John Legend releases Muse, his first album made entirely with Pharrell Williams

John Legend has stepped away from the piano. His new album Muse, released on Friday, 23 October 2026 via Republic Records, was produced in full and co-written by Pharrell Williams. It is the first full project the two have made together in more than 20 years of friendship. How it came together The album grew out of Legend's vocal on The Birds Don't Sing, from Clipse's album Let God Sort 'Em Out, which Pharrell produced. That performance pushed Pharrell to build a whole record around Legend's voice. The pair began writing and recording in January 2025 at Pharrell's studio at the Louis Vuitton headquarters in Paris, where he is Men's Creative Director. The sound Muse pulls together gospel, standards, doo-wop, classic soul, Afrobeat and hip-hop. Legend has said he wanted to move away from the piano ballads that defined much of his career and make something unexpected, with classic, cinematic sounds over a modern beat. The title track follows a stormy relationship set against Paris and high art, and also nods to the Muses of Greek mythology. Legend has said the woman at its centre is an invented character. Tracks and features The album has 16 tracks. Pharrell appears on Muse, Her, Get Back, Are You OK?, Next Time and Fireflies, while Clipse feature on Bodies On The Floor. The lead single is Daylight, and Pray For Ya was previewed earlier at Louis Vuitton's Fall-Winter 2026 men's show. What else is next Legend has written his first original stage score for the musical Imitation of Life, and is set to play Harry Belafonte in Bill Condon's film The Road Home.