Nicole Appleton
Nicole Marie Appleton, born on 7 December 1974, is a Canadian singer and television presenter best known as a member of the successful British girl group All Saints. Her career also includes forming the pop duo Appleton with her elder sister Natalie Appleton in 2002. As a television host, she presented the show The Hot Desk from 2007 to 2010 and later hosted the Canadian reality singing competition Cover Me Canada in 2011. As a prominent figure in pop music who maintains her Canadian identity, Appleton's work has been significant to Canadian audiences in the global entertainment industry.
Early life and family
Nicole Marie Appleton was born on 7 December 1974 in Hamilton, Ontario, to parents Mary Callaghan and Kenneth Appleton. She is the youngest of four daughters, with older sisters named Lori, Lee, and Natalie Appleton. During her childhood, the family lived in several major cities, including Toronto, New York City, and London. This multinational upbringing exposed her to diverse cultural and musical influences from a young age, and her sister Natalie would later become her professional partner in the music duo Appleton.
Rise to fame with All Saints
In 1996, Nicole and her sister Natalie became the third and fourth members of the girl group All Saints, joining founders Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis. The group's debut single, "I Know Where It's At," was released in 1997 and reached number four on the UK Singles Chart. Their breakthrough came with the second single, "Never Ever," released in November 1997, which topped the charts in the United Kingdom and Australia and sold over 1.2 million copies in the UK. The group's self-titled debut album, released in November 1997, reached number two in the UK and was certified five-times platinum for sales of 1.5 million copies. All Saints won two BRIT Awards in 1998 for "Best British Single" and "Best British Video," both for "Never Ever." The album produced further UK number-one singles with the double A-side "Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade" and "Bootie Call."
The group's success continued into the new millennium with major soundtrack contributions. In February 2000, they released "Pure Shores" for the film *The Beach*, which became their fourth UK number-one single and the second best-selling single of that year. Their fifth and final UK number-one, "Black Coffee," was released in October 2000. The group's second studio album, *Saints & Sinners*, debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart in 2000 and was certified double platinum. Following the release of the single "All Hooked Up" in January 2001, the group announced a break in February 2001. A greatest hits compilation, *All Hits*, was released by London Records in November 2001.
The Appleton duo and solo ventures
In September 2002, Nicole and Natalie Appleton launched the pop duo Appleton. Their debut single, "Fantasy," co-written with Andy Hayman and Gareth Young, reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. The sisters released their autobiography, *Together*, in October 2002, detailing their experiences in the music industry. The duo had further chart success in 2003 with the singles "Don't Worry" and "Everything Eventually." Their album, *Everything's Eventual*, was released in 2003 and achieved gold certification in the UK within two months, demonstrating their continued popularity. In late 2004, the duo signed a new record deal with Concept Music after differences with their previous label, Polydor, marking a new chapter in their musical partnership.
Television career and All Saints reunions
Nicole Appleton has maintained a parallel career in television, particularly in Canada. From 2007 to 2010, she was a host of the TV show *The Hot Desk*, building her on-screen experience. In 2011, she became the host of *Cover Me Canada*, a reality singing competition that debuted on CBC Television, significantly raising her profile with Canadian audiences. Alongside her television work, All Saints reunited in 2006, signing with Parlophone and releasing their third studio album, *Studio 1*, that same year. The lead single, "Rock Steady," reached number three on the UK Singles Chart in November 2006, and the album entered the UK chart at number forty and was certified silver for sales of 60,000 copies. The group reformed again in 2014 to support the Backstreet Boys on five UK and Ireland tour dates, and in 2016, All Saints released their fourth studio album, *Red Flag*, preceded by the lead single "One Strike."
Personal life and public relationships
Nicole Appleton's personal life has been a subject of public interest. She met musician Robbie Williams on 7 December 1997 while filming *Top of the Pops*. They became engaged, but the relationship ended in January 1999. In her autobiography, she revealed she terminated a pregnancy during this relationship due to pressure from her record company, a decision she later discussed publicly. In 2000, she began a relationship with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, and their son, Gene, was born on 2 July 2001. Gallagher wrote the song "Songbird" for her as a token of his love, and the couple married at Marylebone Town Hall in London on 14 February 2008. They divorced in April 2014 after media reports revealed Gallagher was expecting a child with another woman. In March 2020, Appleton announced the birth of a daughter with her boyfriend, Stephen Haines, and she married Haines in October 2021.
Key career achievements and chart successes
Nicole Appleton's career is marked by significant commercial achievements, primarily with All Saints. The group sold over 1.2 million copies of "Never Ever" in the UK alone, where it was certified double platinum. Their debut album, *All Saints*, was certified five-times platinum for UK sales of 1.5 million copies, and it also achieved success internationally, being certified platinum in the United States. The single "Pure Shores" was the second best-selling single of 2000 in the UK, with 600,000 copies sold, and it became the group's first and only number-one single in Ireland. All Saints achieved five UK number-one singles during their initial run, and their second album, *Saints & Sinners*, sold 600,000 copies to earn double-platinum certification. With the duo Appleton, she reached number two on the UK Singles Chart with "Fantasy" and earned a gold album certification for *Everything's Eventual*. Her television work includes hosting a major CBC reality competition series, broadening her profile in Canada.
As a member of All Saints, Nicole Appleton achieved five UK number-one singles. These chart-topping hits were "Never Ever," the double A-side "Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade," "Bootie Call," "Pure Shores," and "Black Coffee." The single "Never Ever" sold over 1.2 million copies in the UK and was certified double platinum. "Pure Shores" was the second best-selling single of 2000 in the UK, with sales of 600,000 copies.
- "Never Ever" (1997)
- "Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade" (1998)
- "Bootie Call" (1998)
- "Pure Shores" (2000)
- "Black Coffee" (2000)
Nicole Appleton's career in entertainment spans over two decades, beginning with her music career. With All Saints, their debut album was certified five-times platinum in the UK for sales of 1.5 million copies. Her television work includes hosting the Canadian reality singing competition Cover Me Canada on CBC Television. She also hosted the TV show The Hot Desk from 2007 to 2010.
Questions about Nicole Appleton
Has All Saints reunited since their initial breakup?
Yes, All Saints has reunited on multiple occasions. They reformed in 2006 to release the album *Studio 1*. They performed again in 2014 as support for the Backstreet Boys' UK and Ireland tour. The group released their fourth studio album, *Red Flag*, in 2016.
Where was Nicole Appleton born?
Nicole Appleton was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She is the youngest of four daughters born to parents Mary Callaghan and Kenneth Appleton. While growing up, she lived in Toronto, New York City, and London. Her early life involved moving between these major cities before she eventually pursued a music career in the United Kingdom as part of the girl group All Saints.
What is Nicole Appleton best known for?
Nicole Appleton is best known as a Canadian singer and television presenter. Her primary fame comes from being a member of the British girl group All Saints, which formed in 1996. She is also known for her work in the pop duo Appleton, which she formed with her elder sister Natalie Appleton. Beyond music, she has hosted television shows such as The Hot Desk from 2007 to 2010 and Cover Me Canada, a reality singing competition on CBC Television.
Did Nicole Appleton have a music career outside of All Saints?
Yes, Nicole Appleton had a significant music career outside of All Saints. She formed the pop duo Appleton with her sister Natalie in 2002. Their first single, "Fantasy," reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. They released an autobiography titled Together in 2002 and followed with the album Everything's Eventual in 2003, which went gold in the UK after two months. The duo had other hits like "Don't Worry" and "Everything Eventually" before signing with a new label in late 2004.
Is Nicole Appleton married?
Nicole Appleton is currently married to Stephen Haines as of October 2021. She was previously married to musician Liam Gallagher, frontman of Oasis, from February 2008 until their divorce in April 2014. She and Gallagher have a son named Gene, born in July 2001. With her current husband Stephen Haines, Appleton had a daughter in March 2020 before their marriage the following year.
Sources and further reading
- Nicole Appleton (Wikipedia)
- Nicole Appleton (cbc.ca)
Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.
