# Matt Terry
**Matt Terry** (born 1993) is an English singer and songwriter from Bromley, London, who rose to fame as the winner of the thirteenth series of *The X Factor* in 2016.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-terry-mn0003586126) • [2](https://www.itv.com/news/2016-12-11/matt-terry-crowned-x-factor-winner-2016) His winner's single, "When Christmas Comes Around", written by [Ed Sheeran](https://www.edgepedia.org/ed-sheeran), reached number three on the UK chart, and he went on to release the album *Trouble* in 2017 before rebuilding his career as an independent artist and musical theater performer.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-terry-mn0003586126) • [3](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/matt-terry-on-his-postx-factor-mental-health-battle-and-learning-to-love-himself-b1260068.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993, Bromley, Greater London, England[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-terry-mn0003586126) |
| Breakthrough | Winner of the 13th series of *The X Factor* (2016), mentored by Nicole Scherzinger[2](https://www.itv.com/news/2016-12-11/matt-terry-crowned-x-factor-winner-2016) |
| Winner's single | "When Christmas Comes Around", written by Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge; reached number three in the UK[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-terry-mn0003586126) |
| Debut album | *Trouble* (2017), released on RCA[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-terry-mn0003586126) |
| Notable collaboration | Featured on Enrique Iglesias' "Súbeme La Radio" with Sean Paul, a UK top 10 single[4](https://bouncemagazine.co.uk/exclusive-interview-with-matt-terry/) |
| Later career | Independent releases from 2023 onward; starred in the musical *World's Greatest Lover* at The Other Palace, London (2026)[3](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/matt-terry-on-his-postx-factor-mental-health-battle-and-learning-to-love-himself-b1260068.html) • [5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Matt-Terry/) |
## Early life
Terry grew up in the London borough of Bromley and attended the D&B Academy of Performing Arts in Kent. Before his music career took off he worked as a waiter, including at Carluccio's in Bromley; after the breakup of a relationship he quit the job and applied to *The X Factor*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-terry-mn0003586126) • [4](https://bouncemagazine.co.uk/exclusive-interview-with-matt-terry/) He spent part of his teenage years living in Spain, which later let him sing in Spanish on "Súbeme La Radio".[6](https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/matt-terry/)
## The X Factor
Terry auditioned for the thirteenth series of *The X Factor* with a cover of [Ben E. King](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-e-king)'s "Stand by Me", which earned him a place at Boot Camp.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-terry-mn0003586126) He was mentored by [Nicole Scherzinger](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicole-scherzinger), for whom the 2016 win was her second on the show after [James Arthur](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-arthur) in 2012.[2](https://www.itv.com/news/2016-12-11/matt-terry-crowned-x-factor-winner-2016) In the final, broadcast on 11 December 2016, the 23-year-old Terry beat the Finnish singer Saara Aalto, Sharon Osbourne's finalist, as host Dermot O'Leary announced the result of 6.4 million votes cast.[2](https://www.itv.com/news/2016-12-11/matt-terry-crowned-x-factor-winner-2016) His final performance was a rendition of Randy Crawford's 1980 hit "One Day I'll Fly Away".[2](https://www.itv.com/news/2016-12-11/matt-terry-crowned-x-factor-winner-2016)
## Recording career
Terry's winner's single "When Christmas Comes Around", written by Ed Sheeran with [Amy Wadge](https://www.edgepedia.org/amy-wadge), reached number three in the UK chart. According to AllMusic, it made him only the second *X Factor* contestant to release an original winner's single, and he signed to [RCA Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/rca-records) afterward.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-terry-mn0003586126) In 2017 he featured on the [Grenfell Tower](https://www.edgepedia.org/grenfell-tower) charity single "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and on Enrique Iglesias' "Súbeme La Radio" with Sean Paul, which spent around 14 weeks in the UK top 10.[4](https://bouncemagazine.co.uk/exclusive-interview-with-matt-terry/)
His debut album *Trouble* followed in late 2017, co-written by Terry and recorded in Miami, Los Angeles, Scandinavia and London; he has said he and his team wrote more than 70 songs before narrowing the tracklist to about 13.[4](https://bouncemagazine.co.uk/exclusive-interview-with-matt-terry/) The album mixes R&B, dance and pop with Latin influences, and spawned the singles "Sucker for You" and "The Thing About Love".[7](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/f2e9d3c1-e0e0-4d2c-84aa-fb30e481acf3) Neither matched the chart peak of his debut single.[7](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/f2e9d3c1-e0e0-4d2c-84aa-fb30e481acf3)
In interviews in 2025 and 2026 Terry described being dropped by his label roughly a year after winning, and said the media reaction to the single reaching number three rather than number one left him branded a failure. He has spoken about the period's toll on his mental health, the therapy that followed, and his coming out.[3](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/matt-terry-on-his-postx-factor-mental-health-battle-and-learning-to-love-himself-b1260068.html) • [8](https://shows.acast.com/importing-901/episodes/x-factor-matt-terry-i-wanted-to-die)
## Independent releases and theater
Since 2023 Terry has released music independently, including "His Car" (2024), which addresses his sexuality through the story of a clandestine relationship, and "Superglue" (2025), a song he says honors the people who supported him through his difficult years.[3](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/matt-terry-on-his-postx-factor-mental-health-battle-and-learning-to-love-himself-b1260068.html) Further singles and EPs followed in 2026, including "SKITTLES" and the EP *Party in My Room*.[7](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/f2e9d3c1-e0e0-4d2c-84aa-fb30e481acf3) • [9](https://riffiter.com/artist/matt-terry)
He has also built a theater career. The pop-rock musical *World's Greatest Lover*, following a New York debut and an award-winning run at the [Edinburgh Festival Fringe](https://www.edgepedia.org/edinburgh-festival-fringe) in 2025, transferred to The Other Palace in London, running from 12 April to 7 June 2026.[5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Matt-Terry/) In 2026 it was announced that Terry would star in *The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons* on a UK tour running from January 2027 through April across England, Scotland and Wales.[5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Matt-Terry/) Podcast promotion for his 2026 work also credits him with stage appearances in *Rock of Ages*, *Madagascar* and *The Grinch*, and with more than 250 million Spotify streams as an artist and over 1 billion streams for songs he has written for others.[10](https://shows.acast.com/managed/episodes/the-truth-behind-x-factor-fame-and-the-music-industry-matt-t)
## References
1. [Matt Terry Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/matt-terry-mn0003586126)
2. [Matt Terry crowned X Factor winner 2016, ITV News](https://www.itv.com/news/2016-12-11/matt-terry-crowned-x-factor-winner-2016)
3. [Matt Terry on his X Factor hell and learning to believe in himself, The Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/matt-terry-on-his-postx-factor-mental-health-battle-and-learning-to-love-himself-b1260068.html)
4. [Exclusive interview with Matt Terry, Bounce Magazine](https://bouncemagazine.co.uk/exclusive-interview-with-matt-terry/)
5. [Matt Terry, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Matt-Terry/)
6. [Matt Terry, Capital FM artist page](https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/matt-terry/)
7. [Matt Terry, MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/f2e9d3c1-e0e0-4d2c-84aa-fb30e481acf3)
8. [EP346: X Factor Matt Terry, Secure The Insecure podcast](https://shows.acast.com/importing-901/episodes/x-factor-matt-terry-i-wanted-to-die)
9. [Matt Terry discography, Riffiter](https://riffiter.com/artist/matt-terry)
10. [The Truth Behind X Factor, Fame and The Music Industry, Managed podcast](https://shows.acast.com/managed/episodes/the-truth-behind-x-factor-fame-and-the-music-industry-matt-t)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Pop singers, 2000s to present › Mainstream pop singers, 2000s–2010s › Surnames R to Y*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license