Newell was born on August 20, 1992, in Lynn, Massachusetts.[6][7] Their father, a deacon, died of cancer when they were six years old, at which point their mother raised them as a single parent.[8]
After four complete years of education in the first class of Kipp Lynn Academy, Newell moved on to and graduated from Bishop Fenwick High School in 2012,[9] where they were involved in their school's choir, improv club, and costume club; they were also a member of their church choir at Zion Baptist Church in Lynn, Massachusetts while later also directing the youth choir.[6] They never had any formal voice lessons before landing their part on Glee.[10] They have cited Donna Summer, Sylvester, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, and Beyoncé as their influences.[11]
Career
2011–2014: Glee
Newell was among 34,000 to submit an audition video in 2011 for the first season of Oxygen's The Glee Project.[10] Newell's self-taped audition earned them over one million MySpace views as well as a spot among the 12 participants who competed for a seven-episode arc on Glee. During the arc, they asserted themself as an out gay man.[12] Eventually, they became the series’ first runner-up.[13] Nevertheless, the producers were so impressed that they decided to bring them on Glee for two episodes.[14] Newell first appeared on Glee in the third season episode "Saturday Night Glee-ver". They were cast in the role of Wade "Unique" Adams, a transgender teenager who was assigned male at birth. The shy, outcast Wade expressed their female identity through music as the bold, brave alter ego, Unique. Wade broke ground by being one of the most visible transgender characters on television and one of the first on a network prime time show.[15] Newell's performance was described as "bold",[16] with "remarkable restraint and powerful vocals."[17]
On his nightly show, Bill O'Reilly expressed concern that children watching the show unsupervised might be encouraged to experiment with what he termed "alternative lifestyles," which he said the show glorified.[18] Newell commented, "My mother said, 'If Bill O'Reilly said something about you, you are doing something right.' He just showed the public and conservative viewers me. There are more people seeing me now... There are people like Wade and Unique, and [they're] being themselves. If kids want to go and do that, that is them expressing who they are."[9] They later appeared in two more episodes and completed their story arc that season.
Newell announced in October 2013 that they had been signed by Big Beat Records and that they were going to release Newell's debut album. It was also revealed that it was going to be produced by Adam Anders.[24] Their debut single, a cover of Sigma's "Nobody to Love", was released on June 3, 2014.[25]
In 2015, Newell embarked on a series of cover songs and collaborations. In March, they provided feature vocals for the re-issued version of "Stronger", a song by Clean Bandit.[26] Later in the same month, they produced a disco-house stylization of Robin S.'s single "Show Me Love" together with Russian DJ Matvey Emerson.[27] Over the summer, they worked with the British electro duo Blonde by featuring vocals in their single "All Cried Out". They then began to collaborate with the US electroduo the Knocks on the song "Collect My Love", "a soaring disco standout" where they reached "staggering heights."[28] The song, from the EP So Classic, will be included in The Knocks' debut album 55, scheduled to be released in March 2016. Finally, for Christmas, Newell released a cover of the song "O Come All Ye Faithful".
Their original song "This Ain't Over", released in January 2016, was warmly welcomed by the media. Out commented: "The vibrant dance-pop track flawlessly revives disco if only for a few short minutes. Without the gimmicks of manufactured radio pop, Newell manages to serve This Ain't Over with pure talent." Spin said: "Newell's unassailable voice is in full force on 'This Ain't Over,' shining out like a triumphant beacon over a thumping, glamorous dance-pop soundscape."[28]Vulture concluded: "This is just diva vocal acrobatics flexed with the swag of a queen."[29]
Newell supported fellow Glee alum Adam Lambert on tour from February 23[30] until the April 2 finale at Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre in 2016.[13] After the tour, Newell recorded a new single in collaboration with Power producers DJ Cassidy and Nile Rodgers, entitled "Kill the Lights", released on April 8, 2016, through Atlantic Records. It was expected to be one of a few tracks that Newell was making as part of the HBO TV series Vinyl. It was later revealed that the song had been recorded the previous year when Newell was working with Clean Bandit, Blonde and The Knocks, and inspired the producers to work with them on their debut extended play. Later that same month, the song was released again, featuring vocals from Jess Glynne.
2016–present: Debut album, Once on This Island, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, and Shucked
In 2017, Newell made their Broadway debut playing the role of Asaka in the revival of Once on This Island.[31]
In 2019, Newell was cast in NBC's musical dramedy Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist in the role of Mo, a genderfluid DJ and the protagonist's next-door neighbor.[32] In June 2021, the series was canceled by NBC after two seasons. In December 2021, The Roku Channel released a two-hour holiday film, Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas, concluding the story of the NBC series. Newell reprised their role of Mo for the film.
In 2024, Newell performed their solo concert debut at Cadogan Hall in London, UK on September 1, 2024 for two performances.[36] These concerts featured a guest appearance from Marisha Wallace.[37]
Other work and awards
Newell played the title role in NBC's comedy pilot Imaginary Friend,[38] which was expected to air in 2016.[39] It was passed on and no other network wanted to make it into a series.[40] They contributed with music to the HBO TV series Vinyl on a track also featuring DJ Cassidy and Jess Glynne.[41]
They are committed to helping other LGBT youth and regularly performs at benefit concerts, most notably for The Trevor Project,[8] the Human Rights Campaign,[20] Jack Antonoff's Ally Coalition and other fundraisers.[16]
Newell was given a special recognition award at the 2015 GLAAD Media Awards, as part of the cast of Glee.[42]
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