The name John Legend was born from a nickname given to him by friends, which quickly took on a life of its own. “John Legend is a nickname that some friends started calling me,” he shared.

Embracing the moniker, Legend decided to bet on himself. “I was just like, ‘You know what? Let’s just go for it. […] My bet was on me trying to live up to the name,’” the singer said. The gamble paid off, and John Legend has since become synonymous with excellence in music and entertainment.