Jamie Miller

Before Jamie Miller had people around the world dancing to “Babydoll”, he was making the floorboards shake in his bedroom in Pontprennau. His dad remembered hearing him singing and dancing upstairs, and by the time Jamie was 19, viewers across the country were getting their first chance to hear what his family had been listening to for years. He finished third on The Voice UK in 2017. Nearly a decade later, he gave Wales its first UK number one single in 15 years.

The Pontprennau years

Jamie had been singing since primary school. He joined a theatre arts company as a child, took part in after-school clubs and took his dancing as seriously as his singing. His mum drove him around the country to competitions, while his dad introduced him to the voices of Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder. You can hear something of that musical upbringing in “Babydoll”, especially in the way Jamie lets a line breathe before opening up into the chorus.

There were plenty of knockbacks along the way. Jamie told Official Charts he auditioned for The X Factor more times than he could count. By the time he appeared on The Voice UK, he had quit his job to give music a proper go. He was already posting performances online, getting used to putting his voice out there long before a dance challenge would send it around the world.

The voice that turned Jennifer Hudson’s chair

Jamie chose James Bay’s “Let It Go” for his blind audition and joined Jennifer Hudson’s team. By the semi-final, he was putting his own spin on Shawn Mendes’ “Stitches”, the performance that secured his place in the final. South Wales had two acts to get behind that year, with duo Into The Ark also making it through. Jamie came third, an impressive finish for a teenager who had spent years trying to get a break on television.

One of the most consequential moments came after the show. Jamie told Heart that Khloé Kardashian shared a clip of him singing, prompting a rush of interest from record labels. He soon found himself on a flight to New York. Even with that opening, there were difficult years ahead. He eventually took time away from music and returned to the studio in 2026 wanting to make something that felt like him again. After writing so many sad songs, he wanted to make one that sounded like falling in love.

How “Babydoll” went global

Released on 7th August 2026, “Babydoll” has the warmth of the soul records Jamie grew up with and a chorus you can pick up on the first listen. Then came the dance. People started posting their own versions, and soon Perrie Edwards, Alison Hammond and Meghan Trainor were joining in. A new duet with Off Campus star Antonio Cipriano gave an already growing hit another lift. Jamie had heard Antonio sing in a Broadway clip and messaged him directly to ask if he fancied being part of the song.

On 23rd October, “Babydoll” went to number one in the UK. The last Welsh artist to reach the top had been Siân Evans, who featured on DJ Fresh’s “Louder” in 2011. For a Welsh male solo artist, the wait went all the way back to Shakin’ Stevens and “Merry Christmas Everyone” in 1985. By the chart dated 7th November, “Babydoll” had climbed to number 10 on the Billboard Global 200 and had also broken into the US Hot 100. That’s quite a journey for a song written by a singer who had wondered whether he still had a future in music.

Ten Things You May Not Know About Jamie

1. He used to fix iPads. Before his TV break, Jamie worked in a Cardiff call centre, where his job involved fixing iPads for Tesco.
2. Sir Tom Jones kept his chair facing the other way. The Welsh coach didn’t turn for Jamie at his blind audition.
3. He’s played The Globe in Cardiff. The intimate venue on Albany Road is part of his live story.
4. He has toured with the Jonas Brothers. Jamie supported them on their Burning Up Tour.
5. Bruno Mars is his biggest musical idol. He also singles out RAYE, Adele and Sienna Spiro as artists he loves.
6. He saw Sienna Spiro at the Troubadour. He told Official Charts the performance felt like watching someone who would go down in history.
7. He recorded the “Babydoll” duet in Los Angeles. He and Antonio got together in the studio to make the new version.
8. One of his childhood favourites did the dance. Jamie told Heart how much it meant to see Jennifer Love Hewitt join in.
9. He grew up watching Gavin & Stacey with his parents. Years later, messages from members of the cast started appearing on his social media.
10. He made his upcoming album with two of his best friends. He describes the music as soulful and joyful, and says he’s working on a Cardiff homecoming show.