If you’ve listened to the radio, turned on a talk show, skimmed the rave reviews in Rolling Stone and Billboard (just to name a couple) or tuned in to the BET Awards on June 28, you’ve heard about Tori Kelly. Managed by Scooter Braun (who also reps Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Cody Simpson), the 22-year-old singer is taking the music industry by storm with the June 23 release of her debut album Unbreakable Smile.
It’s clear that a wide range of artists already love her….
Congrats @ToriKelly . We know how hard you’ve worked. Amazing watching you grow as an artist. Go get it folks. X http://t.co/GabR5lqXaH
— Rixton (@RixtonOfficial) June 23, 2015
Congrats to @ToriKelly! Her album #UnbreakableSmile is #2 on @billboard top 200! Huge fan of this gal!
— Stacie Orrico (@stacieorrico) July 1, 2015
…and here are 6 reasons why you should, too:
1. Let’s get the obvious out of the way: THAT. VOICE.
2. She’s worked tirelessly for her success
Even though she’s only 22, Tori’s been through almost a decade of struggle to achieve her dreams. After competing on Star Search at age 10, she won America’s Most Talented Kid in 2004 (and beat Hunter Hayes!) In 2010, she made it to the Hollywood Round of American Idol. Despite her television exposure, it was YouTube that helped launch her career. Tori began putting up covers of other artists’ songs, but there was one in particular that went viral.
In 2012, Tori released her first EP, Handmade Songs By Tori Kelly, which she wrote, produced and recorded by herself. Tori began to do shows in cafés, one of which was attended by Scooter Braun who was clearly impressed with the star.
3. She’s already done killer collaborations
4. She doesn’t take herself too seriously
just could not get our lives together in that dang photobooth pic.twitter.com/g3FY7jfITj
— Tori Kelly (@ToriKelly) June 27, 2015
5. She makes sure her fans always feel appreciated.
i’m obsessed w/ y’all. loving these #shouldvebeenus lyric art submissions http://t.co/pRkVWVpSpX pic.twitter.com/pti6VN6UBs
— Tori Kelly (@ToriKelly) July 2, 2015
SAN FRANCISCO #whereibelongtour pic.twitter.com/z7YKN1VynQ
— Tori Kelly (@ToriKelly) June 2, 2015
6. She’s a proud foodie
As she told iHeartRadio, “Nobody loves food like Tori Kelly does.”
i have so many emotions but first food
— Tori Kelly (@ToriKelly) May 18, 2015
when it’s 4am & your bus doesn’t fit in the drive thru @ white castle pic.twitter.com/VqjxOMGMq8
— Tori Kelly (@ToriKelly) June 12, 2015
when you haven’t slept, it’s ok to eat all the pastries and/or muffins in the green room
— Tori Kelly (@ToriKelly) June 29, 2015