"Fear is a healthy part of success."

• Born Oct. 18, 1979, in Camden, Ark.

• Ne-Yo cemented his move from top songwriter to performer with "So Sick," his second single. The song was a Top 10 hit in several countries, and went to No. 1 in the United States. His debut album, In My Own Words, also reached No. 1.

• Ne-Yo won his first career GRAMMY for 2007 for Best Contemporary R&B Album for Because Of You. He performed as part of a tribute to the Four Tops with Duke Fakir, Smokey Robinson and Jamie Foxx at the 51st GRAMMY Awards in 2009, his GRAMMY stage debut.

• Ne-Yo produced three No. 1 albums in fewer than five years.

• Ne-Yo has participated in GRAMMY Career Day in 2009, GRAMMY SoundChecks and the GRAMMY Foundation's Up Close & Personal educational programs. He also performed at the first GRAMMY Park concert in Brooklyn, N.Y. 

• From 2007–2017, the singer's Compound Foundation worked to increase awareness about children on welfare. In 2016, Ne-Yo auctioned off sneakers from his personal collection to raise money to benefit the foundation.