This is why Gregory Porter is wearing the same hat every time you see him

Gregory Porter is renowned for his incredible voice – and his hat (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Gregory Porter has built up a huge fanbase with his soulful jazz music and unmistakable baritone voice. The 55-year-old has enjoyed a decorated career, which has seen him play Glastonbury Festival, release several studio albums to critical acclaim, and, of course, appear on The Masked Singer UK as a Dressed Crab. But it’s not just Gregory’s voice that sparks online discussion whenever he’s on TV. Gregory often leaves viewers wondering why he’s wearing a flat cap, modified to include a balaclava-style strap that runs under his chin. The same question arose when he performed on Strictly Come Dancing’s results show this weekend, accompanied by a routine from Alexis Warr and Aljaž Škorjanec. So, why does the Sacramento-born musician always wear a hat? Gregory Porter’s hat is a Kangol hat (Picture: Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images) Why does Gregory Porter wear a hat? Well, there’s no big mystery – Gregory began wearing the hat, actually a Kangol Summer Spitfire with a modified strap – to cover up scars he had after undergoing skin surgery. The accessory has since become a personal ‘security blanket’. ‘I’ve had some surgery on my skin, so this has been my look for a little while and will continue to be for a while longer,’ he admitted in 2012 to Jazz Weekly. Gregory never talks in detail about the scars, though, and previously told the BBC that he wants to be ‘less about my hat and more about my heart and my sound’. ‘People recognise me by it now. It is what it is,’ he added. He did, however, tell the Telegraph in 2016 that he received some facial scars at around ‘seven or eight’ years old but did not elaborate further. He’s become so famous for the headgear that he’s even recognised with it on holiday (Picture: Phil McCarten/CBS via Getty Images) Gregory has since opened up about his now-famous headgear to Metro, explaining in a 2020 interview: ‘It started off covering some scars from surgery, but it’s become my style. ‘I was in Denver, and it was cold. I was wearing five layers of clothing, and I wore a hat. ‘It warmed up, and I thought, “Actually, this is comfortable; this is a look.” I started to sing in a jazz club in Denver, and people were like, “Oh yeah, that’s the guy with the hat.” So it became a thing.’ He also explained how removing the hat allows him to maintain some anonymity, but he’s become so synonymous with it that he’ll be recognised as soon as it’s back on… even off the stage. ‘The only time I didn’t get recognised, I took off my hat to swim in the ocean in Ibiza, and no one recognised me,’ he laughed. ‘I went back to my hotel and put my hat on… And there was Gregory Porter. ‘But it’s OK because people are trying to connect and take a picture and say thank you for some joy they had.’ The accessory has since become a ‘security blanket’ (Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) He added about fans asking to take photos with him: ‘I’m really OK with it, and I always honour people, and they honour me by coming to my concerts. I’m thankful.’ But Gregory has insisted that, while he’s so famous for his headgear now, he doesn’t get any free passes. Speaking to The Independent, he revealed that staff in UK airports now know him ‘quite well’. ‘But they don’t give me a free pass; I get fully checked and secured.’ ‘There has been a time or two when I have been asked to sing to let them know it’s really me.’ And if you’re wondering whether Gregory has any other hats in his collection, he has assured fans he has several different headpieces to choose from. Deals of the Day The Orlando holiday deal Disney fans shouldn't miss We're adding this discounted NEOM gift set straight to basket Want an LED face mask for less? This Black Friday deal could save you hundreds This teeth whitening sale could save you up to 64% before Black Friday These Simba Black Friday deals are too good for tired shoppers to ignore He also likes wearing his hat and has insisted it never gets itchy, hot, or uncomfortable. Switched On Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.