Hey people.  I’m back from a much needed vacation.  It’s time to get back to work.  I’ll be in New York for a while, getting ready for the summer tour and working on some new music too.

I’m excited that many of the summer shows are going on sale now. I hope you’re getting your tickets.  This will be the best one yet!

I hope you all got to read the Time 100 issue.  I was very honored to be included and especially humbled to receive such a wonderful tribute from my friend and role model, Quincy Jones.

Peace,
John

We just spent over a week in Japan and we had a great time. Thanks to all of our Japanese fans. We did shows in Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo. We had great crowds everywhere, especially the final night in Tokyo. My dad visited me out here too, so that was cool. He did a lot of sightseeing and shopping around Tokyo. I was working too much to join him most of the time. I’m a little jealous. I need a vacation so I can be a real tourist. Speaking of vacation, 2 more shows til the end of the tour! I had a great time, but I’m certainly looking forward to a break. I’ll rest up and get ready for a big summer tour in the U.S. Details soon to come… peace, John

I don’t single cities out a lot, because I love all of y’all.  But I have to say last night in Seoul was off the chain!  One of the best crowds I’ve ever played for.  We sold out the Olympic Hall in my first ever visit to Seoul, and they rolled out the red carpet.  So much energy, so much enthusiasm.  We also had a special guest, Korean-American rapper singer T.  She came out and did a verse for “Green Light” and killed it!  We’ll post the video shortly.

Thanks to all my Korean fans.  I hope to get back soon!  Next stop Japan…

peace,
John

Hey people.

I’m sitting in my hotel room in Amsterdam, getting ready to fly to the
Philippines in a few hours.  I’m reflecting on a very successful European
tour.  I was in Italy the last few days.  I love Italy.  The people are
lovely and there is great shopping, some beautiful scenery and interesting
architecture everywhere you look.  But, more than anything, I love the food.
I know I’ve been getting a little skinnier lately (on purpose, by the
way!), but I’m sure I added a few pounds in Italy and I loved every minute
of it.  Pasta, pizza, steak, tiramisu, mmmmmmmm…

I met soccer superstar David Beckham at my show in Milan.  He’s a fan and he
was really cool…

I’m very much looking forward to going to Asia.  My shows are pretty spread
out in this part of the tour.  So I have days off to be a tourist.  I’ll try
to take in some of the sights in South Korea, Japan and China.  I’ll keep
you posted with updates.

Peace & love,
John

Hey everybody.  We just finished the show in London at Brixton Academy.  It was a beautiful night.  Great crowd.  Great energy.  I had so much fun.  

The European tour has been incredible so far.  We’re playing to sold out houses all over the continent.  This week we’re in the UK.  We started in London.  Next stop Glasgow.  Then Manchester and Birmingham.  If they’re anything like the crowds in London, I know it’s gonna be a great week.

I hope everybody’s doing well.  We’re having a great time out here.  Hope to see you soon.

peace & love,
JL

Hey beautiful people.  It’s been a busy few days.  We had a great time at the Oscars.  Thanks to the folks at the Academy for inviting me to fill in for Peter Gabriel.  It’s always a little strange performing someone’s song as they sit in the audience, but I hope I did it justice.  Regardless, we had a blast, and I’m glad I had the opportunity.  And, pardon the Kanye moment, but I think Chrissy and I may have been the best dressed couple of the night!  :)

Now my international journey begins.  I won’t be home for about 50 days!  This will be my longest stretch of not sleeping in my own bed.  I’m writing from Dubai.  We play here for the first time in my career tomorrow at the Dubai Jazz Festival.  I’m excited to play here and see the city.  I’ve heard so much about it.  From here, we go to Europe then to East Asia.  We’ll visit some familiar cities and some we’ve never been to before (like Manila, Seoul, Shanghai, Macau and Beijing).  I’m excited to meet some of my Asian fans who’ve never been to a JL show before.  It should be a fun trip.

Thanks for all of your responses to my letter to the New York Post. I realize we don’t all agree on these issues, and I know it is somewhat risky for me to state my political opinions, but I felt like I needed to say what I said.  I hope the nation can come together to face our problems without language and images whose intent is to divide us.  This recession is affecting people of all ethnicities, and our nation will be much stronger if we realize that we are all brothers and sisters, united in the pursuit of peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,
John

Dear Editor:

I’m trying to understand what possible motivation you may have had for publishing that vile cartoon depicting the shooting of the chimpanzee that went crazy. I guess you thought it would be funny to suggest that whomever was responsible for writing the Economic Recovery legislation must have the intelligence and judgment of a deranged, violent chimpanzee, and should be shot to protect the larger community. Really? Did it occur to you that this suggestion would imply a connection between President Barack Obama and the deranged chimpanzee? Did it occur to you that our President has been receiving death threats since early in his candidacy? Did it occur to you that blacks have historically been compared to various apes as a way of racist insult and mockery? Did you intend to invoke these painful themes when you printed the cartoon?

If that’s not what you intended, then it was stupid and willfully ignorant of you not to connect these easily connectable dots. If it is what you intended, then you obviously wanted to be grossly provocative, racist and offensive to the sensibilities of most reasonable Americans. Either way, you should not have printed this cartoon, and the fact that you did is truly reprehensible. I can’t imagine what possible justification you have for this. I’ve read your lame statement in response to the outrage you provoked. Shame on you for dodging the real issue and then using the letter as an opportunity to attack Rev. Sharpton. This is not about Rev. Sharpton. It’s about the cartoon being blatantly racist and offensive.

I believe in freedom of speech, and you have every right to print what you want. But freedom of speech still comes with responsibilities and consequences. You are responsible for printing this cartoon, and I hope you experience some real consequences for it. I’m personally boycotting your paper and won’t do any interviews with any of your reporters, and I encourage all of my colleagues in the entertainment business to do so as well. I implore your advertisers to seriously reconsider their business relationships with you as well.

You should print an apology in your paper acknowledging that this cartoon was ignorant, offensive and racist and should not have been printed.

I’m well aware of our country’s history of racism and violence, but I truly believe we are better than this filth. As we attempt to rise above our difficult past and look toward a better future, we don’t need the New York Post to resurrect the images of Jim Crow to deride the new administration and put black folks in our place. Please feel free to criticize and honestly evaluate our new President, but do so without the incendiary images and rhetoric.

Sincerely,
John Legend

Hey people. I’m flying out to LA to go to the Academy Awards for the first time ever. Stay tuned for more details, but don’t be surprised if you see me making a little cameo.

Who do you think will win? I honestly haven’t seen most of the nominees. I loved “Slumdog” but I haven’t seen just about anything else. I’m gonna try to catch “Benjamin Button” this weekend before the awards.

Thanks to everyone who sent prayers and well wishes to me and my family after my grandfather’s passing. It was very much appreciated.

Take care,
John

I don’t usually use this space to talk about my family, but I wanted to briefly pay tribute to my maternal grandfather, Bishop Raymond E. Lloyd, Sr. He passed away on Saturday night at the age of 88. He lived a long, full life where his leadership and dedication made a great impact on me and hundreds of others in my community. He was the pastor of the church in which I was brought up, El Bethel Temple, in Springfield, OH. He was a steadfast, principled man who raised 6 children with a strong sense of morality, discipline and humility—values they passed on to his dozens of grandchildren and great grand children. His wife, Elmira Lloyd, passed away when I was 10. She was the organist at my church and was one of my greatest musical influences as a child. I remember looking forward to hanging out at their house after church on Sundays when I was a kid. My grandfather was always so loving and proud of us. And I am proud of him and proud to be a part of his legacy.

peace & love,
John