John Legend has a special relationship with his parents. Who are John Legend’s parents, and siblings? Let’s take a closer look at Ronald and Phyllis Stephens.
John Legend doesn’t need an introduction! Well, for starters, John Legend is a Grammy award-winning American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, and actor. He has also garnered an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award, making him an EGOT winner.
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have announced the arrival of their fourth child, a son named Wren Alexander Stephens who was born via surrogate. The couple shocked fans with news of their latest addition on Wednesday in a touching Instagram post containing adorable photos of their newborn.
While his fans are overjoyed, the “All of Me” singer has made his parents proud as he keeps increasing the number of their grandkids – expanding the Stevens family.
Speaking of his parents, who are John Legend’s father and mother; are they alive and what did they do for a living? Also, who are his siblings? Read on for more.
Who are John Legend’s parents?
The award-winning singer and producer John Legend (real name: John Roger Stephens) was born on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio, United States to Phyllis Elaine and Ronald Lamar Stephens.
John’s mom Phyllis is an award-winning quilt maker and creates gorgeous African-American story quilts that are showcased in various museums and galleries around the globe. She used to work as a seamstress.
John’s dad, Ronald, was a factory worker while John was growing up. He was also a drummer, so there’s no doubt John got some of his musical talents from him. Ronald now designs hats.
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While John is close to his mother now, he wasn’t always. In fact, in 2019 he opened up about how he had forgiven his mom, who had spent some time in prison when he was younger. Phyllis was arrested four times, according to Radar Online, due to theft, drug abuse, and soliciting. This is what inspired John to be a huge advocate for prison reform.
The singer wrote an essay for Time, saying, “As a teenager growing up in Ohio, I watched my mother disappear into more than a decade of drugs and despair after my maternal grandmother … died.”
He added, “My mother’s addiction didn’t just tear her life apart; it tore me and the rest of our family apart, too. Drug addiction, for anyone who doubts it, is a serious problem, and our society is right to want to tackle it. But we’ve been going about it wrong. My mother didn’t need punishment; she needed help. Criminalizing drug abuse only further shatters people and families that are already in pieces.”
As for John’s dad, we already know that the two are very close. Ahead of the 2020 Father’s Day special, John thanked Ronald in a teaser. “Thank you for being such a great example. I”m so grateful that you’re my father,” John said.
“You’re going to make me cry,” Ronald responded.
These days, Ronald has his own hat business called Popz Topz. Utilizing his years of tailoring experience, Ronald decided to start his own hat-making business. Ronald told Page Six that he was doing some spring cleaning when he discovered one of his old straw hats.
“So that started the wheels-a-turnin’ and then as I was looking at this gambler hat that I was getting ready to destroy, I said, ‘I wonder what this full-brim hat would look like if I turned it into a cap — just trim off all the back end of it and leave a visor or a bill on the front,” Ronald said.
And voila, Popz Topz was born!
Ronald and Phyllis don’t appear to be married anymore. They first got divorced when John was 10, but then got back together 12 years later. However, judging by Ronald’s Instagram, it looks like he’s romantically involved with someone else. In December 2018, Ronald posted a holiday photo with his lady, writing, “Merry Christmas from me and mine to you and yours!”
Marjorie Stephens is Legend’s paternal grandmother. She celebrates her birthday on January 30. She is very close with her grandson.
Does John Legend have any siblings?
John Legend is not the only child of his parents. He has three other siblings; a sister and two brothers.
Ronald Stephens II is the older brother of the singer from the same parents. He was born on January 30, 1977.
Vaughn Anthony Stephens is the younger brother of the singer from the same parents. Think of Vaughn as the Janet to John’s Michael Jackson. He is an artist just like his elder brother and according to John; he has a great voice and a great talent. When both brothers sing, it’s indeed hard to tell which of them is singing. We wish Anthony a successful career ahead.
Phyllis “Missy” Stephens is the younger sister of the singer from the same parents. She was born on December 25.
