Elle King

Singer and songwriter (and occasional actor) Elle King was born Tanner Elle Schneider in 1989 in Los Angeles, the daughter of London King and Rob Schneider (the actor, comedian, and former cast member of Saturday Night Live). She grew up in Ohio, and after hearing the all-girl pop-punk band the Donnas when she was nine years old, she decided she wanted to be a singer and musician. By 13 she was playing guitar, and later learned to play the banjo as well. King began street busking and gigging around New York at the age of 16, moving to Philadelphia to attend the University of Arts, majoring in painting and film. After college she spent time in Copenhagen and Los Angeles before returning to New York to settle in Brooklyn. Signing to RCA Records, she released a debut four-song EP, The Elle King EP, in 2012. In 2015, King released her debut album, Love Stuff, featuring the single "Ex's & Oh's," which reached the top of Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. In 2016, King recorded a duet with Dierks Bentley, "Different for Girls," that appeared on his album Black. The track was released as a single and rose to number one on the Country Airplay charts. The recording was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, and won a Country Music Association trophy for Best Vocal Event of the Year. ~ Steve Leggett