Elle King on Avoiding the Nepo Baby Label with Dad Rob Schneider: 'I Do Work Really Hard'

Mar. 15, 2025

Elle King in May 2024; Rob Schneider in June 2023.Photo:Sarah Morris/Getty; Slaven Vlasic/Getty

Sarah Morris/Getty; Slaven Vlasic/Getty

The “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer, 35, discussed the rise of her music career and family background as the daughter of actorRob Schneider, 60, and former modelLondon Kingon the latest episode of theOff the Vine podcastwithKaitlyn Bristowe, noting that she tried to create her own success apart from her family.

When Bristowe, 39, asked if her father’s career in Hollywood had an influence over the career or “direction” she chose in life, the musician said that it didn’t.

“It was more of like a deterrent,” she admitted, adding that she and her father “weren’t super close” when she first “got signed” to her music label.

Elle King performs during the Stagecoach Festival in Indio in April 2024.Timothy Norris/Getty

Timothy Norris/Getty

Elle went on to say that it’s “easy to judge” her from an outside perspective, since if anyone “Googled” her, his name usually was the “first thing” that popped up — but it couldn’t have been further from the truth.

“I was born in California, and nobody knows that I really grew up in Ohio, and [I] didn’t even move to New York until I was a teenager,” she said. “So, I feel like it’s just so unfair.”

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“And, yeah, of course, there can be any situation in the world and be like, ‘OK. It’s so much easier to just look surface level and not think that there could be any layers to anything ever,’” Elle added.

While her father didn’t help kick start her career, she does credit him for giving her his “pipes,” saying on the podcast, “My dad can sing.”

“He does the best Elvis I’ve ever heard,” Elle said. “It’s pretty wild.”

Elle King in Las Vegas in May 2022.Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Meanwhile, the “Drunk” performer said she got her humor from her mom, who is “the funniest person that I’ve ever met.” Elle said London was the one who also helped her find her passion for music as she grew up.

“My mom was the one, you know, carrying my guitar and sneaking me into bars, and letting me stay out with my friends and taking the guitar home for me,” she shared. “My mom was always just, like, telling me to take lessons, and she would drive me everywhere. And she took care of me and always made sure that I had some form of a creative outlet."

Elle, who has earned a CMA award and an ACM award, previously discussed wanting tomake a name for herself apart from her parentsin an interview with PEOPLE in 2023.

Elle added that “it’s an incredible amount of pressure” to be in the “shadow” of someone.

“I mean, God forbid you’re good at something that happens and maybe was passed down in your family….,” she said. “My showmanship and my stage presence? Sure, I grew up watching my dad. My dad can totally command a theater or a small comedy club. And I grew up around really funny, talented, creative people. Of course that’s going to leave an imprint on me."

source: people.com