Norah Jones (born Geetali Norah Jones Shankar; March 30, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress. She is a daughter of sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar and Sue Jones. She is Anoushka Shankar's half-sister.
In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away with Me, a fusion of country music and pop with elements of jazz which was certified diamond album, selling over 26 million copies. The record earned Jones five Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. Her subsequent studio albums Feels Like Home, released in 2004; Not Too Late, released in 2007, the same year she made her film debut in My Blueberry Nights; and 2009's The Fall all gained Platinum status, selling over a million copies each and were generally well received by critics. Jones' fifth studio album, Little Broken Hearts, was released on April 27, 2012.
Jones has won nine Grammy Awards and was 60th on Billboard magazine's artists of the 2000-2009 decade chart. Throughout her career, Jones has won numerous awards and has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. Billboard named her the top jazz artist of the 2000-2009 decade.
After her parents' separation in 1986, Jones spent her childhood with her mother in Grapevine, Texas. She attended Colleyville Middle School and Grapevine High School before transferring to Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. While in high school, Jones sang in the school choir, participated in band and played the alto saxophone. At the age of sixteen, with her parents' consent, she officially changed her name to Norah Jones.
Jones began singing in church and also took piano and voice lessons as a child. She still attends church. She considers herself spiritual and appreciates the rituals of her church but does not consider herself deeply religious.
She attended Interlochen Center for the Arts during the summers. While at high school, she won the DownBeat Student Music Awards for Best Jazz Vocalist (twice, in 1996 and 1997) and Best Original Composition (1996).
Jones attended the University of North Texas (UNT), where she majored in jazz piano and sang with the UNT Jazz Singers. During this time, she had a chance meeting with future collaborator Jesse Harris. She gave a ride to a band playing at the university whose members happened to be friends of Harris. He was on a cross-country road-trip with friend and future Little Willies member, Richard Julian, and stopped to see the band play. After meeting Jones, Harris started sending her lead sheets of his songs. In 1999, she left for New York City. Less than a year later, she founded a band with Harris which would prove to be the starting gun to her career.
With a successful solo career in full swing, Jones formed The Little Willies in 2003 alongside Richard Julian on vocals, Jim Campilongo on guitar, Lee Alexander on bass, and Dan Rieser on drums. The alternative country band released its eponymous first album in 2006 and For the Good Times in 2012.
In 2008 Jones formed another alternative country band with fellow friends and Brooklynites, Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper. Their debut full-length album, No Fools, No Fun, was released on July 15, 2014, by Blue Note Records.
Jones' solo albums include Come Away with Me (2002), Stay With Me (2003), Feels Like Home (2004), NotToo Late (2007), The Fall (2009), Little Broken Hearts (2012), and Foreverly with Billie Joe Armstrong (2013).
As of 2015, Norah Jones remains well-grounded in spite of her extraordinary success, and her humble, down-to-earth nature, combined with her brilliant musicianship continue to endear her to millions of fans around the world.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
In the Know (2024)
Guest starring as Interviewee
- Episode 1x02: Whose House? (Jan 25, 2024) [Special Guest Star]
Be My Guest with Ina Garten (2022)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 3x04: Norah Jones (Mar 26, 2023)
CBS Saturday Morning (2021)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 3x22: Norah Jones, David Grann (Mar 9, 2024)
GMA3: What You Need to Know (2020)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 2x316: Michael Strahan, Mike Massimino, Milly Almodovar, Norah Jones (Dec 9, 2021)
Chelsea (2016)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 1x71: I Feel Like I'm in a Fellini Film (Oct 27, 2016)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
(3 episodes)
- Episode 2024-05-16: David Letterman, Claudia Jesse, Norah Jones (May 16, 2024)
- Episode 2019-12-19: Jennifer Hudson, Jonathan Pryce, Sharon Van Etten, Norah Jones (Dec 19, 2019)
- Episode 2016-12-12: John Goodman; Denee Benton; Norah Jones (Dec 12, 2016)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
(3 episodes)
- Episode 2024-03-06: John Cena, Susie Essman, Norah Jones (Mar 6, 2024)
- Episode 2022-05-04: Elizabeth Olsen, Willie Geist, Norah Jones (May 4, 2022)
- Episode 2016-10-05: Ashton Kutcher, Issa Rae, Norah Jones (Oct 5, 2016)
The Big Interview with Dan Rather (2013)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 5x06: Norah Jones (Mar 21, 2017)
The Andrew Marr Show (2007)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 2016-11-06: 06/11/2016 (Nov 6, 2016)
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode S07 Special: Holiday Special (Dec 12, 2011)
Jimmy Kimmel Live (2003)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2021-12-02: Riz Ahmed, Nicole Byer, Norah Jones (Dec 2, 2021)
- Episode 2020-10-09: Liam Neeson, Killer Mike, Norah Jones (Oct 9, 2020)
Christmas in Rockefeller Center (1997)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 2021-12-01: 89th Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center (Dec 1, 2021)
Later... with Jools Holland (1992)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 49x03: Barry Gibb, Norah Jones, Slaves, Declan McKenna, Lisa Hannigan (Sep 30, 2016)
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (1983)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 2021-12-25: Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade 2021 (Dec 25, 2021)
Saturday Night Live (1975)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
(2 episodes)
- Episode 29x14: Colin Firth / Norah Jones (Mar 6, 2004)
- Episode 28x07: Robert DeNiro / Norah Jones (Dec 7, 2002)
Oscars (1953)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
- Episode 2013-02-24: The 85th Annual Academy Awards (Feb 24, 2013)
Today (1952)
Guest starring as Norah Jones
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2024-03-08: Awkwafina, Norah Jones (Mar 8, 2024)
- Episode 2023-11-27: Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Norah Jones, Laufey (Nov 27, 2023)