Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1980-11-15
- Born Place: La Mirada, California, U.S.
Melanie Nyema
Melanie Nyema is a professional singer and dancer, originally from La Mirada, California, and an alumna of Southern California University. She has built an extensive career as a backup singer and performer, notably working with former American Idol winner Taylor Hicks and completing a two-year residency as a performer with Barry Manilow in Las Vegas, where she excelled as both a singer and a dancer. She also auditioned for American Idol during Season 7, making it to the Hollywood Round. Nyema is best known as a key, long-standing member of The Starlights, Taylor Swift's backup vocal group, having joined in 2012 at the start of the Red era. She holds the position of Vocal Co-Captain and has appeared on every major subsequent tour: The Red Tour (2012–2013), The 1989 World Tour (2015), the Reputation Stadium Tour (2018), and The Eras Tour (2023-2024). Her versatility in combining strong background vocals with intricate choreography makes her an invaluable part of Swift's live performance team, and she shares a close personal friendship with Taylor Swift.
