Who is R&B star Ella Mai – and is she dating the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum?

Jun 25 , 2024

Who is Ella Mai, the British R&B star named after Ella Fitzgerald – and is she dating Jayson Tatum? Photo: @ellamai/Instagram

English singer-songwriter Ella Mai has been a mainstay in the R&B scene since she debuted in 2014. The chart-topping singer looked to trailblazers like Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys for inspiration, per The Fader and Billboard – but has curated her own unique sound that is resonating with fans all over the world.

Ella Mai is becoming one of the most important figures in British R&B. Photo: @ellamai/Instagram

With two studio albums, three EPs and a mixtape to her name, Mai defines success as the ability to inspire people and is excited to be at the forefront of British R&B, she told NME and The Guardian, respectively. She has also recently made headlines for her rumoured relationship with NBA player Jayson Tatum.

Here’s everything we know about the songstress – who’s at the peak of her career.

Where is Ella Mai from?

Ella Mai at New York Fashion Week. Photo: @ellamai/Instagram

The 29-year-old icon has Jamaican-Irish roots and is named after Ella Fitzgerald, inspired by her mother’s love for jazz, per NME. Her parents split when she was young and she moved to New York with her mother at age 12. She later returned to England when she was 17 and studied at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute.

She was on The X Factor

Ella Mai is also an alum of The X Factor. Photo: @ellamai/Instagram

In 2014, Mai auditioned for The X Factor’s season 11. Her appearance on the show as a part of the now disbanded trio Arize gave her a boost in recognition. She started posting covers on Instagram, and that was when she caught the attention of DJ Mustard, who has also worked with Rihanna and Travis Scott, per NME. He signed her to his label 10 Summers Records, an imprint of the renowned Interscope Records.

When did Ella Mai become famous?

Ella Mai in the recording studio – she is best known for her song “Boo’d Up”. Photo: @ellamai/Instagram

Mai released EPs Time (2016), Change (2016) and Ready (2017) before she finally got her big break with her record-breaking single “Boo’d Up” in 2018, when she was 23. The song was a cultural reset and shot Mai to global fame, earning her several prestigious awards and accolades, including a Grammy for best R&B song.

Soon after, she dropped her first studio album Ella Mai (2018) and went on to tour with Bruno Mars. She also performed on SNL, and launched her own debut tour. In 2023, she released her second studio album, Heart on My Sleeve.

How many awards did Ella Mai win?

Since her debut 10 years ago, Ella Mai has won scores of awards and nominations, including a Grammy. Photo: @ellamai/Instagram

Per NME, back in 2018, Mai was the first British artist to top the US R&B chart in 26 years – in other words, within her lifetime. Apart from her Grammy R&B win, “Boo’d Up” was also nominated for song of the year.

In 2019, Mai won top R&B female artist, top R&B artist and top R&B song with “Boo’d Up” at the Billboard Music Awards. She also scored nominations for top new artist and top female artist. She continued to receive Grammy nominations in 2020 and 2023 for best R&B album and best traditional R&B performance, respectively.

Who is Ella Mai dating?

Ella Mai at a basketball game in 2022 – she was rumoured to be dating NBA’s Jayson Tatum

Mai is rumoured to have been dating NBA star player Jayson Tatum, 26, since 2020, per People – although the singer has neither confirmed or denied this. The pair was spotted together publicly on several occasions, including his latest winning NBA finals game with the Boston Celtics.

Speculation about their relationship renewed when she was allegedly spotted with a baby bump, per ET. While Mai doesn’t have kids of her own yet, Jayson has a son, Deuce, 6. And Mai seems to have a good relationship with Tatum Jr, per People.

Fame and celebrity

The Grammy-winning ‘Boo’d Up’ singer was named after Ella Fitzgerald, appeared on The X Factor, and is signed to DJ Mustard’s label