Phillip Phillips was born on September 20, 1990 in Albany, Georgia. American-born pop and folk singer, songwriter and actor. He became the winner of American Idol, a vocal television show for rising talent.
Phillip's childhood
Phillips was born prematurely in Albany. He was the third child of Cheryl and Philip Philipps. In addition to Phillip, the family already had two girls, whose names were Ladonna and Lacey.
In 2002, the family decided to change their place of residence to Leesburg, located in the suburbs of Albany. In the same place, Phillip graduated from secondary school and then college with a degree in Industrial Systems Technology.
Phillips' youth and musical passion
From the age of 14, the guy became interested in the guitar. His mentor and inspiration was Benjamin Neal, the husband of his middle sister Lacey. The boy grew up in an environment where he was understood and shared his hobbies. Together with Benjamin and Lacey, they played in the group In-Law.
In 2009 they were joined by brother-in-law Todd Urick (saxophonist). It was decided to change the name to the Phillip Phillips Band, the musicians were invited to perform at events, and the guys were happy to hone their skills on public venues. The family business at that time was the maintenance of a pawnshop, and the guy often helped his father there.
In his early youth, Phillip listened to Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. But Damian Rice, the Dave Matthews group and John Butler had a significant influence on the formation of the young man. At 20, Phillips won the Albany Star competition.
Phillip Phillips in the TV show American Idol
The start of Philip's creative career was the participation and victory in the 11th season of American Idol. At auditions in 2011, the guy sang Steve Wonder's Superstition and Michael Jackson's Thriller.
The singer performed a cover version of Damian Rice's Volcano, by all accounts, it became the best vocal on the American Idol show. On May 23, 2012, Phillip became the finalist of the show, pushing Jessica Sanchez to 2nd place.
At the final performance, he performed the song Home, which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold 5 million copies in the United States.
In parallel with the qualifying performances, the singer's nephrolithiasis worsened, and surgery was required. Severe pain made him consider quitting American Idol.
But the world of show business rarely gives a second chance, and the guy found the strength to participate to the end. The Home single was hugely popular - it was used to cover national sporting events, including the 83rd MLB All-Star Game, popular shows, Independence Day 2012, charity events.
Album The World from the Side of the Moon
Multi-platinum album The World from the Side of the Moon was released on November 19, 2012 and stayed on the Billboard Top 200 for 61 weeks. Phillips wrote most of the songs himself.
Two singles from this compilation, Home and Gone, Gone, Gone, hit the Billboard Hot 100 and became No. 1 hits on the Adult Contemporary chart, holding their position for three weeks. The album was created under the influence of the experiences that accompanied the creative development of the singer.
Second album Behind the Light
The artist's next album, Behind the Light, was released in May 2014. The first single, Raging Fire, received immediate acclaim and was included in the National Hockey League's Playoffs. The song is dedicated to the first love, the sensations that a person experiences during the first kiss.
The single received critical acclaim for its beautiful vocals, with Phillip admitting that it was written a week before release. The second single Unpack Your Heart premiered at the American Music Awards.
At the end of the year, the singer's relationship with 19 Recordings began to deteriorate, and in January 2015 he filed a lawsuit. Phillip believed that his rights as a singer were infringed, and the company was exerting pressure and influence on the creative process. In the summer of 2017, both parties settled the dispute.
In 2014-2015 Phillip Phillips was ranked as the 3rd highest earning American Idol by Forbes. In 2016, the singer performed at the finale of the American Idol show in honor of the memory of David Bowie.
After the concert, former show judges Simon Cowell and Jennifer Lopez said that Phillips is their favorite finalist.
Third album Collateral
The singer's third album Collateral was released on January 19, 2018 with the single Miles. On February 9, 2018, the singer embarked on The Magnetic Tour with over 40 concerts in support of the album.
Creativity Phillip Phillips now
Phillip is not bored even now - on May 3, 2020, from his home, he performed for the American Idol show at the opening of the top 10 with his multi-platinum single Home. He was also invited to perform in the final show of Idol.
During this same period, the singer supported medical professionals at Sendero Together For Texas and the Phoebe Hospital Foundation. His work is not limited to his singing career, in January 2018, Phillips starred in a cameo role on the TV series Hawaii Five-0.
Phillip Phillips: personal life
In 2014, the singer announced his engagement to Hannah Blackwell, and on October 24, 2015, the couple got married in his hometown of Albany. The parents named their first child, born November 10, 2019, Patch Shepherd Phillips. Born prematurely, Phillip is appointed as an ambassador for the Courageous, supporting the mission of saving little lives.
