Melanie Jayne Chisholm (born 12 January 1974), known professionally as Melanie C or Mel C, is an English singer and songwriter. She became internationally known in the mid-1990s as a member of the pop group Spice Girls, where she was given the nickname Sporty Spice. The group has been widely reported as one of the best… Melanie Jayne Chisholm (born 12 January 1974), known professionally as Melanie C or Mel C, is an English singer and songwriter. She became internationally known in the mid-1990s as a member of the pop group Spice Girls, where she was given the nickname Sporty Spice. The group has been widely reported as one of the best-selling female groups of all time, with claimed global sales exceeding 100 million records. The Spice Girls went on an indefinite hiatus in 2000, later reuniting for a greatest hits release in 2007, a concert tour in 2007–2008 titled "Return of the Spice Girls", and another tour in 2019 titled "Spice World".
Chisholm is noted for her distinctive vocal tone and has pursued a long solo career alongside her group work. Her solo career began in 1998 with a featured appearance on "When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams. She signed with Virgin Records and released her debut solo album "Northern Star" in 1999. The album produced UK number one singles "Never Be the Same Again" and "I Turn to You" and sold several million copies worldwide. She followed this with the album "Reason" in 2003, after which she left Virgin Records and established her own label, Red Girl Records. Her third album, "Beautiful Intentions" (2005), achieved commercial success in several European markets and included singles such as "Next Best Superstar" and "First Day of My Life". Subsequent albums include "This Time" (2007), "The Sea" (2011), "Stages" (2012), "Version of Me" (2016), and "Melanie C" (2020). Her ninth studio album "Sweat" is scheduled for release in 1 May 2026.
Chisholm was born in Whiston, Lancashire, and grew up in Widnes, Cheshire. Her parents separated when she was a young child. She attended Brookvale Junior School and Fairfield High School before studying singing, dance, and musical theatre in London. She later obtained teaching qualifications in dance.
In 1994, Chisholm joined an advertisement-based audition process that led to the formation of the Spice Girls alongside Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, and Victoria Adams, later joined by Emma Bunton. Their debut album "Spice" (1996) became a major international commercial success and included singles such as "Wannabe", "Say You'll Be There", and "2 Become 1". The group’s image and messaging were associated with the concept of “Girl Power”, and their popularity led to extensive media attention. Their second album "Spiceworld" (1997) also achieved strong international sales and was accompanied by the film "Spiceworld: The Movie" (1997). After Geri Halliwell’s departure in 1998, the group released the single "Goodbye" and later the album "Forever" (2000) before entering an indefinite hiatus.
Chisholm’s solo work continued alongside the group’s final phase. Her collaboration with Bryan Adams on "When You're Gone" reached high chart positions in the United Kingdom. In 1999 she released "Goin' Down" and later "Northern Star", both from her debut solo album. The single "Never Be the Same Again", featuring Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, became her first solo number one single in the UK. "I Turn to You" also reached number one in several countries. A remix of "I Turn to You" won a Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical.
Her second album "Reason" was released in 2003 and included singles such as "Here It Comes Again" and "On the Horizon". During this period she experienced personal health challenges, including depression, and later left Virgin Records. She founded Red Girl Records in 2004 and released "Beautiful Intentions" in 2005, followed by the singles "Better Alone" and "First Day of My Life", the latter achieving number one positions in several European countries. A reissue of the album followed in 2006.
In 2007 she released "This Time", which included singles such as "The Moment You Believe", "I Want Candy", and "Carolyna". That same year the Spice Girls reunited for the "Return of the Spice Girls" tour, which ran into 2008 and included commercial sponsorships and a documentary film "Giving You Everything". The reunion was followed by additional solo touring activity.
In 2009 Chisholm made her stage acting debut in the musical "Blood Brothers", where she played Mrs Johnstone. Her performance led to a nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award. She later released the album "The Sea" (2011), which included singles such as "Rock Me", "Think About It", "Weak", and "Let There Be Love". Around this time she also appeared on television programmes including "The X Factor Australia" as a mentor assistant.
In 2012 she collaborated with Jodie Harsh on the EP "The Night". She also performed in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar", playing Mary Magdalene, a role that earned her a theatre award. She subsequently released the album "Stages" (2013), consisting of musical theatre songs, including "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and "I Know Him So Well" (a duet with Emma Bunton). She was also part of the charity single "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" with The Justice Collective, which reached number one in the UK.
Chisholm continued acting and media work in the following years, including a role in the film "Play Hard" (2013), television judging roles on shows such as Asia’s Got Talent, and various live performances. She released the album "Version of Me" in 2016, preceded by the single "Anymore". Other singles from the album included "Dear Life" and "Room for Love".
In 2019 she participated in another Spice Girls reunion tour titled "Spice World – 2019 Tour". In 2020 she released the album "Melanie C", which reached the UK top 10 and included singles such as "Who I Am", "Blame It on Me", and "In and Out of Love". The album was reissued in a deluxe edition in 2021. During this period she also appeared in television programmes, collaborations, and charity recordings, including "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" for Children in Need.
From 2022 onward, Chisholm published a memoir titled "Who I Am: My Story" (also released as "The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl" in the United States), and continued performing at festivals, television appearances, and collaborations with other artists. She also returned to judging and mentoring roles on talent shows and expanded her work as a DJ, performing at events internationally.
In 2025 she released the single "Sweat" and announced continued work on her upcoming album of the same name. Further singles followed, including "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" and "Undefeated Champion", ahead of the planned album release in 2026. She also announced the Melanie C World Tour 2026, scheduled to begin in Montreal and conclude in Sydney, with additional international dates.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_C
Studio albums
Northern Star (1999)
Reason (2003)
Beautiful Intentions (2005)
This Time (2007)
The Sea (2011)
Stages (2012)
Version of Me (2016)
Melanie C (2020)
Sweat (2026) Read moreShow less
