Celebrity Birthdays, February 26: Erykah Badu and Nate Ruess

Singers Erykah Badu and Nate Ruess are celebrating their birthdays today, February 26.

Erykah Badu, 44

Singer-songwriter, record producer, activist and actress Erykah Badu turns 44 today. In 1997, Badu released her debut album, Baduizm. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified three times platinum. At the Grammy Awards, the single "On & On" won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and the album won Best R&B Album.

Badu's first live album, Live, was released in November 1997, the same time she gave birth. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and is certified two times Platinum. In 1999, Badu and The Roots earned the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for their song "You Got Me."

Badu went on to release five more studio album, Mama's Gun in 2000, Worldwide Underground in 2003, New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) in 2008 and New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) in 2010. Badu has had 19 Grammy nominations in total and won four, including Best R&B Song for "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)."

Badu has also transitioned into film and television acting, appearing in Def Poetry Jam, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Real Husbands of Hollywood, Blues Brothers 2000, House of D and They Die by Dawn.

Badu is a devout vegan and has been for 20 years. She has a son, Seven Sirius Benjamin, from rapper Andre 3000 and two daughters, Puma Sabti Curry, with rapper The D.O.C. and Mars Merkaba Thedford with rapper Jay Electronica.

image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com

Nate Ruess, 35

Singer-songwriter and musician Nate Ruess turns 35 today. In 2001, Ruess formed the band The Format with his best friend, Sam Means. The group was signed to Elektra Records in 2002. They released their debut album, Interventions + Lullabies in 2003. They were later signed to Atlantic Records where they released their second EP, Snails, but were eventually dropped from the label. They created their own label, The Vanity Label, and released their second album, Dog Problems.

In 2008, The Format broke up and Ruess formed Fun. with Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost. They released their first album, Aim and Ignite, in 2009. In 2012, they gained more worldwide fame with their second album, Some Nights. Their first single from the album, "We Are Young" featuring Janelle Monáe, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2013, the band won a Grammy for their song "We Are Young" as well as the Best New Artist Grammy award.

In 2012, Ruess was featured on Anthony Green's "Only Love" and in 2013, was featured on Pink's "Just Give Me a Reason" and Eminem's "Headlights."

In 2015, Fun. announced that they will not be working on any new music, instead they will all focus on solo careers. Ruess solo stuido album is scheduled to be released sometime this summer. He released the lead single, "Nothing Without Love," February 23.

image courtesy of INFphoto.com