Josh Groban

Josh Groban Headshot

Singer • Musician • Actor • Host

Birth Date: February 27, 1981

Age: 43 years old

Birth Place: Los Angeles, California

Partners: January Jones, Kat Dennings

Music lovers around the world reveled in Josh Groban's voice, his pristine operatic baritone soaring on a number of hit albums that made dramatic orchestrations cool to listen to. The multiplatinum recording artist forever changed the musical landscape with his commanding voice that fused classical, pop, and rock-n-roll seamlessly, all of it coming out of this slight-in-build, unlikely-looking artist. Groban sold millions of records since he first burst onto the music scene in the early millennium, thanks to his boy-next-door looks that defied the conventional idea of the robust male opera singer and a voice that wrapped around ballads with an earnest yearning and sadness.

Many of his albums like "Josh Groban" (2001), "Closer" (2003) and "Awake" (2006) all nabbed top spots on the Billboard pop and adult contemporary charts. He consistently played to sold-out crowds worldwide, making him an international superstar before he was even 30 years old. Groban's beautiful, angelic voice was his legacy, but it was a genuine, almost humble, connection to his audience that made him one of the world's most loved and influential singers of his generation.

Joshua Winslow Groban was born on Feb. 27, 1981 in Los Angeles. His father, an executive headhunter, was of Russian-Jewish descent, and his schoolteacher mother was Norwegian American. He had a younger brother who shared his birth date, but was born four years later. After attending Bridges Academy in Los Angeles, the young man made the unlikely decision to train to be an opera singer at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Life seemed ordinary for the budding classical singer up until 1998 when Groban's vocal coach introduced him to David Foster, a veteran music producer and proven starmaker. Foster was at the time organizing the music for the inaugural of California Governor Gray Davis. Hoping to include some fresh, new music, Foster contacted Groban's vocal coach, who immediately sent a demo tape of his young musical protégé, which sealed the deal for the veteran producer.

As one of Foster's singers, Groban performed in several high-profile events, but it was not until the 1998 Grammy Awards that the recording industry first had a taste of Groban's talent. Groban was tapped to duet with Celine Dion on the song "The Prayer" after her partner, the legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, was unable to attend. Groban's powerful rendition of the inspirational song blew everyone away, including Dion, the orchestra, and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell. Impressed with his flawless lyrical baritone, the "Queen of Nice" booked Groban to appear on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (NBC, 1996-2002) in 1999, introducing him as "Opera Boy." Despite the adulation he was just starting to receive, Groban enrolled as a musical theater major at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He left after only a few months to fulfill the demands of his now burgeoning career.

By early 2000, Groban's indisputably rich voice and angelic personal appeal was gaining the attention of not only music lovers, but also of Hollywood executives who realized he was unique commodity that needed exposure. In 2001, Groban landed a guest role as a shy teenager on the hit TV series "Ally McBeal" (Fox, 1997-2002). During the show's 2001 season finale, Groban captured the hearts of millions of viewers with his performance of the ballad "You're Still You." The response from "Ally McBeal" fans was so phenomenal, that the show's producers brought him back the following season to with his rendition of "To Where You Are." With an astonishingly powerful voice, nearly perfect intonation, soulful eyes, and a crown of dark ringlets that made his millions of fans (called Grobanites) swoon, Groban was every music producer's dream come true. He soared to the top of the charts and sold millions each time he released an album, regardless of whether it was studio-produced or live in concert.

His debut album Josh Groban, an amazing compilation of songs in both English and Italian that showcased Groban's smooth and smoky vocal stylings, went double-platinum only six months after its release. His sophomore effort, Closer, sold almost 400,000 copies in its first week and earned Groban a Grammy Award nomination in 2005 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, thanks to the hit single "You Raise Me Up." On his next offering, Awake, Groban explored yet another side of his creativity by writing and co-producing several songs on the album, which remarkably debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart. He also collaborated on the LP with other artists, including Dave Matthews, Herbie Hancock, Imogen Heap, and Glen Ballard, among others. By this time, Groban's recordings had been nominated for more than a dozen awards including the American Music Award, World Music Award, and the Grammys. Riding high at the peak of his fame, he also lent his voice to several film soundtracks, including an Academy Award-winning rendition of "Believe" from the animated film "The Polar Express" (2005).

On stage, Groban was an even more dynamic celebrity. In 2004, he performed songs from the album Closer to a sold-out crowd at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. The concert was released on the CD/DVD "Live at the Greek" (2004) and ran as a "Great Performances Special" on PBS that same year. He also released the DVD "Awake Live" (2008), which featured some of his greatest hits as well as a recording of his energetic performance at Salt Lake City's EnergySolutions Arena. Groban kept gaining an ever-widening audience with diverse musical tastes, thanks to his distinctly powerful voice. Between February and October 2007, he filled every arena on his 81-city "Awake World Tour," captivating fans from North America, Europe, Australia, and the Philippines. With an impressive list of chart-toppers under his belt, a holiday album was inevitable.

In 2007, Groban recorded Noël, a Christmas album that he recorded with the London Philharmonic. It initially spent seven weeks on the Billboard chart but shot to the No. 1 with a little help from Oprah Winfrey, who had invited Groban to sing for one unsuspecting fan on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (syndicated, 1986-2011). The iconic talk show queen, who had the Midas touch when it came to endorsements, gave Groban's album the boost it needed to move up the pop chart.

At this point in his career, Groban had shared the stage with some of the most illustrious names in the music industry, including Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli; he dueted with the latter in a tribute to the legendary Luciano Pavarotti at the 2008 Grammy Awards. One of Groban's most memorable performances was at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in 2002, when he silenced the crowd as he dueted with fellow classical-pop superstar Charlotte Church on "The Prayer." In July 2007, Groban's duet with British songbird Sarah Brightman became the highlight of Prince William and Harry's tribute to their late mother, "Concert for Diana," which was broadcast to more than 500 million homes across the globe.

Despite his level of fame, Groban managed to keep his personal life somewhat of a mystery. Strong family ties, carefully scripted appearances, and a genuinely down-to-earth personality kept the golden boy at a relatively safe distance from the paparazzi, despite dating "Mad Men" (AMC, 2007-15) star January Jones for three years, as well as a rumored brief fling with pop sensation Katy Perry. Because of his powerful pipes and unassuming nature, often overlooked were his comedic sensibilities. Groban's over-the-top yet earnest crooning of "I'm F***king Ben Affleck" in Jimmy Kimmel's viral video was a highlight in 2008. Groban, along with an A-list cast that included Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Robin Williams and Harrison Ford, appeared in Kimmel's hilarious video spoof about his "relationship" with Ben Affleck, in answer to his real-life girlfriend Sarah Silverman's own viral video, "I'm F***cking Matt Damon." In 2009, Groban made a cameo appearance in an episode of the hit comedy series "Glee" (Fox, 2009-15), in which he played against type as a cruel and arrogant version of himself.

By Candy Cuenco

Credits

Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays

Executive Producer
Show
2024

Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays

Host
Show
2024

Christmas at the Opry

Music Performer
Special
2024

Silent Night: A Song For The WorldStream

Music Performer
Special
2024

Live with Kelly and Mark

Guest
Talk
2023

Beauty and the Beast: A 30th CelebrationStream

Actor
Beast
Special
2022

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

Access Daily With Mario & Kit

Guest
Show
2022

Sesame Street: Wonderful World of Friends!

Self
Show
2021

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

Eye Candy

Host
Game Show
2021

Josh Groban: Angels

Music Performer
Show
2021

Mother's Day Love

Music Performer
Show
2021

Josh Groban Feat. Helene Fischer: I'll Stand by You (Duet)

Music Performer
Show
2021

Josh Groban: She

Music Performer
Show
2021

Christmas is for Kids

Music Performer
Show
2021

Home for the Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2021

United in Song: Celebrating the Resilience of America

Music Performer
Show
2020

New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen

Music Performer
Show
2020

The 22nd Annual A Home for the Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2020

One Night Only: The Best of Broadway

Guest
Special
2020

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Actor
Special
2020

Josh Groban: An Evening of Harmony

Music Performer
Show
2020

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2020

The Not-Too-Late Show with ElmoStream

Guest
Talk
2020

The Disney Family Singalong

Music Performer
Special
2020

Celebrity IOUStream

Self
Reality
2020

Very Merry Kids Christmas!

Music Performer
Show
2020

Quiet Christmas Day

Music Performer
Show
2020

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Guest
Talk
2019

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Music Performer
Talk
2019

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

David Foster: Off the Record

Guest
Show
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

Live Art: Love

Music Performer
Show
2019

Josh Groban BRIDGES: In Concert From Madison Square Garden

Music Performer
Show
2019

Elvis All-Star Tribute

Music Performer
Special
2019

Josh Groban Feat. Jennifer Nettles: 99 Years

Music Performer
Show
2019

Mother's Day Mix

Music Performer
Show
2019

Josh Groban: Bridge Over Troubled Water (Live from Madison Square Garden)

Music Performer
Show
2019

Josh Groban: Granted (Live from Madison Square Garden 2018)

Music Performer
Show
2019

Josh Groban: Won't Look Back (Live From Madison Square Garden, 2018)

Music Performer
Show
2019

Josh Groban: Bigger Than Us (Live From Madison Square Garden, 2018)

Music Performer
Show
2019

Home For the Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2019

Holiday Classics

Music Performer
Show
2019

Mickey's 90th Spectacular

Music Performer
Special
2018

Busy Tonight

Guest
Talk
2018

The Good CopStream

Actor
Tony "TJ" Caruso Jr.
Series
2018
50%

The 72nd Annual Tony Awards

Host
Show
2018

Tony Bennett: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

Music Performer
Show
2018

Josh Groban: River

Music Performer
Show
2018

Jazzin' the Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2018

Happy Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2018

Happy Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2018

A Home for the Holidays With Josh Groban

Music Performer
Show
2017

Access Live

Guest
Show
2017

Josh Groban: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Piano / Vocal Version) [Visualizer]

Music Performer
Show
2017

Josh Groban feat. Tony Bennett: Christmas Time Is Here (Visualizer)

Music Performer
Show
2017

Josh Groban: White Christmas

Music Performer
Show
2017

Josh Groban: O Holy Night

Music Performer
Show
2017

Pop Life

Guest
Show
2017

Sidelines

Guest
Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Host
Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Music Performer
Talk
2017

Josh Groban: Evermore (From Beauty and the Beast/Official Audio)

Music Performer
Show
2017

Julie's Greenroom

Guest Star
Show
2017

Josh Groban: Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Music Performer
Show
2017

Josh Groban & Tony Bennett: Christmas Time Is Here

Music Performer
Show
2017

Josh Groban & Original Broadway Chorus of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812: Dust and Ashes

Music Performer
Show
2017

Today's Holiday Hits

Music Performer
Show
2017

Dust and Ashes: Josh Groban & Original Broadway Chorus of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Music Performer
Show
2017

Josh Groban: Dust and Ashes

Music Performer
Show
2017

Josh Groban: Christmas Time is Here

Music Performer
Show
2017

Christmas in Rockefeller Center

Music Performer
Show
2016

Josh Groban: If I Walk Away

Music Performer
Show
2016

Série Concerts C Major

Actor
Soliste/interprète
Show
2016

Michael McIntyre's Big Show

Guest
Show
2016

The Hollars

Actor
Rev. Dan
Movie
2016

The MuppetsStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
64%

Life in PiecesStream

Guest Star
Ian
Series
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Music Performer
Talk
2015

The Jason Show

Guest
Show
2015

The 69th Annual Tony Awards

Music Performer
Show
2015

Red Nose Day

Guest
Show
2015

The Late Late Show With James Corden

Guest
Talk
2015

The Late Late Show With James Corden

Music Performer
Talk
2015

Impress Me

Guest Star
Show
2015

La Dolce Vita: The Music of Italian Cinema

Actor
Show
2015

Repeat After Me

Guest
Reality
2015

Billy Joel: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize

Music Performer
Show
2015

Josh Groban: Bring Him Home From Les Misérables

Music Performer
Show
2015

Josh Groban: Pure Imagination From Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

Music Performer
Show
2015

Josh Groban: What I Did for Love

Music Performer
Show
2015

Josh Groban: Stage 2 -- Choosing the Songs

Music Performer
Show
2015

Josh Groban: Stage 1 -- Recording a Theater Album

Music Performer
Show
2015

q

Guest
Show
2014

The Meredith Vieira Show

Guest
Talk
2014

Rising Star

Host
Show
2014

Last Week Tonight With John OliverStream

Guest Star
Himself
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Music Performer
Talk
2014

Josh Groban: Sing Your Song: A YoungArts Masterclass

Actor
Show
2014

The Crazy OnesStream

Guest Star
Danny Chase
Series
2013

The Social

Guest
Show
2013

OnSTAGE

Music Performer
Show
2013

Hollywood Game Night

Guest
Game Show
2013

Josh Groban: I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)

Music Performer
Show
2013

Josh Groban: Brave

Music Performer
Show
2013

Coffee Town

Actor
Sam
Movie
2013

Tony Bennett - Duets II

Actor
Show
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Host
Talk
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Music Performer
Talk
2012

Teachers Rock

Music Performer
Show
2012

Comedy Bang! Bang!Stream

Guest
Series
2012

Comedy Bang! Bang!Stream

Guest Star
Series
2012

CBS This Morning: Saturday

Music Performer
Show
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

Tony Bennett & Josh Groban: This Is All I Ask

Music Performer
Show
2012

Sunday Brunch

Guest
Show
2011

LIVE with Kelly

Host
Show
2011

LIVE with Kelly

Host
Talk
2011

Q With Jian Ghomeshi

Guest
Show
2011

The Jonathan Ross ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2011

A Capitol Fourth 2011

Music Performer
Show
2011

Angelique Kidjo and Friends: Spirit Rising

Music Performer
Show
2011

Josh Groban Command Performance: 10 Years With Public Television

Music Performer
Show
2011

Piers Morgan Tonight

Guest
Talk
2011

The Marilyn Denis Show

Guest
Show
2011

The Marilyn Denis Show

Music Performer
Show
2011

The Gayle King Show

Guest
Show
2011

Josh Groban: Higher Window

Music Performer
Show
2011

Crazy, Stupid, LoveStream

Actor
Richard
Movie
2011
79%

Christmas in Rockefeller Center

Music Performer
Show
2010

ConanStream

Actor
Talk
2010

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

The TalkStream

Music Performer
Talk
2010

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight

Guest
Show
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Americas Orchestra: Celebrating 125 Years of the Boston Pops

Music Performer
Show
2010

Who Do You Think You Are?Stream

Guest Star
Reality
2010

Josh Groban: Hidden Away

Music Performer
Show
2010

Chris Botti in Boston, Part II

Music Performer
Show
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

GleeStream

Guest Star
Himself
Series
2009
70%

Parks and RecreationStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
93%

Skavlan

Guest
Show
2009

The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards

Music Performer
Show
2008

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

Guest
Show
2007

Chelsea Lately

Guest
Talk
2007

Any Dream Will Do

Guest Star
Show
2007

The Graham Norton ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2007

The Graham Norton ShowStream

Music Performer
Talk
2007

Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job!

Guest Star
Show
2007

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Music Performer
Talk
2006

Saturday Live

Guest
Show
2006

The One Show

Guest
Show
2006

The One Show

Host
Show
2006

America's Got TalentStream

Music Performer
Reality
2006

etalk

Guest
Show
2006

Josh Groban: February Song

Music Performer
Show
2006

Josh Groban: You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)

Music Performer
Show
2006

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

ET Canada

Guest
Show
2005

It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaStream

Guest Star
Himself
Series
2005
94%

Dancing With the StarsStream

Music Performer
Reality
2005

The OfficeStream

Guest Star
Walter Bernard, Jr.
Series
2005
81%

Robot ChickenStream

Guest Voice
Series
2005

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Himself
Series
2005

Josh Groban: Si volvieras a mí

Music Performer
Show
2005

CSI: NYStream

Music Performer
Series
2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Music Performer
Talk
2003

Soundstage

Guest
Show
2003

Soundstage

Music Performer
Show
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Music Performer
Talk
2003

Josh Groban: You Raise Me Up

Music Performer
Show
2003

Josh Groban: Per Te

Music Performer
Show
2003

Live With Regis and Kelly

Host
Show
2001

Live With Regis and Kelly

Music Performer
Show
2001

Josh Groban: To Where You Are

Music Performer
Show
2001

Ally McBealStream

Guest Star
Series
1997
61%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

The View

Music Performer
Talk
1997

Room 101

Guest
Show
1994

Late Show With David Letterman

Guest
Talk
1993

Late Show With David Letterman

Music Performer
Talk
1993

Cityline

Guest
Show
1993

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Music Performer
Talk
1992

Charlie RoseStream

Guest
Talk
1991

The Oprah Winfrey ShowStream

Music Performer
Talk
1986

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

CBS News Sunday MorningStream

Guest
News
1979

CBS News Sunday MorningStream

Music Performer
News
1979

Live From Lincoln Center

Music Performer
Show
1976

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Good Morning America

Music Performer
News
1975

Great PerformancesStream

Actor
Franchise
1972

Great PerformancesStream

Guest
Franchise
1972

Great PerformancesStream

Music Performer
Franchise
1972

Today

Guest
News
1952

Today

Music Performer
News
1952

News aboutJosh Groban

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‘Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration’: Josh Groban to Play Beast in ABC Special

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‘The Good Cop’: Josh Groban Reveals How Tony Danza Taught Him the TV Ropes

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Tony Award 2018 Hosts Josh Groban & Sara Bareilles Preview a More More Mainstream Night

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