Joe McElderry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe McElderry
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McElderry at The Sage Gateshead in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph McElderry |
| Born | 16 June 1991 South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, model |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels |
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Joseph McElderry is an English singer and songwriter. He was born on June 16, 1991. Joe became famous after winning The X Factor in 2009. His first song, "The Climb", became number one in the UK and Ireland.
Joe also won Popstar to Operastar in 2011 and The Jump in 2014. In 2015, he played the main character, Joseph, in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In 2022, Joe performed his Freedom Tour, which was a tribute to George Michael. He has released five albums that reached the top 20 in the UK.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joe McElderry was born in South Shields, England. He is the only child of Jim and Eileen McElderry. Joe was raised in South Shields.
He went to Harton Technology College. Later, he studied performing arts at Newcastle College. In 2008, he was named the Young Performer of the Year for South Tyneside. In 2009, he played 'Danny Zuko' in a school play of Grease.
Music Career Highlights
Starting with The X Factor
Joe first tried out for The X Factor in 2007. He made it to the bootcamp stage but decided to leave because he felt too young. He tried again in 2009, singing "Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross.
Joe was mentored by Cheryl Cole. He reached the live finals and won the show on December 13, 2009. He beat Olly Murs in the final. As the winner, Joe received a recording contract with Syco record label.
Joe and the other X Factor finalists recorded a charity song. It was a cover of Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone". The money raised went to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital. This song also reached number one in the UK.
Here are the songs Joe performed during The X Factor 2009:
| Week | Song Choice | Original Artist | Theme | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | "Dance with My Father" | Luther Vandross | Free Choice | To Bootcamp |
| Bootcamp | "Praying for Time" | George Michael | Free Choice | Final 24 / To Judges' House |
| Judges' House | "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" | Elton John | Free Choice | Final 12 |
| "Imagine" | John Lennon | Free Choice | ||
| Week 1 | "No Regrets" | Robbie Williams | Musical Heroes | Safe |
| Week 2 | "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" | Whitney Houston | Divas | Safe |
| Week 3 | "Sway" | Dean Martin | Big band | Safe |
| Week 4 | "Don't Stop Believin'" | Journey | Rock | Safe |
| Week 5 | "Circle of Life" | Elton John | Songs from Films | Safe |
| Week 6 | "Somebody to Love" | Queen | Queen Songs | Safe |
| Week 7 | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | Elton John | Wham!/George Michael Songs | Safe |
| Quarter-final | "Could It Be Magic" | Barry Manilow/Take That | Take That Songs | Safe |
| "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" | Elton John | Elton John Songs | ||
| Semi-final | "She's Out of My Life" | Michael Jackson | Michael Jackson Songs | Safe |
| "Open Arms" | Journey | Mentor's Choice | ||
| Final | "Dance with My Father" | Luther Vandross | Audition Song | Safe |
| "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Performed with George Michael) | Elton John | Celebrity duet | ||
| "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" | Elton John | Favourite Performance | ||
| "Don't Stop Believin'" | Journey | Contestant's Favourite | Winner | |
| "The Climb" | Miley Cyrus | Winner's Song |
After The X Factor Win
Joe's first single, "The Climb", was released in December 2009. It quickly became number one in Ireland. In the UK, it competed for the Christmas number one spot.
A social media campaign supported Rage Against the Machine's song "... in the Name". This song ended up beating Joe's for the Christmas number one. It was the first time since 2004 that an X Factor winner's song didn't get the Christmas top spot.
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However, "The Climb" still reached number one in the UK charts on December 27, 2009. It was one of the best-selling UK singles of 2009. Joe also performed at the National Television Awards in 2010. He joined other artists to record "Everybody Hurts" for the Helping Haiti charity.
First Album and New Beginnings
In 2010, Joe recorded his first album, Wide Awake. It was released in October 2010. The first song from the album was "Ambitions". Wide Awake reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart.
Joe also recorded "There's A Place For Us" for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader movie soundtrack. This song was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. In February 2011, Joe decided to leave his record label, Syco. He said it was a friendly split.
Winning Popstar to Operastar
In 2011, Joe joined the TV show Popstar to Operastar. On this show, pop singers learn to sing opera. Joe won the competition in July 2011. He received a lot of public votes throughout the show.
After winning, Joe signed a new record deal with Decca Records. He released his second album, Classic, in August 2011. This album reached number 2 on the UK charts. He also released a Christmas album, Classic Christmas, in November 2011.
More Albums and Stage Roles
Joe's fourth album, Here's What I Believe, came out in September 2012. It reached number 8 in the charts. This made it his third album to reach the top 10.
He also started taking on musical roles. He made a small appearance in a musical version of Dirty Dancing. He also played Tommy in The Who's Tommy for a special performance.
Tours and The Jump
In 2013, Joe went on a summer tour. He also played Prince Charming in the pantomime Cinderella. In January 2014, Joe joined the TV show The Jump. On this show, celebrities compete in winter sports. Joe won The Jump in February 2014.
In 2014, Joe went on a big UK tour called the Set Your Soul Alive tour. He also worked on new music for his fifth album.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
In 2015, Joe played the main role of Joseph in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The tour ran from January to July 2016. Joe received many positive reviews for his performance. Critics praised his voice and how he brought new life to the role.
His fifth album, Saturday Night at the Movies, was released in July 2017. It features songs from films and musicals. Joe promoted the album with a national tour. In 2023-2024, Joe appeared in a pantomime version of Pinocchio as Jiminy Cricket.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Joe McElderry has supported many charities. In 2010, he ran the Great North Run half marathon to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. He is also an ambassador for this charity.
He has performed at several charity concerts, including for The Ray of Sunshine and Josie's Dragonfly trust. In 2013, he recorded a charity song called "Abide with Me" with The Royal Mail Choir. The money raised went to Prostate Cancer UK. He also released "One World, One Song" with Dionne Warwick to support The Hunger Project.
Awards and Recognition
Joe McElderry has received several awards and nominations for his work.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "The Climb" | BRIT Award for Best British Single | Nominated |
| Joe McElderry | BT Digital Music Awards for Best Newcomer | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Joe McElderry | Virgin Media Music Award for Best Act of Reality TV Fame | Won |
| 2013 | Joe McElderry | Variety Silver Heart Award | Won |
Albums (Discography)
- Wide Awake (2010)
- Classic (2011)
- Classic Christmas (2011)
- Here's What I Believe (2012)
- Saturday Night at the Movies (2017)
Tours
- The X Factor Tour 2010 (2010)
- Classic Tour (2011)
- 2013 Summer Tour
- Set Your Soul Alive Tour (2014)
- The Evolution Tour (2015)
- The Northern Light Tour (2016)
- Saturday Night at the Movies (2017)
- Freedom Tour (2022)
- The Classic Collection (2024)
