GetWiki

{{Short description|American R&B singer (born 1997)}}{{For-multi|the album|H.E.R. (album)|other uses|Her (disambiguation)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}

factoids

| birth_place = Vallejo, California, U.S.| origin = R&B}}| years_active = 2011–presentSingerrecord producer|actress}} Vocalspianobass}}RCA Records>MBK}}her-official.com}}}}Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson (born June 27, 1997), known professionally as H.E.R. (pronounced "her", acronym for "Having Everything Revealed"), is an American R&B singer, songwriter and actress. She has won an Academy Award, a Children's and Family Emmy Award, and five Grammy Awards, along with nominations for a Golden Globe Award, three American Music Awards, and four Billboard Music Awards.After initially recording under her birth name, she adopted the stage name H.E.R. in 2016 and signed with RCA Records to release her debut extended play (EP), H.E.R. Volume 1 in September of that year. It was followed by four subsequent EPs; the first two of which were part of her self-titled compilation album (2017), which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200 and, from five total nominations, won two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance for its single, "Best Part" (with Daniel Caesar).MAGAZINE, H.E.R. {{!, Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/h-e-r/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Her second compilation album, I Used to Know Her (2019), was met with similar commercial success and likewise received five Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for its single, "Hard Place".WEB, Billboard 200: H.E.R.'s 'Back of My Mind' Opens to Singer's Best First-Week Sales Yet - That Grape Juice,weblink 2024-02-13, thatgrapejuice.net, In 2021, she won her third Grammy Award for Song of the Year with her George Floyd protest-inspired single "I Can't Breathe." That same year, her song "Fight for You"—released for the film Judas and the Black Messiah—won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance. Her debut studio album, Back of My Mind (2021) was met with critical acclaim and peaked at number six on the Billboard 200. In 2022, she won the Children's and Family Emmy Award for her contributions on Barack and Michelle Obama's animated children's series, We the People.{{TOC limit|3}}

Early life and family

Gabriella Sarmiento WilsonWEB,weblink Doing It H.E.R. Way: Singer Gab Wilson Emerges From Shadows, Fedaku, Mesfin, November 7, 2018, KNBC, nbclosangeles.com, Los Angeles,weblink February 12, 2019, dead, November 27, 2018, MAGAZINE,weblink Yes, R&B Sensation H.E.R. Is Gabi Wilson, Robehmed, Natalie, November 14, 2017, Forbes (magazine), Forbes,weblink November 27, 2018, live, November 27, 2018, was born on June 27, 1997, in Vallejo, California,WEB,weblink H.E.R. Biography, Andy, Kellman, AllMusic, October 15, 2019,weblink October 15, 2019, live, to a Filipino American mother and a Black father, and raised in California's San Francisco Bay Area. According to an interview with Guitar Center, Wilson's father was a musician in a cover band, and hosted their practice sessions in the family's living room.WEB, 5 November 2020, H.E.R. {{!, How The Fender Strat Inspires Her Sound |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Ejh9b_RiI&pp=ygUTSC5lLnIuIEd1aXRhciBzb2xvcw%3D%3D |website=Guitar Center (YouTube channel)}} Additionally, members of her mother's extended family were guitarists, drummers and bassists, as well as vocalists, often playing for karaoke events. Wilson states that these were some of her earliest influences, musically.

Career

2007–2011: Career beginnings

At age ten, performing as Gabi Wilson, she played an Alicia Keys song on the piano for the Today Show and at the famed Apollo Theater (Harlem, New York City) on September 23, 2007, covering Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love".WEB,weblink Showtime at the Apollo, Times Herald, August 31, 2007, May 14, 2021, {{Citation|title=10 Year Old H.E.R. (Gabi Wilson) - Showtime at the Apollo| url=weblink|language=en|access-date=July 1, 2021|via=YouTube}} She made her acting debut at the age of 9, starring in the Nickelodeon television film School Gyrls, created by Nick Cannon. She also performed on Maury (2007), and Good Morning America and The View (both in 2008). At this time, she was managed by Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment. She performed at age 12 at the 2010 BET Awards, covering Keys' 2001 hit "Fallin'", sang a tribute to Keys at the ASCAP Awards, and competed on Radio Disney's The Next BIG Thing at age 12, with her song "My Music", featured on Radio Disney.WEB,weblink 10 Things You Should Know About Gabi Wilson, BET (TV channel), BET, November 27, 2018,weblink November 9, 2018, live,

2011–2016: Debut album

In 2011, at age 14, Wilson signed a record deal with Sony's RCA Records via J Records, in a deal arranged by her manager Jeff Robinson's MBK Entertainment. Her debut single "Something to Prove" was released under her real name.WEB, Natalie, Robehmed,weblink Yes, R&B Sensation H.E.R. Is Gabi Wilson,weblink November 9, 2018, live, Forbes, November 14, 2017, May 1, 2021,

2016–2019: Breakthrough and I Used to Know Her

(File:H.E.R. Coachella18W1-25 (cropped).jpg|thumb|H.E.R. performing in 2018|232x232px)Rebranding in late 2016 with the new H.E.R persona, Wilson released her debut EP, H.E.R. Vol. 1 on September 9, 2016, produced by songwriter David "Swagg R'Celious" Harris. She received support from Usher, Tyrese, Pusha T, and Wyclef Jean; labelmates Alicia Keys and Bryson Tiller helped get the word out through Twitter co-signs, shoutouts, and re-posts."weblink {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617234011weblink|date=2017-06-17}}", iTunes, (retrieved May 9, 2017)Makeda Sandford, "ICYMI: 'H.E.R. Vol 1.' Gives Us a Taste of Mystery R&B Songstress {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830005944weblink |date=2017-08-30 }}", Saint Heron, September 21, 2016 (retrieved May 10, 2017) In April 2017, Barbadian singer Rihanna posted an Instagram clip with H.E.R.'s track "Focus" playing in the background. The clip has been viewed over 5 million times.Lakin Starling, "H.E.R. on the Surprise of Hearing Her Song In Rihanna's Breezy Instagram Video {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516012250weblink |date=2017-05-16 }}", The Fader, April 10, 2017 (retrieved May 10, 2017) Additional industry support came from Issa Rae of HBO's Insecure, Taraji P. Henson of Empire, Kylie Jenner, and Kendall Jenner.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}NPR listed H.E.R. Vol. 1 as the first selection in its "5 Essential R&B Albums You Slept On".Kiana Fitzgerald/Bobby Carter, "5 Essential R&B Albums You Slept On In 2016 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406181537weblink |date=2018-04-06 }}", NPR, December 17, 2016 (retrieved May 9, 2017) Calling the music "Slow-burning R&B that zooms in on emotional highs and lows," Rolling Stone included H.E.R. in its March 2017 "10 Artists You Need To Know" roundup.Rolling Stone, "10 New Artists You Need to Know: March 2017 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830013413weblink |date=2017-08-30 }}", Rolling Stone, March 15, 2017 (retrieved May 9, 2017) Forbes named her one of "5 Alternative R&B Artists to Look Out for in 2017", reporting: "In the same vein as The Weeknd's enigmatic introduction to the world, H.E.R.'s image remains a mystery. The irony, though, is that her moniker is an acronym for Having Everything Revealed."Ogden Payne, "5 Alternative R&B Artists To Look Out For In 2017 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807030844weblink |date=2017-08-07 }}", Forbes, January 9, 2017 (retrieved May 9, 2017)Wilson's follow-up EP, H.E.R. Vol. 2 (2017) also produced by Harris, was released on June 16, 2017, and includes the single "Say It Again". She went on tour with Bryson Tiller for the Set It Off tour, and concluded her first headlining tour, the Lights On Tour, in support of H.E.R. Vol. 2.MAGAZINE,weblink H.E.R. Announces First-Ever Headlining Tour, Billboard (magazine), Billboard, November 27, 2018,weblink July 25, 2018, live, She released H.E.R. Vol. 2, The B Sides (2017), produced by Harris, on October 20, 2017, and the single "2" on October 13, 2017. The compilation album H.E.R. was released on October 20, 2017, comprising the songs from each of the three EP's in this series. The album won Best R&B Album and received four other nominations at the 61st Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist.WEB, Velez, Jennifer, H.E.R. Wins Best R&B Album For 'H.E.R.'| 2019 GRAMMYs,weblink Grammy Awards, February 10, 2018,weblink November 4, 2019, live, Wilson announced in September 2018 the I Used to Know H.E.R. Tour in support of her EP series (I Used to Know Her: The Prelude) and (I Used to Know Her: Part 2).WEB,weblink H.E.R. Announces 'I Used to Know HER Tour', Rap-up.com, November 27, 2018,weblink September 17, 2018, live, WEB,weblink H.E.R. Prepares For Debut Album With 'I Used To Know Her: The Prelude' EP, NPR, August 3, 2018, NPR, November 27, 2018,weblink December 23, 2018, live, Holmes, Summer, Her second compilation album I Used to Know Her was released on August 30, 2019.WEB, H.E.R. – I Used To Know Her [Album Stream],weblink OnSmash, August 30, 2019,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190830212639weblink">weblink August 30, 2019, dead, She performed as one of the headliners of the 2019 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York on September 28.WEB,weblink Queen, Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys Among Headliners at 2019 Global Citizen Festival, Perez, Lexy, July 30, 2019, The Hollywood Reporter, May 22, 2020, MAGAZINE,weblink The 7 Best Moments From Global Citizen Festival 2019, Billboard (magazine), Billboard, September 29, 2019, May 22, 2020, On October 5, she participated in the 2019 edition of the Rock in Rio festival located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Among the headliners were Drake, Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Iron Maiden, Pink and Muse.WEB,weblink Rock in Rio Brasil, Rock in Rio, pt-br, October 7, 2019,weblink October 7, 2019, live,

2020-present: Back of My Mind and acting debut

File:H.E.R performing with Coldplay at MOTS World Tour Press Release Photo 2 (cropped).png|thumb|222x222px|H.E.R performing as opening act for Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World TourMusic of the Spheres World TourOn September 20, 2020, she sang Prince's song "Nothing Compares 2 U" for the In Memoriam segment of the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. In February 2021, during the pre-game festivities for Super Bowl LV,{{Citation|title=Abbo of St. Germain's Sermo de Cena Domini from MS CCCC 190|date=January 1, 1957|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oseo/instance.00257657|work=The Homilies of Wulfstan|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/oseo/instance.00257657|isbn=978-0-19-811101-6|access-date=February 12, 2021}} she performed "America the Beautiful", singing and playing guitar. On June 17, 2021, her single "Damage" topped the US R&B radio chart.WEB, June 17, 2021, H.E.R.'s 'Damage' Hits No. 1 on R&B Radio,weblink June 23, 2021, Rated R&B, en-US, The song is from her debut full-length album Back of My Mind, which was released on June 18, 2021.In August 2021, it was announced that Wilson was in final negotiations to make her feature film debut in the 2023 film adaptation of The Color Purple, playing the role of Squeak.WEB,weblink H.E.R. in Final Talks to Join THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical, Criscitiello, Alexa, August 27, 2021, BroadwayWorld, August 28, 2021, WEB,weblink H.E.R. Lands First Major Acting Role, Will Star in Blitz Bazawule's 'The Color Purple', Jackson, Angelique, August 27, 2021, Variety, August 28, 2021, She also sings a duet with Tauren Wells on the song called "Hold Us Together".On November 30, 2021, the Apple Music Awards announced H.E.R. as the winner of Songwriter of the Year.WEB, Apple announces third annual Apple Music Award winners,weblink December 8, 2021, Apple Newsroom, en-US,

Musical style

Consisting mostly of R&B ballads, H.E.R.'s songs have been described as "downcast post-breakup material that sounded vulnerable and assured at once". In an interview, H.E.R. mentioned that she grew up listening to Filipino ballad singers such as Sharon Cuneta and Jay R.NEWS,weblink Fil-Am singer H.E.R. 'listened to a lot of Sharon Cuneta' growing up, January 23, 2021, en-US, H.E.R. has also openly credited the singer Prince as one of her biggest influences.NEWS,weblink H.E.R. Still Finds Inspiration in Prince and 'Martin', Kathryn, Shattuck, The New York Times, July 6, 2021, December 26, 2023, WEB,weblink H.E.R. Celebrates Prince At "Let's Go Crazy" Tribute: "It's Gonna Be A Party!, Ana Monroy, Yglesias, grammy.com, April 9, 2020, December 26, 2023, Addressing the secrecy over her identity, she has said: "The mystery is a metaphor for who I am, or who I was at the time of creating the project... I feel like oftentimes we don't like to be open as people about our emotions or things that we are going through. At the time [of recording], I was very closed off except for when I was writing or when I was in the studio."Kennedy, Gerrick D. "So who is she? Mysterious R&B singer H.E.R. wants the focus to stay on the music — and the mystery {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513171157weblink |date=2017-05-13 }}", Los Angeles Times, September 21, 2016 (retrieved May 10, 2017)She explained further: "I am a voice for women who feel like they're alone in these situations. This project came from emotion, and that's what I want it to be about – not what I look like or who I'm with, but the raw emotion and support for women.""10 New Artists You Need to Know: March 2017 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830013413weblink |date=2017-08-30 }}", Rolling Stone, March 15, 2017 (retrieved May 9, 2017) To NPR she said, "I feel like this is the era of the anti-star. I really just wanted it to be about the music, and get away from, 'Who is she with?' and 'What is she wearing?{{' "}} "Meet H.E.R., a Rising Voice Whose Face Remains a Mystery {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804122938weblink |date=2018-08-04 }}", NPR, December 17, 2016 (retrieved May 9, 2017)

Media appearances

H.E.R. appeared as herself in the movie Yes Day (2021).WEB, H.E.R. says 'it's time to go full throttle' with acting career as she plots Hollywood takeover, Rosy, Cordero, March 15, 2021,weblink EW, She performed her original song "Change" on the episode "Active Citizenship" of the 2021 Netflix educational animated series We the People.MAGAZINE,weblink H.E.R. Among Artists Educating Kids on Civics in Netflix Series 'We the People', July 3, 2021, Billboard, July 4, 2021, On July 20, 2022, it was announced that H.E.R. would be singing the role of Belle for ABC's (Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration).WEB,weblink Beauty and the Beast: H.E.R. to Star as Belle in ABC's Live-Action Production, Rebecca, Ianucci, TVLine.com, July 20, 2022, The television special aired on December 15, 2022. She sang the National Anthem at Game 1 of the 2023 World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks. On October 28, 2023, she made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing “The Glass” with Foo Fighters. She made her big-screen acting debut in The Color Purple,NEWS,weblink H.E.R. will make acting debut in The Color Purple movie musical, Tyler, Aquilina, Entertainment Weekly, August 28, 2023, December 26, 2023, which was released in theaters on December 25, 2023.H.E.R. was a special guest performer during the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show that was headlined by Usher on February 11, 2024.

Discography

Studio albums

• Back of My Mind (2021)

Filmography

Film{| class"wikitable sortable"

!Year!Title!Role!class="unsortable"|Notes|2017|Erma|Erma|Short film|2019|Yes Day|Herself|Cameo|2023The Color Purple (2023 film)>The Color Purple|Mary "Squeak" Agnes|Film debut">

Television{| class"wikitable sortable"

!Year!Title!Role!class="unsortable"|Notes|2009|School Gyrls|Gabi|Television film|2021We the People (2021 TV series)>We the People|Performer|Episode: "Active Citizenship"2022|(Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration)Belle (Disney character)>Belle|Special|Blue's Clues & You!|T.Rex (voice)|Episode: "Blue's Dino Clues"|Bob's Burgers|Aliah (voice)|Episode: "The Plight Before Christmas"

Tours

Headlining tours

• Lights on Tour (2017)NEWS,weblink H.E.R. Announces 'The Lights On Tour', Rap-Up, November 19, 2018, en-US,weblink November 19, 2018, live,
• I Used to Know Her Tour (2018)NEWS,weblink H.E.R. Announces North American "I Used To Know Her" Tour, HotNewHipHop, November 19, 2018,weblink November 19, 2018, live,
• Back of My Mind Tour (2021)

Supporting

• Bryson Tiller – Set It Off Tour (2017)NEWS,weblink Bryson Tiller Reveals Set It Off Tour With H.E.R. & Metro Boomin', Billboard, November 19, 2018,weblink November 19, 2018, live,
• Chris Brown – Heartbreak on a Full Moon Tour (2018)WEB,weblink Chris Brown Announces 'Heartbreak On A Full Moon Tour' With 6lack, H.E.R. And Rich The Kid, LiveNation, en-CA, November 19, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20181119092121weblink">weblink November 19, 2018, live,
• Childish Gambino – This Is America Tour (2019)WEB,weblink Childish Gambino, The O2, en, March 26, 2019,weblink March 26, 2019, live,
• Coldplay – Music of the Spheres World Tour (2022)WEB, October 14, 2021, Coldplay brings eco-friendly tour with H.E.R. to Levi's Stadium,weblink October 26, 2021, The Mercury News, en-US,

Awards and nominations

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{allMusic}}

{{H.E.R.|state=expanded}}{{NavboxesList of awards and nominations received by H.E.R.>Awards for H.E.R.|list ={{Academy Award Best Original Song}}{{BET Award for Best Female R&B Artist}}{{BET Her Award}}{{Grammy Award for Best R&B Album}}{{Grammy Award for Song of the Year}}{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series}}{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Video with a Social Message}}{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist}}}}{{authority control}}