Tori Kelly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tori Kelly
Kelly in 2023
Born	Victoria Loren Kelly (1992-12-14) December 14, 1992 (age 32) Wildomar, California, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	2003–present
Works	Discography songs recorded
Spouse(s)	André Murillo ​ (m. 2018)​
Musical career
Origin	Canyon Lake, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop R&B soul gospel
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Labels	Epic Beautiful Mind Capitol Schoolboy Geffen
Signature

Victoria Loren Kelly (born December 14, 1992), known as Tori Kelly, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She first became known by posting videos on YouTube. Later, she made it to Hollywood week on American Idol in 2010.

After American Idol, she released her first music collection, called an EP, Handmade Songs (2012). In 2013, Tori signed with Capitol Records. She then released her first major EP, Foreword (2013), which was very popular.

Her first full album, Unbreakable Smile (2015), reached number two on the music charts. It included popular songs like "Nobody Love" and "Should've Been Us". Tori's second album, Hiding Place (2018), won two Grammy Awards. She won for Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance/Song.

Tori Kelly has also voiced the character Meena in the Sing movies. She has won many awards, including a BET Award and two Billboard Music Awards.

Early Life and Start in Music

Victoria Loren Kelly was born in Wildomar, California. Her father, Allwyn, has Jamaican and Puerto Rican family. Her mother, Laura, has Irish and German family. Tori has a younger brother named Noah.

Her parents played all kinds of music for her as she grew up. Tori said they taught her that "no genre was off limits." Tori is a Christian, and her faith helps her write songs.

When she was young, Tori appeared on a TV show called Star Search. She also won on America's Most Talented Kids in 2004. At age twelve, Tori was offered a record deal, but it didn't work out.

In 2007, when she was 14, Tori started posting videos on YouTube. Her first video was a cover of "Go Tell It on the Mountain". She became well-known for her acoustic covers of songs. Even though she didn't make it far on American Idol, Tori learned to play guitar and started writing her own songs. She recorded them herself and shared them on YouTube, gaining over a million followers.

Music Career Highlights

2010–2014: American Idol and First Steps

Kelly performing in 2014

In 2010, Tori tried out for American Idol in Denver, Colorado. She made it to Hollywood Week but didn't reach the top 24. She said she was "devastated" but had given it her best. After this, she was asked to join a youth version of the song "We Are the World".

On May 1, 2012, Tori released her first EP, Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly. She released it on her own label, Toraay Records. Tori wrote, produced, and recorded the EP herself in her bedroom. It quickly became one of the Top 10 Pop Albums on iTunes. She called it a "warm up" for a future full album. By 2013, it had sold over 14,000 copies.

In February 2013, Tori released "Fill a Heart" for a campaign to end child hunger. She also went on a "Fill a Heart" tour, helping at food banks in different cities. She performed in famous places like the Troubador in Los Angeles and the Gramercy Theater in New York. Magazines like Teen Vogue and Elle also featured her.

In mid-2013, Tori's manager, Scooter Braun, introduced her to Capitol Records. She was careful about signing with a big label because of past experiences. But she felt good about Capitol Records because they truly understood her music. On September 6, 2013, she officially signed with them.

In September 2013, Tori was named Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month. She performed her song "Dear No One" on NBC's Today show. She announced that her second EP, Foreword, would be released on October 22, 2013. This EP sold over 16,000 copies and reached number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Tori opened for Ed Sheeran at Madison Square Garden in November 2013. She also supported Sam Smith on their UK tour in October 2014. Tori wrote a song called "Silent" for The Giver: Music Collection, which supported the movie The Giver.

She was featured on "Lullaby" by British rapper Professor Green in September 2014. This song reached number four on the UK Singles Chart, giving Tori her first top ten song in the UK. She also sang on a Christmas medley with Pentatonix for their album That's Christmas to Me. In December 2014, MTV named Tori Kelly one of their Artists To Watch.

2015–2018: Unbreakable Smile and Hiding Place

Throughout 2014, Tori worked on her first album with help from Toby Gad and Max Martin. The first song from the album, "Nobody Love", came out on February 8, 2015. Tori performed "Nobody Love" at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. Her album, Unbreakable Smile, was released on June 23, 2015. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Tori also performed "Should've Been Us" at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.

In October 2015, Tori covered "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas for the We Love Disney album. She also released "Hollow" as a new single. Later in 2015, Tori was nominated for Best New Artist at the 58th Grammy Awards. She performed at the ceremony with English singer James Bay.

Kelly at the Toronto Film Festival in 2016

Tori recorded an updated version of Amy Grant's 1991 song "Baby Baby" with Amy Grant herself. This was for the song's 25th anniversary. Tori also made her movie debut in the animated film Sing (2016), where she voiced Meena the elephant. On July 10, 2016, Tori released a song called "Blink of an Eye" to honor her friend Christina Grimmie.

On June 9, 2017, Tori and rapper Lecrae released the song "I'll Find You". The music video for it showed patients from St. Jude Hospital. This song did very well on the Christian music charts. She also worked with country singer Chris Lane on his song "Take Back Home Girl". In September 2017, Tori announced she was engaged to basketball player André Murillo.

On March 30, 2018, Tori released "Help Us to Love" as the first song from her second album. On May 20, 2018, she shared on Instagram that she and André Murillo were married. On August 23, Tori announced her album, Hiding Place, would be released on September 14. The second song from the album, "Never Alone", came out on August 24. Tori later won her first two Grammy Awards for Hiding Place. She won for Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance/Song for "Never Alone".

2019–2022: New Albums and Projects

On January 18, 2019, Tori announced her Acoustic Sessions tour. On June 26, 2019, she announced her third album, Inspired by True Events, which was released on August 9, 2019. She planned a tour for this album, but later canceled the American part. On March 18, 2020, Tori canceled her remaining tour stops due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, Tori started a daily live stream on Instagram called "QuaranTEA with Tori." She sang songs, answered questions, and had celebrity guests join her remotely. After seven weeks, she ended the show to work on new music.

On July 22, 2020, Tori released a cover of Drake's "Time Flies". This was the first song from her EP Solitude, which came out on August 14. This EP included four original songs she wrote during the pandemic. On October 7, Tori announced a Christmas album, A Tori Kelly Christmas, released on October 30.

In late 2020, Tori also competed on season 4 of The Masked Singer as "Seahorse." She made it to the semi-finals. In 2021, Tori sang "Waving Through a Window" for the movie Dear Evan Hansen. She also published her first book, The Curly Girl Blues. That same year, she returned as Meena in Sing 2.

2023–Present: Tori

In February 2023, Tori performed "Hallelujah" with Andrea Bocelli for his music special. In March, it was announced that Tori had signed with Epic Records. She released her first song with them, "Missin U". Tori said she wanted to go back to the R&B and hip-hop sounds of the 90s and 2000s. On July 28, 2023, Tori released her fourth EP, Tori.

In February 2024, Tori released the song "High Water" and announced her fifth album, Tori. The album was released on April 5, 2024.

Personal Life

Tori Kelly married André Murillo, a professional basketball player, in 2018.

In July 2023, Tori was taken to the hospital after collapsing. Doctors found blood clots in her legs and near her lungs. She later shared that she was feeling better and getting treatment. She was discharged from the hospital a few days later.

Musical Style and Influences

Tori Kelly has said that gospel music influenced her when she was a child. She looks up to artists like Kirk Franklin. Tori often mentions R&B and soul artists as her musical inspirations. These include groups like Destiny's Child and singers like Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. She also gets ideas from music produced by Timbaland and Darkchild. Other artists who inspire her include John Mayer and Stevie Wonder.

Discography

• Unbreakable Smile (2015)
• Hiding Place (2018)
• Inspired by True Events (2019)
• A Tori Kelly Christmas (2020)
• Tori (2024)

Tours

Headlining Tours

• Where I Belong Tour (2015)
• Unbreakable Tour (2016)
• Hiding Place Tour (2018)
• The Acoustic Sessions Tour (2019)
• Take Control Tour (2023)
• Purple Skies Tour (2024)

Supporting Tours

• Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour Tour (2015)
• Ed Sheeran – +–=÷× Tour (all European dates) (2025)

Film and Television

Film

Television

Awards and Achievements

Tori Kelly has received many awards and nominations for her music. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Tori Kelly para niños