Phillip Phillips facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phillip Phillips
Phillips at the Walmart Soundcheck; December 2013
Background information
Birth name	Phillip LaDon Phillips Jr.
Born	(1990-09-20) September 20, 1990 (age 34) Albany, Georgia, U.S.
Origin	Leesburg, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock folk rock
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2012–present
Labels	19 Interscope

Phillip LaDon Phillips Jr. (born September 20, 1990) is an American singer and songwriter. He became famous after winning the eleventh season of American Idol in 2012. His winning song, "Home", sold more copies than any other winner's song in the show's history!

His first album, The World from the Side of the Moon, came out in November 2012. It stayed on the Billboard Top 200 album chart for a long time and sold over a million copies. This album included his hit songs "Home" and "Gone, Gone, Gone". He then released Behind the Light in 2014, with singles like "Raging Fire". His third album, Collateral, came out in 2018, and his fourth, Drift Back, was released in June 2023. Phillip has toured with famous musicians like John Mayer and the Goo Goo Dolls. He has also shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen.

Phillip Phillips has sold millions of digital songs and albums. His music has been streamed over a billion times online!

Early life and music beginnings

Phillip Phillips was born in Albany, Georgia. When he was 12, his family moved to Leesburg, Georgia. He has two older sisters. Phillip grew up in Sasser and Leesburg, and went to Lee County High School. He studied Industrial Systems Technology in college. He even missed his graduation because he was busy with American Idol! Before becoming famous, he worked at his family's pawn shop.

Phillip started playing music, especially the guitar, when he was 14. His brother-in-law, Benjamin Neil, helped him get interested in music. In 2009, Phillip formed a band called the Phillip Phillips Band. They played at many local places. In 2010, he won a local singing contest called "Albany Star."

Phillip's favorite singer is Jonny Lang. He also likes John Butler, Dave Matthews, and Damien Rice. He grew up listening to music from the 1960s and 1970s, like Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. He describes his own music as a mix of "jazz and rock alternative sound." Before American Idol, Phillip also tried out for America's Got Talent.

Becoming an American Idol

Audition and journey

Phillip auditioned for American Idol in Savannah, Georgia. He sang "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder. One of the show's producers thought he would win right away! Judge Steven Tyler even whispered to Jennifer Lopez that he had a "funny feeling" about Phillip. The judges asked him to play a second song with his guitar, and he performed Michael Jackson's "Thriller." He moved on to the Hollywood and Las Vegas rounds.

In February 2012, Phillip was chosen as one of the Top 25 singers. Soon after, he was voted into the Top 13. His singing style on the show was compared to Dave Matthews. He even sang one of Dave Matthews' songs, "The Stone," during the competition. Singer Stevie Nicks said Phillip was good enough to join her band, Fleetwood Mac!

While on Idol, Phillip had some health problems. He had eight medical procedures and even thought about quitting because of the pain. But he kept going!

For the Top 3 performance, Phillip sang Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight." For Top 4, he sang Damien Rice's "Volcano." This performance is remembered as one of the best ever on American Idol. Phillip was the only contestant who was never in danger of being eliminated. He won the finale against Jessica Sanchez with a record-breaking 132 million votes! His winning song, "Home," was released right after he won. It became the fastest-selling winner's song in Idol history.

Phillip said that winning American Idol was "crazy" and "changed my life completely." He just loved playing music and made sure he had fun during the show.

Music career highlights

Phillips at the American Idols Live! Tour in Seattle, July 2012

After winning American Idol, Phillip went on a tour with the other top singers from the show. He sang the National Anthem at a World Series baseball game in 2012. He also helped raise money for people affected by Hurricane Sandy. He performed at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony too!

Phillip's song "Home" was a huge hit, selling over 5 million copies in the U.S. It was used in many TV shows, commercials, and even for the Olympics! He performed "Home" on many TV shows like The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He also appeared at big music events like the American Music Awards.

First album: The World from the Side of the Moon (2012–2013)

Phillip released his first album, The World from the Side of the Moon, in November 2012. He wrote or helped write most of the songs on it. The album quickly became popular, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold over a million copies! This album stayed on the Billboard Top 200 chart for 61 weeks, which is a long time for a debut album from an American Idol winner.

In 2013, Phillip went on tour with the band Matchbox Twenty. He also did his own college tours. Later that year, he toured with famous musician John Mayer. He even performed at a big music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio, on the same day as John Mayer and Bruce Springsteen!

The song "Gone, Gone, Gone" from his album was released as a single in 2013. It was also used in the movie The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Phillip was nominated for Best New Artist at the American Music Awards in 2013.

Second album: Behind the Light (2014–2016)

Phillip Phillips performing in 2014

Phillip released his second album, Behind the Light, in May 2014. The first song from this album, "Raging Fire", was used in the National Hockey League's Playoffs. Phillip won an award for writing "Raging Fire."

He toured with the band O.A.R. in the summer of 2014. He also had his own tour to support the new album. Another song from the album, "Unpack Your Heart," was featured in a TV commercial for trucks.

In 2015, Phillip had a legal disagreement with his record label, but they settled it in 2017.

In April 2016, Phillip returned to the American Idol stage for the show's final episode. He performed a tribute to David Bowie with other Idol winners. Former Idol judge Simon Cowell said Phillip was his favorite winner. Jennifer Lopez, who was a judge when Phillip won, also said he was her favorite!

Phillip performed at the 2016 Invictus Games closing ceremony in Florida. In the summer of 2016, he went on tour with Matt Nathanson.

Third album: Collateral and acting (2017–2019)

In summer 2017, Phillip opened for the Goo Goo Dolls on their Long Way Home tour. He also performed at the CMT Artists of the Year awards, singing a cover of Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road."

Phillip released the song "Miles" in August 2017. This was the first song from his third album, Collateral, which came out in January 2018. He worked with several producers and writers on this album. He went on "The Magnetic Tour" with over 40 shows to support Collateral.

In summer 2018, Phillip went on tour again, sometimes by himself and sometimes with Gavin DeGraw. In September 2019, he worked with American Authors and Maddie Poppe on a new version of the song "Bring It on Home."

Helping during the pandemic (2020–2022)

In May 2020, Phillip returned to American Idol to perform "Home." The show was filmed from the contestants' homes because of the pandemic. He also joined other Idol alumni to sing "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie for the season finale.

Phillip helped with pandemic relief efforts, supporting hospitals and organizations that deliver meals to people in need.

In April 2022, Phillip came back to American Idol for its twentieth anniversary. He performed his new song "Love Like That." It was also ten years since he won the show! In fall 2022, he went on his Where We Came From Tour with American Authors.

Fourth album: Drift Back (2023)

Phillip's fourth album, Drift Back, was released in June 2023. It includes the song "Dancing with Your Shadows." This was his first album released as an independent artist, meaning he didn't have a big record label helping him. The song still became a Top 15 hit on adult contemporary radio!

He was invited back to American Idol in 2023 to help mentor the contestants during Hollywood week. He helped them write and perform their own songs.

Phillip performed his song "Gone, Gone, Gone" at the 2023 National Memorial Day Concert, honoring military families. He also sang the National Anthem at a Stanley Cup Finals hockey game. In June 2023, he made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry, a famous country music stage.

Phillip is a big fan of pickleball and has even competed in tournaments! In fall 2023, he went on his Drift Back Tour to support his new album.

Personal life

Phillip Phillips was born with a kidney condition. After American Idol ended, he had surgery to remove kidney stones and fix his kidney.

On December 26, 2014, Phillip announced he was engaged to his girlfriend, Hannah Blackwell. They got married in Georgia on October 24, 2015. Phillip and Hannah had a son born on November 10, 2019.

Phillip has supported many charities and organizations. These include the Sarah Foundation, Brave Beginnings, the National Park Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity.

Discography

• The World from the Side of the Moon (2012)
• Behind the Light (2014)
• Collateral (2018)
• Drift Back (2023)

Film and TV roles

Tours

Headlining tours

• College Tour (2013)
• Canada Tour Spring (2014)
• Behind the Light Fall Tour (2014)
• The Magnetic Tour (2018)
• An Evening with Phillip Phillips (Winter Acoustic Tour 2020)
• Where We Came From Fall Tour (2022)
• Drift Back Fall Tour (2023)

Co-headlining tours

• American Idols Live! Tour 2012 (2012)
• Summer Tour (2014) (with O.A.R.)
• With Matt Nathanson (2016)
• With Gavin DeGraw (Summer 2018)

Opening act for other artists

• North Tour (2013) with Matchbox Twenty
• Born and Raised World Tour (2013) with John Mayer
• Long Way Home Tour (2017) with Goo Goo Dolls

Awards and nominations

Images for kids

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  Phillips at the Walmart Soundcheck; December 2013

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  Phillips in Paris, March 2013

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  Phillips performing in 2014

In Spanish: Phillip Phillips para niños

• List of Idols winners