like "All About That Bass" and "Oops!... I Did It Again" with the group. Haley toured with Postmodern Jukebox in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Her cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love" became a huge hit in late 2015. It was featured in an Extra Gum commercial called "The Story of Sarah & Juan." The song was streamed over 200 million times on Spotify and topped the Global Viral chart. The commercial video also got tens of millions of views. This song helped Haley win awards, including a Women in Sync Award and a Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Haley also started her voice acting career in 2015, playing Bill Murphy in the Netflix animated series F Is for Family. Her character was praised for bringing humor to the show. She also sang a Christmas song, "Santa, I Just Want You," for a Hallmark Channel movie.

Better Album and Tours

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

In 2016, Haley returned to American Idol for its Farewell Season, mentoring and singing with contestants. She also started a radio promotion tour for "Can't Help Falling in Love." She signed with ICM Partners, a talent agency.

Haley's second album, Better, was released on April 29, 2016. She described it as a mix of funk and rock with a soulful feel, meant to inspire confidence in young women. The lead single, "Better", came out on April 8. The album debuted at number 22 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart. Haley went on her first solo tour in the US in June 2016 and later planned a European tour for 2017.

New Music and Acting Roles

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

In 2017, Haley began working on her third album, What's That Sound?, which was released on September 22, 2017. The album included 11 covers of 1960s songs and 3 original tracks. She described it as a tribute to the music that influenced her. The album's main single was "Baby It's You". She toured the US to support the album.

Haley continued her voice role as Bill Murphy in the second season of F is for Family in 2017. She also partnered with Walmart for a commercial, singing a cover of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life". She also sang on Irvin Mayfield and Kermit Ruffins's album A Beautiful World.

More Albums and Collaborations

Haley and Casey at Hotel Cafe in 2018

In May 2018, Haley released a new single called "Last Kiss Goodbye," which had a relaxed, summery feel. It reached number 15 on Billboard's Jazz Digital Songs chart. She also performed at Ribfest in Naperville, Illinois.

Haley joined jazz pianist Jeff Goldblum as a singer on his album The Capitol Studios Sessions, released in November 2018. They performed together on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Reinhart performing at the Hotel Cafe in October 2018

She also worked with the Dutch EDM duo Vicetone on their song "Something Strange", released in November 2018. This song was a hit on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart. Haley returned as Bill Murphy for the third season of F is for Family.

On September 14, 2018, Haley released "Don't Know How to Love You," the first single from her fourth album, Lo-Fi Soul, which came out on March 27, 2019. Other singles from the album included "Lo-Fi Soul" and "Honey, There's the Door." She toured North America to support the album.

In 2019, Haley sang a cover of "Dreams" by The Cranberries for a Mazda commercial. She also released an EP called Bulletproof with three cover songs. She performed at the "Rock the Runway" concert in Wheeling and with Michael Feinstein at the Ravinia Festival. For the holidays, she released covers of "Santa Baby", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", and "The Christmas Song".

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

Recent Music

Haley released her first live single, "Change," in January 2020. In April 2020, she released a studio cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart". She also returned for the fourth season of F is for Family. On September 4, 2022, she released her new EP, "Off the Ground," and continued her "Off the Ground Tour" in 2023.

Artistry: Haley's Unique Style

Musical Style

Haley Reinhart's music is known for mixing mainstream pop with old-school pop and traditional jazz. On American Idol, her performances were often praised for their jazzy and bluesy sounds, combined with a rock style similar to Janis Joplin. Her first album was also noted for blending different music types like pop, R&B, rock and roll, and soul, creating a sound that felt both classic and new. Haley wants her music to be "real" and have "substance."

Critics have described Haley's voice as "slinky" and "daring." Her style often combines the jazz sounds of the 1930s and 40s with the disco and soul of the 1960s. She's been called a "soulful, jazzy, altogether genre-defying singer-songwriter." Her music has been compared to modern artists like Adele and Amy Winehouse, as well as classic artists like Nancy Sinatra and Aretha Franklin. Some say she has the wildness of Janis Joplin, the class of Ella Fitzgerald, and the influence of Etta James.

Voice and Singing Techniques

Haley Reinhart has a light lyric soprano voice, and her range covers 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, loud notes. Her voice is also praised for its "smoky," rich quality and its versatility. She is also good at using her falsetto (a high singing voice).

Haley is known for her scatting techniques, which are similar to Ella Fitzgerald's, and for her yodeling. She often uses "call and response" during her live shows, where she sings a phrase and the audience or band responds. Haley learned to sing from her mother and her father taught her scatting and call-and-response by having her repeat sounds. She has never had professional vocal training.

Musical Inspirations

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 even African percussion. This is because her parents listened to a wide variety of music when she was growing up. They loved rock legends like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, as well as traditional jazz artists. 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.

Because of her parents, she also looked up to artists like Sarah Vaughan, Heart, and Tony Bennett. When she was young, she helped her mother learn songs by Billie Holiday. She explains that she developed a good ear for music by learning different songs and genres. Her album Better was greatly inspired by the funk band Sly and the Family Stone.

Haley remembers watching Kelly Clarkson win the first season of American Idol as a child, which made her want to be on the show. During her time on Idol, the judges often compared her voice and style to Janis Joplin. This comparison influenced her to add rock elements to her performances. Some of her modern artistic influences include Christina Aguilera, Corinne Bailey Rae, Esperanza Spalding, 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, admiring their boldness, femininity, and beauty. She also enjoys surrealist cinema films like Big Fish and Pleasantville.

Personal Life and Relationships

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

Haley is best friends with Casey Abrams, who was also on the tenth season of American Idol. They see each other as musical soulmates. On Idol, they helped each other stay calm and shared musical energy during duets. Since then, they have worked together on many songs and often perform live together. Haley also remains close with other contestants from her season.

Haley was the first American Idol contestant to perform on stage with a parent when her father played guitar for her. Haley is currently in a relationship with singer and musician Drew Dolan.

Giving Back: Haley's Philanthropy

Soon after American Idol, Haley got involved with VH1's Do Something Awards. She had already worked with Habitat for Humanity and Starkey Hearing Foundation. She wanted to help charities that fight domestic violence and bullying. Haley believes that helping people comes naturally to her and that everyone should "send out good vibes, good messages and help out." In December 2011, she performed at a holiday event that raised money to help end hunger and homelessness.

In 2012, Haley performed with Slash and Myles Kennedy at a gala that raised money for brain health and the Muhammad Ali Center. She also performed at the Girls Who Rock concert in New York City, which supports girls' education globally. Haley partnered with Tip Cup to raise money for MusiCares, a foundation that helps musicians in need. She disguised herself and sang in Chelsea Market, collecting donations from passersby. She also signed a golf ball for a fundraiser that helped Ronald McDonald House Charities.

In September 2012, she performed for the Girl Scouts to celebrate their 100th anniversary. She gave them advice and invited them on stage to talk about community involvement. The next year, Haley performed at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night, which benefited the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Center.

In 2015, Haley performed at the Chicago Auto Show First Look Charity Event. In December, she sang for children at UC Davis Children's Hospital with Casey Abrams. As part of her 2016 tour for "Can't Help Falling in Love," she performed at concerts that supported the Children's Cancer Association and the Genesis Foundation for Children. She also performed at Dell Children's Medical Center during SXSW to bring music to the hospital environment.

In January 2017, Haley was a guest judge for Rally Idol, a benefit concert for children with cancer. In October 2017, she performed at the Pongo Environmental Awards, which honored efforts to save Orangutans.

In September 2018, Haley sang at a benefit concert for PAVE. In January 2020, she performed at a fundraising event for the Bushfires in Australia. She also performed at the Homeward Bound charity concert, which supports efforts to fight 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)

See also

In Spanish: Haley Reinhart para niños