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Tori Kelly Delivers Intimate Tiny Desk Performance Highlighting New Album and Sing Role
On September 10 2026, NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series welcomed singer‑songwriter Tori Kelly to Washington, D.C., for a session that felt both personal and polished. Produced by Ashley Pointer, the performance featured Kelly alongside an all‑woman band composed of Tiny Desk alumnae, creating a tight, acoustic sound that highlighted the artist’s vocal range and songwriting depth.
Kelly stepped up to the desk while her band was already fine‑tuning their parts. She opened with the title track from her latest studio effort, “Hurts So Good,” and followed it with “Without You,” “Fly,” and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing.” The latter choice was a nod to her role as Meena in the animated film Sing, where she performs the same Wonder classic. The set then moved through “Bird,” “Control,” and “Tokyo,” before slipping into brief previews of “Nobody Love” and “Dear One,” both tracks that will appear on God Must Really Love Me.
The acoustic arrangement kept the focus on Kelly’s voice, supported by guitar, bass, keys, drums, and layered background vocals from Chelsea “Peaches” West, RaVaughn Brown, and Mariah Bernard. Her use of a toy glockenspiel added a whimsical touch that underscored the intimate atmosphere of the desk.
God Must Really Love Me dropped on June 12 2026 through Epic Records. The 14‑track album charts Kelly’s faith journey, her experience as a new mother, and her marriage, blending pop, R&B, gospel, and soul. Critics have praised the record for its grounded lyricism and the singer’s settled artistic identity.
Kelly’s crossover into voice acting with Sing has broadened her audience. The film’s soundtrack featured her rendition of Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” a track that resonated with the Tiny Desk crowd, many of whom were middle‑school students attending the event.
The Tiny Desk band included guitarist Jordan Waters, bassist Kyla Wright, keyboardist Lynette Williams, drummer Taylor “The Pocket Queen” Gordon, and guitarist‑vocalist Tori Kelly herself. The background vocalists—Chelsea “Peaches” West, RaVaughn Brown, and Mariah Bernard—added depth to the live arrangements.
The session’s production team comprised director and editor Joshua Bryant, audio engineer and mix Josephine Nyounai, and additional engineer Valentina Rodríguez Sánchez. The Tiny Desk crew—Kara Frame, Josh Newell, and series editor Lars Gotrich—supported the recording, while executive producer Suraya Mohamed and executive director Sonali Mehta oversaw the series.
Kelly’s career began on YouTube and culminated in a 2010 American Idol appearance. She released the EP Handmade Songs in 2012, signed with Capitol Records in 2013, and followed with Foreword (EP) and Unbreakable Smile (2015). Her second album, Hiding Place (2018), earned two Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance/Song. Subsequent releases include Inspired by True Events (2019), A Tori Kelly Christmas (2020), Tori (2024), and the current album God Must Really Love Me.
The Tiny Desk performance streamed on NPR’s website and YouTube channel, receiving positive feedback for its stripped‑down arrangement and Kelly’s emotive delivery. The session underscored her continued relevance in contemporary music and highlighted her versatility as a vocalist, songwriter, and performer.
In summary, Tori Kelly’s September 10 2026 Tiny Desk appearance showcased new material, her voice‑acting work, and collaborative musicianship, reinforcing her status as a respected artist who blends personal storytelling with musical craftsmanship.
Kelly stepped up to the desk while her band was already fine‑tuning their parts. She opened with the title track from her latest studio effort, “Hurts So Good,” and followed it with “Without You,” “Fly,” and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing.” The latter choice was a nod to her role as Meena in the animated film Sing, where she performs the same Wonder classic. The set then moved through “Bird,” “Control,” and “Tokyo,” before slipping into brief previews of “Nobody Love” and “Dear One,” both tracks that will appear on God Must Really Love Me.
The acoustic arrangement kept the focus on Kelly’s voice, supported by guitar, bass, keys, drums, and layered background vocals from Chelsea “Peaches” West, RaVaughn Brown, and Mariah Bernard. Her use of a toy glockenspiel added a whimsical touch that underscored the intimate atmosphere of the desk.
God Must Really Love Me dropped on June 12 2026 through Epic Records. The 14‑track album charts Kelly’s faith journey, her experience as a new mother, and her marriage, blending pop, R&B, gospel, and soul. Critics have praised the record for its grounded lyricism and the singer’s settled artistic identity.
Kelly’s crossover into voice acting with Sing has broadened her audience. The film’s soundtrack featured her rendition of Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” a track that resonated with the Tiny Desk crowd, many of whom were middle‑school students attending the event.
The Tiny Desk band included guitarist Jordan Waters, bassist Kyla Wright, keyboardist Lynette Williams, drummer Taylor “The Pocket Queen” Gordon, and guitarist‑vocalist Tori Kelly herself. The background vocalists—Chelsea “Peaches” West, RaVaughn Brown, and Mariah Bernard—added depth to the live arrangements.
The session’s production team comprised director and editor Joshua Bryant, audio engineer and mix Josephine Nyounai, and additional engineer Valentina Rodríguez Sánchez. The Tiny Desk crew—Kara Frame, Josh Newell, and series editor Lars Gotrich—supported the recording, while executive producer Suraya Mohamed and executive director Sonali Mehta oversaw the series.
Kelly’s career began on YouTube and culminated in a 2010 American Idol appearance. She released the EP Handmade Songs in 2012, signed with Capitol Records in 2013, and followed with Foreword (EP) and Unbreakable Smile (2015). Her second album, Hiding Place (2018), earned two Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance/Song. Subsequent releases include Inspired by True Events (2019), A Tori Kelly Christmas (2020), Tori (2024), and the current album God Must Really Love Me.
The Tiny Desk performance streamed on NPR’s website and YouTube channel, receiving positive feedback for its stripped‑down arrangement and Kelly’s emotive delivery. The session underscored her continued relevance in contemporary music and highlighted her versatility as a vocalist, songwriter, and performer.
In summary, Tori Kelly’s September 10 2026 Tiny Desk appearance showcased new material, her voice‑acting work, and collaborative musicianship, reinforcing her status as a respected artist who blends personal storytelling with musical craftsmanship.