Melanie C

Melanie Jayne Chisholm, born 12 January 1974, is an English singer and songwriter known professionally as Melanie C or Mel C. She achieved international fame in the mid-1990s as a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Sporty Spice. Recognized for her distinctive vocal tone and ability, she contributed to the group becoming the best-selling female group of all time, with over 100 million records sold worldwide.

Chisholm was born in Whiston, Lancashire, to Joan Tuffley Chisholm O'Neill, a singer and personal assistant, and Alan William Chisholm, an elevator company fitter. Raised in Widnes, Cheshire, she attended Brookvale Junior School and Fairfield High School. She later studied singing, dancing, and musical theatre at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in London before earning teaching qualifications in tap and modern theatre dance with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

In 1994, Chisholm joined the group that became the Spice Girls alongside Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Adams, and later Emma Bunton. After signing with Virgin Records, the group released their debut album, Spice, in 1996, which achieved commercial success globally. Subsequent releases included their second album Spiceworld in 1997, a feature film, and several UK number-one singles before the group began an indefinite hiatus in 2000. They later reunited for a greatest hits album in 2007 and concert tours in 2007–2008 and 2019.

Chisholm launched her solo career in late 1998 featuring on Bryan Adams's single "When You're Gone." She signed with Virgin Records and released her debut solo album, Northern Star, in 1999. The album sold over four million copies worldwide and produced two UK number-one singles, "Never Be the Same Again" and "I Turn to You." Following the release of her second album, Reason, in 2003, Chisholm parted ways with Virgin Records.

In 2004, Chisholm founded her own independent record label, Red Girl Records. Under her label, she released her third album, Beautiful Intentions (2005), which achieved commercial success in Europe and featured the successful single "First Day of My Life." She continued releasing solo music, including This Time (2007), The Sea (2011), Stages (2012), Version of Me (2016), and Melanie C (2020). Her ninth studio album, Sweat, was released on 1 May 2026, debuting at number three on the UK Albums Chart.

In addition to her recording career, Chisholm made her stage debut in 2009 in the West End musical Blood Brothers, earning a nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award. Throughout her career, she has sold over 130 million records and earned over 339 worldwide certifications, alongside numerous awards including Brit Awards, World Music Awards, and a Grammy Award won by Hex Hector's remix of "I Turn to You."