Tori Kelly is more than just that girl from American Idol or the voice of Meena from Sing. This outrageously talented singer is actually the hitmaker behind pop smashes Nobody Love and Should’ve Been Us, as well as a two-time Grammy Award winner.
From performing a tribute for Smokey Robinson at the BET Awards to collaborating with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber, it’s safe to say, Tori Kelly is an artist to be reckoned with. But there are so many who may not know much about this mega-talented girl. Tori has gone unnoticed by many, but now it’s time to shine light on who she is.
If you’re one to have just come across Tori’s beautiful voice, or just want to know a bit more about her life, we’ve dug up some fun facts about Tori Kelly so you can get to know her better. Dive right in!
Fast facts about Tori Kelly
• Tori Kelly was born on December 14, 1992
• She is 5′ 4″
• Her net-worth is $3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth
• She voiced Meena the elephant from the Sing movies.
• Tori Kelly’s most-streamed songs are I Was Made For Loving You, Take Back Home Girl (feat. Tori Kelly), and Dear No One
Everything To Know About Tori Kelly’s Life
How Did Tori Kelly Get Famous?
At the age of 14, Tori started a YouTube account and began sharing videos of herself covering famous songs. One of her most popular videos is her rendition of Frank Ocean’s Thinking About You. Since its start in 2007, Tori’s personal YouTube account has grown to over three million subscribers. In between, she auditioned for American Idol (more on that below), which also helped catapult her music career.
Is Tori Kelly Signed to a Label?
Tori actually got her first record deal with Geffen Records at just 12-years-old. The contract ended due to creative differences, and that’s when Tori decided to sing on YouTube instead. She started her own label, Toraay Records in 2012, but eventually, got signed with Capitol Records, thanks to her manager Scooter Braun. Today, Tori is signed with Epic Records.

How Long Has Tori Kelly Been Singing?
Tori Kelly has been singing since the age of three (!!). That’s right, she was a teeny tiny toddler when she learned to put those angelic vocals to use. In fact, she won ‘Americas Most Talented Kids’ in 2004, when she was just 11-years-old. I mean, the soul in her voice at such a young age is truly incredible—check it for yourselves:
What Instruments Does Tori Kelly Play?
Other than starting to sing at the age of three, Tori Kelly later learned to play the drums at 12-years-old, and the piano and guitar at 15.

Did Tori Kelly Win ‘American Idol’?
While American Idol did indeed help Tori Kelly make a name for herself, she didn’t actually win the competition. Tori only made it through to Hollywood week on Season 9 in 2010. Believe it or not, Simon Cowell told her that her voice was “annoying!” But hey, look at her now, Simon!
Has Tori Kelly Collaborated with Justin Bieber?
It seems Justin’s got good taste! He’s actually a big fan of Tori’s and has admitted to “tearing up” whilst hearing her sing. Justin supports Tori so much, that he even collaborated with her on two songs: Name, and Where Do I Fit In? You can watch Tori and Bieber perform together below:
What Ethnicity is Tori Kelly?
Tori Kelly is of Jamaican, Puerto Rican and Irish ancestry. She was born in Wildomar, California. Her father is half-Jamaican and half-Puerto Rican, while her mother is of Irish and German descent.

Is Tori Kelly Married?
Tori is married to basketball player, André Murillo. The pair started dating in 2016, and tied the knot in 2018 in a private ceremony. Although the couple do not have any children, they’re dog parents to two puppies.

What Illness Does Tori Kelly Have?
Tori made headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2023 when she was rushed to hospital after collapsing at dinner. TMZ reported that the starlet fainted after her heartbeat quickened while sitting at the table with friends, saying she was “out for a while.” After being hospitalized, blood clots were found around Tori’s lungs and legs.

Is Tori Kelly a Christian?
Tori Kelly is indeed Christian—and a devout one at that! Although she has released a Gospel album (Hiding Place) and admits that “faith is a huge part of her [my] life,” Tori says she doesn’t always “force it into her [my] music.”

How many of these fun facts about Tori Kelly did you already know? Let us know what surprised you the most in the comments below!
Originally published in July 2015.
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