Tori Kelly

Born in Wildomar and raised in Canyon Lake, California, Tori Kelly first came to attention in the late 2000s by posting covers and acoustic songs on YouTube, followed by a notable but brief stint on American Idol in 2010. Her career then took a more independent turn with the EP Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly (2012), which she wrote and recorded herself, and with Foreword (2013), which established a sound situated between pop, contemporary R&B, soul and gospel influences. Kelly developed a songwriting approach centered on the voice, often backed by guitar, with a flexible and precise vocal style that blends ballads, melodic pop and more pronounced rhythms. Unbreakable Smile (2015) broadened her exposure, while Hiding Place (2018), produced with Kirk Franklin, steered her further toward gospel and earned her two Grammy Awards. She followed with Inspired by True Events (2019), A Tori Kelly Christmas (2020) and Tori (2024), where she more clearly reintroduced 1990s and 2000s R&B references. Over the years she has also collaborated with Lecrae, Jacob Collier, Professor Green and Pentatonix, appearing on pop, soul and gospel stages both on tour and as an opening act for artists such as Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith.