About Me
It’s a rare thing for an artist to seem fully formed from the very beginning — Irish singer-songwriter Allie Sherlock is one of those rare stars. First introduced to the world at just 12 years old, Allie rose to viral fame busking on the streets of Ireland before becoming one of the most memorable musical guests on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. What followed was not a moment, but a career — one built on raw talent, consistency, and an unmistakable voice.
Now, in 2026, Allie Sherlock has firmly established herself as a true original. Her phenomenal vocal ability, emotional honesty, and magnetic live presence have earned her a devoted global audience numbering in the millions. No longer simply a viral sensation, she is an artist with depth, direction, and a growing catalogue of music that resonates far beyond first impressions.
Music was always part of Allie’s life. “I grew up loving music — I was always the kid singing around the house, driving everyone mad,” she says, laughing. She learned piano before picking up the guitar, drawing inspiration from artists like Adele, Lewis Capaldi, and Sam Smith — performers known for pairing powerful vocals with sincere, relatable songwriting. That influence is clear in Allie’s own work: a voice capable of soaring, spine-tingling belts, then dropping effortlessly into intimate, emotionally charged moments that feel deeply personal.
Raised in Cork, Ireland, Allie experienced profound loss at a young age when her mother passed away while she was just nine years old. Not long after, she became the target of severe bullying at school, leading her to leave traditional education and be homeschooled. During this time, Allie persuaded her father to let her start busking — first around Cork, and later on Grafton Street in Dublin. What began as a way to cope and express herself quickly turned into something much bigger, as her performances drew huge street crowds and millions of views through videos shared on YouTube and across social media.
It was a deeply personal moment — her busking performance of Ed Sheeran’s “Supermarket Flowers,” dedicated to her mother — that went viral and ultimately caught the attention of US television producers. Many will remember the remarkable confidence of the young artist as she stepped onto The Ellen DeGeneres Show, offering a stunning, self-arranged rendition of Adele’s “A Million Years Ago,” complete with intricate guitar work and unmistakable emotional depth.
Less widely known is the uncertainty leading up to that appearance. In the weeks beforehand, media outlets incorrectly reported that Allie had “turned down” the opportunity. “The producers had been asking for a while, and my dad and I were talking about it a lot,” Allie recalls. “But we weren’t even sure there was a confirmed invitation yet — then suddenly it was in the papers saying I’d turned it down.”
The turning point came with a call from Ryan Tedder — OneRepublic frontman and one of the most influential songwriters and producers of the past two decades — who offered to fly Allie and her father to Los Angeles. “Ryan told me it would be a really good thing to do, so we went for it,” Allie says. “He’s an absolute gentleman — and a genius. I really loved working with him.”
Despite her composure on screen, Allie admits she was nervous stepping onto the stage. “Looking over at Ellen felt surreal — it didn’t feel like I was actually there. It was like I was singing while watching the TV.” The performance, however, was unmistakably her own. “I love Adele, but with every song I do, I always try to change it and make it mine.”
When she returned to Dublin, the crowds for her street performances were larger than ever. It marked the end of one chapter — and the clear beginning of the next.
Her debut single, “How Love Works”, was released last year to a rapturous reception. Over tender piano notes, she sings first in a husky murmur as if observing a scene while it unfolds: “It's another Friday/ And I ain't got nothing to wear/ The guy I really like/ Is getting with some drunk girl over there.” Written with pop star and songwriter Ella Henderson, and songwriter/producer Ollie Green, it was inspired by Allie’s feelings of disillusionment and isolation when it came to teenage romance.
“I’d been at a party and felt bothered that everyone else seemed to have boyfriends or girlfriends,” she said. “That phrase, ‘I’m the queen of catching feelings,’” popped into my head and I sang it to the guys at the studio – they loved it.”
Allie possesses a clear talent for tapping into the angst and confusion so many teenagers go through. This is no more evident than on her new single “Ex Friend”, a fantastic kiss-off to someone who stabbed her in the back. “Long story short, I liked this guy and my friend (at the time) went after him and broke the girl code,” Allie says with a laugh. “I guess we were sort of frenemies – there was definitely something passive-aggressive about the relationship!”
She sings in her affecting lilt over smooth strums of an acoustic guitar and angelic backing harmonies: “What a way to turn a best friend to an ex-friend, it was me and you/ You know this ain’t the West End, stop your acting, I can see right through/ ‘Cos I told you that he’d caught my eye, but you had to go and stay the night/ And turn a best friend to an ex-friend, won’t be missing you.”
It’s an irrepressible hit, and one that’s certain to go down a storm when she heads back out on the road – having already sold out headline shows across the UK and Ireland and supported acts such as OneRepublic, Picture This and Gavin James. Allie is ready to start her career on her own terms, with authentic, heartfelt songs that shine a light on the incredible artist she is.
