Sunday morning sees the start of the 2023 International Series as the Atlanta Falcons face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. These International Series games are usually treated as major events, meaning we get all the glitz and glamour to go with it. This game will be no different as Tom Grennan will perform in front of the nearly 90,000-strong Wembley crowd in the NFL Halftime Show.
Let’s take a look at Grennan’s past and his rise to become one of the go-to artists at major sporting events in Britain and Europe.
Tom Grennan Burst on the Scene in 2016
After working the local scene in London from age 18 onwards, Grennan got his big break in 2016, when he was featured on the single “All Goes Wrong” by Chase and Status. This got him noticed by the BBC, with performances in the Radio 1 Live Lounge and on a National Television show.
.@Tom_Grennan is performing at @wembleystadium tomorrow for the Jaguars vs Falcons NFL game at half time 🙌 Tune in from 2pm on ITV to watch live 🏈😍 #NFL #Jaguars #Falcons pic.twitter.com/e2mejhM5QO
— Team Grennan🌼 (@GrennanTeam) September 30, 2023
Grennan released his first single at the same time, but it was his 2017 release of “Found What I’ve Been Looking For” that was his first taste of minor success as a solo artist. The song reached 82 on the UK charts but was also picked up by the FIFA18 football game on their soundtrack. The song was nominated by the BBC for Hottest Record of the Year in 2017, finishing 10th.
A Few Years Before Things Started To Click for Grennan
It would be another three years before one of Grennan’s songs broke into the charts again. He would reach 73 in 2020 with “This The Place.” However, he did not have to wait long after that for further success.
Grennan experienced a huge amount of success in 2021 with two top-10 hits. His solo release of “Little Bit of Love” got to seventh in the UK charts before cracking the top 10 again on a collaboration with Ella Henderson called “Let’s Go Home Together.”
.@Tom_Grennan performing at the @rydercup Opening Ceremony in Rome 🏌️😍📸 Maddie Meyer pic.twitter.com/riLBTQjhEl
— Team Grennan🌼 (@GrennanTeam) September 30, 2023
He has had further success in 2022 and 2023. Grennan was the lead voice on the “Lionheart (Fearless)” song alongside Joel Corry. The song was adopted by many as the main anthem for England’s World Cup attempt in Qatar 2022. Lionheart peaked at 18 in the UK charts.
Grennan’s most recent song, “How Does It Feel,” peaked at 17 in the UK charts as he embarks on a UK arena tour. In recent months, Grennan has performed at (and played in) a charity soccer match called “Soccer Aid,” as well as at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy.
Has Grennan Won Any Awards as an Artist?
To date, Grennan has not won any music awards. He has been nominated for two Brit Awards, one in 2022 and the other in 2023.
MORE: Falcons vs. Jaguars Score, Highlights — International Series Gets Under Way in London
His 2022 nomination was in the Song of the Year category for “Little Bit of Love.” The 2023 nomination came in the Best Rock/Alternative Act category. Unfortunately, he was not able to win either of those awards.
Grennan Attempted To Play Professional Soccer Before Turning to Music
When he was younger, Grennan likely dreamed of performing at Wembley, but in a different capacity.
After growing up in Bedford, England, he had trials for Luton Town, Northampton Town, and Aston Villa Football Club. He very nearly headed to the United States in an attempt to continue his soccer career before ultimately focusing on music.