James Blunt

James Blunt's 2005 single You're Beautiful catapulted the former British Army officer into the spotlight. The track was the second single from his 11x Platinum-selling debut album Back To Bedlam, and hit the No.1 spot on the official UK singles chart as well as topping the list in the United States and peaking at No.2 Down Under, quickly establishing James as a global superstar.

Growing up in Wiltshire, England, James Blunt balanced his love of pop music with his militaristic upbringing. Attending the University of Bristol on an army scholarship, he went on to train at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before working his way up to the rank of captain and serving as a NATO peacekeeper in Kosovo.

Following his service, James Blunt returned to his love of music – having already focussed his academic studies on the subject of pop stardom – securing the attention of 4 Non Blondes' singer Linda Perry at Austin, Texas, new music showcase South By Southwest. She signed Blunt to her Custard Records label, on which he released Back To Bedlam in 2004 in partnership with Atlantic Records. The album spawned not only You're Beautiful, but also debut single High and the top ten single Goodbye My Lover.

Blunt went on to release All The Lost Souls in 2007, featuring the chart-topping single 1973. Following the release he took a step back from the industry, citing his frustration with ridicule over his musical style. Taking time to reinterpret his approach, he returned with Some Kind Of Trouble in 2010, and the country and Americana influenced Moon Landing in 2013. Bonfire Heart – taken from the album – saw James triumphantly return to the UK top five.

In 2017 James Blunt unveiled his fifth studio album The Afterlove on which he teamed up with high-profile songwriting friends including the internationally renowned Ed Sheeran. His sixth full-length album, Once Upon A Mind followed towards the end of 2019, and saw Blunt return to the top three on the UK albums chart.

Alongside his music career throughout the 2010s, James Blunt built a popular following on Twitter and through a number of public appearances and interviews, renowned for his quick-witted comebacks.

In 2020, James Blunt announced a handful of headline dates for 2021 celebrating the release of Once Upon A Mind.