Meghan Trainor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meghan Trainor
Trainor in 2020
Born	Meghan Elizabeth Trainor (1993-12-22) December 22, 1993 (age 31) Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Singer-songwriter television personality
Years active	2009–present
Spouse(s)	Daryl Sabara ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	2
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop dance-pop R&B doo-wop blue-eyed soul
Instruments	Vocals guitar ukulele keyboards piano trumpet
Labels	Honest OG Epic
Signature

Meghan Elizabeth Trainor (born December 22, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and television star. She became famous after signing with Epic Records in 2014. Her first single, "All About That Bass", was a huge hit. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold 11 million copies around the world.

Trainor has released six studio albums and won many awards. These include a Grammy Award, four ASCAP Pop Music Awards, and two Billboard Music Awards.

Her music often has themes of womanhood, body image, and feeling empowered. Her sound is inspired by the music of the 1950s. It mixes pop, R&B, doo-wop, and blue-eyed soul. Besides music, she has been a voice actor in movies like Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017). She has also been a judge on TV talent shows like The Voice UK and Australian Idol.

Early Life and Musical Start

Meghan Elizabeth Trainor was born on December 22, 1993, in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Her parents, Kelli and Gary Trainor, were jewelers. Her father was also a music teacher and church organist. She has two brothers, Ryan and Justin.

She started singing in church at age six. Her family encouraged her love for music. She began writing songs and recording them on her computer using GarageBand. Her father wanted her to learn about all kinds of music.

At age 12, Trainor joined a cover band called Island Fusion with her family. They played soca music and her own songs. She was in the band for four years, singing and playing piano, guitar, and bongo drums. By age 13, she had written her first original song, "Give Me a Chance."

Her family later moved to North Eastham, Massachusetts. In high school, she played trumpet in a jazz band and was a substitute cheerleader. Her parents took her to songwriting events where she could meet people from music companies. At 15, she took guitar lessons from Johnny Spampinato, a member of the band NRBQ. She also attended summer music programs at Berklee College of Music.

Career

2009–2013: Writing Songs for Others

Trainor singing "Take Care of Our Soldiers" at Nantucket United Methodist Church, July 2010

Between ages 15 and 17, Trainor released three albums on her own. She wrote, recorded, and produced all the songs herself. In 2010, she released the song "Take Care of Our Soldiers," with all the money going to charities that support military troops.

At a music conference, she met Al Anderson, who was impressed with her songwriting. He connected her with a music publishing company called Big Yellow Dog Music. Even though she had a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music, she decided to become a professional songwriter and signed with the company in 2012.

For the next few years, Trainor wrote songs for other artists. She traveled to Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles. She wrote pop and country songs for singers like Hunter Hayes, Rascal Flatts, and Sabrina Carpenter. In 2013, she met producer Kevin Kadish, and they started writing songs together.

2014–2015: Breakthrough with Title

Kadish and Trainor wrote "All About That Bass" in 2013. The song was about her own struggles with body image and self-confidence. Many record labels rejected the song. But when Trainor performed it for L.A. Reid, the head of Epic Records, he signed her to a record deal.

"All About That Bass" was released in June 2014 and became a massive success. It reached number one in 58 countries, and its music video went viral. The song was praised for its positive message, but some people criticized certain lyrics.

Trainor performing in Philadelphia during the Jingle Ball Tour 2014

In September 2014, she released an extended play (EP) called Title. Her second single, "Lips Are Movin", also became a top-five hit.

Her first major album, also called Title, came out in January 2015. It went straight to number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The album included other hit singles like "Dear Future Husband" and "Like I'm Gonna Lose You".

In 2015, Trainor started her first headlining tour, the That Bass Tour. Later that year, she had to cancel part of another tour, the "MTrain Tour", because of a problem with her vocal cords that required surgery. After recovering, she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2016.

2016–2017: The Thank You Album

Trainor performing in Washington, D.C. during Capital Pride in June 2016

Trainor's second major album, Thank You, was released in 2016. She said it was influenced by artists like Elvis Presley and Bruno Mars. The lead single, "No", was a top-three hit and had a more R&B sound.

Another single, "Me Too", also became popular. The first version of its music video was taken down because her body had been digitally changed without her permission. A new, unedited version was released the next day.

The Thank You album reached number three on the U.S. charts. She supported the album with The Untouchable Tour. In 2017, she released the song "I'm a Lady" for the movie Smurfs: The Lost Village, in which she also voiced a character.

2018–2021: More Music and Television

In 2018, Trainor became a judge on the TV show The Four: Battle for Stardom. She also planned to release her third album, Treat Myself, but delayed it to add more songs. The lead single, "No Excuses", was released in March 2018.

In 2019, she released an EP called The Love Train. She also became a coach on the ninth season of The Voice UK in 2020.

The album Treat Myself was finally released in January 2020. It featured the single "Nice to Meet Ya" with rapper Nicki Minaj. Later that year, she released a holiday album, A Very Trainor Christmas. In 2021, she started a podcast with her brother Ryan called Workin' on It.

2022–Present: Takin' It Back and Timeless

Trainor's fifth studio album, Takin' It Back, was released in October 2022. It featured a more doo-wop sound, similar to her first album. The second single, "Made You Look", became a huge international hit, especially on TikTok. It reached the top five in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

In 2023, she served as a judge on Australian Idol and released her first book, Dear Future Mama.

On March 14, 2024, Trainor released "Been Like This" with T-Pain. It was the first single from her sixth album, Timeless, which came out in June 2024. The album also included the single "To the Moon." To support the album, she began The Timeless Tour in September 2024, her first major tour in over seven years.

Artistry and Music Style

Influences

Trainor's music is heavily influenced by the 1950s music her father played for her, including doo-wop and jazz. She also grew up listening to soca music because of her family's connection to Trinidad. She has named Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Bruno Mars as some of her biggest inspirations. She also credits artists like Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Destiny's Child for influencing her performances and sound.

Musical Style and Themes

Trainor is known for her catchy pop songs that often mix R&B, doo-wop, and soul music. Her style is often compared to the "girl group" sound of the 1950s and 1960s, but with a modern twist. She plays many instruments, including guitar, ukulele, piano, and trumpet.

Her lyrics often focus on themes of womanhood, body positivity, and self-empowerment. Songs like "All About That Bass" and "Me Too" encourage listeners to be confident in themselves. While most people find her songs positive, some critics have said her lyrics sometimes send mixed messages about feminism. Her later albums, Takin' It Back and Timeless, explore topics like motherhood and self-love.

Charity and Activism

Trainor has worked with the American Cancer Society and other charities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she donated money to feed healthcare workers and supported local restaurants.

She is also outspoken about her support for LGBTQ rights and gun control. In 2017, she supported same-sex marriage in Australia. In 2022, she joined other artists in supporting the #BansOffOurBodies campaign for women's reproductive rights.

Achievements

Meghan Trainor has won many awards, including a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2016. Her debut single, "All About That Bass," made her one of only a few female artists whose first song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard magazine has ranked her as one of the top artists of the 2010s.

Discography

• Title (2015)
• Thank You (2016)
• Treat Myself (2020)
• A Very Trainor Christmas (2020)
• Takin' It Back (2022)
• Timeless (2024)

Tours

• That Bass Tour (2015)
• MTrain Tour (2015)
• The Untouchable Tour (2016)
• The Timeless Tour (2024)

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Meghan Trainor para niños

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States