Emmanuel Kelly

Born in Iraq, Emmanuel Kelly had a challenging childhood witnessing some of the worst of human warfare. When infant Emmanuel was discovered half-dead in a shoebox by two soldiers, he had no birth certificate, passport, or any known identity. He was taken to the Mother Theresa Orphanage in Baghdad, where he spent the next seven and half years surviving as a child of war.

After being discovered by humanitarian Moira Kelly, Emmanuel would move to Australia with his brother Ahmed, where he would undergo life-changing surgeries. Since then, Emmanuel has lived with his new family in Australia.

And yet, despite the numerous surgeries and physical therapy spanning over a decade, Emmanuel’s biggest obstacle was learning to embrace himself and overcome his own insecurities.

At the age of 18, Emmanuel took another leap of faith when he auditioned on Australia’s X Factor. His performance was a viral sensation, reaching over 500M views online. Emmanuel has since become a media sensation, inspiring close to a billion people worldwide.

Emmanuel has worked with many international icons, including touring with Coldplay, performing at the United Nations Assembly, and opening for Snoop Dog. He has also made guest appearances on a range of media programs, including the Kelly Clarkson Show, Good Morning America, Buzzfeed, and Graham Norton.

Striving to be the first “differently-abled pop star”, Emmanuel is an incredible role model that will inspire any audience with his resilience and determination.