SAM SMITH BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Sam Smith is the English singer-songwriter whose soaring voice turned heartbreak into some of the biggest pop records of the last decade. Born Samuel Frederick Smith on 19 May 1992 in London, England, they rose from featured vocalist on era-defining dance hits to a Grammy and Academy Award-winning solo artist with fans around the world.

From the breakout ballads of In the Lonely Hour to the chart-dominating Unholy, Smith has collected five Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, a Golden Globe and an Oscar. Here is the full story of their age, career, songs and the facts that define them.

Early Life

Samuel Frederick Smith was born on 19 May 1992 in London, England, and grew up in Great Chishill, Cambridgeshire. Singing from a young age, Smith trained their voice through childhood and began picking up session and backing-vocal work while still a teenager, laying the groundwork for a career built on vocal power.

Career

Smith's breakthrough arrived as the featured vocalist on two defining dance records: Disclosure's Latch (2012) and Naughty Boy's La La La (2013), the latter reaching No. 1 in the UK. The exposure launched a solo career in earnest with the debut studio album In the Lonely Hour (2014), carried by the singles Stay with Me, I'm Not the Only One and Lay Me Down. The album swept four Grammy Awards at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album.

In 2015, Smith recorded Writing's on the Wall, the theme for the James Bond film Spectre, which won both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Follow-up albums kept the momentum going: The Thrill of It All (2017), led by Too Good at Goodbyes, and Love Goes (2020), featuring Diamonds and the 2019 Normani collaboration Dancing with a Stranger. The run places Smith among Britain's most decorated modern stars, alongside the hitmakers profiled in our Adele biography and Ed Sheeran biography - and their soul-baring style invites comparison with the voice in our Lewis Capaldi biography.

Unholy, Gloria & Beyond

In September 2022, Smith released Unholy with Kim Petras, a dark, pulsing collaboration that became the first US Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 for both artists and won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2023. The single anchored their fourth studio album, Gloria (2023). A fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, is listed in 2026 discographies as their fifth studio album.

Quick Facts

Full name: Samuel Frederick Smith

Born: 19 May 1992, London, England

Raised in: Great Chishill, Cambridgeshire

Breakthrough: Featured vocals on Disclosure's Latch (2012) and Naughty Boy's La La La (2013, UK No. 1)

Debut album: In the Lonely Hour (2014)

Grammy Awards: 5, including Best New Artist (2015) and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Unholy (2023)

Brit Awards: 3

Other honors: Academy Award and Golden Globe for Writing's on the Wall (Spectre); 3 Billboard Music Awards; 1 American Music Award

Guinness World Records: Most consecutive weeks in the UK Top 10 album chart (In the Lonely Hour); first James Bond theme to reach UK No. 1

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Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Sam Smith?

Sam Smith was born on 19 May 1992, which makes them 34 years old as of 2026.

What was Sam Smith's breakthrough song?

Smith broke through as the featured vocalist on Disclosure's Latch (2012), followed by the UK No. 1 La La La with Naughty Boy in 2013.

How many Grammy Awards has Sam Smith won?

Five, including Best New Artist in 2015 and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Unholy with Kim Petras in 2023.

Did Sam Smith win an Oscar?

Yes. Writing's on the Wall, their theme for the James Bond film Spectre (2015), won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.