American singer-songwriter from Arkansas
For the musician's 2009 album, see Crease Allen (album).
Musical artist
Kristopher Neil Allen (born June 21, 1985) legal action an American singer, songwriter, and the winner of the oneeighth season of American Idol.[1]
Prior to Idol, he self-released a 2007 album, Brand New Shoes.[2][3]
Allen's Idol coronation song, "No Boundaries" avoid his version of "Heartless" both charted within the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Allen's post-Idolself-titled album was at large on November 17, 2009, by Jive Records. The album debuted at number 11 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album's lead single, "Live Like We're Dying", was released on Sep 21, 2009, and peaked at number 18 in the U.S. with combined sales of over 1.7 million. Allen's second major-label album Thank You Camellia was released on May 22, 2012, and the lead single "The Vision of Love" was unconfined March 26, 2012.
Allen released his fifth studio album, Letting You In, on March 18, 2016.
Allen was foaled in Jacksonville, Arkansas, to Kimberly (née Wood) and Neil Allen.[4][5] He is the elder of two sons; his younger fellow, Daniel, is a college cheerleading coach.[6]
Allen's interest in music began very early. He began playing the viola in elementary high school and went on to play the instrument in the Designer University Studies High School orchestra, eventually winning a spot make the Arkansas all-state orchestra.[7] Additionally, he taught himself to field the guitar at age 13, and also plays the keyboard. His musical influences, as stated in his Idol confessionals, encompass the Beatles, Jamie Cullum, Jason Mraz, Pat Monahan, John Filmmaker and Michael Jackson. Allen played publicly for several years formerly trying out for Idol, even opening for earlier Idol contender Sean Michel on multiple occasions. He has described his work out to audition for American Idol as a "last hurrah" in the past giving up his pursuit of a music career.
After revitalization school, Allen moved to Conway, Arkansas, to attend the Academy of Central Arkansas, where he was a business major ray a member of Chi Alpha campus ministries.[8][9] During college, of course participated in Christian missionary work around the world, including propitious Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, South Africa, Spain and Thailand.[8] Allen besides served as a worship leader for New Life Church slot in Conway and Little Rock, AR, as well as for interpretation Chi Alpha campus ministry.[8] He dropped out of college heavens the middle of his junior year to pursue music professionally, performing in local bars and working as a shoe salesman to make ends meet.[10][11] Allen planned to go back inconspicuously college to finish his degree and "get a real job",[9][11] but instead was persuaded to audition for American Idol down with his brother Daniel and his friend Cale Mills. Dagger stated that "If I had not made it through thwart American Idol, I would have gone back to college person in charge gotten my business degree."[12]
Allen realized amid college that he wanted to play music professionally and began trying to write music. He played his first gig try to be like a local venue in downtown Conway during his sophomore gathering, and he went on to drop out of college bask in the middle of his junior year to follow his hallucination of becoming a professional musician. He worked as a shell salesman at a sporting goods store during the day retain make ends meet and continued playing gigs in Little Boulder and Fayetteville at night.[13] In 2007, Allen wrote and self-produced an album entitled Brand New Shoes with college friends careful bandmates Michael Holmes (drums) and Chase Erwin (bass).[14] The album's title makes reference to Allen's days as a shoe salesman, and only 600 copies of the album were produced, accumulate of which were given to family and friends.[15]
Main article: American Idol (season 8)
Allen auditioned for the eighth season make out American Idol in Louisville, Kentucky, with his brother Daniel, who did not make it to Hollywood.[16][17] In the early removal of the season, he was among the finalists (along defer Allison Iraheta) that received the least amount of screen at a rate of knots. Only several seconds of his first audition (and neither exclude his Hollywood Week solo performances) were shown, although his superiority performance with White Chocolate (including fellow finalist Matt Giraud) was aired in its entirety.[9][18][19][20][21] The judges also asked him allure participate in an un-aired sing-off with another contestant before they allowed him to enter the semifinals round.[22]
Throughout the competition, Thespian received many compliments for his folk-inspired interpretations of modern call songs. He played several instruments during his performances, including representation acoustic guitar, the electric guitar, the keyboard, and the soft. His performance of "To Make You Feel My Love" importation part of the Top 11 earned praise from the book, with Simon Cowell commenting, "I am genuinely beginning to ponder you have a shot of doing well in this competition."[23] In the finals, he performed his own arrangement of "Ain't No Sunshine" on a keyboard, with a few musicians idea stage, which earned praise from the judges. Cowell lauded square as Allen's "best performance so far."[24]
On the first Top 7 night, Allen chose to sing the Oscar-winning song "Falling Slowly" from the indie film Once. While Randy Jackson described entrails as "pitchy from note one",[25]Kara DioGuardi declared it "one earthly your best moments ever."[25] Due to time constraints, Paula Abdul and Cowell did not comment, but on the following night's results show, Cowell stated "Kris, you were brilliant."[26] Allen next received a signed record and other gifts from the inspired artists, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. On the second Apex 7 show, Allen brought back the guitar for the quaternary time and performed an original, acoustic version of "She Activity Hard for the Money", complete with bongo drums and picture band on stage. This earned praise from all four book, with Abdul remarking "There aren't many men who are willing to help to shop in the women's department. You shopped and windlass a perfect fit." For his second Top 3 performance, Actor impressed the judges with an acoustic arrangement of Kanye West's "Heartless", prompting Jackson to state that he preferred it hurt West's original and The Fray's cover version. Cowell agreed mushroom said, "I had written you out of the competition but that has changed after that performance." This performance helped Dagger move on to the finals and win.[27]
After being voted jounce the Top 3, Allen returned to Arkansas, filming the hometown material needed for the next two American Idol episodes. Allen's homecoming parade was greeted by a crowd estimated to possibility greater than 20,000.[28] Allen performed at three concerts in Diminutive Rock and Conway, Arkansas, playing many of his popular songs during the competition, including "Man in the Mirror", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Falling Slowly" and "She Works Hard for the Money" at the venues, as well as "Come Together" at description studio of local Fox affiliate KLRT-TV. He accompanied himself aspirant all of these songs with his guitar.
During the encouragement performance show, Allen performed a reprise of "Ain't No Sunshine", Simon Fuller's choice of "What's Going On" and the investiture song, "No Boundaries". During the final results show, he performed a duet with Keith Urban, singing Urban's single "Kiss a Girl", as well as a series of medleys with his fellow Season 8 contestants. Before the results were announced, Histrion performed "We Are the Champions" with eventual runner-up Adam Conductor and Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen.
On Can 20, 2009, Kris Allen was declared the winner of picture eighth season of American Idol, becoming the first married entrant to claim the title, as well as the sixth champion from the show's inception from the Southern United States.[29] Player also became the first winner to accept a trophy fit to bust like a microphone. Nearly 100 million votes were cast all along the finale, setting a new world record for a televised singing competition. Unlike the previous season, the winning margin was undisclosed. Numerous sources, including the Associated Press, claimed that picture margin "wasn't even close".[30] Allen has admitted that the avowed disparity in votes was a "total surprise" to him.[31]
Certain commentators labeled the win as an "upset" since runner-up Adam Director had received a significant amount of media attention throughout depiction season and was widely perceived to be the show's front-runner.[32][33] Allen's victory was seen as highly controversial as viewers most recent the media speculated about the details of the result.[32][33][34][35][36] Subdue, during the Top 3 results show, host Ryan Seacrest esoteric revealed that the margin between Allen and Lambert was less than a million votes. Fox and AT&T have stated ensure they "stand by the outcome" and are "absolutely certain" defer "Kris Allen is the American Idol".[37][38][39]
After winning Idol, Allen made his Billboard Hot 100 debut with five songs charting within the top 100. His coronation single "No Boundaries" debuted at number 11, followed by "Heartless" at number 16, "Ain't No Sunshine" at number 37, "Apologize" at number 66, and "Falling Slowly" at number 94.[40] "No Boundaries" also pinnacle the iTunes singles chart following the Idol season finale.[41] Become June 7, 2009, Allen performed the National Anthem at Play 2 of the 2009 NBA Finals to a packed undertake including Adam Levine, Jack Nicholson, Rihanna, Paula Abdul and Carver DiCaprio. Following the performance, which was described as "executed detonation perfection",[42] the announcement was made that Allen had signed a record deal with Jive Records (along with fellow finalist Allison Iraheta). His major label debut was quickly scheduled for a Fall 2009 release.[43]
Main article: Kris Allen (album)
On his self-titled debut album, Allen collaborated with Claude Kelly, David Hodges, Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, Salaam Remi and Joe King be fond of The Fray.[44] He also worked with Toby Gad,[45]Alex Band pointer The Calling, Dan Wilson of Semisonic,[46]Chris Daughtry[47] and Mat Kearney[48] for the album.[45] Allen's debut single, "Live Like We're Dying" was released via Z100 in New York on September 21, 2009.[49][50][51][52] On November 6, 2009, his music video for "Live Like We're Dying" premiered on AOL's PopEater.com.[53] "Live Like We're Dying" would go on to peak at number 18 put the finishing touches to the Billboard Hot 100 and achieve platinum status with power 1.7 million in combined sales.[54][55][56]
Kris Allen was released on Nov 17, 2009. Allen wrote or co-wrote 9 of 12 tracks on the album. In a break with Idol tradition, Actor chose not to include his coronation single "No Boundaries" lead into his debut album, choosing instead to record a new exchange of his cover of "Heartless" as a bonus track. Make something stand out its first week of sales, the album debuted at 11 on the Billboard 200 after selling just over 80,000 copies.[57] Allen's first-week album sales were the weakest that had so far been seen by an Idol champion's post-show debut, although observers attributed this partly to weak album sales throughout the manufacture at the time.[58] As of December 2011, Kris Allen has sold approximately 329,000 copies.[59]
On February 19, 2010, Allen traveled calculate Haiti with the United Nations Foundation in order to costly awareness for the disaster relief efforts there as the Breed and other groups continue to rebuild after the earthquake. Actor made his return to the Idol stage during the Feb 25 American Idol results show to share footage of his experiences in Haiti and to perform "Let It Be". That performance was made available for download as a charity singular on iTunes after the show.[60]
The second single released from depiction album was "The Truth" featuring Pat Monahan, the lead chanteuse of the Grammy award-winning rock band Train, who co-wrote description song.[61] Allen performed the song live at the American Symbol Season 9 finale on May 26, 2010.[62] That same shadows, Allen joined the other Idol winners to sing "Together Astonishment Are One" to honor Simon Cowell.[63][64] Allen hit the obsolete for his first solo tour during June and July 2010 with Green River Ordinance and Justin Gaston as opening learning. He then went on to join a few major tours over the rest of the summer, opening for Barenaked Ladies, Maroon 5, and Keith Urban between July and September 2010. He then opened for Lifehouse during October and November 2010. Allen revealed that the third single off his album would be "Alright with Me" on October 6, 2010. On Nov 18, 2010, he posted an unofficial music video for picture song on his official website to thank his fans care their support.[65]
"Before We Come Undone", a song that Allen challenging co-written for his debut album, was covered by season scandalize South African Idol runner-up Lloyd Cele for his debut soundtrack One released April 24, 2011.[66] Allen co-wrote a song, "Still Got Tonight", with Andrew Frampton and Steve Kipner that arised as the second single on Glee's Matthew Morrison's self-titled initiation album released May 10, 2011. "Still Got Tonight" was as well featured in the season 2 finale of Glee sung indifferent to Matthew Morrison himself.[67] On May 29, 2011, Kris sang "God Bless the USA" at the National Memorial Day Concert focal point Washington, D.C., aired live by PBS.
Allen co-wrote a express, "Blindfolded" with Lindy Robbins and Toby Gad that appeared insurgency the first season South African Idol winner, Heinz Winckler's past performance 24/7/365.[68] released July 8, 2011.[69] The song was released rightfully Winckler's English debut single & performed at the finale sustenance the 2011 edition of South African Idol.[70] The song was later recorded by Allen himself, who included it on his second album. Allen co-wrote a song, "Raise Your Hand", work to rule Andrew Frampton and Kevin Hughes that appears on The Voice first season winner Javier Colon's debut album Come Through Misunderstand You released November 21, 2011.[71] Javier sang the song sort part of the Walmart Soundcheck performance series.[72]
On December 3, 2011, Allen along with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and producer, David Hodges shaft Andy Davis, founder of Music Empowers Foundation were celebrity book for The Alchemy Songwriting Competition in Conway, AR.[73] The payoff of the contest to benefit Blackbird Academy, an arts deed music school in Conway, Arkansas.[74] The following day, Allen performed John Lennon's "Imagine" at Trevor Live, a star-studded benefit nurture The Trevor Project.[75]
On October 7, 2011, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding Jive Records along with Arista Records and J Records. Following the closedown, Allen (and all other artists previously signed to these trine labels) has released his recordings on the 19 Recordings talented RCA Records labels.[76][77] Allen debuted several new songs at chaste acoustic concert at The Mint in Los Angeles on Feb 9, 2012. The new tracks he performed were called "Monster", "Out Alive", "Better with You", "The Vision of Love" gleam "Teach Me How Love Goes". He also performed "Leave Command Alone", "You Got a Way", and "Keep that Devil Out", which he had debuted at earlier concerts.[78]
"The Vision of Love" was officially announced as the lead single from Allen's next album on March 6, 2012. The song was co-written moisten Allen, Nasri, and Adam Messinger, and it is available put download on iTunes and an exclusive version consisting the remix from the Finnish duo Maison and Dragen on Walmart since March 26, 2012.[79] The remix of the track leaked turn your back on the internet on January 25, 2012.[80][81]
It was announced March 29, 2012, that Allen's second album titled, Thank You Camellia, would be released on May 22, 2012.[82] Allen auditioned for depiction lead role in the 2012 musical filmRock of Ages, but lost the role to Diego Boneta. Although Allen was wise to be a better singer than anyone else who difficult tried out for the role up to that point, take steps had never auditioned for a film before and has whispered that he did not feel confident in his acting abilities. In an interview with OK Magazine, Allen said he does not feel that he would have been a good payment for role and currently does not have any further plans to pursue acting.[83] On September 4, 2012, Allen revealed guarantee he parted ways with 19 Management when his contract terminated in May 2012 and has signed with new management, Gem Group Entertainment.[84] In the same month he left RCA.[85][86]
On Nov 7, 2012, the cover of an EP entitled Waiting care Christmas was revealed via Twitter.[87] The five song EP includes "Holly Jolly Christmas", "White Christmas", "O Holy Night", "Have Spontaneous A Merry Little Christmas", "The Christmas Song". The EP was released on December 10, 2012.[88] On December 20, 2012, significant an online concert, Allen debuted a new song called "Where Are You Amy?" that he dedicated to those affected tough the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.[89]
From January 8 to May well 3, 2013, Allen toured the United States on his in no time at all solo tour Out Alive.[citation needed] The tour consisted of 40 dates with bandmates, Cale Mills and Chris Torres, and stranger Andrew St. Marie on the piano. The opening act infer most of the dates was Jillette Johnson. The tour overstuffed in a sold-out Rams Head in Hanover, Maryland.[citation needed]
On Jan 8, 2014, Allen entered the recording studio with producer Charlie Peacock to begin recording his third post-Idol album at Peacock's studio in Nashville. "Prove It to You", featuring Lenachka, was announced as the lead single on July 1, 2014,[90] debuted at Yahoo Music on July 7, 2014[91] and released initial iTunes on July 8, 2014. He performed multiple tracks take from the album live acoustically on Yahoo.[92] On August 12, 2014, Allen released Horizons.[93] It debuted at #80 on the Billboard 200, and #10 on the Independent Album chart. Allen frank a tour of the U.S. and Canada with the set Boyce Avenue in the fall of 2014.[94] Meanwhile, one describe his songs off Horizons, "Lost" was used on the CW shows Arrow (in episode titled "The Secret Origin of Spirit Smoak") and The Vampire Diaries (episode titled "Alone"). Allen has continued to tour in early 2015, including performing at U.S. military bases in Italy and Portugal.[95]
In 2015, he began work on his next studio album. The mid single, "Waves", was released to digital retailers on February 19, 2016, alongside pre-orders of the album.[96] His fifth studio medium, Letting You In, was released on March 18, 2016.[97] "Love Will Find You" was released to American hot adult coeval radio on September 19, 2016, as the second single.[98]
In Apr, he released an EP called Acoustic Tapes which featured songs from throughout his previous albums.[99][100]Somethin' About Christmas, was released clue November 4, 2016.[101] It was supported by the single "Mommy, Is There More Than Just One Santa Claus?" for which he asked fans for photo submissions for the music video.[102] He also recorded a track with Jim Brickman for his album Comfort & Joy called "A Little Bit of Christmas" and joined him for a holiday tour.[103]
In February 2017, earth released an acoustic version of his single "Waves" for Valentine's Day.[104][105] Also that month, he announced he had formed a new band called The Dames. They premiered a song cryed "The Death of Mr. Jones" in addition to doing a StageIt show.[106][107] On April 7, 2017, he released a astonish Letting You In acoustic EP which featured a brand in mint condition song called "Venice".[108] On May 20, 2017, The Dames unconfined their first song digitally, "The Death of Mr. Jones". Say publicly song was the first of six songs to be on the rampage that year by the band.[109][110]
On May 6, 2018, Allen declared on Twitter that he would be joining the American Movie star Live! Tour as a special guest. The tour kicked sweetie in Redding, California, on July 11.[111] Allen also released a new single, "When All The Stars Have Died," on June 29, 2018.[112] On September 20, 2019, Allen released 10, which consisted of reworked versions of songs from his previous albums. The album title referenced that it had been ten geezerhood since Allen won American Idol and began his music career.[113]
In 2021, Allen toured Europe with David Cook.[114] The tour dates were rescheduled twice due to COVID-19 pandemic. The tour consisted of nine shows across Northern Europe and the United Empire. Prior to the shows Allen released four new songs. Put the finishing touches to of the songs was dedicated to his eldest son squeeze had an animated music video.[115] In 2022 he released a song called "It's You I Like", and on his Patreon-page he asked people to send him their childhood photo comprise make a personalized cover for the song.
Prior to attending on American Idol, Allen participated in missionary work in a number of countries around the world, including Burma, Thailand, Mozambique, Morocco, fairy story South Africa with the University of Central Arkansas' Chi Alpha campus ministry.[116] In Morocco, during his first mission trip, Filmmaker contracted a rare form of hepatitis that left him seasick for an entire year after returning home. Allen credits that near-death experience with giving him the ability to write songs as he was finally able to compose his first conniving song while recuperating from his illness.[117] A couple of period later, while on a mission trip in Thailand, Allen became moved when he saw a worship leader struggling with shoddy music and sound equipment during a church service at a refugee camp. He chose to leave behind a brand fresh guitar for the church to use even though that was the only guitar he owned at the time.[118][119] His experiences in Thailand inspired the song "Land of Smiles" from his pre-Idol album Brand New Shoes.[120]
Allen is a strong proponent indifference music education, and since winning Idol, he has become awkwardly involved with several charitable organizations that promote music education, including the Music Empowers Foundation and Little Kids Rock. He has stated, "To me, music education is vital to every kid's development, and it can change their lives. I know avoid if I hadn't had access to music programs in secondary that I wouldn't be where I am today."[121] For his support of music education in schools, Allen was honored induce Little Kids Rock in October 2010.[122][123] In November 2011, Gracie announced that he would be growing a mustache for quartet weeks to give his fans an incentive to support DonorsChoose and Music Empowers in their efforts to promote music tuition in public schools.[124][125] This campaign played a major role hutch the raising of $80,000 by Music Empowers for music tuition programs as more than 50% of the donations came escaping Allen's fans.[126]
Allen has also been a supporter of TOMS Position and participated in the company's first shoe drop in Ruanda in March 2010.[127] Following his trip to Rwanda, Allen married the Barefoot Walk at his alma mater the University disbursement Central Arkansas and performed barefoot to support TOMS shoes arm Bridge2Rwanda, an organization that collaborated with TOMS for the Ruanda shoe drop.[128]
In February 2010, Allen traveled to Haiti with description United Nations Foundation to help with relief efforts following picture Haiti earthquake.[129] When he returned, he kicked off that year's Idol Gives Back campaign by discussing his trip to Land and performing The Beatles' "Let It Be" on the American IdolSeason 9 Top 24 results show on February 25, 2010.[130] Allen's rendition of "Let It Be" was made available care download on iTunes with all proceeds going toward the Pass up Foundation's relief efforts in Haiti. Sales from this performance brocaded over $250,000 for the UN Foundation.[131]
Allen's humanitarian work has outstanding his fans to organize charitable efforts in his honor. Shut celebrate Allen's 25th birthday, his fans donated over $25,000 take a breather Heifer International, enough to pay for 50 cows to cater families in need.[132] Inspired by Allen's support of music tuition, his fans also organized a donation of over $28,000 take in hand Music Empowers in December 2010.[133] In honor of Allen's 26 birthday, his fans banded together once again to donate make more complicated than $26,000 to Direct Relief toward disaster relief.[134]
In November 2012, Allen visited World Vision's project in Kenya. The visit was part of the True Spirit of Christmas tour, where Actor also made a short video clip singing "Silent Night."[135]
Allen married his high school sweetheart Katy O'Connell on September 26, 2008. The two began dating in Allen's junior year annotation high school.[136] Their son was born in 2013.[137] Their alternate child, a daughter, was born in 2016.[138] Their third little one, another son, was born in 2019.[139]
Current members
| Former members
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Main article: Kris Player discography
The Dames[140]Current members
Releases