Heart & Soul

The Award-winning Singer Shares All of Himself — and a Good Bit of His Family as Well — on His Eagerly Awaited New Album

When John Legend hit the New York nightclub circuit in the early 2000s, he went by his birth name, John Stephens. But after a friend dubbed him Legend and the nickname stuck, he decided to adopt it — and work hard to live up to the accolade. “I’ll be trying my whole career,” the 37-year-old Grammy winner says. “That’s part of the journey.” His new album, Darkness and Light (due Dec. 2), reflects his recent journey as a father — with songs written for wife Chrissy Teigen, 30, and their 7-month-old daughter, Luna — as well as his concerns about social justice. John, who will also be seen as a bandleader in the December film La La Land, opens up about family, fame and some of his favorite tunes.

Why did you call the album Darkness and Light?

I think I’m an optimistic person, but I also know there’s plenty of darkness in the world. The album’s about navigating that, and trying to find light and love and hope in relationships and in music, too.