Did you know that John Legend was raised in the Pentecostal church? That’s how he got his start in music – he would sing and perform for his church. I found that out when I was watching the PBS series Finding Your Roots, in which Professor Henry Gates researched Legend’s family tree and found a TON of interesting information and historical records. Watching Legend on that episode really changed the way I thought about him – before that, I always considered him a sexy soul singer, but he was so chilled out and sweet on that episode, I now think of him as “Aw, what a really nice man.”
And now I have further evidence that Legend is just a really decent, lovely man. Legend has worked with the charity Chime For Change for years – it’s a charity which “raises funds to improve the lives of women worldwide” – you can see their site here. They work to educate and empower women all over the world. It sounds like a great organization, right? That’s enough to make you like Legend, correct? Well, then this will make you swoon:
John Legend announced The Sound of Change Live yesterday, a concert to raise funds and awareness for Chime for Change, a charity which raises funds to improve the lives of women worldwide.
The gig will be at Twickenham Stadium, south London, on June 1 this year, and will feature performances from Florence & The Machine, Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding and BBC Sound of 2013 band, Haim. Producer and musician Timbaland will also be joining Legend on the line-up.
At a press conference for the event, Legend explained his commitment to the charity, which aims to promote and empower women internationally.
He said: “All men should be feminists. If men care about women’s rights the world will be a better place.” The singer, who has won nine Grammy awards and has collaborated with Kanye West, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and The Roots, cited his mother as an inspiration.
Legend said: “We are better off when women are empowered – it leads to a better society.”
Are you totally jealous of John’s fiancée Chrissy Teigen now? I am. Before yesterday, I didn’t know that Legend was so involved with the cause of empowering and educating women internationally, and I didn’t know he considers himself a feminist. God, he’s just… lovely. I want him.
Also: I really want his blue sweater in these photos. That’s an amazing sweater. Since John is a feminist, he’ll give it to me, right?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I knew there was a reason (several really) why I liked him. He has one of the prettiest smiles. Both him and Chrissy (really like her too) are very lucky to have each other.
I saw them cooking together on the food network, all loved up around the holidays and couldn’t help but think they are adorable together. Also, he seems like such a great cook and baker.
If you go to one of his concerts you’ll see he’s super hard working, super gracious, super talented, and he always pulls ladies up to the stage *on youtube, he made a girl faint* nuff said.
He does have an amazing smile! And an amazing brain as well, apparently. 🙂
John Legend is quite a catch; Ivy League degree, successful career, feminist, and I’m not picking up any sketchy vibes from him (although he does have a ‘nice guy’ face which could be masking the inner jerk). Chrissy is a lucky girl.
Omg. I am. In. Love. Let us all throw flowers at this wonderful person. Hot too!
This is how to lie me into bed guys: do something to improve the lives and opportunities of women worldwide and murmur the word “feminism” in my ear…..
I think I might love him! And this is so true:
“We are better off when women are empowered – it leads to a better society.”
Long way to go.
Just when I thought I couldn’t love him more.
And just like that, Im on Board with the dude!
Wow. Is it wrong that I just got turned on, on Good Friday and (gasp) for a man’s mind?! Ok off to listen to John Legend and fantasize, I mean workout hehehe
Is it bad that although I love him for his comments, I’d be all too happy to just rip that jumper off his back and steal it for myself, leaving him and his lovely feminist thoughts freezing outside in the cold?
…yes?
Meh. I’m sure some lovely C/Bers will cuddle up to him to keep him warm 🙂
Yes!! I, too, am obsessed with that sweater. Want.
Yes, it WOULD be wrong, but if I saw you do it I’d turn a blind eye if you let me borrow it sometime.
He always has that genuine, innocent smile that goes right to the eyes.
He oozes gentleness, decency and loveliness…he looks like the old school romantic guy who doesn’t call women ‘b*tches’…so i am not surprised to hear that he value women and respect and support their battles.
He is defininetly my kind of guy.
I’m a fan of Legend but I didn’t know about this particular charity. Nice going John, just keep right on making me love you. Nice to see you on C/B in a positive light.
John Legend has always been a nice classy guy that’s why I love him.
John Legend, I like your face and I like what is coming out of your mouth.
I think it’s great that he feels that way, but I still wish we didn’t have to praise a man for feeling that way. People should just believe in equality.
+1000
omg, “I like your face and I like what is coming out of your mouth.” is my absolute new favorite saying! Genius!!
Top lad.
All men should think like him.
Well,well, well, John rocks!
Okay, in addition to the FrankenHiddles project, I think CB needs to create a cloning lab so that we can distribute more men like this to all of the far corners of the world.
He’s an amazing guy and so smart! I love how he stood up to crazy Chris Brown fans that were giving Chrissy crap. A great all around guy!
Do any of you follow Chrissy Teigen on twitter? She is HILARIOUS. She seems so awesome.
The more interviews and shows I see her on, the more I like her. She seems like someone who’d be fun to hang out with.
I used to think she was cool until she talked about Quvenzhane Wallis on twitter and co-signed the Onion’s tweet where they called Quvenzhane a c*nt. She’s a kid for God’s sake and will come off “bratty” and agitated in interviews when she’s tired/frustrated, etc. IMO, John could do better.
I am quite sure that the Onion tweet wasn’t trying to imply that Wallis was in anyway bratty. It was just making fun of celebrity news and deliberately picking the one celebrity nobody would call a c**t. I don’t think it was a very good joke but thinking that they really meant it that way
– its the Onion for godsakes. In doubt always assume that they actually mean the opposite of what they write.
Have always been a fan of his, but didn’t know too much about him personality wise. He seems great! 🙂
Good to know. It helps erase that image of him on the red carpet deliberately exposing Chrissy’s boob (she was in a bra or bikini top or something) for the whole press line to see.
I love him, I love his sweater, I love his coat…. when these two amazing minds have a kid, I hope s/he takes over the world. What an incredible man.
I am so in love with this guy. His fiance is hideous and so uncool and humorless. He should be with me. I am much better looking than her, much cooler, and much funnier. And taller. Taller too. (mimes phone and silently mouths “call me, John,”)
Way to be a feminist.
zactly
I’m partial to John, since he’s a Penn alum too. He frequently visits the university for speeches and performances. He’s a great guy! Go Quakers!
Are you a Quaker? I’m class of ’94!
The guy couldn’t put out a bad album if he tried. I love his music. I buy anything he puts out. He’s so unbelievably talented.
Is John Legend the first male musician since Kurt Cobain to declare himself a feminist?
Side note: Rick Ross’s new lyrics which he defended as saying that is not rape:
“Put molly all in her champagne /
She ain’t even know it /
I took her home and I enjoyed that /
She ain’t even know it.”
I heard about that. HORRIFYING.
This is disgusting !
Wow! He is beautiful inside and out! Bravo!
He’s in a league of his own.
Awesome!
He is so right. The world needs ALOT more men like him. Intelligent, classy, talented & a looker. He is the whole package. Lucky girl who gets him =)
There’re a lot of men who support equality but they don’t get kudos for it because they’re not rich or hot. Sadly for all the talk about honoring people with sound morals and good values it all still begins and ends with who’s hot and or rich.
The vast majority of people who do any positive thing aren’t going to get noticed–they can’t. Recognition goes to the recognizable but it doesn’t nullify the good everyone else does. What’s so important about credit, anyway? Who invented charity? There’s no capacity great enough to give everyone his parade so I’m not going to sweat the world for not being able to fulfill impossibilities.
I’m not just talking about famous people. Hotter and or richer men still get a lot more attention and kudos the ladies than those aren’t rich and or hot. Even if the later have more righteous values and morals. So my point stands it all begins and ends with who’s hot and or rich. This so called enlightened generation is more base than it likes to think it is.
I guess that since we don’t hear enough women (in my opinion) self-identify as feminists let alone men making those declarations it has an effect. I think there’s also a sad and incorrect assumption that men don’t have as much of a vested interest because there’s nothing in it for them, so to speak. There are a lot of bitch-slingers to contend with in his industry so (unfortunately) it’s easy to glom on to someone who could even engage in even the lowest standard of respect for women. That someone’s actually doing and not just declaring his values probably looks refreshing seeing as how he that he very easily could’ve just taken the ‘ho-down’ route and been a status quo and lazily-lyriced star.
YES!
Have always loved his music. It’s nice to have a reason to actually respect him. Dude!
Love her. Love him. Love them!
@Jo Mama Besser. I love you.
Awesome. More men should speak up on women’s issues.
Yay! More of this.
He is a doll. Always loved his music.
What a nice and uplifting celeb story. Thank you.
Where is the Like Button!
He’s right. Men benefit from the empowerment of women. Lots of men realize that without necessarily calling themselves feminists, but it’s nice to hear a guy who uses that word for the right reasons (i.e. not as a pickup line).
I love John Legends. His music is on rotation daily in my car, at home and at work. His voice is just so soothing.
“Baby tonight I’ll be the best you’ve ever had, I don’t wanna brag….” this is one of my favourite lines from one of his songs.
…his music puts me in all kind of moods 🙂
I love him for this
Hooray for Black male feminists!