7-Time Grammy Award-Nominated Jazz Vocalist; Host of "Great Grief with Nnenna Freelon" Podcast and Author of "Beneath the Skin of Sorrow"
Nnenna Freelon Biography
Nnenna Freelon is an acclaimed jazz singer, composer, producer, and arranger whose career spans over three decades. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she grew up singing in her church community and later graduated from Simmons College in Boston, initially working in healthcare administration before devoting herself to music.
Freelon’s professional breakthrough came in the early 1990s: she released her debut album in 1992 and went on to record a string of well-regarded jazz albums under major labels. Over the years, she has earned multiple nominations from the Grammy Awards and collaborated or shared stages with jazz legends including Ray Charles, Ellis Marsalis, Al Jarreau, and George Benson, among others.
In recent years, after enduring profound personal loss — including the death of her husband, renowned architect Phil Freelon, in 2019 to ALS, and, shortly after, her sister Debbie in 2020, to cancer— Freelon turned her grief into a deep source of creative inspiration. In doing so, she expanded her artistry beyond performance: she launched a podcast, Great Grief with Nnenna Freelon, where she uses musical storytelling, conversation, and personal reflections to navigate grief, loss, and healing. Parallel to the podcast, she wrote "Beneath the Skin of Sorrow: Improvisations on Loss." The book blends essays, poems, lyrics and reflections — treating grief as an improvisational journey, akin to jazz itself.
In 2025, Freelon released a deeply personal album, Beneath the Skin, her first album made up entirely of original songs. Through this body of work — alongside her book and podcast — she invites listeners into a raw, honest space of mourning, memory, love, resilience, and rebirth.
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Nnenna Freelon Videos
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How do I book Nnenna Freelon to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Nnenna Freelon 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 Nnenna Freelon, 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 Nnenna Freelon or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Nnenna Freelon
Speaking fees for Nnenna Freelon, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Nnenna Freelon are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Nnenna Freelon, 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 Nnenna Freelon speak about?
Nnenna Freelon is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Black Heritage, Mental Health, Music, Performing Arts, Podcast Host, Storytelling -
Where does Nnenna Freelon travel from?
Nnenna Freelon generally travels from Durham, NC, 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 Nnenna Freelon’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Nnenna Freelon 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 Nnenna Freelon for your next private or corporate function. -
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Nnenna Freelon is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Nnenna Freelon for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Nnenna Freelon generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Kam Franklin, Harold O’Neal, Stephanie Mills, Samara Joy and Kris Bowers. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Nnenna Freelon for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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