by Michael Bublé: A Passion for Family, Hockey, Food and More Beyond the Stage
Michael Bublé has long established himself as one of the most successful jazz-pop crossover artists of all time. With his smooth vocals and ability to breathe new life into classic songs, Bublé has sold over 75 million records worldwide. However, for the Canadian singer, his passions extend well beyond just his music career. Let’s take a closer look at some of Bublé’s favorite things.
Family Man
It’s clear that family is extremely important to Michael Bublé. The 46-year-old resides in his hometown of Burnaby, British Columbia with his wife Luisana Lopilato and their three young children – Noah, 8, Elias, 6, and Vida, 3. Throughout his rise to fame, Bublé has emphasized balancing his career with spending quality time with his loved ones.
In a 2020 interview, Bublé reflected on how becoming a father changed his perspective. “It’s made me appreciate life and my career so much more. Before kids, it was all about me and the music. Now it’s about them.” He goes to great lengths to be home in between touring to be with his family. During the pandemic, Bublé and his wife even hosted their own at-home TV show on YouTube to keep fans entertained while also giving rare glimpses into their family life.
Bublé’s devotion to his children is evident. He has said being a girl dad to Vida is “the greatest joy.” And for his two sons, he aims to instill important values like compassion through lead by example. Fans often spot the whole family cheering Bublé on from the sidelines at his concerts as well. It’s clear that while he loves performing, his true passion lies with the family he’s created. They continue to be his biggest inspiration and driving force both personally and professionally.
Hockey Fanatic
Aside from music and family, Michael Bublé’s other great passion is hockey. The Canadian singer has been an avid fan of the sport since childhood growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia. He remains a diehard supporter of the Vancouver Canucks to this day. Bublé can often be spotted at Canucks games when his schedule allows, cheering loudly from his front-row seats.
In fact, Bublé’s love for the Canucks runs so deep that he’s even performed the Canadian national anthem multiple times before their home games over the years. The team clearly appreciates his fandom in return, having named him an honorary Canucks fan captain. Bublé also participated in an interactive pre-game concert for fans prior to the start of the 2019 NHL season.
Hockey also plays a role in Bublé’s music at times. He’s recorded songs dedicated to the Canucks like “After The Cup” and featured the team in some of his music videos as well over the years. For Bublé, the NHL provides the perfect escape from the pressures of the music industry when he’s able to catch a game. His hockey enthusiasm is a testament to his Canadian roots and the simple joys found through hometown sports fandom.
Foodie at Heart
Another one of Bublé’s great loves beyond music and sports is food. The singer has developed quite the passion for cooking over the years and isn’t afraid to show off his skills in the kitchen. In various interviews, he’s shared that some of his favorite things to prepare include homemade pasta, steaks, and traditional Italian dishes passed down from his grandmother.
Bublé especially enjoys cooking for his family and friends. He finds the process relaxing and a nice contrast to the rigors of touring. The singer has even published two cookbooks – Michael Bublé Cooks and Michael Bublé’s Christmas in the City – highlighting some of his favorite recipes. According to Bublé, cooking is an art form not unlike music. He takes pride in carefully selecting high quality ingredients and perfecting his techniques.
He’s also quite opinionated when it comes to the tools of the trade, having very particular tastes. In one interview, Bublé called a quality chef’s knife an essential part of any kitchen. It’s clear he puts as much passion into food as he does his music – from exploring new flavors to perfecting classic comfort meals. Cooking provides Bublé an enjoyable creative outlet outside of the recording studio and stage. It’s yet another example of his diverse interests and talents.
Musical Inspiration
While he may be known as a crooner of pop standards these days, Michael Bublé’s musical journey began at an early age thanks to his family. As he’s recounted in interviews, it was a Christmas tradition of playing Bing Crosby’s classic album White Christmas that first sparked his interest in music around age five. Bublé recalls being mesmerized watching his grandfather play the piano and sing along to songs like “White Christmas” every holiday season.
From there, Bublé became enamored with classic crooners and the Great American Songbook. Some of his biggest inspirations growing up included Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Bobby Darin. He spent hours listening to their records and trying to emulate their styles, eventually taking voice lessons as a teenager. Even today, those early influences still shine through in Bublé’s own smooth performances.
He’s gone on to record multiple tribute albums honoring many of his musical heroes over the years. Bublé has also had the honor of performing alongside legends like Paul McCartney and Elvis Presley’s original bandmates. But it all started with family singalongs to Bing Crosby during the holidays. Those fond childhood memories of music no doubt helped cultivate Bublé’s deep appreciation for the art form and push him toward his destiny as an entertainer.
In Closing
Through taking a closer look at Michael Bublé’s interests and passions outside of his music career, it’s clear he’s a true renaissance man with diverse talents. Whether it’s devoting himself to family, cheering on his favorite hockey team, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, or seeking constant musical inspiration, Bublé approaches everything in his life with great passion and care.
While selling over 75 million records is an incredible achievement, Bublé seems most fulfilled finding balance through the simple pleasures in life – be it quality time with loved ones or exploring new interests and hobbies. His diverse passions no doubt help keep him grounded during his global success. They also continue to influence both his artistry and perspective on life beyond just the stage lights. Through it all, family, sports, food and music remain the constant driving forces behind one of Canada’s most celebrated sons.
