If you’re a fan of British singers, then you’re in for a treat. This article will introduce you to 15 prominent singers who hail from the United Kingdom. Whether you’re already familiar with these artists or are hearing about them for the first time, I’m sure you’ll love learning more about their backgrounds and music careers. So without further ado, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Ed Sheeran:
We are all in love with the shape of Ed Sheeran’s music, aren’t we? Sheeran is my favorite British singer among all the others. I’m saying this because I’ve listened to “Shape Of You” by Ed Sheeran.
Sheeran is 31 years old. This redhead was born on the 17th of February 1991 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. Sheeran’s full name is Edward Christopher Sheeran.
If I were to believe the sources, then Ed has been singing since he was just four years old. YES! When we were just running, playing in the mud, and crying for nothing, he was singing.
After developing an interest in music and singing, he learned to play guitar. In short, he was a bright student in both his Middle and High schools, not only in studies but also in other “curricular” activities.
Then came the year 2004, when he said, “now’s the time,” and officially became a singer. Asylum Records was one of the first labels he began working with at the start of his career.
“+ (plus)” was the first/debut album of this British singer, which he gave out in 2011, seven years after becoming a singer. The album sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide.
Two years after releasing his third album, “÷,” in 2017, he tied the knot with Cherry Seaborn in 2019, and they have one kid. Besides Asylum Records, he has worked with Atlantic and Elektra Records.
Ed’s other hit albums are “×,” which came out in 2017 (his second album), and his hit songs are “Shape Of You (of course),” “Perfect,” “Shivers,” “Bad Habits,” “Photograph,” and others.
- Ed’s Instagram following: 37.8 million+ at @teddysphotos.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 82.8 million+ at Ed Sheeran.
- SoundCloud following: 2.4 million+ at Ed Sheeran.
Dua Lipa:
Dua Lipa is one of the most famous female British singers of all time. Lipa’s birth date is the 22nd of August 1995, and she hails from London, England.
She is just 26 years old. She chose to keep her stage name the same as her birth name. Dua officially became a singer in 2014, and she is still singing and songwriting.
Lipa, by many sources, is considered to be a Muslim. She was born in a family of historians. Music has been in their family for a very long time.
In other words, it was her father that inspired her to become a singer and musical artist. All of this started when she was just five.
The school that she used to attend also had singing and music classes, but despite all of her efforts, her teacher didn’t have high hopes for her initially.
At one point, her teacher clearly told her that she couldn’t sing. I don’t know if her teacher is alive today. If he/she had been alive, he/she would have been both proud and ashamed.
This British singer released her debut album in 2017, named “Dua Lipa,” which sold over 800,000 to 900,000 copies worldwide. “Future Nostalgia” is her second album, which she gave out in 2020.
- Dua’s Instagram following: 82.2 million+ at @dualipa.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 68.6 million+ at Dua Lipa.
- SoundCloud following: 312,000+ at Dua Lipa.
Zayn:
I present to you one of the best and one of my favorite British singers on our list, Zayn Malik, whose birth name is Zain Javadd Malik.
His birthday falls on the 12th of January, and his birth year is 1993. Zayn is a Muslim by birth but not a practicing one. He has also said not to consider him a Muslim.
Zayn hails from Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. His dad came from Pakistan to England and married a British national. She converted to Islam after marriage.
You can call it an irony that Zayn has always had an Islamic environment, and his family was pretty practicing. But he had to become a victim of anti-Muslim assaults when he was a kid.
Furthermore, Islam doesn’t allow its followers to engage in musical ventures. Perhaps, that is why he had to prefer his career over his religion.
In 2010, he stepped into the music industry, and after six years, this British singer gave his debut album, named “Mind Of Mine,” in 2016.
Then after two years, he released his second album, named “Icarus Falls,” which came out in 2018, and “Nobody Is Listening” is his third album.
- Zayn’s Instagram following: Almost 45 million+ at @zayn.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 20.4 million+ at ZAYN.
- SoundCloud following: 143,000+ at ZAYN.
Harry Styles:
Styles was born on the 1st of February in 1994 in Redditch, Worcestershire, England. This British singer is 28 years old. Harry Edward Styles is his birth name.
The turning point of his career was when he became a contestant in “The X Factor (Music Competition).” But unfortunately, he got eliminated.
But his elimination couldn’t stop him from making progress as a singer. And in 2010, he became a singer. Not only is he a singer but also an actor.
He has always regarded his childhood as “great,” but if we take a close look at his early life, it doesn’t seem like it. His mom was widowed once and divorced twice.
You can imagine how hard it can be to see your mother go through hard times and see your father and two step-fathers going away.
But despite all this, his mother always supported him throughout his early days in the music industry. This British singer gave out his first album in 2017, named “Harry Styles.”
His other hit albums are “Fine Line” and ” Harry’s House,” which came out in 2019 and 2022, respectively. Some of his famous songs are “Night Changes,” “Watermelon Sugar,” and “Story Of My Life.”
- Harry’s Instagram following: 43.7 million+ at @harrystyles.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 44.5 million+ at Harry Styles.
- SoundCloud following: 152,000+ at Harry Styles.
Adele:
The female British singers do have a firm grip over the British music industry, as they are in significant numbers. Adele is among the top British singers.
Adele’s birth name is Adele Laurie Blue Adkins. Her birth date is the 5th of May 1988, and she hails from London, England. She is 33 years old.
She married Simon Konecki in 2018, and unfortunately, they got divorced in 2021. Adele has one kid. In 2006, she officially became a singer.
Just like many artists, Adele’s dad also got separated from her mom, and the irony is that she was just two at the time. Her mother raised her.
Adele was fond of voices and singing when she was four. Her interest in music led to Adele becoming a great singer of her time.
Her first album was dropped in 2008, named “19,” which sold around 6.5 million+ globally. Three years later, “21” came out in 2011, and then she released her third album,” 25,” in 2015.
- Adele’s Instagram following: 49.8 million+ at @adele.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 51.8 million+ at Adele.
- SoundCloud following: 424,000+ at Adele.
Liam Payne:
Liam James Payne is 28 years old. His birthday falls on the 29th of August, and his birth year is 1993. This British singer hails from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England.
James was also married to another famous British singer, Cheryl, from 2016 to 2018. Payne has one kid. His mom was an infant nurse, and his dad was a fitter.
He had to go through a lot at a very young age, as one of his kidneys was considered to be dysfunctional by the doctors, and to cure this problem, he had to take 10 to 16 injections every day.
One can only imagine how hard that can be, especially when you are so young. He was also pretty great at athletics in his school, and he also got bullied several times by the goon students.
In 2008, he decided to make an entry as a singer. However he had given out many hit songs over the years, but it took him eleven years to give his first album, “LP1,” which came out in 2019.
- Liam’s Instagram following: 24.1 million+ at @liampayne.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 6.4 million+ at Liam Payne.
- SoundCloud following: 29,200+ at Liam Payne.
Louis Tomlinson:
This handsome British singer was born on the 24th of December 1991 in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. He is 30 years old.
Louis Troy Austin is his birth name. Yet again, Louis’ parents also got separated when he was pretty young. He didn’t take his dad’s leaving well; he started hating him. I am saying this because he refused to use his father’s surname with his name and adopted his step-father’s.
This British singer decided to enter the industry in 2010, and it took him around ten years to give his first album, named “Walls,” which came out in 2020.
Tomlinson’s hit songs are “Two Of Us,” “Don’t Let It Break Your Heart,” “Always You,” “Kill My Mind,” “We Made It,” “Just Hold On,” and others.
- Louis’ Instagram following: 18.2 million+ at @louist91.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 4 million+ at Louis Tomlinson.
- SoundCloud following: 30,400+ at Louis Tomlinson.
Rita Ora:
We have yet another female British singer, Rita Ora, who is 31 years old. She was born on the 26th of November 1990 in Pristina, SFR, Yugoslavia.
She was born in Yugoslavia, but for some reason, his parents had to migrate to England. She spent most of her early life in the United Kingdom.
Ora holds dual nationalities (Kosovar and British). In 2008, she entered the music industry, and Roc Nation was the first label this British singer started working with.
Rita’s debut album was “Ora,” which came out in 2012, four years after her entry as a singer. Her other hits are “Poison,” “Anywhere,” “Body On Me,” “Your Song,” “Let You Love Me,” “Only Want You,” and some others.
- Ora’s Instagram following: 16.1 million+ at @ritaora.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 15.3 million+ at Rita Ora.
- SoundCloud following: 312,000+ at Rita Ora.
Sam Smith:
Smith’s first/debut album came out in May 2014, named “In The Lonely Hour,” which sold over 2.6 million copies globally.
He was born on the 19th of May 1992 in London, England. He is 29 years old. In his teenage years, he had to go through a fat-removal process because he had “big breasts.” He was even bullied for it.
This British singer gave out two famous songs, “Bad Day All Week” & “When It’s Alright,” five to six years before releasing his debut album.
Smith is gay, and he openly admitted it in May 2014, the same month and year when he released his debut album.
“The Thrill Of It All” is his second, and “Love Goes” is his third album. His hit songs are “Fire On Fire,” “Stay With Me,” “Too Good At Goodbyes,” “I’m Not The Only One,” “Like I Can,” and others.
- Sam’s Instagram following: 14.6 million+ at @samsmith.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 31.3 million+ at Sam Smith.
- SoundCloud following: 1.39 million+ at SAM SMITH.
Ellie Goulding:
Goulding is yet another one of the most talented British singers in the industry. She is 35 years old. Her birth name is Elena Jane Goulding.
She was born on the 30th of December 1986 in Hereford, England. This British singer’s meeting with Starsmith and Frankmusik changed her life for good.
Polydor Records was the first label she signed a contract with. This happened in 2009. And, just after a year, in 2010, she gave her debut album, “Lights.”
Her early life has something in common with many other of her co-artists/singers, and that similarity is the singer’s parents getting separated.
Ellie’s other hits are “Love Me Like You Do,” “Hate Me,” “Still Falling For You,” “Burn,” “Lights (song),” “How Long Will I Love You,” “On My Mind,” and others.
- Goulding’s Instagram following: 14 million+ at @elliegoulding.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 24.6 million+ at Ellie Goulding.
- SoundCloud following: 6.73 million+ at Ellie Goulding.
Jessie J:
Jessie has been singing since 2005 and has given five of the best and most famous studio albums. Her first song was “Do It Like A Dude.”
She was born on the 27th of March 1988 in Redbridge, London, England. Jessica Ellen Cornish is her birth name, and she is 34 years old.
J has worked with five famous labels during her career. Those labels are Disturbing London, Gut Records, Lava Records, Island Records, and Island Records.
While working with Lava, Island, and Universal Republic Records, this British singer released her first-ever studio album, named “Who You Are,” which came out in 2011 and sold more than 100,000 copies in its opening week.
“Bang Bang,” “Price Tag,” “Flashlight,” “Domino,” “Masterpiece,” “Who You Are,” “Nobody’s Perfect,” “Queen,” “Who’s Laughing Now,” and many others are her hit songs.
- Jessie’s Instagram following: 11.1 million+ at @jessiej.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 14.1 million+ at Jessie J.
- SoundCloud following: 118,000+ at JESSIE J.
Elton John:
John is a senior and veteran British singer who has been doing this for more than half a century (60 years). Can you imagine? Only his singing career has outlived millions of people.
He is 75 years old today. His birthday falls on the 25th of March, and his birth year is 1947. Elton hails from Pinner, Greater London, England.
Elton was married to Renate Blauel from 1984 to 1988 (four years) until their divorce. Then, in 2014, he tied the knot with David Furnish, and they are still together.
Yes! This British singer is bisexual. Anyways, his debut album is “Empty Sky,” which was released in 1969, seven years after he entered the industry.
His other hit albums are “Elton John,” “Tumbleweed Connection,” “Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player,” “Blue Movies,” and many others.
- Elton’s Instagram following: 4 million+ at @eltonjohn.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 48.8 million+ at Elton John.
- SoundCloud following: 30,300+ at Elton John.
Charli XCX:
XCX was born in the city of one of the best universities in the whole world, Cambridge University. She was born on the 2nd of August 1992.
Her real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison. Charli is 29 years old. Her dad is an entrepreneur, and her mom used to be a nurse and flight attendant.
Asylum Records offered a contract to Charli XCX, and she accepted. She started making contacts with many producers, and while working with Asylum and Atlantic Records, she released her debut album, named “True Romance,” in 2013.
Charli’s other hit albums are “Sucker,” which came out in 2014, “Charli,” released in 2019, “How I’m Feeling Now,” released in 2020, and “Crash,” released in 2022.
- Emma’s Instagram following: 4 million+ at @charli_xcx.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 18.1 million+ at Charli XCX.
- SoundCloud following: 349,000+ at charlixcx.
John Lennon:
Lennon was a great British singer of his time. Lennon was around 40 years old when his name was called. His birth date is the 9th of October 1940, and his birthplace is Liverpool, England.
1956 was the year when he stepped into the industry, and during that time, this British singer gave eleven albums, three live albums, fifteen collaboration albums, and 23 singles.
He released his first solo album, which was “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band,” released in 1970, fourteen years after entering the industry.
Then he released “Imagine” in 1971, “Mind Games” in 1973, “Walls And Bridges” in 1974, and Rock ‘n’ Roll” released in 1975.
On the 8th of December 1980, a man named Chapman killed John Lennon by shooting him four times (two times on his back and two times on his shoulder).
- John’s Instagram following: 2.5 million+ at @johnlennon.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 8.7 million+ at John Lennon.
- SoundCloud following: Almost 10,000 at John Lennon.
Sting:
And last but not least, I present to you Sting, whose birth date is the 2nd of October 1951, and his birthplace is Wallsend, England. Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner is his birth name.
He is 70 years old and has been in the singing profession since 1971 (more than half a century; 51 years). Sting is the father of some of the best artists in the UK.
Joseph Sumner (a famous singer and songwriter), Brigitte Michael Sumner (a famous actress), and Eliot Sumner (a famous musician) are three out of six of his kids.
“The Dream Of The Blue Turtles” was this British singer’s debut album which was released in 1985, fourteen years after becoming a singer. “…Nothing Like the Sun” is his second album, released in 1987.
His some other famous albums are “The Soul Cages,” “Ten Summoner’s Tale,” “Mercury Falling,” “Brand New Day,” and “Sacred Love,” which were released in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999, and 2003, respectively.
- Sting’s Instagram following: 1.2 million+ at @theofficialsting.
- Spotify monthly listeners: Almost 10 million at Sting.
- SoundCloud following: 22,300+ at Sting.
Conclusion:
British singers truly have great potential, and many of them have actually utilized their talent for their and the industry’s greater good. Singers like Ed Sheeran, ZAYN, Sting, Harry Styles, and Adele are some of the best examples. Let me know in the comments about your fa
