Rebecca Ferguson (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rebecca Ferguson MBE
Rebecca performing in Milan, Italy in 2012
Background information
Birth name	Rebecca Caroline Hughes
Also known as	Ferguson
Born	(1986-07-21) 21 July 1986 (age 39) Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Genres	R&B soul gospel pop jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Sony RCA Epic Columbia
Associated acts	The X Factor finalists 2010

Rebecca Caroline Ferguson (born 21 July 1986) is an English soul singer and songwriter. She became well-known in 2010 after finishing as the runner-up on the seventh series of The X Factor. Her first album, Heaven, came out in December 2011 and reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart.

Since then, Rebecca has released four more albums. These include Freedom (2013), Lady Sings the Blues (2015), Superwoman (2016), and Heaven Part 2 (2023). She looks up to artists like Aretha Franklin, Kings of Leon, Christina Aguilera, and Amy Winehouse for inspiration.

Rebecca Ferguson's Early Life

Rebecca Ferguson was born in Liverpool, England. Her father is of Jamaican descent, and her mother is white British. She has a younger brother named Sam. Rebecca spent her early childhood in Huyton and later moved to Woolton Village when her parents separated.

She went to Woolton Primary School and then Gateacre Community Comprehensive School. As a teenager, she moved to Anfield. Rebecca always dreamed of becoming a pop star. Her family supported her passion for singing, even helping her with previous X Factor auditions. She shared that she was bullied as a child because her family was poor. Despite a tough start, Rebecca wanted people to focus on her talent.

Rebecca also studied to become a legal secretary at Hugh Baird College. She said she wanted her children to see her succeed and be a good role model.

Rebecca Ferguson's Music Career

Starting Out with The X Factor

Rebecca had tried out for The X Factor before, and also for P. Diddy's Starmaker in New York, but wasn't successful. She said these rejections were upsetting.

Rebecca was guided by Cheryl during her time on The X Factor.

For her X Factor audition, Rebecca sang "A Change Is Gonna Come". She impressed the judges, including Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger. Her mentor, Cheryl, chose her for the live shows. During the competition, Rebecca performed many songs, including "Teardrops" and "Make You Feel My Love". She often received standing ovations from the judges.

In the final, Rebecca sang a duet with Christina Aguilera. She finished as the runner-up, coming in second place to Matt Cardle. This made her the first female runner-up on The X Factor.

After the show, Rebecca signed a record deal with Syco Music and Epic Records. She also joined nine other contestants on the X Factor Live Tour in 2011. This tour allowed her to perform for 500,000 people across the UK.

First Album: Heaven

Rebecca performing on the X Factor Live Tour in April 2011.

Rebecca released her first single, "Nothing's Real but Love", in November 2011. It reached number ten on the UK Singles Chart. Her debut album, Heaven, came out in December 2011. Rebecca helped write all the songs on the album to make sure she felt a strong connection to them. The album features soul, pop, and blues styles. It quickly sold over 300,000 copies in the UK.

In early 2012, Rebecca went on her first headlining tour across the UK and Ireland. All the tickets sold out quickly, so she added more dates. "Too Good to Lose" and "Glitter & Gold" were also released as singles from the album. Rebecca performed "Endless Love" with Lionel Richie on a TV special. An excerpt from "Nothing's Real but Love" was used in a TV ad for Nescafé coffee.

In April 2012, Rebecca broke her leg, but she still performed on shows like Britain's Got Talent while sitting down. In May 2012, she made her American TV debut on The Today Show and The View. Rebecca later faced challenges with her management team.

In October 2012, a deluxe version of Heaven was released, along with the single "Backtrack". Rebecca also released an EP of live songs from the 2012 iTunes Festival. "Shoulder to Shoulder" was the final single from Heaven in the UK. Rebecca also sang on the charity song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", which became a Christmas number 1 hit in the UK.

Albums: Freedom and Lady Sings the Blues

Rebecca started writing her second album in early 2013. She announced in August 2013 that the album would be called Freedom. It was released in December 2013 and reached number 6 on the charts. The album received positive reviews and included a duet with US soul star John Legend.

In August 2014, Rebecca began working on her third album. She announced in January 2015 that it would be called Lady Sings the Blues. This album was released in March 2015 and charted at number 7 in the UK.

Superwoman and Future Plans

In May 2015, Rebecca performed at a special event in London called VE Day 70: A Party to Remember. In October 2015, she confirmed she was working on a new album. The first single from this album, "Bones", was released in September 2016. Her album, Superwoman, came out in October 2016. Rebecca then went on tour across the UK.

In December 2016, she appeared on Fern Britton Meets, where she talked about how her Christian faith helped her through difficult times. In April 2017, Rebecca announced she was working on her fifth studio album. She released a dance song called "Uncrazy" in December 2017, which was a different style for her.

Heaven Part II and Stepping Back from Music

In May 2020, Rebecca released a single called "Nothing Left but Family" featuring Nile Rodgers. She confirmed that her next album, produced by Nile Rodgers, was released in December 2023. In November 2021, Rebecca announced that this fifth album would be her last, and she would be stepping back from the music industry after its release.

In February 2022, she premiered the song "I'm Going to Love You" with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Rebecca performed in her hometown at the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, in November 2023, just before her album Heaven Part II was released. She also announced a nationwide tour for April 2024 and another tour, "15 Years Stripped Back," for February 2025.

Rebecca Ferguson's Personal Life

Rebecca has four children. She met the father of her two oldest children, Karl Dures, while on holiday. They dated for four years. She also has a daughter born in 2014 from a later relationship, and her fourth child was born in February 2023.

On 1 January 2022, Rebecca announced her engagement to Jonny Hughes, her partner of seven years. They got married in December 2022.

Rebecca previously dated fellow The X Factor contestant Zayn Malik. Their relationship ended after four months in July 2011. Rebecca said they simply grew apart and wished him well.

In 2024, Rebecca Ferguson was honored with the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to the music industry.

Rebecca Ferguson's Musical Style and Influences

Kings of Leon (left) and Aretha Franklin (right) are two of the musical acts Rebecca draws inspiration from.

Rebecca Ferguson's music is mainly soul, pop, blues, and R&B. Her songs often talk about heartbreak and relationships. Her music has been compared to artists like Aretha Franklin and Macy Gray. Rebecca describes her own sound as "quite soulful."

She considers Aretha Franklin one of her biggest influences and wished she could have worked with her. Rebecca also finds inspiration in the band Kings of Leon. She said she would love to write music with them. Other artists who have influenced her include Amy Winehouse, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Nina Simone. Rebecca admired Amy Winehouse for being "real" and artistic.

Other Ventures

In June 2011, Rebecca Ferguson became the new face of Walkers crisps Sunbites. She appeared in an online and TV advertisement campaign. In 2013, she opened her own beauty salon in Liverpool called Rebecca's Beauty Boudoir, but she closed the business in 2015.

Since 2017, Rebecca has made guest appearances on ITV's TV show Loose Women. Her most recent appearance was in April 2019.

Rebecca Ferguson's Albums

• Heaven (2011)
• Freedom (2013)
• Lady Sings the Blues (2015)
• Superwoman (2016)
• Heaven Part II (2023)

Rebecca Ferguson's Tours

• The X Factor Live Tour (2011)
• Heaven Tour (2012)
• US Tour (2013)
• Freedom Tour (2014)
• Lady Sings the Blues Tour (2015)
• Superwoman Tour (2016)
• Revolution Tour (2018)
• Heaven Part II Tour (2024)
• 15 Years Stripped Back (2025)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Rebecca Ferguson (cantante) para niños