John Legend Celebrates 20 Years of ‘Get Lifted’ and Launches World Tour
Renowned singer-songwriter John Legend is commemorating the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Get Lifted. He recently made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss his evolution in the music industry and share memorable stories from his career.
Reflecting on a Defining Moment
During his interview, Legend fondly recalled a pivotal moment early in his career—his first meeting with Lauryn Hill. He described how he earned his inaugural recording credit on Hill’s acclaimed album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
“The first time I met Lauryn Hill, I was still a student at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I used to play at a church in Scranton, which is a couple of hours north of Philly. A member of my choir, Tara Michel, went to high school with Lauryn,” Legend shared.
A Surprising Opportunity
Legends’ enthusiasm grew as he recounted how Tara invited him to join her in New Jersey to meet Hill, who was working on her solo project following the immense success of the Fugees’ album, The Score. “So they were working on the album, and I got on the piano just to show her what I could do,” he explained.
Legend likened the experience to a mini audition, revealing the nervousness he felt at the time. “I sang a little Stevie Wonder, and I also performed an original piece. To my surprise, Lauryn asked me to play piano on her track ‘Everything Is Everything’ from the album,” he recounted.
First Steps into the Industry
He reflected on the significance of that opportunity. “That was my first credit on any album, and it was one of the greatest albums of all time,” he noted.
While discussing his name for the credit, he humorously mentioned, “At the time, I was still credited under my birth name, John R. Stephens. Looking back, I realize that was not a very marketable name!”
Legend recognized the change that followed. “John Legend’s a lot better,” he said, acknowledging that he initially appeared under his birth name on Track 13 of Hill’s groundbreaking project.
Looking Ahead: Tours and New Releases
As he reminisced about his past, Legend also highlighted future projects. He announced his upcoming Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour, set to begin on May 27 in Glasgow, UK.
- The tour will cover over 40 cities in the UK, Europe, and North America.
- Notable venues include The O2 in London, Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Accor Arena in Paris, Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and Barclays Center in New York.
- The tour will conclude on December 9 in Oakland, California.
In celebration of the anniversary, Legend plans to release a deluxe edition of Get Lifted, which will feature remixes and previously unreleased tracks from that era. This album, launched in 2004, included hits like “Ordinary People,” “Used to Love U,” and “So High,” which helped cement Legend’s status as a significant figure in R&B and soul music.
