Grammy Award-Winning Singer & Songwriter; Record Producer, Dancer, Actor & Sports Manager; Known for “Sweet Gurl” & “Not the Same”
Ne-Yo Biography
Shaffer Chimere Smith, known professionally as Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor.
Ne-Yo first gained prominence as a songwriter when he penned the 2004 hit “Let Me Love You” for singer Mario. The song’s success in the United States led to an informal meeting with Def Jam’s label head and the eventual signing of his recording contract.
He released his debut album, “In My Own Words,” in 2006. The album topped the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. Its lead single, “Stay,” was released in September 2005 and performed well on R&B charts, though it did not enter the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, “So Sick,” released in November 2005, became a commercial success—reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100 and earning quadruple-platinum certification in the U.S. and double-platinum in Japan. Subsequent singles “When You’re Mad” and “Sexy Love” reached No. 15 and No. 7 on the Hot 100, respectively.
In April 2007, he released his second studio album, “Because of You,” which debuted at No. 1 on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2008 ceremony. His third studio album, “Year of the Gentleman,” was released internationally in August 2008. The album earned nominations for Album of the Year and Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2009 Grammys; its singles “Closer” and “Miss Independent” also received multiple Grammy nominations. “Year of the Gentleman” achieved double-platinum status in the U.S., triple-platinum in the U.K., and platinum in Japan. The third single from the album, “Mad,” peaked at No. 11 on the Hot 100.
Released in November 2010, his fourth studio album, “Libra Scale,” reached No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and topped the U.K. R&B charts, although it underperformed compared to his earlier albums. It produced the U.K. No. 1 “Beautiful Monster,” as well as “Champagne Life” and “One in a Million.” Ne-Yo’s fifth album, “R.E.D.,” arrived in November 2012; its mainstream lead single, “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself),” released in July 2012, earned platinum certification in the U.S. and sold over two million copies. His sixth album, “Non-Fiction,” was released in January 2015. His seventh album, “Good Man,” followed in 2017, with the first single, “Another Love Song,” arriving that May.
Ne-Yo released his eighth studio album, “Self Explanatory,” in July 2022. The record included features from artists such as Yung Bleu, Jeremih and Trippie Redd and carried an introspective tone influenced by his experiences during the pandemic. He supported the project with the Champagne and Roses Tour, a world tour that ran from September 2023 through November 2024.
In 2025, Ne-Yo has remained musically active, releasing singles including “Sweet Gurl,” “Not the Same” from the short film Red Clay, “Can’t Sleep Without You” featuring MLAP and Giuliani, “Eu e Tu,” and the “Over Under (Remix),” released in August 2025.
Beyond music, Ne-Yo expanded into sports management in late 2024, signing boxer Paul Bamba, who became the World Boxing Association cruiserweight champion shortly before his unexpected passing in December of that year.
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How do I book Ne-Yo to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ne-Yo for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Ne-Yo, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Ne-Yo or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Ne-Yo
Speaking fees for Ne-Yo, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ne-Yo are $200,000 and above for live events and $50,000 - $100,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ne-Yo, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Ne-Yo speak about?
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Where does Ne-Yo travel from?
Ne-Yo generally travels from Roselle, IL, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Ne-Yo’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Ne-Yo for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ne-Yo for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Ne-Yo or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
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Ne-Yo is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Ne-Yo for your event is $200,000 and above. Ne-Yo generally travels from Roselle, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jordin Sparks, DJ D-Nice, Salt-N-Pepa, Aloe Blacc and T-Pain. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ne-Yo for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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