Rufus Wainwright
#48,523 Most Popular
About
Canadian singer-songwriter and composer whose music is inspired by his training in classical opera. His version of "Hallelujah" has accumulated more than 140 million streams on Spotify. In 2023, he released his twelfth album, Folkocracy.
Before Fame
His interest in opera developed shortly before he reached his teens. He was sexually assaulted when he was 14 and struggled for many years to come to terms with the incident.
Trivia
His debut album, Rufus Wainwright, was an instant hit with Rolling Stone naming him Best New Artist of 1998. He has recorded tracks specifically for films, including Shrek and Brokeback Mountain.
Family Life
He is the son of singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and folk singer Kate McGarrigle. His sister was Martha Wainwright. He is openly gay. In 2012 he married Jörn Weisbrodt. The two of them, along with their friend Lorca Cohen, have a daughter named Viva.
Associated With
He toured with fellow musician Tori Amos to promote his second album, Poses, in 2001.
