John Legend Recalls Rejection from 'Star Search' Years Ago — Hear His Story

A successful musician, John Legend is undisputedly one of the best in the industry today. Even so, the Grammy-winning artist hasn't always enjoyed success with singing competitions.

In an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," John Legend, 42, revealed that he had once been rejected from the hit talent show "Star Search."

Legend told Jimmy Fallon that he desperately wanted to be on "Star Search." He said that he used to watch Ed McMahon as a kid and that so many great artists came from the famous show.

The "All of Me" singer continued that he would watch "Star Search" and tell himself that he would be on the stage of the talent show and that he rightfully deserved the chance.

When the show came to his local mall, he entered a competition as a kid. Supposedly, the winning local competitors' tapes would be sent to the national "Star Search" competition.

Despite winning the competition, Legend was never asked to continue with the show. He explained, "They sent my videotape to the national Star Search, and I never got a call back. That was that."

Although Legend did not get called in for the singing show, the singer did get the consolation prize — a $500 spree at the new mall — which he spent on clothes.

As the first Black artist to win an "EGOT," Legend is the second-youngest one to do so.

Meanwhile, in celebration of Black History Month recently, Legend talked about his early love for music in an episode of Facebook Watch called "Forward: The Future of Black Music."

In a conversation with Grammy-nominated D Smoke, he revealed he has been perfecting his craft since the age of four. Growing up, he said, they had a piano at home.

According to Legend, he saw the piano and thought that it had been made for playing. It was then the hitmaker concluded that he had better start learning.

Legend's efforts in the arts ended up paying off. The singer, composer, and producer won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, the rare "EGOT" in Hollywood, over the course of his career.

As the first Black artist to win an "EGOT," Legend is the second-youngest one to do so. Throughout his recording career, he has released six studio albums and appeared on numerous TV shows.

His career now spans more than two decades. There are reports that his net worth is roughly $75 million, with ten million dollars coming from his wife, Chrissy Teigen.