By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Caption: John Legend at the GQ Men of the Year Party 2023 at Bar Marmont on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images.
Grammy award winner John Legend is set to perform in South Africa for a three-city tour, promoter Big Concerts announced on Tuesday, 11 November 2026.
The highly anticipated tour is heading to the Sunbet Arena, Time Square in Pretoria, the Durban ICC in Durban and the Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town in February 2027.
Legend released his new album ‘Muse’ in October this year. It marks his first full-length collaboration with longtime friend Pharrell Williams, who co-wrote and produced the album.
The record draws on everything from gospel and classic soul to Afrobeat, doo-wop and hip-hop, giving fans a taste of a new musical direction from an artist who has made a career out of timeless love songs.
It is Legend’s 12th studio album and follows a career that has seen him earn 13 GRAMMY Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Tony Award and four Emmy Awards, making him an EGOT recipient.
The new tour offers an opportunity to hear the latest chapter of his catalogue alongside the songs that have made him one of contemporary R&B’s most recognisable voices.
Born John Roger Stephens in Springfield, Ohio, in December 1978, Legend grew up surrounded by music. He began playing the piano as a child. He also sang in his church choir, developing the gospel influences that would later define his sound.
Before becoming a household name, he worked behind the scenes in the music industry.
He played piano and contributed backing vocals for established artists, including Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, and Kanye West. The latter gave him the stage name John Legend and helped him secure a record deal.
His breakthrough arrived in 2004 with his debut album, Get Lifted, which featured the hit single Ordinary People.
The album earned him three Grammy Awards and established him as a leading voice in contemporary soul and R&B.
His career continued to grow with albums such as Once Again, Love in the Future, Darkness and Light and LEGEND.
One of his biggest career milestones came with All of Me, the emotional piano-led ballad dedicated to his model wife, Chrissy Teigen. Notably, the song became a global wedding favourite and remains one of his signature recordings.
Tickets go on sale to general public at 09h00 on Friday, 13 November from www.ticketmaster.co.za and www.bigconcerts.co.za.