There are few things 12-time GRAMMY winner John Legend has not achieved. Six years after achieving EGOT status, Legend has conquered a new goal: releasing an album of sing-alongs and lullabies.
Legend's debut children's album, My Favorite Dream, is the result of a creative partnership with Sufjan Stevens. Yet the album's true origins can be traced to an Instagram video of Legend singing Fisher Price's "Maybe" to his wife Chrissy Teigen and their youngest daughter, Esti. The video has been viewed 9.3 million times on the platform since Teigen posted it in November 2023.
"As soon as Chrissy posted me singing that song, all the parents who have had young kids with Fisher Price toys were like, 'Oh, my God, you're doing this song that we have known for years, and we love,'" Legend tells GRAMMY.com. "'Why don't you make more songs like this for parents out there?"
Teigen then suggested that her husband make a lullaby album. Fisher Price reached out and followed suit, and so did Legend's label. "Everybody was saying, 'John, you got to make a children's album.' And so I started to think about it."
My Favorite Dream features 15 tracks: nine originals written by Legend, one solo piano track, and five covers (yes, including a full recorded version of "Maybe"). True to form, Legend put a unique touch on childhood favorites such as "You Are My Sunshine."
"When you listen to the lyrics, there's a hint of sadness that goes through, especially the second verse," he says of the reimagined track. "I wanted to capture some of that as well, the idea that you're sad when you miss someone that you love, someone who is your sunshine." \
\
And when it came to crafting the nine originals, his inspiration was simple: "the things me and Chrissy like to talk to our kids about, concepts we like to teach our kids, and messages we like to share with our kids, how we like to inspire them and motivate them."\
\
With that in mind, Legend channels imagination and love throughout the new songs. "Deep In The Ocean Blue" transports kids and parents alike to the wonders beneath the ocean's surface, while "We're A Family" and "When I Feel Sad" explore the undeniable strength of a family bond. "Always Come Back" combines both, interpolating the Willy Wonka classic "Pure Imagination" to soundtrack Legend's heartfelt promise to his kids that he's never too far away: "I may ride the planes and trains and distant highways/ But I know I'll be finding my way home… I'll always come back to you."
There's even a personal touch on the album's rhythmic lead single, "L-O-V-E," which features background vocals from Tiegen and their two oldest children, Luna and Miles.
By expanding his musical repertoire with My Favorite Dream, Legend has put his artistic versatility on full display. The album is an amalgamation of the distinctive features that form Legend's musical calling card — from his enchanting piano playing that listeners were first introduced on his 2004 debut, Get Lifted, to the raw and soulful lyrics of his 2013 smash "All of Me," to the richness of textures he explored on 2020's Big Love. Legend's musical abilities empowered him to create a children's album that is not only timeless, but deeply meaningful in its themes and narratives.\
\
While Legend wrote all of the original songs on his own — a career first — he insists My Favorite Dream wouldn't have been as impactful without Stevens' production. Legend was first introduced to Stevens' work through his critically acclaimed 2005 LP, Illinois. "It's such an iconic album, and it has some of that whimsy music and some of those dreamy soundscapes you would want for a children's album. The more I listened to him, the more I was like, 'You know what? He's the only person I could imagine producing this album the way I want it to sound.'" \
\
Legend and Stevens viewed the album as two halves, each with its own distinct sound. As Legend explains, the duo wanted the tone of the first half of the album to be more uptempo: "we wanted to sound like a Muppet band, just fun, playful sounds that were very musical, but also very fun and adventurous at the same time."\
\
The second half of the album centers on soothing, timeless lullabies. The hypnotic "Go To Sleep" encapsulates the idea of a whimsical and dreamy soundscape; "Safe" is a tranquil tune that explores the comfort and security of the bond between parent and child. The latter's baroque pop background vocals — a characteristic of Stevens' unmistakable sound — complements Legend's rich baritone voice, serving as a testament to their fruitful partnership.
The passion behind My Favorite Dream is undeniable, but it's also a smart business move on Legend's part. In the past decade, some of YouTube's most viewed videos were children's songs, bringing in over a combined total of over 40 billion views. As a father of four, Legend knows firsthand the role that music plays in parenting — and made a conscious effort to ensure that the album's songs appeal to both kids and their parents.
"For the kids, I wanted it to be lyrically appropriate [and reflect] things that we legitimately would say to them. At the same time, I wanted it musically to be something that everybody would want to listen to, that felt timeless and classic, and that parents would enjoy just as much as their kids would."
Judging by the reactions to "L-O-V-E" alone, Legend succeeded in his mission. As one YouTube commenter wrote, "Us grown ups need this song just as much as the kiddos do!"\
\
Whether or not more children's music is in Legend's future, he hints that he may explore more new genres with forthcoming projects. He attributes his time as a coach on the popular competition series "The Voice" for expanding his musical horizons. "You hear such a cross-section of music," he says of the show. "And I think that really has helped me become a more complete songwriter. It's definitely prepared me well for all the things I've been writing lately."
After seamlessly producing his debut children's album, Legend has proven that his versatility and talents are boundless — and now, he just might have fans old and young waiting to hear what's next.