Calum Scott

Calum Scott was born on October 12, 1988, in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. His early life in the Yorkshire area, specifically North Ferriby and Kingston upon Hull, laid the foundation for his musical pursuits. Despite his parents separating when he was two and his father relocating to Canada, Scott’s passion for music grew, encouraged by his younger sister, Jade, also a singer. Before achieving widespread recognition, he worked in human resources, honing his skills while still pursuing music. His career began formally in 2013 when he won the Mail’s Star Search talent competition, organized by the Hull Daily Mail. He then joined a Maroon 5 tribute band, Maroon 4, touring across the United Kingdom. In 2014, Scott co-founded the electronic duo The Experiment with John McIntyre, releasing their debut single “Girl (You’re Beautiful)” and performing on television programs such as “Good Morning Britain” and “BBC Look North” before the duo disbanded.

Scott’s career took a significant turn in April 2015 when he appeared on the ninth series of ITV’s “Britain’s Got Talent.” His audition, featuring a rendition of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own,” earned him a Golden Buzzer from judge Simon Cowell, propelling him directly to the live shows. Cowell praised Scott, stating, “I’ve never, ever, in all the years I’ve done this show, heard a guy with the talent you’ve got. Seriously… the version was sensational and that shows to me that actually, you’re more than a singer, you’re an artist, and that’s why you got that (the buzzer).” Following his audition, Scott garnered significant attention, with his Twitter followers increasing substantially, and his audition video accumulating over 378 million views on YouTube. He advanced to the semi-finals, performing “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off,” and ultimately finished sixth in the final after singing Rihanna’s “Diamonds.”

Post-“Britain’s Got Talent,” Scott independently released his cover of “Dancing on My Own” in April 2016. The song became a sleeper hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart and becoming Britain’s best-selling single of summer 2016. The track was certified platinum in the UK, selling over 600,000 copies, and experienced a resurgence in popularity in 2022 due to its adoption by the Philadelphia Phillies. In May 2016, Scott signed a record deal with Capitol Records. His debut album, “Only Human,” released on March 9, 2018, reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and included the hit single “You Are the Reason.” He has since released two more albums, “Bridges” (2022) and “Avenoir” (2025), and has collaborated with various artists, including Leona Lewis, Lost Frequencies, and Whitney Houston’s estate. Scott has also embarked on several tours, both headlining and supporting, and is recognized for his advocacy for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.