Rachel Platten facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rachel Platten
Platten in 2024
Born	Rachel Ashley Platten (1981-05-20) May 20, 1981 (age 44) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Trinity College (BA)
Occupation	Singer songwriter author
Years active	2002–present
Spouse(s)	Kevin Lazan ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Pop pop rock
Instruments	Vocals piano keyboards guitar
Labels	Rock Ridge Columbia RCA
Associated acts	Taylor Swift Colbie Caillat Christina Grimmie Christina Perri Charlotte Caffey

Rachel Ashley Platten (born May 20, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and author. She became famous for her hit song "Fight Song" in 2015. This song reached high spots on music charts around the world.

Before her big hit, Rachel released two albums on her own. After "Fight Song," she released her first major album, Wildfire, in 2016. This album included other popular songs like "Stand by You". She also won an award for her live performance of "Fight Song". Rachel has also worked with charities, singing for hospital patients.

Early Life and Music Start

Rachel Platten was born in New York City on May 20, 1981. She grew up in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Her mother is a therapist. Rachel started learning classical piano when she was 5 years old. Later, in high school, she learned to play the guitar. She also sang in her school's singing group.

When she went to Trinity College, Rachel joined an all-female singing group. During her studies, she spent time in Rome, Italy and Trinidad. In Trinidad, she sang backup for a friend's band in front of a huge crowd. This experience made her realize she wanted to be a full-time musician. Rachel graduated in 2003 with a degree in political science. That same year, she released her first album, Trust in Me. She then moved to New York City to pursue her music career.

Music Career Highlights

Early Albums and TV Songs

Rachel Platten's first album, Be Here, came out in 2011. A song from it, "1,000 Ships", became popular on radio. Some of her other early songs were used in TV shows. For example, "Work of Art" was the theme song for Jane by Design. Her song "Begin Again" was featured in an episode of Pretty Little Liars. Other songs appeared in shows like Basketball Wives and Finding Carter.

The Success of "Fight Song"

On February 19, 2015, Rachel released "Fight Song". This song quickly became a huge hit. It reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also hit number one in the United Kingdom. Many people loved the song's message of hope and strength.

In June 2015, Rachel performed "Fight Song" with superstar Taylor Swift. They sang together in front of 50,000 fans during Swift's tour. "Fight Song" has sold millions of copies in the US. Rachel also released an album called Fight Song EP which did well on the charts.

Rachel Platten performing "Fight Song" at the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida.

Wildfire and More Hits

After "Fight Song," Rachel released her album Wildfire. This album included another hit song, "Stand by You". This song also reached the top 10 in the US and Canada. Rachel toured with other artists like Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri.

Rachel also used her music to help others. After a sad event in Orlando, she donated money from a special version of "Fight Song" to help those affected. In 2016, she sang the national anthem at a major baseball game. She also performed in Times Square on New Year's Eve 2016.

Waves and Recent Work

In 2017, Rachel released her album Waves. The main song from this album was "Broken Glass". Critics praised the album for its positive and inspiring messages. Rachel wrote every song on this album herself.

Rachel Platten performing in 2017.

In 2018, Rachel performed at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. She sang her hits and shared memories of growing up in Boston. In 2019, she toured with the a capella group Pentatonix. Rachel also wrote a children's book called You Belong, which came out in 2020. In 2023, she released a new song called "Girls". Her latest album, I Am Rachel Platten, was released in 2024.

Personal Life

Rachel Platten married Kevin Lazan on July 31, 2010. They have two daughters. Their first daughter, Violet Skye, was born in 2019. Their second daughter, Sophie Jo, was born in 2021. Rachel has shared her experiences with postpartum depression, which is a type of sadness some mothers feel after having a baby.

Discography

• Trust in Me (2003)
• Be Here (2011)
• Wildfire (2016)
• Waves (2017)
• I Am Rachel Platten (2024)

Film and TV Appearances

Rachel Platten has appeared on many TV shows, often as a musical guest. She has performed her songs on shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Good Morning America, and Today. She also played herself in an episode of the TV series Stuck in the Middle. In 2017, she performed at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant.

Awards and Recognition

Rachel Platten has received several awards for her music and her work.

Concert Tours

Rachel Platten has performed in many concerts and tours.

Headlining Tours

• The Wildfire Tour (2016)

Co-headlining Tours

• Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too Tour (with Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri) (2015)

Supporting Tours

• The Good Guys & A Girl Tour (Alex & Sierra and Andy Grammer)

Opening Act Tours

• Soul2Soul: The World Tour (Faith Hill and Tim McGraw) (2017)
• Pentatonix: The World Tour (Pentatonix) (2019)

See also

In Spanish: Rachel Platten para niños