Kris Allen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kris Allen
Allen in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Kristopher Neil Allen
Born	(1985-06-21) June 21, 1985 (age 40) Jacksonville, Arkansas, U.S.
Origin	Conway, Arkansas, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock alternative rock acoustic rock blue-eyed soul
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Jive RCA 19 DogBear

Kristopher Neil Allen (born June 21, 1985) is an American singer and songwriter. He became famous after winning the eighth season of the TV show American Idol.

Before American Idol, Kris released his own album called Brand New Shoes in 2007. After winning Idol, his songs "No Boundaries" and "Heartless" were very popular. His first major album, Kris Allen, came out in November 2009. It reached number 11 on the U.S. music charts. The main song from that album, "Live Like We're Dying", sold over 1.7 million copies.

Kris Allen has continued to release music. His album Thank You Camellia came out in 2012, and Letting You In was released in 2016.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Kris Allen was born in Jacksonville, Arkansas, to Kimberly and Neil Allen. He has a younger brother named Daniel.

Kris started loving music when he was very young. He played the viola in elementary school and even joined the Arkansas all-state orchestra. When he was 13, he taught himself to play the guitar. He also plays the piano. Some of his favorite musicians include the Beatles, John Mayer, and Michael Jackson.

Before American Idol, Kris played music in public for several years. He decided to try out for American Idol as a "last try" before possibly giving up on a music career.

After high school, Kris went to the University of Central Arkansas. He studied business there. During college, he traveled to many countries like Morocco and Thailand to do Christian missionary work. He also led worship music at churches. Kris left college to focus on music. He played in local bars and worked as a shoe salesman. His brother and a friend convinced him to audition for American Idol.

Music Career Highlights

Before American Idol

Kris realized in college that he wanted to be a professional musician. He started writing his own songs. He played his first show in Conway, Arkansas, during his second year of college. He then left college to follow his dream. He sold shoes during the day and played music at night.

In 2007, Kris wrote and produced his album Brand New Shoes. He made it with his college friends Michael Holmes and Chase Erwin. The album title was a nod to his job as a shoe salesman. Only 600 copies were made, mostly for family and friends.

Winning American Idol

Kris Allen on the American Idol Tour, August 5, 2009

Kris auditioned for the eighth season of American Idol in Kentucky. His brother Daniel also auditioned but did not make it to Hollywood. At first, Kris didn't get much screen time on the show.

During the competition, Kris was praised for his unique, folk-style versions of popular songs. He played several instruments, including the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and piano. The judges often complimented his performances. For example, after he sang "To Make You Feel My Love," judge Simon Cowell said he thought Kris had a good chance to do well.

In the finals, Kris played his own version of "Ain't No Sunshine" on the keyboard. Simon Cowell called it his "best performance so far." Later, Kris sang "Falling Slowly" and received gifts from the original artists. He also performed an acoustic version of "She Works Hard for the Money" with bongo drums, which all four judges loved.

For the Top 3 show, Kris impressed the judges with an acoustic version of Kanye West's "Heartless." Judge Randy Jackson even said he liked Kris's version better than the original. This performance helped Kris reach the finals and eventually win.

After making it to the Top 3, Kris returned to Arkansas for his hometown visit. More than 20,000 people came to his parade. He performed concerts in Little Rock and Conway, Arkansas, singing many of his popular songs from the show.

In the final show, Kris sang "Ain't No Sunshine" again, "What's Going On" (chosen by Simon Fuller), and the winning song, "No Boundaries". He also sang a duet with Keith Urban and performed with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor.

On May 20, 2009, Kris Allen was announced as the winner of American Idol Season 8. He was the first married contestant to win. Nearly 100 million votes were cast in the finale. Kris's win was a surprise to some because runner-up Adam Lambert had received a lot of media attention. However, host Ryan Seacrest said the difference in votes between Kris and Adam was less than a million.

Performances and Results on American Idol

• The judges used their one save to keep Matt Giraud, so the Top 7 stayed the same for another week.
• When the results were announced, Allen was in the Bottom 3 but was then declared safe.

After winning Idol, Kris had five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His winning song "No Boundaries" reached number 11. He also signed a record deal with Jive Records.

First Album: Kris Allen (2009)

Allen in 2010

Allen in 2010

For his first album, Kris worked with many talented people like David Hodges and Jon Foreman. His first song from the album, "Live Like We're Dying", was released in September 2009. The music video came out in November 2009. This song became very popular, selling over 1.7 million copies.

His album, Kris Allen, was released on November 17, 2009. Kris helped write 9 of the 12 songs on the album. The album sold over 80,000 copies in its first week and reached number 11 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In February 2010, Kris traveled to Haiti with the United Nations Foundation to help after a big earthquake. He returned to the American Idol stage to share his experiences and perform "Let It Be". This performance was sold online to raise money for Haiti.

The second song from his album was "The Truth," which featured Patrick Monahan from the band Train. Kris performed this song live at the American Idol Season 9 finale. He also joined other Idol winners to honor Simon Cowell.

Kris went on his first solo tour in June and July 2010. He also opened for bigger bands like Barenaked Ladies and Maroon 5.

Thank You Camellia and Horizons (2011–2014)

In 2011, Kris Allen's record label, Jive Records, was closed down. He then released his music through RCA Records.

Kris performed several new songs at a concert in Los Angeles in February 2012. His song "The Vision of Love" was released as the main song from his second album in March 2012.

On March 29, 2012, it was announced that Kris's second album, Thank You Camellia, would be released on May 22, 2012. Kris also tried out for a role in the movie Rock of Ages but didn't get the part. He later said he didn't feel confident in his acting skills.

In December 2012, Kris released a Christmas album called Waiting for Christmas. He also debuted a new song called "Where Are You Amy?" which he dedicated to those affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

From January to May 2013, Kris toured the United States on his "Out Alive" tour. He performed 40 shows with his bandmates.

In January 2014, Kris started recording his third album after Idol. The main song, "Prove It to You," was released in July 2014. His album, Horizons, came out on August 12, 2014. It reached number 80 on the Billboard 200 chart. Kris toured the U.S. and Canada with the group Boyce Avenue. One of his songs, "Lost," was used on the TV shows Arrow and The Vampire Diaries.

Letting You In and Recent Music (2016–Present)

In 2015, Kris began working on his next album. The first song, "Waves," was released in February 2016. His fifth album, Letting You In, came out on March 18, 2016.

In April 2016, he released an EP called Acoustic Tapes. He also released a Christmas album, Somethin' About Christmas, in November 2016.

In February 2017, Kris released an acoustic version of "Waves." He also announced a new band called The Dames. They released their first song, "The Death of Mr. Jones," in May 2017.

In May 2018, Kris announced he would join the American Idol Live! Tour as a special guest. He also released a new song, "When All The Stars Have Died," in June 2018. In September 2019, Kris released 10, an album with new versions of his older songs. The title celebrated ten years since he won American Idol.

In 2021, Kris toured Europe with David Cook. He released four new songs before the tour, including one dedicated to his oldest son. In 2022, he released "It's You I Like."

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Before American Idol, Kris Allen did missionary work in several countries, including Burma, Thailand, and South Africa. During a trip to Morocco, he got very sick but said this experience helped him write his first original song. In Thailand, he was so moved by a church's poor music equipment that he left his own guitar for them. This inspired his song "Land of Smiles."

Kris strongly believes in music education. He works with groups like the Music Empowers Foundation and Little Kids Rock. He says that music programs in school are very important for kids. In 2010, he was honored for his support of music education.

Kris also supports TOMS Shoes, a company that gives shoes to people in need. He went to Rwanda in 2010 to help give out shoes.

In February 2010, Kris went to Haiti to help after the earthquake. He shared his experiences on American Idol and performed "Let It Be" to raise money for Haiti. This performance raised over $250,000.

Kris's fans have also done many good deeds in his honor. For his 25th birthday, fans donated over $25,000 to Heifer International to buy cows for families in need. They also donated to music education programs and disaster relief.

In November 2012, Kris visited a World Vision project in Kenya.

Personal Life

Kris Allen married his high school sweetheart, Katy O'Connell, on September 26, 2008. They started dating when Kris was in high school. They have three children: a son born in 2013, a daughter born in 2016, and another son born in 2019.

Kris Allen's Band Members

Albums and EPs

• Brand New Shoes (2007)
• Kris Allen (2009)
• Thank You Camellia (2012)
• Horizons (2014)
• Letting You In (2016)
• Somethin' About Christmas (2016)
• Pole Vaulter (2024)

Other Music Projects

The Dames

Kris Allen also has a band called The Dames. Current Members

• Kris Allen
• Cale Mills
• Chris Torres
• Jordan Wright

Songs Released by The Dames

• "The Death of Mr. Jones" (Released: May 20, 2017)
• "Alright Now" (Released: June 9, 2017)
• "Don't Mess Around on Me" (Released: June 30, 2017)
• "All That I Want Is You" (Released: July 28, 2017)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Kris Allen para niños