NORAH JONES BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Norah Jones, born March 30, 1979 in New York City, turned a quiet jazz-pop debut into one of the best-selling albums of the century — and in 2026 she returns with a new Christmas duet and a Record Store Day LP.

 

Image: Wikimedia Commons / Philip Romano, CC BY 4.0

Early Life

Norah Jones was born Geetali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30, 1979, in Manhattan, New York City. She is the daughter of Indian sitar legend Ravi Shankar and American concert producer Sue Jones, and the half-sister of sitarist Anoushka Shankar. Raised by her mother in Grapevine, Texas, Jones grew up surrounded by music and began playing the piano as a child.

Career

Jones launched her solo career in February 2002 with her debut album Come Away with Me (Blue Note), a fusion of jazz, country, blues, folk and pop. The album was certified Diamond and has sold more than 27 million copies worldwide. At the 45th Grammy Awards in 2003, she won five Grammys: Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Don't Know Why", written by Jesse Harris.

Her later albums include Feels Like Home (2004), Not Too Late (2007) and Visions (2024, Blue Note). Signature songs such as "Don't Know Why", "Come Away with Me" and "Sunrise" made her one of the most recognisable voices of her generation. Across her career she has won nine Grammy Awards and sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and Billboard named her the top jazz artist of the 2000s decade.

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Norah Jones in 2026

In 2026, Jones released "April's Gone", a new Christmas duet with Chris Stapleton, on October 8, 2026 (Capitol / Blue Note). For more on her duet partner, see Chris Stapleton postpones final shows.

She also returns with Playing Along, Volume 2, arriving November 27, 2026 as a Record Store Day Black Friday exclusive (Blue Note, transparent red vinyl, 3,000 copies). The album collects 12 performances from season 2 of her podcast Norah Jones Is Playing Along, with guests including Joshua Homme, Jason Isbell, Josh Groban, Lucinda Williams, Meshell Ndegeocello, Ron Carter and Bill Frisell.

Quick Facts

Born: March 30, 1979

Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, USA

Occupation: Singer-songwriter and pianist

Breakthrough Album: Come Away with Me (2002)

Grammy Awards: 9

Records Sold: More than 50 million worldwide

Latest Album: Playing Along, Volume 2 (November 27, 2026)

Watch the Official Video

Watch the official video for "Don't Know Why" below.

FAQ

How old is Norah Jones?

Norah Jones is 47 years old. She was born on March 30, 1979.

What is Norah Jones's biggest album?

Her biggest album is her debut, Come Away with Me (2002). Certified Diamond, it has sold more than 27 million copies worldwide.

How many Grammy Awards has Norah Jones won?

Norah Jones has won nine Grammy Awards, including five at the 45th Grammy Awards in 2003.

What is Norah Jones's latest album?

Her latest album is Playing Along, Volume 2, arriving November 27, 2026 as a Record Store Day Black Friday exclusive. Her most recent studio album is Visions (2024).