Sam Smith: Out at four, legendary by 22

“I came out when I was four years old,” Sam Smith said during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “My mom said she knew when I was, like, three, so I didn’t have to actually properly come out. So I came out at a very, very young age and then I kind of felt like I just had to mention it before I released my record, just so people knew who the record was about. It felt like a brave thing; I wanted to do it before.”

Smith insists he doesn’t want to limit himself to being a spokesperson for the gay community and instead hopes to represent all his fans, regardless of their sexuality. “But I’m only 22 years old,” he adds. “I’m still figuring everything out.”