# Rachel Platten

Rachel Ashley Platten (born May 20, 1981) is an American singer and songwriter. After releasing two albums independently in 2003 and 2011, she signed with Columbia Records in 2015 and released her mainstream debut single, "Fight Song", which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA, topped charts in the UK and peaked within the top ten of multiple charts worldwide. Rachel Platten won a Daytime Emmy Award for a live performance of the song on Good Morning America. Her major-label debut studio album, Wildfire (2016), was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and featured the follow-up singles "Stand by You" and "Better Place". Her second major-label album, Waves (2017), followed a year later.
Outside of music Rachel Platten appeared as a model in clothing brand Aerie's advertising campaign in photos that have not been retouched. She appeared on the cover of The Improper Bostonian magazine's May 2018 issue. Rachel Platten has also supported numerous charities. She has worked with Musicians on Call since the early 2000s, and is part of a program where she sings bedside to hospital patients. Rachel Platten has volunteered for over 50 Musicians On Call programs. The organization honored Rachel Platten for her volunteer work with Music Heals Award at a benefit event on December 1, 2015. Rachel Platten performed at Global Down Syndrome Foundation's virtual fashion show on November 14, 2020.

## Early life

Rachel Platten was born on May 20, 1981 in New York City to Paul and Pamela Platten, but grew up in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, where she attended Mason-Rice Elementary School and Oak Hill Middle School. Her mother is a therapist. She was raised Jewish. She has a younger sister, Melanie. Rachel Platten studied classical piano from the age of 5 and then took up guitar in high school. She attended Buckingham Browne and Nichols high school, where she sang in the school's singing group. At Trinity College, she was a member of the Trinity College Trinitones, the college's first all-female a cappella group.
As part of study abroad programs, she studied in Rome, Italy for a few months and went to Trinidad for a full semester to do an internship at a diplomat's office and at a record label. While she was there, she sang backup for a friend's band in front of over 80,000 people at the International Soca Monarch finals in 2002. According to Rachel Platten, from that moment on she knew she had to pursue music full-time.
Rachel Platten graduated from Trinity College with a degree in political science in 2003. The same year she self-released the album Trust in Me. She moved to New York City's Greenwich Village, recorded demos and performed in a Prince and Sly and the Family Stone cover band called Dayz of Wild. She worked several jobs, including as a waitress, a jingle writer and an Estée Lauder salesperson.

## Career
### 2011–2014: Be Here

Her first album Be Here, was released from Rock Ridge Music in April 2011. The single "1,000 Ships" peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 chart, also playing at various radio stations. An earlier song "Seven Weeks", was used for the film The Good Guy. The theme song for ABC Family's Jane by Design, "Work of Art", was performed by Rachel Platten on hire. Her song "Begin Again" was used in Freeform's teen drama television series Pretty Little Liars' 100th episode, "Miss Me x 100". Her songs "Don't Care What Time It Is" was used in VH1's Basketball Wives and "You're Safe" was used in MTV's Finding Carter in September 2014. On June 27, 2014 Rachel Platten debuted "Fight Song" on the social networking website We Heart It as part of an artist spotlight.

### 2015–2017: Wildfire

On February 19, 2015, Rachel Platten released "Fight Song" from Wildfire. The song reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Australian Singles Chart, number six in Ireland, number eight in New Zealand, number nine on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and number one on the UK Singles Chart. In June 2015, Platten performed "Fight Song" with Taylor Swift in front of 50,000 people in Philadelphia during Swift's The 1989 World Tour. "Fight Song" has quintuple platinum sales in the US. Rachel Platten's 2015 Fight Song EP reached number 20 on the Billboard 200.
Rachel Platten served as a support act on Alex & Sierra's and Andy Grammer's "The Good Guys & A Girl Tour" in early 2015. She then toured with Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri on their "Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too Tour" throughout the summer of 2015. On September 11, 2015, Platten released second single named "Stand by You" from Wildfire. It peaked in the top 10 on charts in Canada and the United States, and peaked in the top 20 on charts in Australia and Poland. The song has since been certified Platinum in the United States.
After the Orlando nightclub shooting, Rachel Platten announced that proceeds from the new acoustic version of her "Fight Song" will benefit the National Compassion Fund, working to support the needs of people impacted by the event. In 2016, she appeared in insurance company Nationwide's commercial, where she sang the company's jingle, "Nationwide is on your side."
In October 2016, Rachel Platten sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Game 1 of the 2016 World Series. On New Year's Eve 2016, Rachel Platten co-headlined the Times Square Ball festivities in New York City's Times Square alongside Gavin DeGraw performing "Fight Song", "Stand by You", "Beating Me Up", and John Lennon's "Imagine".
In 2017, Rachel Platten served as an opening act for two Los Angeles shows and one Las Vegas show on Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's Soul2Soul: The World Tour.

### 2017–present: Waves and I Am Rachel Platten

"Broken Glass", the lead single from her fourth studio album, Waves, was released on August 18, 2017. The album was released on October 27, 2017. ABC News wrote in a favorable review: "Platten's songs often are cemented by a strong message to believe in one’s self. It may seem cheesy to the cynical listeners, but she always sounds like she believes every word she says. You have to give her credit for attempting to turn her art into an inspiring platform. Even when she gets a little too over-the-top on the self-referencing 'Good Life,' you can’t help but root for her." She co-wrote every song on the album. Waves debuted at number 73 on the Billboard 200 chart.
In 2018, Rachel Platten was the main musical attraction at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. Along with performing her singles "Stand by You", "Better Place", and "Fight Song", she also reminisced about her childhood in Boston. From May to July 2019, Rachel Platten toured with a capella group Pentatonix as the opening act for their shows in North America. She wrote a children's book titled You Belong, named after her 2018 single; the book was released on March 31, 2020. In 2022, she performed "Stand by You" at A Capitol Fourth Independence Day concert in Washington, D.C., which aired on PBS on July 4, 2022.
In 2023, Rachel Platten released a new song called "Girls", and performed it at the Gracie Awards on May 23, 2024. Rachel Platten released a song titled "Bad Thoughts" on April 26, 2024. Platten originally wrote it to help herself get through a panic attack. Her fifth studio album, I Am Rachel Platten, was released by her own label Violet Records on September 4, 2024.

## Public image

Rachel Platten worked for nearly a decade playing cover performances and recording songs before gaining mainstream recognition as an artist. Rachel Platten's story and "Fight Song" has served as an inspiration for people around the world, who have used it as a motivation not to lose hope, when experiencing difficulties in life such as cancer, postpartum depression and unemployment. In 2017, she was presented with the Gracies Impact Award, which is given to an artist who has made a positive impact on society through their music. She wrote "Fight Song" at a low point, saying:
   It was about my own journey and my own fire that would not die, that was regardless of how much rejections I was getting, and how impossible it seemed for me to keep trying to make this dream happen, that I just wouldn't give up. The song was written at a moment of really needing to decide, "Dude, I'm 32 or 31, this is a little pathetic. I need to figure this out and get on with my life." Then I wrote "Fight Song" in this moment of just sheer desperation. I will not give up on myself. That's where it came from.
In January 2018, Rachel Platten appeared as a model in clothing brand Aerie's advertising campaign in photos that have not been retouched. She appeared on the cover of The Improper Bostonian magazine's May 2018 issue.

### Philanthropy

Rachel Platten has supported numerous charities, including, Music Unites, Ryan Seacrest Foundation, Autism Speaks, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, BuildOn and Live Below the Line.
She has worked with Musicians on Call since the early 2000s, and is part of a program where she sings bedside to hospital patients. Platten has volunteered for over 50 Musicians On Call programs. The organization honored Rachel Platten for her volunteer work with Music Heals Award at a benefit event on December 1, 2015. She performed "Fight Song" and walked the runway at the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection 2017 fashion show presented by Macy's at New York Fashion Week on February 9, 2017.
Rachel Platten performed at Global Down Syndrome Foundation's virtual fashion show on November 14, 2020.

## Personal life

On July 31, 2010 Rachel Platten married Kevin Lazan in a Jewish ceremony. Their wedding pictures were featured in Southern New England Weddings magazine in 2010. They have two daughters: Violet Skye, born on January 26, 2019, and Sophie Jo, born on September 9, 2021. She has openly discussed experiencing postpartum depression after the births of her daughters.

## Discography

* Trust in Me (2003)
* Be Here (2011)
* Wildfire (2016)
* Waves (2017)
* I Am Rachel Platten (2024)

## Filmography
### As herself

Film and television appearances :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Performance |
| 2015 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Musical guest | Episode: "Sofia Vergara/Rachel Platten/Stephen 'tWitch' Boss" | Performed "Stand By You" |
| 2015 | The X Factor | Performer | Episode: "Live Decider 6" | Performed "Stand By You" |
| 2015 | The 1989 World Tour Live | Herself | Taylor Swift's concert film | Performed "Fight Song" with Taylor Swift |
| 2015 - 2024 | Today | Herself | 10 episodes | Various performances |
| 2015 - 2024 | Good Morning America | Musical guest and guest | 8 episodes | Various performances |
| 2016 | Skavlan | Performer | Episode: "Michael Nyqvist/Petter Lindén Nyquist/Bill Bryson/ Rachel Platten" | Performed "Fight Song" |
| 2016 | 2016 MLB All-Star Game | National Anthem Performer | TV special | Performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" |
| 2016 | Stuck in the Middle | Rachel Platten | Episode: "Stuck in the Harley Car" | Played herself and performed "Stand By You" |
| 2016 - 2024 | The Talk | Guest co-host / Musical guest | 4 episodes | 2017, 2021: Served as a guest co-host |
| 2017 | Miss Universe 2017 | Performer | TV special | Performed "Broken Glass" |
| 2017 | Lip Sync Battle | Performer | Episode: "Uzo Aduba vs. Danielle Brooks" | Performed "Fight Song" with Uzo Aduba |
| 2017 | Megyn Kelly Today | Musical guest | Episode: "Episode #1.25" | Performed "Broken Glass" |
| 2018 | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee | Musical guest | Episode: "January 10, 2018" | Performed "Fight Song" |
| 2018 | American Idol | Performer | Episode: "Top 24 Celebrity Duets" | Performed "Fight Song" with Mara Justine |
| 2020 | Celebrity Show-Off | Herself | Episode: "NeNe Leakes Is Here, Baby" | |
| 2022 | I Can See Your Voice | Panelist and Performer | Episode: "Rachel Platten, Robin Thicke, Raven Symone, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Houghton" | Performed "Jolene" by Dolly Parton with a contestant |
| 2022 | A Capitol Fourth | Performer | Independence Day concert special | Performed "Stand By You" |
| 2025 |
| 2025 | 2024 NFL Wild Card Round | National Anthem Performer | Monday Night Football | Performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Ceremony | Award | Nominated work | Result |
| 2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Music: Breakout Artist | Herself | Nominated |
| 2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Summer Song | "Fight Song" | Nominated |
| 2015 | Musicians On Call organization | Music Heals Award | Herself | Won |
| 2016 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best Lyrics | "Fight Song" | Won |
| 2016 | Radio Disney Music Awards | Breakout Artist Of The Year | Herself | Nominated |
| 2016 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Selling Song | "Fight Song" | Nominated |
| 2016 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Musical Performance in a Talk Show/Morning Program | Good Morning America | Won |
| 2016 | American Music Awards | Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist | Herself | Nominated |
| 2017 | Gracie Awards | Gracie Impact Award | Herself | Won |

## Tours
### Headlining

* The Wildfire Tour (2016)
* The Set Me Free Tour (2025)

### Co-headlining

* Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too Tour (with Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri) (2015)

### Supporting act

* The Good Guys & A Girl Tour (Alex & Sierra and Andy Grammer)

### Opening act

* Soul2Soul: The World Tour (Faith Hill and Tim McGraw) (2017)
* Pentatonix: The World Tour (Pentatonix) (2019)