Sarah McLachlan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah McLachlan
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McLachlan in July 2010
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Sarah Ann McLachlan
January 28, 1968 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Years active | 1987–present |
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Sarah Ann McLachlan is a famous Canadian singer and songwriter. She was born on January 28, 1968. By 2015, she had sold more than 40 million albums around the world. Her most popular album is Surfacing (1997). For this album, she won two Grammy Awards and four Juno Awards. Sarah McLachlan also started the Lilith Fair tour. This special tour featured many talented female musicians.
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About Sarah McLachlan's Life
Sarah McLachlan was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her adoptive parents, Jack and Dorice McLachlan, raised her. She also had two older adopted brothers. As a child, she was part of the Girl Guides of Canada.
Sarah started playing music when she was very young. She began with the ukulele at age four. She also learned classical guitar, piano, and singing. She studied at the Maritime Conservatory of Music. When she was 17, she sang in a rock band called the October Game.
After one of her band's concerts, she was offered a recording contract. This offer came from Nettwerk, an independent record label. Her parents wanted her to finish high school first. They also wanted her to study for a year at art college. Two years later, she signed with Nettwerk.
Sarah McLachlan married her drummer, Ashwin Sood, in 1997. In 2001, her mother passed away. Sarah had her first daughter, India, in 2002. Five years later, her second daughter, Taja, was born. Sarah and Ashwin separated in 2008.
Sarah McLachlan does not follow one specific religion. She believes in a universal energy that connects everyone. She has said she feels a connection to buddhism.
Sarah McLachlan's Music Career
Early Albums: Touch and Solace
After signing with Nettwerk, Sarah moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. There, she recorded her first album, Touch, in 1987. This album was very successful. It included the song "Vox." She also sang on other artists' albums. She went on her first national tour, opening for the Grapes of Wrath.
Her 1991 album, Solace, made her very popular in Canada. It had hit songs like "The Path of Thorns (Terms)" and "Into the Fire." Solace also marked the start of her work with Pierre Marchand. He has produced many of her albums and helped write songs.
Big Success with Surfacing and Mirrorball
In 1997, Sarah released Surfacing. This became her best-selling album. It earned her two Grammy Awards in 1998. She won for "Building a Mystery" and "Last Dance." The album also won four Juno Awards. Surfacing reached number one in Canada and number two in the US. It has sold over 16 million copies worldwide.
After Surfacing, Sarah started the famous Lilith Fair tour. Her song "Angel" became very popular. It was featured in the movie City of Angels in 1998. The movie's soundtrack also reached number one on the charts. Another song from Surfacing, "Full of Grace", was used in TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dawson's Creek.
In 1999, Sarah released a live album called Mirrorball. It included a live version of her song "I Will Remember You." This version won her another Grammy Award. Later that year, she sang "When She Loved Me" for the Toy Story 2 movie soundtrack. She performed it at the Academy Awards ceremony.
After her mother's passing and the birth of her first daughter, Sarah took a break from music. She focused on being a mom.
Later Albums: Afterglow and Wintersong
Sarah McLachlan released her fifth studio album, Afterglow, in 2003. The album featured songs like "Fallen" and "World on Fire." She wrote all the songs over two and a half years. Afterglow was number one in Canada and number two in the US. It has sold millions of copies.
In 2006, Sarah released a Christmas album called Wintersong. It included classic holiday songs and one new song she wrote. Wintersong was very popular, reaching number 7 on the US charts. It sold over a million copies in the US. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award and a Juno Award.
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Recent Music: Shine On and Wonderland
In 2014, Sarah McLachlan released Shine On. This album was inspired by her father's passing. It was her first album with Verve Records. The album reached number 4 on the US charts. She went on a tour across the United States and Canada to support the album.
Sarah won the Juno Award for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for Shine On in 2015.
In 2016, she released Wonderland, her second Christmas album. It had 13 holiday songs. She promoted the album with performances on TV shows. In 2019, Sarah hosted the Juno Awards of 2019.
Upcoming Music
In 2023, Sarah McLachlan joined other artists to record "What I Wouldn't Do." This song was a charity single to help youth mental health. She also announced a tour for 2024 to celebrate 30 years of her album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. However, she had to cancel the tour due to a throat issue. She has since reannounced the Canadian dates for April 2025.
Sarah McLachlan has been working on new music. Her tenth studio album, Better Broken, is set to be released on September 19, 2025.
Lilith Fair Music Festival
In 1996, Sarah McLachlan noticed that concert promoters often did not want to feature two female musicians in a row. To change this, she organized a successful tour with herself and Paula Cole. One of these shows was called "Lilith Fair." It included performances by Sarah, Paula Cole, Lisa Loeb, and Michelle McAdorey.
The next year, Sarah officially founded the Lilith Fair tour. The name "Lilith" comes from an old Jewish story.
In 1997, Lilith Fair made $16 million, making it a top-grossing festival. It was the 16th highest-grossing concert tour that year. Over three years, Lilith Fair brought together two million people. It also raised over $7 million for charities. It became the most successful all-female music festival ever. It helped many female artists become famous. The tour continued in 1998 and 1999.
In 2010, there were plans for Lilith Fair to return. However, many shows were canceled due to low ticket sales and financial issues.
Other Projects and Appearances
In 1997, Sarah McLachlan sang on the Delerium song "Silence." This song became very popular. It is considered one of the greatest trance songs.
In 2002, she sang a duet with Bryan Adams called "Don't Let Go." It was for the Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron movie soundtrack.
In 2006, Sarah sang "Ordinary Miracle" for the movie Charlotte's Web. She performed this song at the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
In 2011, Sarah performed at the dedication of the Flight 93 National Memorial. This memorial honors the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93.
In 2019, Sarah McLachlan sang "O Canada" before a basketball game.
Musical Influences
Sarah McLachlan has said that many artists influenced her music. Some of these include Joan Baez, Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel, Peter Gabriel, and Kate Bush.
Awards and Achievements
Sarah McLachlan has been nominated for 26 Juno Awards and has won twelve. In 1998, she won Female Vocalist of the Year. She also won Songwriter of the Year and Single of the Year for "Building a Mystery." Her album Surfacing won Album of the Year. In 2004, her album Afterglow won Pop Album of the Year. She also won the Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for Shine On in 2015 and Wonderland in 2017.
She has won three Grammy Awards. She won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Building a Mystery" in 1997. She won it again in 1999 for "I Will Remember You." She also won Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Last Dance" in 1997.
In 1999, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This was for her successful music career and her work with Lilith Fair. In 2001, she was inducted into the Order of British Columbia.
In 2012, Sarah McLachlan was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2015, she received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award. This is Canada's highest honor in performing arts. In 2017, she was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In 2024, she was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
On September 17, 2024, Canada Post released a stamp honoring Sarah McLachlan.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
Sarah McLachlan School of Music
Sarah McLachlan helps fund a music program in Vancouver. This program provides music education for children. In 2007, the government gave money to support this program. It grew into the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. This school offers free music lessons in guitar, piano, and singing.
In 2011, the Sarah McLachlan School of Music officially opened in Vancouver. It is a free music school for young people who might not otherwise get music lessons. The school helps hundreds of students each year. Its goal is to help students love music and feel good about themselves.
In 2016, the school expanded to Edmonton, Alberta. It opened in two schools there.
ASPCA Work
Sarah McLachlan has supported the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). She appeared in advertisements for the organization. These ads featured her song "Angel." The ads showed shelter animals and asked for donations. These ads have raised millions of dollars for the ASPCA.
She also made new ads for the ASPCA in 2008 and 2009. In 2014 and 2023, she even made funny versions of her ASPCA ads for commercials.
Other Charitable Contributions
Sarah McLachlan has contributed to many other charities. In 1993, she contributed the song "Hold On" to an album that helped people with AIDS.
In 2005, she took part in a telethon to help victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. She also performed at a benefit concert in Vancouver. This concert raised about $3.6 million for aid agencies.
On July 2, 2005, Sarah performed at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia. She sang "Angel" with Josh Groban. These concerts aimed to pressure world leaders to fight poverty in Africa.
In 2008, she donated a song to a CD that helped with tsunami relief efforts. Sarah McLachlan is also a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.
Discography
Studio albums
- Touch (1988)
- Solace (1991)
- Surfacing (1997)
- Afterglow (2003)
- Wintersong (2006)
- Laws of Illusion (2010)
- Shine On (2014)
- Wonderland (2016)
- Better Broken (2025)
Images for kids
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Sarah McLachlan at a 1993 benefit concert
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Sarah McLachlan performing in 2009
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Sarah McLachlan performing in 1998
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Sarah McLachlan performing at the 2017 Invictus Games opening ceremony
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Sarah McLachlan recognized by BC Entertainment Hall of Fame
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See also
In Spanish: Sarah McLachlan para niños
