Sam Bailey was born in Bexley, London, on 29th July 1977. She grew up in a musical family, with her father and grandfather both being singers in bands, and she too loved to sing publicly from an early age. Her talent was evident when, in her teenage years, she won a ‘Search for a Star’ competition in Crayford Town Hall.
As an adult, she played football professionally for several London-based teams, including Crystal Palace and West Ham United. Alongside this, she sang on cruises and in clubs. In 2003, she got married in Las Vegas to Gary Pearson, with whom she has had three children. After retiring from football, Bailey and her family moved to Leicester. She worked as a prison officer at the nearby HM Prison Gartree, a Category B men’s prison.
Bailey auditioned for The X-Factor in 2007, but didn’t make it past the first round with the show’s producers. In 2013, at thirty-five years old, Bailey auditioned for the tenth series of The X-Factor. This time, she was an immediate success. Her first-round performance of Beyonce’s “Listen” received a standing ovation from the judges. Gary Barlow commented that she gave an “incredible” performance despite choosing “the hardest song” to perform.
Mentored by Sharon Osbourne (who later became the godmother to her third child), she went on to win the series, gaining over one million votes in the final weekend. Her first release, a cover of Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper”, was the 2013 Christmas UK number one single. It sold over 300,000 copies in total. She followed this up with her debut album, The Power of Love.
If you are fond of Sam Bailey’s incredible music, don’t hesitate to follow her official YouTube Channel for more amazing pieces. You can also stay up-to-date with her latest news and events by liking her official Facebook page. Don’t miss out! – Sam Bailey’s YouTube – Sam Bailey’s Facebook