Louis Tomlinson

Louis William Tomlinson (born Louis Troy Austin; 24 December 1991) is an English singer and songwriter from Doncaster, England. He initially rose to global fame as a member of the British-Irish boy band One Direction, which formed on the television competition show The X Factor in 2010 and became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. Following the group's hiatus in 2016, Tomlinson established a successful solo career as a recording artist, festival curator, and television personality.

Tomlinson was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, to Johannah Poulston and Troy Austin. Raised by his mother and stepfather Mark Tomlinson, he legally adopted his stepfather's surname. Tomlinson attended The Hayfield School and later Hall Cross School, taking early jobs at a cinema and as a venue waiter at Doncaster Rovers stadium. His passion for performing developed through school musical productions, including starring as Danny Zuko in Grease, as well as minor acting roles on series such as Fat Friends and Waterloo Road. Prior to entering television competitions, he sang in a local band named The Rogue.

In 2010, Tomlinson auditioned as a solo contestant for the seventh series of The X Factor. Although he did not advance individually in the "Boys" category, judges joined Tomlinson with Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, and Harry Styles to form One Direction. Mentored by Simon Cowell, the group finished in third place and signed a record contract with Syco Music. One Direction released five studio albums between 2011 and 2015, including Up All Night, Take Me Home, Midnight Memories, Four, and Made in the A.M., selling over 70 million records globally and embarking on major international stadium tours.

Following One Direction's hiatus in 2016, Tomlinson pursued individual music and television endeavors. He released his debut solo single, "Just Hold On," with Steve Aoki in December 2016, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart and earning platinum certification. Subsequent releases included "Back to You" featuring Bebe Rexha and "Miss You." Tomlinson also served as a guest judge on America's Got Talent before returning to The X Factor in 2018 as a main judge and mentor for the "Boys" category, guiding contestant Dalton Harris to victory.

In January 2020, Tomlinson released his debut solo studio album, Walls, which debuted at number four in the UK and number nine on the US Billboard 200. After tour dates were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he held a charity livestream concert, Live From London, in December 2020. The event sold over 160,000 tickets, setting a Guinness World Record for the most livestreamed concert by a male solo artist of the year while raising funds for various causes.

Tomlinson released his second studio album, Faith in the Future, in November 2022, which debuted at number one in the UK and number five in the United States. He launched the Faith in the Future World Tour in May 2023, earning a nomination for Best Live Act at the Rolling Stone UK Awards, and released the documentary film All of Those Voices. His third album, How Did I Get Here?, also debuted at number one in the UK. Outside of music releases, Tomlinson launched the streetwear brand "28" in August 2023 and serves as the curator of the Away From Home Festival.