H.E.R.

Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, better known by her stage name H.E.R., was born on June 27, 1997, in Vallejo, California. Hailing from a mixed heritage, with a Filipino mother and African American father, she grew up in the culturally rich San Francisco Bay Area. Music was a constant presence in her early life, with her father being a member of the soul band Urban Bushmen. Inspired by his musical influence, she learned to play various instruments from a young age, setting the stage for her future career.

H.E.R.’s career began at just 10 years old when she performed Alicia Keys’ song on the piano for the “Today Show” and at the Apollo Theater. Her breakthrough came in 2011 when she signed with Sony’s RCA Records at age 14. In 2016, she adopted the stage name H.E.R., standing for “Having Everything Revealed,” and released her debut EP, H.E.R. Volume 1. The success of her work led to the release of multiple EPs, and her 2017 compilation album, H.E.R., won two Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance for the hit single “Best Part,” featuring Daniel Caesar.

In 2021, H.E.R. achieved even greater recognition, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Fight for You” from Judas and the Black Messiah. She also bagged a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the same track. Her debut studio album, Back of My Mind, hit number six on the Billboard 200. By 2022, she had also won a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for her work on the animated series We the People.

Known for her soulful ballads and wide vocal range, H.E.R. blends R&B with elements of pop and soul, establishing herself as one of the defining voices in contemporary R&B. Her enigmatic persona and unwavering dedication to her craft have solidified her position as a leading artist of her generation.