Jorja Smith performs at Ballon d'Or ceremony

Jorja Smith will perform at the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony, which is being held in London for the first time. The event will be hosted by Thierry Henry and Kate Scott and will take place at the London Palladium Theatre.

Ceremony honors Sir Stanley Matthews

The Ballon d'Or ceremony is being held in London to honor Sir Stanley Matthews, the first recipient of the award in 1956. This marks the first time the major football award has been held outside of France.

Jorja Smith's musical background

Jorja Smith is returning with her second album Falling or flying and will open the ceremony. She began writing songs at age 11 and developed her talent in her local church before releasing tracks on SoundCloud.

Themes in Jorja Smith's music

Jorja Smith’s first album Lost & Found explored themes such as romantic doubt and personal identity. Her sound blends R&B, soul, jazz, and trip-hop, and the track "Blue Lights," which addresses police violence, gained attention in 2016.

Jorja Smith's influences and collaborations

Jorja Smith has been compared to Amy Winehouse and cited her as an inspiration. She has collaborated with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Stormzy, Burna Boy, and Drake, and recently paid tribute to Winehouse during a concert at the Roundhouse.

French Montana's participation

French Montana, known for hits like "Unforgettable" with Swae Lee and "No Stylist" with Drake, will also perform at the event. The ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. French time and will be an evening dedicated to football and music.