- published: 28 Nov 2012
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- author: mashaharu6277
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![[Full HD] VH1 Divas Live 1998](http://web.archive.org./web/20130130060439im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4tzySDAaXxc/default.jpg "0:00 Start 0:54 Mariah Carey Introduction 3:09 My All 8:25 Make It Happen 14:07 Gloria Estefan Introduction 15:07 Turn The Beat Around 20:00 Heaven's What I Feel 25:10 Megamix (Dr. Beat/Conga/Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/1-2-3/Get On Your Feet) 28:48 VH1 Save The Music Spot 34:27 Shania Twain Introduction 35:16 Man! I Feel Like A Woman! 39:46 You're Still The One 43:15 VH1 Save The Music Promo 43:46 Aretha Franklin Introduction 44:54 Chain Of Fools 49:15 Celine Dion Introduction 50:21 River Deep, Mountain High 55:13 Carole King Introduction 55:44 The Reason 1:01:19 My Heart Will Go On 1:06:49 You've Got A Friend 1:12:20 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman & Testimony")
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Hammerstein Ballroom
The Hammerstein Ballroom is a two-tiered, 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) ballroom located within the Manhattan Center Studios on 311 West 34th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America. It is known for its elegant appearance and excellent acoustical design. The capacity of the ballroom is dependent on the configuration of the room; the ballroom seats 2,500 people for theatrical productions and musical performances, and several thousand for events held within a central ring. The two main balconies—which are unusually close to the ground and gently sloped—seat a total of 1,200. There are six shallow balconies which are normally used for celebrity guests. The floor slants down to the stage area to enable those in the back rows to see easily.
The Manhattan Center was constructed in 1906 by Oscar Hammerstein as the Manhattan Opera House, an alternative to the popular yet comparatively expensive Metropolitan Opera. In 1910, the Metropolitan Opera paid Hammerstein $1.2 million USD to stop operating the Manhattan Opera House as an opera venue for ten years. This led to the elaborately decorated theater being used for a variety of events, including vaudeville performances.
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Kuwait
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait
i/kuːˈweɪt/ (Arabic: دولة الكويت, Dawlat al-Kuwayt) is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the Arabic أكوات ākwāt, the plural of كوت kūt, meaning a fortress built near water. The country covers an area of 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 sq mi) and has a population of about 3.5 million.
Historically, the region was the site of Characene, a major Parthian port for trade between Mesopotamia and India. The Bani Utbah tribe were the first permanent Arab settlers in the region, and laid the foundation of the modern emirate. By the 19th century, Kuwait came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire, and after World War I, it emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. Kuwait's large oil fields were discovered in the late 1930s.
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Los Angeles
Los Angeles (
i/lɒs ˈændʒələs/ loss-AN-jə-ləs; Spanish: [los ˈaŋxeles], which is written Los Ángeles; British pronounciation /lɒs ˈændʒəliːz/ loss-AN-jə-leez) with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in the state of California, and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of 468.67 square miles (1,213.8 km2), and is located in Southern California. Often known by its initials L.A., the city is the focal point of the larger Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana metropolitan statistical area and Greater Los Angeles Area region, which contain 12,828,837 and nearly 18 million people respectively as of 2010, making it one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world and the second largest in the United States. Los Angeles is also the seat of Los Angeles County, the most populated and one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the United States, while the entire Los Angeles area itself has been recognized as the most diverse of the nation's largest cities. The city's inhabitants are referred to as "Angelenos".
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MGM Grand Las Vegas
The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and the largest hotel resort complex in the United States, ahead of The Venetian. when it opened in 1993, the MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world.
Owned and operated by MGM Resorts International, the 30-floor main building is 293 ft (89 m) high. The property includes five outdoor pools, rivers, and waterfalls that cover 6.6 acres (2.7 ha), a 380,000 sq ft (35,000 m2) convention center, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, CBS Television City, and the Grand Spa. It also houses numerous shops and night clubs, 19 restaurants, and the largest casino in Clark County, which occupies 171,500 sq ft (15,930 m2).
Located on the Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection, pedestrians are not allowed to cross at street level. Instead, the MGM Grand is linked by overhead pedestrian bridges to its neighboring casinos: to the south across Tropicana Avenue, the Tropicana, and to the west across the Strip, the New York-New York.
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Aida Turturro
Aida Turturro (born September 25, 1962) is an American actress probably best known for playing Janice Soprano, sister of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, on the HBO TV series The Sopranos (1999-2007).
Aida Turturro was born in Brooklyn, New York, daughter of a Sicilian mother Dorothy, a homemaker, and an Italian-American father Domenick Turturro, an artist. Actors John Turturro, Nicholas Turturro, and Natalie Turturro are her cousins.
Turturro has worked to raise public awareness of rheumatoid arthritis.
Turturro appeared in the eighth season episode "Car Periscope," of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Turturro also had a small part in the 1996 Drama Film Sleepers.
She appears also in the 2005 movie Romance & Cigarettes, directed by her cousin John.
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Aisha Tyler
Aisha N. Tyler (born September 18, 1970) is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and author, known for her regular role as Andrea Marino in the first season of Ghost Whisperer and voicing Lana Kane in Archer, as well as her recurring roles in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Talk Soup, and on Friends as Charlie Wheeler. She is currently a co-host of The Talk.
Tyler was born in San Francisco, California, the daughter of Robin Gregory, a teacher, and Jim Tyler, a photographer. Her parents divorced when she was 10 and she was raised by her father. She pursued an early interest in comedy during high school; she attended McAteer High School in San Francisco, which also had a special program called McAteer School of the Arts, where she would attend improv and theater classes. She attended Dartmouth College where she earned a degree in environmental policy and was a member of The Tabard, a co-ed fraternity. At Dartmouth, she co-founded and sang in the all-female a capella group, The Dartmouth Rockapellas, a group devoted to spreading social awareness through song. After briefly working for a San Francisco advertising firm, she toured the country pursuing a comedy career before finally moving to Los Angeles, in 1996.
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Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Keys was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano. She attended Professional Performing Arts School and graduated at 16 as valedictorian. Keys released her debut album with J Records, having had previous record deals first with Columbia and then Arista Records.
Keys' debut album, Songs in A Minor, was a commercial success, selling over 12 million copies worldwide. She became the best-selling new artist and best-selling R&B artist of 2001. The album earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "Fallin'". Her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, was released in 2003 and was also another success worldwide, selling eight million copies. The album garnered her an additional four Grammy Awards in 2005. Later that year, she released her first live album, Unplugged, which debuted at number one in the United States. She became the first female to have an MTV Unplugged album to debut at number one and the highest since Nirvana in 1994.
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Ana Gasteyer
Ana Kristina Gasteyer (born May 4, 1967) is an American actress of stage, film, and television. She is best known as a cast member on the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2002. She currently co-stars on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory.
Gasteyer was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Mariana Roumell-Gasteyer, an artist, and Phil Gasteyer, the mayor of Corrales, New Mexico. Her maternal grandparents were Romanian and Greek. She graduated from Sidwell Friends School and Northwestern University.
Gasteyer developed comedy experience with the famed Los Angeles improv – sketch comedy group The Groundlings. She played small roles on Seinfeld (as a doomed customer of The Soup Nazi), as well as on the shows Party of Five, Hope & Gloria and NYPD Blue. In 1996 Gasteyer joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. Among her most popular characters were high school music teacher Bobbie Mohan-Culp, National Public Radio Delicious Dish host Margaret Jo McCullen, Lilith Festival feminist singer Cinder Calhoun, and her impression of Martha Stewart.
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Anastacia
Anastacia (born Anastacia Lyn Newkirk; September 17, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter. Anastacia has been highly successful in Europe, Australia, Asia, South Africa and South America, but has had only minor success in her native United States. Her debut album, Not That Kind, released in 2000, achieved multi-platinum sales in Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe, was critically acclaimed by Elton John and Michael Jackson, and had the 4th biggest European single and biggest Australian single of 2000. She was awarded 'Best-selling International Artist' in 2000. Her next two albums also earned multi-platinum sales throughout Europe and Oceania making her one of the fastest and biggest-selling artists of the new millennium.
Nicknamed "the little lady with the big voice", Anastacia is known for her powerful soul voice, and her small stature – 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm). She was also known for her trademark glasses (often darkly tinted), but she had surgery to correct her vision permanently in August 2005. In 2005, she was recognized for worldwide sales of over 20 million records.
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Angela Bassett
Angela Evelyn Bassett (born August 16, 1958) is an American actress and comedienne. She has become well known for her biographical film roles portraying real life women in African American culture, including Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do with It, as well as Betty Shabazz in Malcolm X and Panther, Rosa Parks in The Rosa Parks Story, Katherine Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream,and Voletta Wallace in Notorious.
Bassett was born Angela Evelyn Bassett in Harlem, New York on August 16, 1958, the daughter of Betty Jane and Daniel Benjamin Bassett. After her parents' separation, she relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida, where she and her sister D'nette were raised by their social worker/civil servant mother. As her interest in entertainment developed, Angela and her sister would often put on shows, reading poems or performing popular music for their family. At Boca Ciega High School, Bassett was a cheerleader and a member of the debate team, student government, drama club and choir.
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Anita Baker
Anita Baker (born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio, and raised in Detroit, Michigan) is an American R&B/soul jazz singer-songwriter. To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards, and has four platinum albums and two gold albums to her credit.
In 1975, Baker (Contralto) joined the Detroit-based band, Chapter 8, which featured Michael J. Powell, who would later produce her solo works. The band eventually got a record deal with Ariola, and their self-titled debut Chapter 8 came out in Fall 1979. Two singles hit the R&B charts: "Ready for Your Love," a duet between Baker and group member Gerald Lyles; and the Baker-led "I Just Wanna Be Your Girl."
Ariola Records was bought by Arista Records. Chapter 8 were subsequently dropped from the label roster.
Baker released her solo debut album, The Songstress, in 1983. Produced by Patrick Moten and Otis Smith, the album was released on the small independent label Beverly Glen Records. The album was initially not a success, but featured the moderate R&B hit "Angel".
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Ann Wilson
Ann Dustin Wilson (born June 19, 1950) is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, flute player, songwriter, and occasional guitar player of the rock band Heart.
Wilson was born in San Diego, California. Her father was a colonel in the Marine Corps, and she moved frequently. Her family eventually settled in Bellevue, a suburb of Seattle, Washington. Shy because of a stutter, Wilson sought fulfillment in music. In the early 1970s she joined a local band, White Heart, which changed its name to Hocus Pocus, and then in 1974, to Heart.
During the 1970s, Ann Wilson was in a relationship with Michael Fisher, the manager of the band, while her younger sister Nancy was involved with lead guitarist Roger Fisher, Michael's younger brother. Both couples co-controlled the band. In 1979, both relationships ended; Ann stated that Michael had fallen in love with another woman and they parted. The song "Magic Man" was written about Michael and contains autobiographical lyrics about the beginning of their relationship.
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Archie Panjabi
Archana "Archie" Panjabi (born 31 May 1972) is a British actress best known for her role as Kalinda Sharma on CBS's The Good Wife. Archie's portrayal of Kalinda earned her the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2010).
Archana "Archie" Panjabi was born in London. Her parents Govind and Padma Panjabi are from India. She graduated from Brunel University with a degree in Management Studies in 1996. At the age of 26, she married Rajesh Nihalani, a tailor.
Panjabi has taken acting roles in both film and television, from early appearances in the 1999 comedy film East is East to the recent BBC television series Life on Mars. Her first Hollywood role, as a British diplomat, was in the Oscar winning The Constant Gardener, released in 2005. One of her highest profile film roles was in the 2002 comedy release Bend It Like Beckham.
In 2007, Panjabi appeared with Angelina Jolie in the movie adaptation of A Mighty Heart, a book by Mariane Pearl, wife of the journalist Daniel Pearl, playing the role of former Wall Street Journal reporter Asra Nomani.
wn.com/Archie_Panjabi -
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and pianist. In a recording career that has spanned over half a century, Franklin's repertoire has included gospel, jazz, blues, R&B, pop, rock and funk. Franklin is known as one of the most important popularizers of the soul music genre and is referred to as the Queen of Soul, a title she was given early in her career. Franklin, the daughter of prominent Baptist minister and activist C. L. Franklin, began her singing career singing in her father's church at the age of ten and started recording four years later. After several years in the gospel circuit and with her father's blessing, she formed a secular pop music career at the age of eighteen, signing with Columbia Records, where she was branded by its CEO John Hammond as his most important act since Billie Holiday. Franklin's Columbia period wasn't as successful as hoped and in late 1966, Franklin switched over to Atlantic Records, where she began recording a string of popular hits including "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Think", "Chain of Fools" and what later became her signature song, "Respect".
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Asher Book
Asher Monroe Book (born September 18, 1988) is an American dancer, singer and actor.
Born in Arlington, Virginia in 1988, Asher started working professionally when he was seven years old. His first big break was at the age of seven when he landed the role of tiny teacup Chip in the national tour of the Broadway production of “Beauty and the Beast.” He continued working on show after show, which led him to New York City, where he attended the Professional Performing Arts School in New York from 2000 to 2002, before moving to Los Angeles.
At age seven, Book was chosen from an open casting call to portray tiny teacup Chip in the national tour of Beauty and the Beast, followed by the lead role in a production[where?] of Oliver!. In 2004, he appeared in the television movie Pop Rocks and the film Come Away Home. This was followed by guest roles on Zoey 101, Medium and Close to Home. In 2009, Monroe portrayed Marco, an aspiring singer, in the MGM and Lakeshore feature film Fame, a remake of the 1980 musical film of the same name. In 2010, Book had a recurring role as Steve in the NBC television series Parenthood. The same year in August 2010 he booked a role on the hit show The Mentalist.
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Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd (born Ashley Tyler Ciminella; April 19, 1968) is an American television and film actress, humanitarian, Democratic political activist, and philanthropist.
Judd grew up in a family of successful performance artists as the daughter of country music singer Naomi Judd and the half-sister of Wynonna Judd. While she is best known for an ongoing acting career spanning more than two decades, she has increasingly become involved in global humanitarian efforts and political activism. Judd has played lead roles in films including Ruby in Paradise, Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy, Where the Heart Is and High Crimes. She also starred as Rebecca Winstone in the television series Missing in 2012.
She is married to IndyCar and 3-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti.
Ashley was born as Ashley Tyler Ciminella in Granada Hills, California. She is the daughter of Naomi Judd, a country music singer and motivational speaker, and Michael Charles Ciminella, a marketing analyst for the horseracing industry. Ashley's elder half-sister, Wynonna, also is a country music singer. Her paternal grandfather was of Sicilian descent, and her paternal grandmother was a descendant of Mayflower pilgrim William Brewster. At the time of her birth, her mother was unemployed; she did not become well-known as a singer until the early 1980s. Judd's parents divorced in 1972, and in 1973, her mother took her back to her native Kentucky, where Judd spent the majority of her childhood. She also lived in Marin County, California, for two years during grade school.
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Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand (/ˈstraɪsænd/; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, writer, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, five Emmy Awards including one Daytime Emmy, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award.
She is one of the most commercially and critically successful entertainers in modern entertainment history, with more than 71.5 million albums shipped in the United States and 140 million albums sold worldwide. She is the best-selling female artist on the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) Top Selling Artists list, the only female recording artist in the top ten, and the only artist outside of the rock and roll genre. Along with Frank Sinatra, Cher, and Shirley Jones, she shares the distinction of being awarded an acting Oscar and also recording a number-one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (née Beyoncé Giselle Knowles; September 4, 1981), known mononymously as Beyoncé (
/biˈjɒnseɪ/ bee-YON-say), is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child. Knowles rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time.
During the hiatus of Destiny's Child, Knowles released her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, in 2003, which spawned two number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100—"Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy"—and became one of the most successful albums of that year, earning her a then record-tying five Grammy Awards. Following the disbandment of Destiny's Child in 2005, Knowles released her second solo album, B'Day, in 2006, which spawned the top 10 singles "Déjà Vu", "Irreplaceable" and "Beautiful Liar". Her third solo album I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008), spawned the hit singles "If I Were a Boy", "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", "Halo" and "Sweet Dreams". The album helped Knowles earn six Grammys in 2010, breaking the record for most Grammy Awards won by a female artist in one night. Knowles' fourth solo album, 4 (2011), became her fourth consecutive number one album on the Billboard 200 as a solo artist. This made her the third artist in history to have her first four studio albums debut atop the chart.
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Black Thought
Tariq Trotter (born on October 3, 1971), better known as Black Thought, is an American hip-hop artist who is the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots, as well as an occasional actor. Black Thought, who co-founded The Roots with drummer ?uestlove (Ahmir Thompson), is widely lauded for his live performance skills and his complex and politically aware lyrical content.
Black Thought was born Tariq Trotter and attended the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts and Millersville University. In 1987, Trotter became friends with drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and formed a drummer/MC duo performing on the streets of Philadelphia and at talent shows. Trotter would subsequently spend some time as one of two MCs in the group The Square Roots: the other one was Malik B., who Tariq met in college. In high-school, Black Thought converted to the Islamic sect of The Nation of Gods and Earths.
The Square Roots renamed themselves the Roots and released its debut album Organix in 1993, to prepare for a concert in Germany. The Roots signed to DGC and followed up with Do You Want More?!!!??! in 1995. Recorded without any sampling, the album was more popular among alternative music fans than those of hip hop. Around the release of the album, the Roots performed at the Lollapalooza alternative music festival and Montreux Jazz Festival. Illadelph Halflife, the band's 1996 album, became its first album to chart within the top 40 spots on the Billboard 200 because of the successful single "What They Do".Things Fall Apart followed in 1999, the year the band played at the Woodstock 99 concert.
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Bobby Brown
Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown (born February 5, 1969) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer.
Brown started his career as one of the frontmen of the pop group New Edition, from its inception as The Bricks in 1978 until his forced exit from the group in 1986 following a period of misbehavior on his part. Starting a solo career, he became a hit success with his second album, Don't Be Cruel, which spawned a number of hit singles including the co-self penned "My Prerogative", which became his signature hit. Brown had a string of top ten hits on various Billboard charts between 1986 and 1992, and is a recipient of a Grammy Award. Brown is noted as a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a fusion of hip-hop and R&B.
Brown was most noted in recent years as the ex-husband of pop singer Whitney Houston. Brown and Houston later gained notoriety co-starring in the reality show, Being Bobby Brown.
Brown was born in Boston as one of eight children to Herbert "Pops" and Carole Brown. Herbert was a construction worker and Carole was a schoolteacher. Brown and his family grew up in Roxbury's Orchard Park Projects. As a child, Brown got involved in petty theft including robbery later saying "I didn't wanna ask my mother or my father because they didn't have a lot of money", stating that whenever he saw something he wanted, "I'd just go to the store and take it." Brown also grew up around gangs. At ten, he was shot in the knee during a fight with a rival gang while attending a block party. Brown said his life reached a turning point at eleven after seeing one of his friends dead from multiple stab wounds at another party. Brown's brother Tommy would later say after that moment, Brown took "his career, schooling, his whole life more seriously." Brown's first taste of being onstage occurred at the age of three when one of his childhood idols, James Brown, performed in Boston.
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Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known professionally as Brandy, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, producer, model, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu.
Born into a musical family in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Carson, California, Norwood first appeared in a supporting role on the short-lived ABC sitcom Thea in 1993. Her engagement led to her own star vehicle, successful UPN sitcom Moesha in 1996, and resulted in roles in the 1998 horror sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and the TV films Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997) and Double Platinum (1999), two of television's best-rated special programs.
In 1993, she signed a recording contract with Atlantic, releasing her self-titled debut album a year after. Following a major success with Grammy Award-winning "The Boy Is Mine", a duet with singer Monica, and her second album Never Say Never in 1998, a series of successful records established her as one of the most successful of the new breed of urban R&B female vocalists to emerge during the mid-to late 1990s. Her latest studio album, Human (2008), was her first effort to be released on the Epic label after a label change in 2005.
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Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album ...Baby One More Time in 1999, which became the best-selling album by a teenage solo artist. During her first decade in the music industry, she became a prominent figure in mainstream popular music and popular culture, followed by a much-publicized personal life. Her first two albums established her as a pop icon and broke sales records, while title tracks "...Baby One More Time" and "Oops!... I Did It Again" became international number-one hits. Spears was credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s, and became the 'best-selling teen aged artist of all time' before she turned 20, garnering her the honorific title of "Princess of Pop".
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Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work. Throughout her career, she has amassed 13 Top 40 hits including "You're So Vain", "Nobody Does It Better", and "Coming Around Again".
The former wife of another notable singer-songwriter, James Taylor, she has two children, Sarah "Sally" Maria Taylor and Ben Taylor, who are also musicians.
She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994.
Carly Simon was born in New York City, New York. Her father, of Jewish descent, was Richard L. Simon (co-founder of Simon & Schuster), a pianist who often played Chopin and Beethoven at home. Her mother was Andrea Louise Simon (née Heinemann), a civil rights activist and singer, of black and German descent. In a 2004 interview with fashion designer Michael Kors for the July issue of Interview Magazine, she revealed her full ancestry as Jewish, African, Cuban, and French.
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Carmen Electra
Tara Leigh Patrick (born April 20, 1972), better known by her stage name Carmen Electra, is an American glamour model, actress, television personality, singer, and dancer. She gained fame for her appearances in Playboy magazine, on the MTV game show Singled Out, on the TV series Baywatch, and dancing with the Pussycat Dolls, and has since had roles in the parody films Scary Movie (as well as the fourth film), Date Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, and Disaster Movie.
Electra was born in Sharonville, Ohio, the daughter of Patricia, a singer, and Harry, a guitarist and entertainer. She attended Ann Weigel Elementary School and then studied dance at Dance Artists dance studio under Gloria J. Simpson, in Western Hills, a neighborhood of Cincinnati. Her mother died of a brain tumor in 1998. Her older sister Debbie died from a heart attack, also in 1998. Carmen graduated from Princeton High School in Sharonville. She also attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in the Cincinnati Public School District (CPS). She has Irish, German, and Cherokee ancestry.
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Carole King
Carole King (born February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, her Tapestry album topped the U.S. album chart for 15 weeks in 1971, and remained on the charts for more than six years.
She was most successful as a performer in the first half of the 1970s, although she was a successful songwriter long before and long after. She had her first number 1 hit as a songwriter in 1961 at age 18, with "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", which she wrote with Goffin. In 1997, she co-wrote "The Reason" for Aerosmith, but instead it was sung by Celine Dion.
In 2000, Joel Whitburn, a Billboard Magazine pop music researcher, named her the most successful female songwriter of 1955–99, because she wrote or co-wrote 118 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
King has made 25 solo albums, the most successful being Tapestry. Her most recent non-compilation album is Live at the Troubadour, a collaboration with James Taylor, which reached number 4 on the charts in its first week, and has sold over 600,000 copies.
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Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American country singer, songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005. Underwood has since become a multi-platinum selling recording artist, a winner of several Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards, a Golden Globe Award nominee, a three-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist winner, and a two-time ACM Entertainer of the Year. She is the first-ever female artist to win back-to-back Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards for Entertainer of the Year (2009/10). Underwood was inducted into and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008. She was also inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2009.Billboard named Underwood Country Music's reigning Queen in 2012.
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Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz (October 21, 1925 – July 16, 2003) was a Cuban-American and was one of the most successful salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums. She was renowned internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" as well as "La Guarachera de Cuba."
She spent much of her career living in New Jersey, and working in the United States and several Latin American countries. Leila Cobo of Billboard Magazine once said "Cruz is indisputably the best known and most influential female figure in the history of Cuban music."
Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born on October 21, 1925 in the diverse, working-class neighborhood of Santos Suárez in Havana, Cuba. She was the second eldest of fourteen children born to Catalina Alfonso and Simón Cruz. Simón Cruz worked in the railroads as a stoker, and his wife took care of the extended family.[citation needed]
While growing up in Cuba's diverse 1930s musical climate, Cruz listened to many musicians who influenced her adult career, including Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo and Arsenio Rodríguez. Cruz also studied the words to Yoruba songs with colleague Mercedita Valdes (an Akpwon santeria singer) from Cuba and Celia made various recordings of this religious genre singing even back up for other female akpwons like Candita Batista.
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Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens; March 23, 1953), frequently known as the "Queen of Funk", is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus.
While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and as a solo performer, include "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing" which she wrote for her then husband Richard Holland, "Ain't Nobody", "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire".
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Cher
Cher ( /ˈʃɛər/) (born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer, and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes, and a Cannes Film Festival Award for her work in film, music, and television. She is the only person in history to receive all five awards. She began her career as a backup singer and came to prominence in 1965 as one-half of the pop rock duo Sonny & Cher with the success of their song "I Got You Babe". She subsequently established herself as a solo recording artist and became a television star in 1971 with The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, a variety show for which she won a Golden Globe. A well-received performance in the film Silkwood earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress of 1983. In the following years, she starred in a string of hit films including Mask, The Witches of Eastwick, and Moonstruck, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress of 1987.
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Cheri Oteri
Cheri Oteri (born Cheryl Ann O'Teari September 19, 1962) is an American comic actress, best known for her roles as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2000.
Oteri was born Cheryl Ann Oteri in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. She grew up with three siblings, Denise, Brian and Tommy Jr., in Upper Darby and attended Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.
After moving to Los Angeles at age 25, Oteri worked at A&M Records for four years and eventually joined a comedy troupe called The Groundlings. She was noticed there by SNL and was hired in September 1995 as part of an almost entirely new cast, which was brought in after the show's disastrous 1994-1995 season.
She has also appeared in several Hollywood movies, including Scary Movie, Inspector Gadget, Liar Liar, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Shrek the Third and Southland Tales. She starred in two TV pilots that did not make it to air, Loomis and With You in Spirit.
She has also made guest appearances on telivision shows such as Just Shoot Me!, Strangers with Candy and as an emotionally unstable nanny on Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2009, Oteri became a regular voice cast in the Fox animated comedy series, Sit Down, Shut Up. She voices Helen Klench, the unappreciated librarian who often gets mistaken for objects, such as brooms or toilet brushes. The series premiered on April 19, 2009 and moved to Comedy Central in May 2010. Kenan Thompson, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Kenny, Justin Brown, Nick Kroll, Henry Winkler, Will Arnett and Will Forte are the other main cast members. She also played a tooth fairy on Imagination Movers, a regular on the Playhouse Disney block.
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Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera (born December 18, 1980) is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993 to 1994. Aguilera signed to RCA Records after recording "Reflection", the theme song for the animated film Mulan (1998).
In 1999, Aguilera came to prominence following her debut album Christina Aguilera, which was a commercial success spawning three number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100—"Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants", and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)." Her sophomore and her debut Latin-pop album, Mi Reflejo (2000), a Christmas third studio album, My Kind of Christmas (2000), and several collaborations followed which garnered Aguilera worldwide success, though she was displeased with her lack of input in her music and image. After parting from her management, Aguilera took creative control over her fourth studio album, Stripped (2002). The album's second single, "Beautiful", was a commercial success and helped the album's commercial performance amidst controversy over Aguilera's image. Aguilera followed up Stripped with the soul, jazz and blues inspired, Back to Basics (2006), released to positive critical acclaim. The album produced three singles "Ain't No Other Man", "Hurt" and "Candyman". Four years later Aguilera released her sixth studio album, Bionic (2010), which incorporated aspects of R&B, electropop, and synthpop and was met with mixed reviews and low sales. Aguilera's seventh studio album is set to be released in 2012.
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Clark Terry
Clark Terry (born December 14, 1920) is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Only three other trumpet players in history have ever received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award: Louis Armstrong (Clark's old mentor), Miles Davis (whom Clark mentored), and Dizzy Gillespie (who often described Clark as the greatest jazz trumpet player on earth). Clark Terry is one of the most prolific jazz musicians in history, having appeared on 905 known recording sessions, which makes him the most recorded trumpet player of all time. In comparison, Louis Armstrong performed on 620 sessions, Harry "Sweets" Edison on 563, and Dizzy Gillespie on 501.
He has played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–1951),Duke Ellington (1951–1959) and Quincy Jones (1960), and has recorded regularly both as a leader and sideman. In all, his career in jazz spans more than sixty years.
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Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer German pronunciation: [ˈklaʊ̯dɪa ˈʃɪfɐ] (born 25 August 1970) is a German model and Creative Director of her clothing label.. Schiffer rose to popularity and became a household name during the early 1990s as one of the world's most successful models. In her early career, there were many comparisons drawn to her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot. She has appeared on over 700 magazine covers and continues to front global campaigns for luxury fashion and fragrance houses. In 2002, Forbes estimated her net worth at about US$55 million (£38 million).
Schiffer was born in Rheinberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany, a small town 15 km northwest of Duisburg. She is the daughter of Gudrun and Heinz Schiffer, a lawyer. She has two brothers, Stefan and Andreas, and one sister, Ann Carolin.
Schiffer said she was popular in high school but has revealed that because she was so tall she became very shy and did not want to be noticed. She was also subjected to jealousy by others as she came from a wealthy family that was well-known locally.. Schiffer is fluent in 3 languages – German, English and French.
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Corbin Bleu
Corbin Bleu Reivers (born February 21, 1989), known professionally as Corbin Bleu, is an American actor, model, dancer, producer, and singer-songwriter. He performed in the High School Musical film series, the Discovery Kids drama series Flight 29 Down, and the Disney Channel Original Movie Jump In!. His first lead role was in the film Catch That Kid (2004).
Guest-starring roles include appearances on Hannah Montana, The Amanda Show, Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family, Malcolm & Eddie, and The Good Wife. He appeared on the show Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, and the movie Free Style (2008). In 2009 he was cast as up-and-coming model Isaac Taylor in The CW Television Network drama The Beautiful Life: TBL.
He has also pursued a music career, and released his debut album Another Side on May 1, 2007, which included the single "Push It to the Limit". The album debuted at number thirty-six on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 18,000 copies in its first week. Bleu released his second album, Speed of Light, on March 10, 2009, in the U.S.
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Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper (born June 22, 1953 in Queens, New York) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and LGBT rights activist.
She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the debut solo album She's So Unusual in 1983, which spawned four Billboard Hot 100 top-five songs—"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", "Time After Time", "She Bop" and "All Through the Night"—She's So Unusual was the first album in history to have four top five singles by a female. The album earned Lauper Best New Artist at the 27th Grammy Awards in 1985.
Her success continued with the follow-up, True Colors in 1986, which spawned two Billboard Hot 100 top-ten songs—"True Colors" and "Change of Heart", and earned two nominations at the 29th Grammy Awards.
Since 1989 released from a nine studio albums acclaimed critical, A Night to Remember (1989), Hat Full of Stars (1993), Sisters of Avalon (1996), Merry Christmas... Have a Nice Life (1998),Shine (2001), At Last (2003), The Body Acoustic (2005), Bring Ya to the Brink (2008).
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Daryl Hannah
Daryl Christine Hannah (born December 3, 1960) is an American film actress. After making her screen debut in 1978, Hannah starred in a number of Hollywood films throughout the 1980s, notably Blade Runner, Splash, Wall Street, and Roxanne.
Hannah was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Susan Jeanne (née Metzger), a producer and former schoolteacher, and Donald Christian Hannah, a tugboat and barge company owner. Her parents divorced and her mother subsequently married Jerrold Wexler, a businessman and brother of Haskell Wexler, a cinematographer. She grew up with siblings Don and Page Hannah and half-sister Tanya Wexler, in Long Grove, Illinois.
Hannah became interested in movies at a young age, partly due to insomnia. She says she was very shy and may have Asperger Syndrome. Hannah attended the progressive Francis W. Parker School (where she played on the soccer team) before enrolling at the University of Southern California.
Hannah made her film debut in 1978 with a brief appearance in Brian De Palma's horror film The Fury. She turned down many roles early on in her career, including the role of Emmeline Lestrange for The Blue Lagoon (that ultimately went to Brooke Shields). Her first notable role came as the acrobatic and violent replicant Pris in Ridley Scott's 1982 science fiction classic Blade Runner, in which she performed some of her own gymnastic stunts. That same year she appeared in the summer hit release Summer Lovers. She then was cast as a blonde mermaid in Ron Howard's 1984 fantasy Splash, which starred Tom Hanks and was a major financial success, establishing Hannah as a high-profile film actress.
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Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry (born July 1, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers. Her acting career spans over thirty film roles and numerous television appearances.
Harry was born in Miami, Florida, and adopted by Catherine Harry and Richard Smith, gift shop proprietors in Hawthorne, New Jersey. She attended Hawthorne High School, where she graduated in 1963. She graduated from Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey, with an Associate of Arts degree in 1965.[citation needed] Before starting her singing career she moved to New York City in the late 1960s and worked as a secretary at BBC Radio's office there for one year. Later, she was a waitress at Max's Kansas City, a go-go dancer in Union City, New Jersey, discothèque,[citation needed] and a Playboy Bunny.
Deborah Harry began her musical career in the late '60s with the folk rock group The Wind in the Willows, that recorded one album for Capitol Records. Harry then joined The Stilettos, with Elda Gentile and Amanda Jones, in 1974. The Stilettos included her eventual boyfriend and Blondie guitarist Chris Stein. When Harry and Stein left the Stilettos, they formed Angel and the Snake, with Tish and Snooky Bellomo. Shortly thereafter, Harry and Stein formed Blondie, naming it for the term of address men often yelled at Harry when she bleached her hair. Blondie quickly became regulars at Max's Kansas City and CBGB in New York City. After a debut album in 1976, commercial success followed in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, first in Australia and Europe, then in the United States.
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Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer, record producer, and actress.
Diana Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that has included successful ventures into film and Broadway. She received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her role as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), for which she won a Golden Globe award. She has won seven American Music Awards, was honored with a 2012 Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, and won a Tony Award for her one-woman show, An Evening with Diana Ross, in 1977.
In 1976, Billboard magazine named her the "Female Entertainer of the Century." In 1993, the Guinness Book of World Records declared Diana Ross the most successful female music artist in history due to her success in the United States and United Kingdom for having more hits than any female artist in the charts with a career total of 18 number one records in the United States. Diana Ross has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
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Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. As a songwriter, she has composed over 3,000 songs, the best known of which include "I Will Always Love You" (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper for Parton, as well an international pop hit for Whitney Houston), "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors", "9 to 5" and "My Tennessee Mountain Home". As an actress, she starred in the movies 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, Unlikely Angel and Joyful Noise. She is one of the most successful female country artists of all time; with an estimated 100 million in album sales, Dolly Parton is also one of the best selling artists of all time. She is known as "The Queen of Country Music".
She was born in Sevierville, Tennessee, the fourth of twelve children of Avie Lee Parton (née Owens; October 5, 1923 – December 5, 2003) and Robert Lee Parton (March 22, 1921 – November 12, 2000), a tobacco farmer. Her siblings are: Willadeene Parton (born March 24, 1940), David Wilburn Parton (born March 30, 1942), Coy Denver "Denver" Parton (born August 16, 1943), Bobby Lee Parton (born February 18, 1948), Stella Mae Parton (born May 4, 1949), Cassie Nan Parton (February 12, 1951), Randel Huston "Randy" Parton (born December 15, 1953), Larry Gerald Parton (born and died July 6, 1955), Floyd and Frieda Estelle Parton (born June 1, 1957), and Rachel Ann Parton (born August 31, 1959). Her family was, as she has described them, "dirt poor". She outlined her family's lack of money in a number of her early songs, notably "Coat of Many Colors" and "In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)". They lived in a rustic, dilapidated one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, a hamlet just north of the Greenbrier Valley, in the Locust Ridge area of the Great Smoky Mountains in Sevier County, a predominantly Pentecostal area.
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Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. (born June 14, 1946) is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have made him a well-known celebrity who was No. 17 on the 2011 Forbes Celebrity 100 list. He is well-known as a real-estate developer who amassed vast hotel, casino, and other real-estate properties, in the New York City area and around the world.
Trump is the son of Fred Trump, a wealthy New York City real-estate developer. He worked for his father's firm, Elizabeth Trump & Son, while attending the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1968 officially joined the company. He was given control of the company in 1971 and renamed it The Trump Organization.
In 2010, Trump expressed an interest in becoming a candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election. In May 2011, he announced he would not be a candidate, but a few weeks later he said he had not completely ruled out the possibility. In December 2011, Trump was suggested as a possible Vice Presidential selection by Michele Bachmann. Bachmann has since suspended her presidential campaign.
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Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012), known by the stage name Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the late 1970s. She had a mezzo-soprano vocal range, and was a five-time Grammy Award winner. Summer was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach number one on the United States Billboard chart, and she also charted four number-one singles in the United States within a 13-month period.
Born into a devoutly Christian lower middle class African American family in Boston, Massachusetts, Summer first became involved with singing through church choir groups before joining a number of bands influenced by the Motown Sound. Influenced by the counterculture of the 1960s, she became the front singer of a psychedelic rock band named Crow and moved to New York City. Joining a touring version of the musical Hair, she spent several years living in West Germany, where she married Helmut Sommer, whose surname she adopted as her stage name.
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Drea de Matteo
Drea de Matteo (born January 19, 1972) is an American television actress, perhaps best known for her roles as Angie Bolen on ABC's Desperate Housewives, Joey Tribbiani's sister Gina on the NBC sitcom Joey, and as Adriana La Cerva on the acclaimed HBO TV series The Sopranos, a role for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
De Matteo, an Italian American, was born Andrea Donna de Matteo in Queens, New York, the daughter of Donna, a playwright and playwriting teacher, and Albert De Matteo, a furniture manufacturer. She grew up in a Roman Catholic family. She lives in New York City, where she owned Filth Mart, an East Village clothing store, with best friend and ex-boyfriend Michael Sportes.[citation needed] She is engaged to Shooter Jennings, the son of late country legend Waylon Jennings. The couple had their first child together, a girl named Alabama Gypsy Rose, on November 28, 2007. Jennings proposed onstage at the Stanley Center during a show in Utica, New York, on June 11, 2009, and confirmed the news on Twitter. "Asked Drea to marry me on stage tonight. I'm a lucky man," he Tweeted, "I'll never forget Utica, NY." On December 8, 2010, de Matteo's second pregnancy was announced. Their son, Waylon Albert "Blackjack" Jennings was born in April 2011.
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Edie Falco
Edith "Edie" Falco ( /ˈiːdi ˈfælkoʊ/; born July 5, 1963) is an American television, film and stage actress, known for her roles in Oz as Diane Whittlesey, as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos, and as the titular character on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie.
Falco was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Judith Anderson, an actress, and Frank Falco, a jazz drummer. Her father was of Italian descent and her mother's ancestry was Swedish and English. Falco's siblings are Joseph, Paul and Ruth. Her uncle is novelist, playwright and poet Edward Falco, an English professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. She was raised in West Islip, on Long Island. Falco graduated from Northport High School in 1981, after playing Eliza Doolittle in a production of My Fair Lady. She attended the Acting Program at SUNY Purchase with fellow actors Stanley Tucci and Ving Rhames; she remains friends with both.
Early in her career, Falco made appearances on television shows like Law & Order and Homicide: Life on the Street. Tom Fontana, executive director of Homicide, cast Falco as Eva Thormann, the wife of an injured police officer, after watching Falco's performance in Laws of Gravity, a 1992 film directed by Nick Gomez. Fontana said of her, "She's an actress who's unadorned by any embroidery. She does everything with such simplicity and honesty, it's breathtaking." A struggling actress at the time, Falco said her salary from these television episodes paid for one month's worth of rent. Fontana cast Falco as a regular character, prison officer Diane Whittlesey, in his HBO series Oz based on her work in the Homicide episodes "Son of a Gun" and "A Shot in the Dark".
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Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Jane Hurley (born 10 June 1965) is an English model and actress. In the 1990s, Hurley became known as a girlfriend of Hugh Grant. In 1994, as Grant became the focus of worldwide media attention due to the global box office success of his film Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hurley accompanied him to the film's Los Angeles premiere in a plunging black Versace dress held together with gold safety pins, which gained her instant media attention.
Hurley has been associated with the cosmetics company Estée Lauder for over 15 years since the company awarded Hurley her first modelling job at the age of 29. It has featured her as a representative and model for its products, especially perfumes such as Sensuous, Intuition, and Pleasures, since 1995. As an actress, her best known cinematic works to date have been as Vanessa Kensington in Mike Myers' hit spy comedy, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) and as the Devil in Bedazzled (2000). Hurley currently owns an eponymous beachwear line.
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Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres ( /dɨˈdʒɛnərəs/; born January 26, 1958) is an American stand-up comedian, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
DeGeneres has hosted both the Academy Awards and the Primetime Emmys. As a film actress, she starred in Mr. Wrong, appeared in EDtv and The Love Letter, and provided the voice of Dory in the Disney-Pixar animated film Finding Nemo, for which she was awarded a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress, the first and only time a voice performance won a Saturn Award. She was a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season. She also starred in two television sitcoms, Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and The Ellen Show from 2001 to 2002. During the fourth season of Ellen in 1997, DeGeneres came out publicly as a lesbian in an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Shortly afterwards, her character Ellen Morgan also came out to a therapist played by Winfrey, and the series went on to explore various LGBT issues including the coming out process. She has won thirteen Emmys and numerous other awards for her work and charitable efforts.
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Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor. He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriter partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.
In his four-decade career John has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single "Candle in the Wind 1997" has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in Billboard history. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won six Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him Number 49 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Having been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1996, John received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in 1998.
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Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), better known by her stage name Erykah Badu /ˈɛrɨkə bɑːˈduː/, is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, record producer, activist and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical stylings and sense of fashion. She is known as the "First Lady of Neo-Soul" or the "Queen of Neo-Soul".
Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for wearing very large and colorful headwraps. For her musical sensibilities, she has often been compared to jazz great Billie Holiday. She was a core member of the Soulquarians, and is also an actress having appeared in a number of films playing a range of supporting roles in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules and House of D. She also speaks at length in the documentary Before the Music Dies.
Erykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright in Dallas, Texas, on February 26, 1971. Her mother raised her and her brother and sister alone; their father, William Wright, Jr., had deserted the family early in their lives. To provide for her family, the children's grandmother often helped looking after them while Erykah's mother, Kolleen Maria Gipson (Wright), performed as an actress in theatrical productions. Influenced by her mother, Erykah had her first taste of show business at the age of 4, singing and dancing with her mother at the Dallas Theatre Centre. Erykah Badu was the owner of Focal point in Dallas, Texas.
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Faith Hill
Faith Hill (born Audrey Faith Perry; September 21, 1967) is an American country singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and accumulated eight number-one singles and three number-one albums on the U.S. Country charts.
Hill has been honored by the Grammy Awards, the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Association, the American Music Awards and the People's Choice Awards. Her Soul2Soul II Tour 2006 with McGraw became the highest-grossing country tour of all time. In 2001, she was named one of the "30 Most Powerful Women in America" by Ladies Home Journal. In 2008, Hill released her first Christmas album, titled Joy to the World. In 2009 Billboard named her as the #1 Adult Contemporary artist of the decade 2000-2009. Hill was ranked the 39th best artist of the 2000-10 decade by Billboard.
Hill was born in Ridgeland, Mississippi, north of Jackson, Mississippi. She was adopted as an infant, and named Audrey Faith Perry. She was raised in the nearby town of Star, 25 miles outside of Jackson, Mississippi. Her adoptive parents raised their two biological sons along with Hill in a devout Christian environment.
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Florence Welch
Florence Leontine Mary Welch (born 28 August 1986) is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer of Florence and the Machine.
Born in Camberwell, Florence is the niece of the satirist Craig Brown and granddaughter of former deputy editor of The Daily Telegraph and former Daily Mail parliamentary sketchwriter Colin Welch. She is the daughter of Evelyn Welch, a Professor of Renaissance Studies and Academic Dean of Arts at Queen Mary, University of London, and Nick Welch, an advertising executive.Her father Nick contributed a "rock and roll element to the family mix"; in his 20s he used to live in a West End squat and attended the Squatters' Ball organised by Heathcote Williams where The 101ers played regularly. A self-confessed "frustrated performer", if Nick, as he put it, "nudged Flo in any way, it's only been to listen to the Ramones rather than Green Day". Evelyn had an equally strong yet completely different influence on her daughter. A visit to one of her mother's lectures left teenage Florence deeply impressed. She explained, "I aspire to something like that but with music. I hope that my music has some of the big themes—sex, death, love, violence—that will still be part of the human story in 200 years' time."
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Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944), known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s, for both the Motown and Buddah Records labels, with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, the most famous incarnation of which also included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and her cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.
Knight was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of Sarah Elizabeth (née Woods) and Merald Woodlow Knight, Sr., a postal worker. She first achieved minor fame by winning Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour TV show contest at the age of 7 in 1952. The following year, she, her brother Merald, sister Brenda, and cousins William and Elenor Guest formed a musical group called The Pips (named after another cousin, James "Pip" Woods). By the end of the decade, the act had begun to tour, and had replaced Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest with Gladys Knight's cousin Edward Patten and friend Langston George.
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Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan, known professionally as Gloria Estefan (born September 1, 1957) is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those in the United States alone. She has won three Grammy Awards, and 4 Latin Grammys, and is the most successful crossover performer in Latin music to date.
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo was born September 1, 1957 in Havana, Cuba, to Jose and Gloria Fajardo. Her maternal grandfather, Leonardo Garcia, immigrated to Cuba from Pola de Siero, Asturias, Spain, where he married Gloria's maternal grandmother, originally from Logroño, Spain. Prior to the Cuban Revolution, her father was a Cuban soldier and a bodyguard to Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. The Fajardo family fled to Miami, Florida as a result of the Cuban Revolution and settled down there. Shortly after they moved to the United States, Gloria's father joined the US military and fought in the Vietnam War and moved to Houston, Texas, also having participated in the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion. Gloria attended St. Michael-Archangel School and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami. Her father became ill after returning from Vietnam and Gloria helped her mother, Gloria Fajardo, care for him. Her mother worked as a school teacher for the Dade County Public School system. Gloria Estefan graduated from college in 1979 with a B.A. in psychology, with a minor in French, from the University of Miami. When she was studying at the university, she worked as an English/Spanish/French translator at Miami International Airport Customs Department and, because of her language abilities, was once approached by the CIA as a possible employee. Estefan was raised Catholic.
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Gloria Reuben
Gloria Reuben (born June 9, 1964) is a Canadian singer and actress of film and television, known for her role as Jeanie Boulet on the popular medical drama ER and for her role of Rosalind Whitman in the TV show Raising the Bar.
Reuben was born in Toronto to a classical singer mother and an architect father. Her father is White Canadian and her mother is Jamaican. Reuben is the half-sister of Denis Simpson, an actor and children's television host who died in 2010. She began learning piano as a child and studied later music technique and theory, ballet and jazz at the Canadian Royal Conservatory. Her career as an actress was triggered by a few jobs as a model and TV ad appearances.
Reuben is known for her role on the American television series ER as Jeanie Boulet, an HIV-positive physician assistant on the hospital's staff. She was a guest star throughout Season 1 and was elevated to full-time cast member at the beginning of Season 2. She continued that role until early Season 6, when she left the show. In 2008, Reuben returned to ER for one episode during its 14th season. She has stated that this role led to her HIV/AIDS activism.
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Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American pianist, keyboardist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet, Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound. He was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace music synthesizers and funk music (characterized by syncopated drum beats). Hancock's music is often melodic and accessible; he has had many songs "cross over" and achieved success among pop audiences. His music embraces elements of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz. In his jazz improvisation, he possesses a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music, with harmonic stylings much like the styles of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.
Hancock's best-known solo works include "Cantaloupe Island", "Watermelon Man" (later performed by dozens of musicians, including bandleader Mongo Santamaría), "Maiden Voyage", "Chameleon", and the singles "I Thought It Was You" and "Rockit". His 2007 tribute album River: The Joni Letters won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album ever to win the award after Getz/Gilberto in 1965.
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Hilary Swank
Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American film actress. She has won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, as Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry (1999) and as struggling waitress-turned-boxer Maggie Fitzgerald in Million Dollar Baby (2004). She also put in a notable performance in Insomnia, working alongside Al Pacino. Since 2003, Swank has also worked as an executive producer.
Swank was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her mother, Judy Kay (née Clough), was a secretary and dancer, and her father, Stephen Michael Swank, was an officer in the Air National Guard and later a traveling salesman. She has a brother, Daniel, who is eight years her senior. Her surname, originally Schwenk, is of German origin. Many of Swank's family members hail from Ringgold County, Iowa, and her maternal grandmother was of Spanish and Shoshone (Native American) ancestry. After having lived in Spokane, Washington, Swank's family moved to a trailer park near Lake Samish in Bellingham, Washington, when Swank was six.
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Hoda Kotb
Hoda Kotb ( /ˈhoʊdə ˈkɒtbiː/; Arabic: هدى قطب Hudā Quṭb; born August 9, 1964) is an Egyptian-American television news anchor and TV host known as the co-host of the fourth hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford.
Kotb was born in Norman, Oklahoma, but grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia. Her parents are from Egypt. Kotb and her family lived in Egypt for a year, as well as Nigeria. In Arabic, the name "Hoda" means "guidance", and is very popular among Arab women. The surname "Kotb" means "the pole", as in North or South Pole, and is a common surname among Egyptians. The name is usually pronounced [ˈkutub]. For a period during her career, she spelled her surname Kotbe to aid in pronunciation; she has since reverted to using the original form, Kotb.
In 1986, she graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. She is a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.
She was the keynote speaker at her alma mater for the 2008 Virginia Tech graduation, where she played Metallica's "Enter Sandman" over her iPod.
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Hugh Grant
Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960) is an English actor and film producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, and an Honorary César. His films have earned more than $2.4 billion from 25 theatrical releases worldwide. Grant achieved international stardom after appearing in Richard Curtis's sleeper hit Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). He used this breakthrough role as a frequent cinematic persona during the 1990s to deliver comic performances in mainstream films like Mickey Blue Eyes (1999) and Notting Hill (1999). By the turn of the 21st century, he had established himself as a leading man skilled with a satirical comic talent. Since the 2000s, Grant has expanded his oeuvre with critically acclaimed turns as a cad in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), About A Boy (2002), Love Actually (2003), and American Dreamz (2006).
Within the film industry, Grant is cited as an anti-film star who approaches his roles like a character actor, with the ability to make acting look effortless. Hallmarks of his comic skills include a nonchalant touch of irony/sarcasm and studied physical mannerisms as well as his precisely-timed dialogue delivery and facial expressions. The entertainment media's coverage of Grant's life off the big screen has often overshadowed his work as a thespian. He has been vocal about his disrespect for the profession of acting, and in his disdain towards the culture of celebrity and hostility towards the media. In a career spanning 30 years, Grant has repeatedly claimed that acting is not a true calling but just a job he fell into.
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India Arie
India.Arie (born India Arie Simpson; October 3, 1975) is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 15 nominations, including Best R&B Album.
Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado. Her musical skills were encouraged by both parents early in life. Her mother Joyce is a former singer (she was signed to Motown as a teenager and opened for Stevie Wonder and Al Green) and is now her stylist. She has an older brother named J'On. After her parents divorced, Simpson's mother moved the family to Atlanta, Georgia when she was thirteen. Simpson had taken up a succession of musical instruments throughout her schooling in Denver, but her interest in the guitar while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, led to a personal revelation about songwriting and performing. "When I started tapping into my own sensitivity, I started to understand people better. It was a direct result of writing songs", she said at the press release of her debut album, Acoustic Soul.
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Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years. The youngest child of the Jackson family, she began her career with the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times and Fame.
After signing a recording contract with A&M in 1982, she came to prominence following the release of her third studio album Control (1986). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover appeal in popular music. In addition to receiving recognition for the innovation in her records, choreography, music videos, and prominence on radio airplay and MTV, she was acknowledged as a role model for her socially conscious lyrics.
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Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Joanna Aniston (born February 11, 1969) is an American actress, film director, and producer. Aniston gained worldwide recognition in the 1990s for portraying Rachel Green on the television sitcom Friends, a role which earned her an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Aniston has also enjoyed a successful Hollywood film career. She gained critical acclaim for her performances in the independent films She's the One (1996), Office Space (1999), The Good Girl (2002) and Friends with Money (2006). She has had her greatest commercial successes with the films Bruce Almighty (2003), The Break-Up (2006), Marley & Me (2008), Just Go with It (2011) and Horrible Bosses (2011). Aniston was selected for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.
Jennifer Aniston was born in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles to actors John Aniston and Nancy Dow. Her father is Greek and a native of Crete, while her mother was born in New York City. One of Aniston's maternal great-grandfathers was an Italian immigrant; her mother's other ancestry is Scottish, Irish, and a small amount of Greek. Aniston has two half-brothers, John Melick, her maternal older half-brother, and Alex Aniston, her younger paternal half-brother. Aniston's godfather was actor Telly Savalas, one of her father's best friends. As a child, Aniston lived in Greece for one year with her family. They later relocated to New York City. Aniston attended the Rudolf Steiner School in New York, and graduated from Manhattan's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She worked in Off Broadway productions such as For Dear Life and Dancing on Checker's Grave, and supported herself with several part-time jobs, which included working as a telemarketer, waitress, and bike messenger. In 1989, Aniston moved back to Los Angeles.
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Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981) is an American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalists on the third season of American Idol, coming in seventh place. She made her film debut in the 2006 film Dreamgirls, which won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, an NAACP Image Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
She won a Grammy Award for her eponymous debut album, Jennifer Hudson, which was released in 2008 on Arista Records and was certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 800,000 copies in the US; sales exceeded 1 million copies worldwide. Additionally, it spawned the hit single Spotlight. Her second album, I Remember Me, was released in March 2011, and reached number two on the Billboard 200, selling 165,000 copies in its first week of release. The album was certified gold by the RIAA, for shipping over 500,000 copies in the US.
In late 2008, after Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were killed in a shooting, Hudson stepped out of the limelight for three months. Hudson resumed her public appearances in 2009, and has since performed at the Super Bowl XLIII, the Grammy Awards, American Idol, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Hudson has been described as a friend of President Barack Obama, who invited her to appear with him at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills in May 2009. She also performed at the White House at the "Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement" event. Her vocal range is mezzo-soprano. Hudson has sold 1,280,000 albums and 2,237,000 tracks in the United States as of February 2012.
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Jennifer Nettles
Jennifer Nettles (born September 12, 1974 in Douglas, Georgia) is an American country music artist. She is known primarily for her role as lead vocalist of the duo Sugarland alongside Kristian Bush. Before Sugarland's inception, she also fronted Atlanta, Georgia-based bands called Soul Miner's Daughter and Jennifer Nettles Band. She also charted as a duet partner on the country version of rock band Bon Jovi's 2006 single "Who Says You Can't Go Home", a Number One hit on the Billboard country charts.
Nettles is a judge on American Broadcast Company's Duets which premiered on May 24, 2012.
Nettles began performing at school assemblies, her Southern Baptist church, and in community theater. She was also a member of Georgia 4-H's Clovers & Company performing arts group from 1986 to 1993.
Nettles studied Sociology and Anthropology at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia and graduated in 1997. While a student there, Nettles and Cory Jones (who at the time was studying classical guitar at the University of Georgia) formed the group Soul Miner’s Daughter. Performing as both an acoustic duo and with a band, they released two albums: The Sacred and Profane in 1996 and Hallelujah in 1998, both of which were composed of songs written collaboratively by Jones and Nettles. Soul Miner's Daughter was invited to perform at the Atlanta installment of Lilith Fair in 1999.
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Jessica Alba
Jessica Marie Alba (born April 28, 1981) is an American television and film actress. She began her television and movie appearances at age 13 in Camp Nowhere and The Secret World of Alex Mack (1994). Alba rose to prominence as the lead actress in the television series Dark Angel (2000–2002). Alba later appeared in various films including Honey (2003), Sin City (2005), Fantastic Four (2005), Into the Blue (2005), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Good Luck Chuck both in 2007.
Alba has been called a sex symbol. She appears on the "Hot 100" section of Maxim and was voted number one on AskMen.com's list of "99 Most Desirable Women" in 2006, as well as "Sexiest Woman in the World" by FHM in 2007. The use of her image on the cover of the March 2006 Playboy sparked a lawsuit by her, which was later dropped. She has also won various awards for her acting, including the Choice Actress Teen Choice Award and Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television, and a Golden Globe nomination for her lead role in the television series Dark Angel.
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Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson (born July 10, 1980) is an American recording artist, actress, television personality and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies and commercials, launched a line of hair and beauty products and designed fragrances, shoes and handbags for women. She has devoted time to philanthropic efforts including Operation Smile and a USO-hosted tour for troops stationed overseas. She started the Jessica Simpson Collection in 2005.
She has achieved seven Billboard Top 40 hits, three gold and two multi-platinum Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified studio albums, four of which have reached the top 10 on the US Billboard 200. She has sold 30 million albums worldwide. Simpson starred with her then-husband Nick Lachey in the MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. She ventured into the country music market in 2008 and released Do You Know.
During the first part of 2010, Simpson released her second reality show on VH1 "The Price of Beauty." In October 2010 she released her first compilation album and last album under the label of Epic Records , with the name Playlist: The Very Best of Jessica Simpson. A month later she released her second Christmas album Happy Christmas under the label Primary Wave Records, owned by EMI.
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Jessie J
Jessica Ellen Cornish (born 27 March 1988), better known by her stage name Jessie J, is an English singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, she studied at the BRIT School before signing with Gut Records and striking a songwriting deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing where she wrote for artists such as Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus.
Signed with Universal, Jessie J came to prominence following the release of her debut single "Do It Like a Dude" which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Charts. After scoring her first number one in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and New Zealand with the song "Price Tag", she released her debut album Who You Are (2011) which charted at number two in the UK. Other releases from the album include "Nobody's Perfect", "Who's Laughing Now" and "Who You Are" which charted within the top 20 in the UK but the release of fifth single "Domino" spawned international chart success, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, and becoming her second UK number one. Aside from her musical career, Jessie J is currently a coach and mentor on television show The Voice UK.
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Jill Scott
Dependency or dependent may refer to:
without one, in the case of independent forms
Among monastic orders, the term denotes the relation of a monastic community with a newer community which it has established elsewhere. The relationship can be that of an abbey with a priory composed of the monks who originated from the first house. In that situation, the abbot remains the ultimate authority for the affairs of the dependent priory, which is considered an extension of the founding house. This relationship will end at such time as the daughter community might become fully autonomous and an abbey in its own right.
Smaller monasteries of nuns within a monastic congregation can make a bond with a monastery of monks within the same division of the Order, whereby the two are affiliated, and the monks guarantee pastoral care of the nuns. In this sense, the women's house is considered a dependency on that of the men.
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Jordin Sparks
Jordin Brianna Sparks (born December 22, 1989) is an American pop / R&B recording artist, songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. She hails from Glendale, Arizona. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history and remains the last female to win American Idol. She followed her American Idol victory with the release of her self-titled debut album in 2007, which has gone platinum in the U.S. and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Sparks' single, "No Air" is the highest-selling single by any American Idol contestant, selling over 3 million digital copies in the U.S. and Canada. Due to the success of her debut album and its four top 20 singles, she has received numerous awards and nominations including an American Music Award in 2008 and her first Grammy nomination in 2009. In 2009, Billboard magazine's 91st-best-selling music artist of the 2000–2009 decade.
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Joss Stone
Jocelyn Eve Stoker (born 11 April 1987), better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is an English soul singer-songwriter and actress. Stone rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist. Her second album, the equally multiplatinum Mind Body & Soul, topped the UK Albums Chart for one week and spawned the top ten hit "You Had Me", Stone's most successful single on the UK Singles Chart to date. Both album and single each received one nomination at the 2005 Grammy Awards, while Stone herself was nominated for Best New Artist, and in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2004 was ranked fifth as a predicted breakthrough act of 2004. She became the youngest British female singer to top the UK Albums Chart in history to have her first album at number one. In early 2009, she joined the eclectic supergroup SuperHeavy.
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Kathy Griffin
Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin (born November 4, 1960) is an American actress, comedian, model, writer and producer. Born in Oak Park, Illinois, she moved to Los Angeles in 1978, where she studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and became a member of improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings. In the 1990s, Griffin began performing as a stand-up and also appeared as a guest star on several television shows. She achieved recognition in a supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan (1996–2000).
Her breakthrough came on the Bravo reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (2005–2010), which became a ratings hit for the network and earned her two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Reality Program. Griffin has released four comedy albums, with all of them receiving Grammy Award nominations. Her first album, For Your Consideration (2008), made her the first female comedian to debut atop of the Billboard Top Comedy Albums chart. In 2009, she released her autobiography Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, which topped The New York Times Best Seller list. Griffin has also taped stand-up specials with HBO and Bravo.
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Katy Perry
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known by her stage name Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Perry grew up with gospel music, and during her first year of high school she pursued a music career as Katy Hudson, releasing her first studio album called Katy Hudson which failed to chart. She recorded a solo album later, which was never released. After signing with Capitol Music Group in 2007, her fourth record label in seven years, she adopted the stage name Katy Perry.
She first gained recognition with the release of her first mainstream album, One of the Boys in 2008, which spawned three Billboard Hot 100 top-ten songs—"I Kissed A Girl", "Hot n Cold" and "Waking Up In Vegas". Perry supported the album with her Hello Katy Tour. In 2010, her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010), which topped the Billboard 200 chart, and spawned five number one singles—"California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T." and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"—Teenage Dream was the only album (after Michael Jackson's Bad)—to do so, and the first female in history to achieve this milestone. She embarked on the California Dreams Tour, which grossed nearly $60 million worldwide. Perry re-released the album under the name of Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection on March 26, 2012, and the re-release has already spawned the number-one single "Part of Me".
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Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and occasional actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and later was the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.
In 2003, Clarkson released her debut album, Thankful, which was a commercial success and established herself in the pop music industry. The release of its first single, "A Moment Like This" (2002), broke The Beatles' record for the biggest leap to number one, from 52, in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. After parting ways with her management, Clarkson developed a more rock-oriented music with the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Breakaway (2004), which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and which garnered Clarkson more worldwide success as a pop rock artist. The album's single, "Because of You" (2005), became the best-selling single by an Idol contestant worldwide. In 2007, Clarkson took full creative control for her third album My December, which had a more rock-inspired sound and was met with controversy and moderate success. Clarkson later returned to a more pop-oriented sound with All I Ever Wanted (2009), which became a commercial and critical success. The album's lead single, "My Life Would Suck Without You" (2009), surpassed "A Moment Like This"'s record for the biggest leap to number one on a single week in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, a milestone it still holds today. Furthermore, it also became her first number one single in the United Kingdom. Clarkson's fifth studio album, Stronger, was released in 2011, containing elements from synthpop, R&B and country music. The album's single, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" (2012), became her longest number one single and eventually became her best-selling single in the United States.
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Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, and spent most of her youth working with producer Anthony Dent, as a songwriter and background vocalist for several R&B and hip hop artists. By the age of 14, Hilson had secured a record deal with the girl group D'Signe, who later disbanded. She attended Emory University in Atlanta, while she continued writing songs for artists, including Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige, with the production and songwriting team, The Clutch. In 2006, Hilson signed with American rapper and producer Timbaland's record label, Mosley Music. Her breakthrough came the following year after appearing on Timbaland's single, "The Way I Are", which topped charts around the world.
Hilson's debut studio album, In a Perfect World..., was released in 2009, and debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart, eventually being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned the hit singles, "Knock You Down", "Turnin Me On" and "I Like". It also earned Hilson two Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Knock You Down". Her second studio album, No Boys Allowed, was released in 2010 and was considerably less successful than its predecessor; however, it included the hit single, "Pretty Girl Rock". Hilson's achievements include a BET Award, MOBO Award, NAACP Image Award and two Soul Train Music Awards. Apart from her work in music, she has pursued a career in acting. Hilson made her acting debut in the romantic comedy film, Think Like a Man, in 2012.
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Kesha
Kesha Rose Sebert (born March 1, 1987), known professionally as Kesha (pronunciation: /ˈkɛʃə/ KESH-ə, stylized Ke$ha), is an American singer-songwriter and rapper. In 2005, at 18, Kesha was signed to producer Dr. Luke's record label, Kemosabe Entertainment, and publishing company. Although an active musician since then, singing background vocals and writing songs for other artists, her breakthrough came in early 2009 after appearing on rapper Flo Rida's number-one single, "Right Round." Her debut album, Animal and its re-release, Cannibal, were released in 2010. Kesha's irreverent music and image propelled her to immediate commercial success, with Animal debuting as the number-one album in the US. She also achieved two number-one singles, "Tik Tok" and "We R Who We R", and a string of top ten hits from the album and its re-release. At the same time, she continued to write songs for other artists, including "Till the World Ends" for pop singer Britney Spears.
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Kherington Payne
Kherington Taylor Payne (born January 26, 1990) is an American dancer and actress who came to prominence as a Top 10 Finalist in Season 4 of the hit reality-dance show So You Think You Can Dance and in a role in the 2009 reinvention of the movie Fame. She's been a principal dancer for Katy Perry, and is also a lead cast member on E! reality show "The Dance Scene". Payne was also briefly a member of the third line-up of the girl group The Pussycat Dolls. She was on the Youtube show Dance Showdown and won with WoodysGamertag.
Payne was born in Whittier, California, the daughter of Sheri Ashe (née Bigcraft) and Rick Payne and granddaughter of Charles Payne. She has been taking formal dance lessons since she was 2 years old at Dance Precisions, located in Placentia, Ca. She graduated from El Dorado High School on June 10, 2008 and now lives in Placentia, California while pursuing her dance career. Kherington specializes in contemporary jazz, and is also trained in lyrical, ballet, pointe and gymnastics. Apart from dance, she is also an avid soccer fan who has played for many years. Kherington is the cousin of The Bolts brothers Addam, Heath, and Austin Farmer.
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Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations. Kid Rock released several studio albums that mostly went unnoticed before his 1998 record Devil Without a Cause, released with Atlantic Records, sold 11 million albums behind the hits, "Bawitdaba", "Cowboy", and "Only God Knows Why". In 2000, he released The History of Rock, a compilation of remixed and remastered versions of songs from previous albums as well as the hit single, "American Bad Ass" and the previously unreleased "Abortion".
Kid Rock released the follow-up in 2001, Cocky. After a slow start, his country-flavored hit "Picture" with Sheryl Crow resurrected the album and it went gold as a single and pushed the album's sales over 5 million. It was followed by 2003's self-titled release, which went platinum in the USA and reached No. 8 on the Billboard charts. In 2006 he released Live Trucker, a greatest hits live album that went mostly unnoticed.
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Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE ( /ˈkaɪliː mɨˈnoʊɡ/; born 28 May 1968) — often known simply as Kylie — is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, showgirl, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing her career as a recording artist in 1987. Her first single, "Locomotion", spent seven weeks at number one on the Australian singles chart and became the highest selling single of the decade. This led to a contract with songwriters and producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Her debut album, Kylie (1988), and the single "I Should Be So Lucky", each reached number one in the United Kingdom, and over the next two years, her first 13 singles reached the British top ten. Her debut film, The Delinquents (1989) was a box-office hit in Australia and the UK, and received generally positive reviews.
Initially presented as a "girl next door", Minogue attempted to convey a more mature style in her music and public image. Her singles were well received, but after four albums her record sales were declining, and she left Stock, Aitken & Waterman in 1992 to establish herself as an independent performer. Her next single, "Confide in Me", reached number one in Australia and was a hit in several European countries in 1994, and a duet with Nick Cave, "Where the Wild Roses Grow", brought Minogue a greater degree of artistic credibility. Drawing inspiration from a range of musical styles and artists, Minogue took creative control over the songwriting for her next album, Impossible Princess (1997). It failed to attract strong reviews or sales in the UK, but was successful in Australia.
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Lauren Conrad
Lauren Katherine Conrad (born February 1, 1986) is an American television personality and fashion designer. She came to prominence with her starring roles on the MTV reality series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and its spin-off series, The Hills, which at one point followed her personal and professional life as she pursued a career in the fashion industry.
Conrad has written three books in her L.A. Candy trilogy with a spin-off trilogy in the works, and has two fashion lines; LC by Lauren Conrad and Paper Crown. She, her hairstylist, and her makeup artist run a beauty website, The Beauty Department.
Conrad was born in Laguna Beach, California to parents Jim and Kathy. She is the oldest of three children. Her younger siblings are Breanna and Brandon. In 2004, Conrad appeared on MTV Cribs, giving a tour of her Laguna Beach home.
During Conrad's senior year of high school, she appeared in the MTV reality series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County in which she agreed to have her life taped. Upon graduation in 2004, she attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco for one semester along with her friend, Heidi Montag. During the second season of Laguna Beach, she returned home and began taking classes at a local community college before subsequently transferring to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.
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LeAnn Rimes
Margaret LeAnn Rimes Cibrian (born August 28, 1982), best known as LeAnn Rimes, is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Bill Mack song "Blue" when she was 13 to become the youngest country music star since Tanya Tucker in 1972.
Rimes made her breakthrough into country music in 1996 with her debut album, Blue, which reached #1 on the Top Country Albums chart and was certified multiplatinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album's eponymous leadoff single, "Blue," was originally intended to be recorded by Patsy Cline in the early 1960s. It became a Top 10 hit and Rimes gained national acclaim for her similarity to Cline's vocal style. When she released her sophomore studio effort in 1997, You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs, she moved towards country pop material, which set the trend for a string of albums released into the next decade.
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Ledisi
Ledisi Anibade Young ( /ˈlɛdɨsiː/) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Her first name means "to bring forth" or "to come here" in Yoruba. Ledisi is known for her jazz influenced vocals. In 1995, Ledisi formed the group known as Anibade. After unsuccessfully trying to get the group signed to a major label, she formed LeSun Records with Sundra Manning. Along with her group Anibade, Ledisi released an album entitled Take Time. The album gained major airplay from local radio stations.[citation needed]
In 2000, Ledisi released her first album, entitled Soulsinger: The Revival. Ledisi and her group toured in 2001, performing various shows. In 2002, Ledisi released her second album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue. The album won her an award for "Outstanding Jazz Album" at the California Music Awards.
In 2007, Ledisi signed a major record deal with Verve Forecast and released her third album in August of that year, entitled Lost & Found, which sold almost 217,000 copies and earned her two Grammy nominations, including one for Best New Artist. In 2008, Ledisi released her Christmas album, It's Christmas.
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Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis (born 3 April 1985) is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor.
Lewis has released two albums to date, Spirit and Echo, in 2007 and 2009 respectively. A multi-platinum selling artist and three-time Grammy Award nominee, her most successful single, "Bleeding Love", reached number one in over thirty countries around the world, and was the best-selling single worldwide in 2008. Other notable singles include "Better in Time", "Happy" and "I Got You". She was proclaimed 'Top New Artist' by Billboard magazine in 2008.
Lewis's debut tour, The Labyrinth, took place in 2010, and her third album, Glassheart, is scheduled for release in 2012. It was preceded by "Collide", a single from the album, which became her seventh top-five hit in the United Kingdom. Lewis's net worth was estimated at £12 million in April 2012.
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Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley (born February 1, 1968) is an American singer and songwriter, also known as the "Princess of Rock and Roll". She is the only child of Elvis Presley, and daughter of Priscilla Presley.
Lisa Marie Presley was born at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, exactly nine months after her parents' wedding. She lived at Graceland, Elvis' Memphis estate, until her parents separated in 1972. Following their separation and subsequent divorce, she divided her time between living at Graceland with her father and in Beverly Hills with her mother. This arrangement continued until her father died on August 16, 1977, after which she lived exclusively in Beverly Hills.
When her father died, Lisa Marie became joint-heir to his estate with her grandfather Vernon Presley, and her great grandmother Minnie Mae Presley. Following the deaths of Vernon in 1979 and Minnie Mae in 1980, Lisa became the sole heir and inherited Graceland. In 1993, on her 25th birthday, she inherited the estate, which had grown to an estimated $100 million.
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Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli (born March 12, 1946) is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli.
Already established as a nightclub singer and musical theatre actress, she first attracted critical acclaim for her dramatic performances in the movies The Sterile Cuckoo (1969), and Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970); Minnelli then rose to international stardom for her appearance as Sally Bowles in the 1972 film version of the Broadway musical Cabaret, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She later made a great star turn in Arthur (1981), co-starring with Dudley Moore (in the title role) and Sir John Gielgud, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Arthur's snobbish but loveable butler.
While film projects such as Lucky Lady, A Matter of Time and New York, New York were less favorably received than her stage roles, Minnelli became one of the most versatile, highly regarded and best-selling entertainers in television, beginning with Liza with a Z in 1972, and on stage in the Broadway productions of Flora the Red Menace, The Act and The Rink. Minnelli also toured internationally and did shows such as Liza Minnelli: At Carnegie Hall, Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event, and Liza Live from Radio City Music Hall.
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Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco (born October 2, 1954) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the HBO series The Sopranos and as Karen Hill in the 1990 Martin Scorsese film, Goodfellas.
Bracco was born in the Brooklyn, New York City neighborhood of Bay Ridge and grew up in Westbury, on Maxwell Drive on Long Island. She graduated from Hicksville High School in 1972. Her father is Italian American and her mother is English; Bracco is fluent in English, French, and Italian.
In 1974 Bracco moved to France, where she became a fashion model for Jean-Paul Gaultier. While there, she was introduced to the director and novelist Lina Wertmuller. In the early 1970s, Wertmuller recruited Bracco in a new film production titled Camorra. "She dressed me up like an Italian woman of no means. A street woman clad in disheveled clothes, hair unkempt and all that, and threw me on the set. She was so creative. I mean, Lina accentuated my eyes with dark make-up, the way Sophia Loren used to appear in those epic roles in the '60s. And talk about talent. She's so bright and perceptive. I mean, she's just fantastic. And yes, I learned a lot from her. She's a master of her profession, and I've been blessed not only with her, but also with so many masters," recounted Bracco to Daniel Simone during an interview, which was published in the December 14, 2007 issue of Dan's Papers.
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Lynda Laurence
Lynda Laurence (also spelled Lawrence, born Lynda Tucker, February 20, 1949, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American singer. She is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group The Third Generation, and one of the post-Diana Ross continuation groups of The Supremes. She is the youngest daughter of the late Louise Tucker and the late Ira Tucker, gospel songwriter, producer, and lead singer of The Dixie Hummingbirds, and sister of Sundray Tucker and Ira Tucker Jr. She was a member of The Supremes from April 1972 through October 1973, replacing Cindy Birdsong, who left the trio to have a baby and begin raising her family.
Laurence began her career singing with a group named the Pendelles. Her sister, Sundray Tucker, was also in this group. She eventually made her way to Stevie Wonder's group Third Generation a predecessor to Wonderlove in 1969. At this time, her sister was going by the name Cindy Scott, and rejoined Laurence in the group. Laurence, Scott and third member, cousin Terri Hendricks, billed as "The Third Generation" toured with Wonder to promote his single "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", which featured Laurence on back-up vocals.
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Marc Anthony
Marco Antonio Muñiz (born September 16, 1968), known professionally by his stage name Marc Anthony, is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads.
Anthony has won numerous awards and his achievements have been honored through various recognitions. He was the recipient of the 2009 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Chair's Award. He also received the "2009 CHCI Chair's Lifetime Achievement Award" on September 16, 2009. Anthony holds the record having the most number-one singles on the Billboard Tropical Songs.
Anthony is a minority owner/limited partner of the Miami Dolphins NFL team.
Marco Antonio Muñiz, known professionally by his stage name Marc Anthony, born in New York City to Guillerminna, a housewife, and Felipe Muñiz, a musician and hospital lunchroom worker. Anthony is of Puerto Rican descent, and his parents named him after Mexican singer Marco Antonio Muñiz. Anthony grew up in East Harlem as the youngest of 7 children. He was raised Roman Catholic.
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Marg Helgenberger
Mary Marg Helgenberger (born November 16, 1958) is an American film and television actress known for her roles as Catherine Willows in the CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and as K.C. Koloski in the ABC drama China Beach, which earned her the 1990 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Marg (pronounced with a hard "G", unlike the name Marge) Helgenberger was born in Fremont, Nebraska and was raised in North Bend, Nebraska. Marg graduated from North Bend Central High School. She is the daughter of Mary Kay (née Bolte), a nurse, and Hugh Helgenberger, a meat inspector. She is of Irish and German descent and had a Roman Catholic upbringing. Marg has one older sister named Ann and a younger brother named Curt. One of her first jobs, as a teenager, was spending her summers and her Christmas breaks working as a "deboner" at the meat packing plant where her father was employed. Helgenberger played the French horn in her high school (North Bend Central High School) marching band. Until she went to college, Helgenberger wanted to be a nurse like her mother. Marg attended Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) in Kearney, Neb., then attended Northwestern University's School of Speech in Evanston, Illinois (now the School of Communication) and earned a B.S. degree in Speech and Drama.
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Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and released her self-titled debut studio album, Mariah Carey. The album went multi-platinum and spawned four consecutive number one singles, on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following her marriage to Mottola in 1993, a series of hit records, including Emotions (1991), Music Box (1993) and Merry Christmas (1994), established her position as Columbia's highest-selling act. Daydream (1995), made music history when the second single, "One Sweet Day" a duet with Boyz II Men, spent a record sixteen weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100, and remains the longest running number one song in US chart history. During the recording of the album Carey began to deviate from her pop background, and slowly traversed into R&B and Hip-hop. After her separation from Mottola, this musical change was evident with the release of Butterfly (1997).
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Marisa Miller
Marisa Lee Miller (née Bertetta; born August 6, 1978) is an American model best known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues and her work for lingerie retailer Victoria's Secret. After a stint shooting with photographer Mario Testino for fashion magazines like Vogue, Miller began working for both companies in 2002. In 2007, she became a Victoria's Secret Angel, and graced the cover of the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to record-setting numbers. Her accomplishments have led to her being dubbed the "return of the great American supermodel."
She is also known for contracts with companies like Harley-Davidson, for whom she is the first spokesperson in the history of the company, and the NFL, whom she became a spokesperson for in 2010 . Miller is considered a sex symbol; she ranked #1 on Maxim magazine's 2008 "Hot 100" list and in FHM's global 2010 "Sexiest Women in the World" poll. Aside from modeling, she is an ambassador for both the American Cancer Society and the USO.
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Marsha Ambrosius
Marsha Ambrosius or Marsha is an English singer/songwriter. A former member of the English Soul/R&B duo Floetry, she released her first solo album Late Nights & Early Mornings on March 1, 2011.
Original Floetry members Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart met through their love of basketball and formed a friendship. Both Natalie and Marsha attended the Brit School for Performing Arts & Technology where Marsha studied business and finance and Natalie majored in Performing Arts, Media and Art. For college Ambrosius planned to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia but could not due to an injury. Stewart attended Middlesex University in London and later transferred to North London University. During these years, both women continued to keep in touch. Stewart was a founding member of the performance poetry group 3 Plus 1 which was rising to critical acclaim throughout London, Birmingham, and Manchester. After inviting Ambrosius to join her on stage to perform at a spoken word night, where they debuted a piece that they had written together called "Fantasize", combining spoken word and singing, it seemed to make sense to combine the two and Floetry was born.
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Martha Reeves
Martha Rose Reeves (born July 18, 1941 in Eufaula, Alabama) is an American R&B and Pop singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Jimmy Mack", "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run". From 2005 until 2009, Reeves served as an elected councilwoman for the city of Detroit, Michigan.
She was born in Eufaula, Alabama, the first daughter of Elijah Joshua Reeves and Ruby Lee Gilmore, and the third of the couple's 11 children. Martha was under a year old when the family moved from Eufaula to Detroit, Michigan, where her grandfather, Reverend Elijah Reeves, was a minister at Detroit's Metropolitan Church. The family was very active in the church and its choir. Both Elijah and Ruby played guitar and liked to sing; the children acquired their love of music from their parents. At Detroit's Northeastern High School, her vocal coach was Abraham Silver, who also worked with Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson (of The Supremes) and Bobby Rogers (of The Miracles). As a teenager, Reeves became a fan of R&B and doo-wop music. After failing to join her elder brother Benny's vocal group, Reeves formed her own vocal group, the Sabre-Ettes in 1958. A year later, she joined The Fascinations. Reeves left the group before they became a recording act.
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Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart (née Kostyra; August 3, 1941) is an American business magnate, author, magazine publisher, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, merchandising, and electronic commerce. She has written numerous bestselling books, is the publisher of the Martha Stewart Living magazine, and her syndicated talk show, Martha, is broadcast throughout the world.
In 2004, Stewart was entangled in the ImClone insider trading affair and there was speculation that the incident would effectively be the end of her media empire. She began a comeback campaign in 2005 and her company returned to profitability in 2006. Stewart rejoined the board of directors of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in 2011 and became chairman of her namesake company again in 2012.
Martha Stewart was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to middle-class Polish American parents, Edward "Eddie" Kostyra (c. 1912 – 1979) and Jadwiga Martha Ruszkowski Kostyra (b. September 16, 1914, Buffalo, New York – d. November 16, 2007, Norwalk, Connecticut). She lived in Jersey City until the age of 3, when her family moved to Nutley. She was raised in Nutley along with her five siblings. She took the name "Grace" for her confirmation name before graduating from Nutley High School.
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Martina McBride
Martina McBride (born July 29, 1966) is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range.
McBride was signed to RCA Records in 1991, and made her debut the following year as a neo-traditionalist country singer with the single, "The Time Has Come." It was not until 1997, when she released her fourth album, Evolution, that she broke through into the country music industry with a new pop-styled crossover sound, similar to that of Faith Hill and Shania Twain. From that point on, McBride has had a string of major hit singles on the Billboard country chart and occasionally on the adult contemporary chart. Five of these singles went to No. 1 on the country chart between 1995 and 2001, and one peaked at No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart in 2003.
McBride has recorded a total of nine studio albums, one greatest hits compilation, one "live" album, a Christmas compilation, as well as two additional compilation albums. Seven of her studio albums and two of her compilations have received an RIAA Gold certification, or higher. In the U.S. she has sold over 14 million albums. In addition, McBride has won the Country Music Association's "Female Vocalist of the Year" award four times (tied with Reba McEntire for the most wins) and the Academy of Country Music's "Top Female Vocalist" award three times.
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Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.
Mavis Staples began her career with her family group in 1950. Initially singing locally at churches and appearing on a weekly radio show, the Staples scored a hit in 1956 with "Uncloudy Day" for the Vee-Jay label. When Mavis graduated from what is now Paul Robeson High School in 1957, The Staple Singers took their music on the road. Led by family patriarch Roebuck "Pops" Staples on guitar and including the voices of Mavis and her siblings Cleotha, Yvonne, and Purvis, the Staples were called "God's Greatest Hitmakers."
With Mavis' voice and Pops' songs, singing, and guitar playing, the Staples evolved from enormously popular gospel singers (with recordings on United and Riverside as well as Vee-Jay) to become the most spectacular and influential spirituality-based group in America. By the mid-1960s The Staple Singers, inspired by Pops' close friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr., became the spiritual and musical voices of the civil rights movement. They covered contemporary pop hits with positive messages, including Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" and a version of Stephen Stills' "For What It's Worth."
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MC Lyte
MC Lyte (born Lana Michele Moorer; October 11, 1971) is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.
Lyte was born Lana Michelle Moorer in 1971. Raised in Brooklyn, Lyte began rapping at the age of 12. Two of her brothers later formed the hip-hop duo, Audio Two, which later helped to collaborate on Lyte's records. Lyte recorded her first song, "I Cram to Understand U (Sam)", in 1986. Lyte had originally written the song in 1984. The song, about a relationship that fell apart due to the protagonist's lover's crack addiction, got her notice from First Priority, who signed Lyte in late 1987. Soon after she was signed with Atlantic Records by its VP Sylvia Rhone.
Her first album, Lyte as a Rock, was released in September 1988 and was noted for the hit "Paper Thin" and the battle rap, "10% Dis", which was a response from then-Hurby Azor associate Antoinette. Both rappers released battle records against each other. Lyte followed her debut with 1989's Eyes on This, which spawned the hits "Cha Cha Cha" and "Cappucino". Both albums were notable for Lyte's uncensored lyrical matter. Lyte sweetened up a little on 1991's Act Like You Know, noted for its new jack swing sound and the hit single, "Poor Georgie". Lyte's fourth album, 1993's Ain't No Other, became her first to reach gold status and was notable for her first top 40 pop hit, "Ruffneck". Lyte became a featured artist on hits by Janet Jackson and Brandy in 1994.
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Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961) is an American rock singer-songwriter and activist.
Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals. She has also been an iconic gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993.
Born in Leavenworth, Kansas, the younger of two girls, to John Etheridge, a psychology teacher at Leavenworth High School, and Elizabeth Williamson, a computer consultant. She attended David Brewer School, which is still located at 17th and Osage Streets. She graduated in 1979 from Leavenworth High School (LHS), 10th Avenue and Halderman. Etheridge was a member of the first "Power and Life" musical/dance group at LHS which is still active today. Her childhood home was at 1902 Miami Street.
Etheridge's interest in music began early; she picked up her first guitar at 8. She began to play in all-men country music groups throughout her teenage years, until she moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music.
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Meredith Brooks
Meredith Ann Brooks (born June 12, 1958) is an American singer/songwriter and guitarist. She is best known for her 1997 hit song "Bitch", for which she was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Meredith Brooks was born in Corvallis, Oregon. Her parents divorced while she was still a child. She and her brother and sister grew up in Corvallis, Oregon and were raised by their mother. At age eleven, Brooks became fascinated with the guitar and she soon learned how to play it.
In the early 1980s, Brooks performed at a number of clubs in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and in Washington, where she was popular to a broad range of fans. She often performed at the Last Hurrah, and Eli's Hard Rock Cafe in Downtown Portland. She was managed by Denny Herman of Pacific Talent, who was also her boyfriend. She recorded Meredith Brooks and The Angels of Mercy: Recorded Live at the Starry Night, a one-hour TV show. The video production was headed up by Mark de Leon Martinez, an established young music video producer from Portland. She performed that night as the opening act for Jack Charles. She then moved to Los Angeles to further her career in music. At that time, she recorded the songs that later appeared on See It Through My Eyes. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she was a member of The Graces, who recorded one album, Perfect View, in 1989.
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Michael Strahan
Michael Anthony Strahan (pronounced /ˈstreɪhæn/) (born November 21, 1971) is a former National Football League defensive end who played his entire career for the New York Giants, where he set the record for the most sacks in a single season and won a Super Bowl in his final year. He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and also a host for Pros vs. Joes alongside fellow Fox football analyst Jay Glazer. He also starred in and produced the sitcom Brothers.
Strahan is 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m). He is the son of Gene and Louise Strahan; nephew of retired pro football player Arthur Strahan. He is the youngest of 6 children. Gene was a major in the U.S. Army, and at the age of 9, Strahan moved to an army base in Mannheim, Germany. Although Strahan did not begin to play high school football until his senior year in high school, he did play organized football while attending school in Mannheim, Germany, playing linebacker for the Mannheim Redskins in 1985. The summer before Strahan's senior year of high school, his father sent him to live with his uncle Art in Houston so he could attend Westbury High School. Strahan played one season of football, which was enough for him to get a scholarship offer from Texas Southern University. He then flew back for the spring term to Germany, where he graduated from Mannheim Christian Academy.
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Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Obama attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School before returning to Chicago and to work at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her future husband. Subsequently, she worked as part of the staff of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, and for the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Throughout 2007 and 2008, she helped campaign for her husband's presidential bid and delivered a keynote address at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She is the mother of two daughters, Malia and Sasha, and is the sister of Craig Robinson, men's basketball coach at Oregon State University. As the wife of a Senator, and later the First Lady, she has become a fashion icon and role model for women, and an advocate for poverty awareness, nutrition and healthy eating.
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Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus (born Destiny Hope Cyrus; November 23, 1992) is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana.
Cyrus recorded music for the soundtracks, Hannah Montana (2006) and Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus (2007), released by Walt Disney Records. With the success of the Hannah Montana franchise she established herself as a teen idol. In 2007, Cyrus signed to Hollywood Records to pursue a solo career. She embarked upon the Best of Both Worlds Tour the same year, in which she performed as both herself and in character as Hannah Montana. The tour was eventually turned into a high-grossing concert film titled Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008). In July 2008, Cyrus released her first solo album, Breakout (2008), which was commercially successful.
She began her foray into film by providing the voice of "Penny" in the animated film Bolt (2008). Cyrus earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for her performance of Bolt's theme song, "I Thought I Lost You". She also reprised her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009). The Hannah Montana: The Movie' soundtrack introduced her to new audiences within country and adult contemporary markets.
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Molly Shannon
Molly Helen Shannon (born September 16, 1964) is an American comic actress best known for her work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995–2001 and for starring in the films Superstar and Year of the Dog. More recently, she starred in NBC's Kath & Kim from 2008–2009 and on the TBS animated series Neighbors from Hell. Throughout Shannon's career she has appeared in a number of films in supporting roles. Shannon currently guest-hosts on the CBS daytime talk show The Talk.
Shannon was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, to an Irish American Catholic family. Her mother, Mary Margaret "Peg" (née Keating), was a teacher, and her father, James Francis Shannon, was a sales manager. Shannon was involved in a car accident when she was four years old which killed her mother, younger sister and cousin. Shannon attended St. Dominic School in Shaker Heights for grade school, and Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio, for high school.
Before Saturday Night Live, Shannon had a struggling career in films, her most notable being a supporting role as Meg in the 1989 horror film remake of The Phantom of the Opera with Robert Englund. In 1991, she had a brief appearance in the second season of Twin Peaks, and in 1993, she appeared with minor roles in two episodes of In Living Color, the first in a fake TV commercials with Chris Rock (played by Shawn Wayans), and the second in a sketch with Jim Carrey, playing LAPD Sergeant Stacey Koon.
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Nas
Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones ( /nɑːˈsɪər/; born September 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Nas ( /ˈnɑːz/), is an American rapper and actor. He is also the son of jazz musician Olu Dara. Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums since 1994, four of which topped the Billboard charts upon release and has sold over thirteen-million records in the United States alone. Nas was also part of the hip hop supergroup The Firm, which released one album under Dr. Dre's record label Aftermath. Aside from rapping, Nas is also an occasional actor and has appeared in feature films such as Hype Williams' directorial debut Belly, Ticker and In Too Deep and the television show Hawaii Five-0.
His rise to fame began in 1991 with his feature on hip hop group Main Source's debut album on the track "Live at the Barbeque". In the years that followed, Nas garnered attention from music industry A & R's and record labels with more impressive features and a solo single "Halftime". His debut album Illmatic, released in 1994 by Columbia Records, received universal acclaim from both critics and the hip hop community and would go on to be widely hailed as a musical landmark and a classic in the genre and is consistently ranked as one of the greatest LP's of all time. His follow up album It Was Written debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Charts, stayed on top for four consecutive weeks and went platinum twice in only two months, propelling Nas to worldwide notoriety.
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Naturi Naughton
Naturi Cora Maria Naughton (born May 20, 1984) is an American singer, rapper, and actress best known for formerly being one-third of the R&B trio 3LW, and the starring role of Denise in the remake of Fame. Naughton now stars on the hit Lifetime TV series The Client List as Kendra.
Naughton was born and raised in East Orange, New Jersey, the daughter of Brenda, a part-time paralegal, and Ezra Naughton, a retired accountant. Her musical talent first emerged at the age of five years old, when she joined her church choir at New Hope Baptist Church in East Orange, NJ. She attended St. Joseph's Catholic school, and later attended Immaculate Conception high school in Montclair, NJ. It was soon after that time Naturi was discovered. She has sung the national anthem at various events in New Jersey and attended Seton Hall University.
In 1999, at age 15, Naughton joined Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams to form the group 3LW. Their first single, "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)", was released in the fall of 2000. "No More" was a success and was followed by the second single, "Playas Gon' Play" in early 2001. The group's debut album, 3LW, was released on December 5, 2000. The album went platinum, selling 1.3 million copies in the US. In the summer of 2001, the group went on the MTV TRL tour along with Destiny's Child, Dream, Nelly, Eve, and Jessica Simpson.
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Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado (born December 2, 1978) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Her second studio album, Folklore, was released. It was less commercially successful in the US but produced three international singles: "Powerless (Say What You Want)", "Try", and "Força" (the theme of the 2004 European Football Championship). Her third studio album, Loose was her biggest success worldwide. It produced the number-one hits "Promiscuous", "Maneater", "Say It Right" and "All Good Things (Come to an End)". After a three-year break, she released her first full-length Spanish album, Mi Plan. For Mi Plan, Furtado received the Latin Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. Furtado's fourth English-language studio album, The Spirit Indestructible, is set for release on September 18, 2012.
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Nia Vardalos
Antonia Eugenia "Nia" Vardalos (born September 24, 1962) is a Greek-Canadian actress, screenwriter, director, singer and producer. Her most notable work is the 2002 Academy Award–nominated film My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Vardalos was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 24, 1962. She is the daughter of Greek Canadian parents Doreen, a bookkeeper and homemaker, and Constantine "Gus" Vardalos, a land developer. She attended Shaftesbury High School and Ryerson University. Vardalos married actor Ian Gomez on September 5, 1993 (her husband converted to her Greek Orthodox religion prior to marrying her). In 2008, they adopted a daughter, and she wrote a post with advice about the adoption process at The Huffington Post. She became a citizen of the U.S. in 1999.
Vardalos had many small roles in television, most notably on The Drew Carey Show and Two Guys and a Girl. She gained overnight success with her movie about a woman's struggle to find love in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which was based on a one-woman show Vardalos had previously written and starred in. The film was a huge critical and commercial success. The film earned Vardalos an Academy Award Nomination for Best Writing, a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and a Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination. The sleeper hit, which quickly became one of the highest-grossing independent films of all time, led to the unsuccessful CBS spin-off series, My Big Fat Greek Life. The show was cancelled after seven episodes and featured the entire cast from the film, excluding John Corbett who was working on his own show, Lucky.
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Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1982), known by her stage name Nicki Minaj ( /mɪˈnɑːʒ/), is a Trinidadian-born American rapper and singer-songwriter. She was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago and when she was 5 years of age she moved to the New York City borough of Queens, where she grew up.
After releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 and being signed to Young Money Entertainment in August 2009, Minaj released her debut album, Pink Friday, in November 2010. It quickly became a commercial success, peaking at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a month after its release. She became the first female solo artist to have seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Her second single, "Your Love", reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, making Minaj the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002. She also became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List. Minaj was named the 2011 Rising Star by Billboard. Her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded was released on April 3, 2012.
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Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers (born September 19, 1952, New York City) is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.
Rodgers began his career as a session guitarist in New York, touring with the Sesame Street band in his teens, and then working in the house band at Harlem's world famous Apollo Theater, playing behind Screaming Jay Hawkins, Maxine Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King, Betty Wright, Earl Lewis and the Channels, Parliament Funkadelic, and many other legendary R&B artists.
Nile met bassist Bernard Edwards in 1970. Together they formed The Big Apple Band that backed R&B act New York City ("I’m Doing Fine Now"). The band’s one hit allowed them to tour extensively, even opening for The Jackson 5 on the American leg of their first world tour in 1973. The band dissolved after their second album failed to yield a hit, but Nile and Bernard joined forces with drummer Tony Thompson, and worked and recorded as a Funk Rock band called The Boys, which played numerous gigs up and down the East Coast. Despite major label interest in their demos, they could not get a record deal when the record companies discovered they were black, as they thought that black rock artists would be too hard to promote. The band continued playing mostly local bars.
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Pamela Anderson
Pamela Denise Anderson (born July 1, 1967) is a Canadian actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990. For a time, she was known as Pamela Anderson Lee (or Pamela Lee) after marrying Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. She maintains dual American and Canadian citizenship.
Anderson was born in Ladysmith, British Columbia, the daughter of Barry, a furnace repairman, and Carol (née Grosco) Anderson, a waitress. Her great-grandfather, Juho Hyytiäinen, was Finnish, a native of Saarijärvi, and left the Grand Duchy of Finland (which was a part of the Russian Empire at the time) in 1908, changing his name to Anderson when he arrived as an immigrant. Anderson also has Russian ancestry on her mother's side.
After graduating from Highland Secondary School in 1985, Anderson moved to Vancouver and worked as a fitness instructor. During the summer of 1989, Anderson went with her friends to a BC Lions game at BC Place, and during the game she was shown on the stadium screen wearing a Labatt's t-shirt, causing the crowd to cheer for the 21-year-old Anderson. She was taken down to the field to receive an ovation from the crowd. Her photographer boyfriend Dan Ilicic produced the Blue Zone Girl poster on his own. In October 1989 she appeared as the cover girl on Playboy magazine. At this stage in her modelling career, she had decided to live in Los Angeles to further pursue her career ambitions. She became a centrefold for Playboy when the magazine chose her to be their Playmate of the Month for their February 1990 issue. She then chose to get breast implants. Anderson has since appeared in Playboy several times in the 1990s and 2000s.
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Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar (born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski; January 10, 1953) is an American singer and four-time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success, particularly in the United States. During the 1980s, Benatar had two RIAA-certified Multi-Platinum albums, five RIAA-certified Platinum albums, three RIAA-certified Gold albums and 19 Top 40 singles, including "Love Is a Battlefield", "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", and "We Belong". Benatar was one of the most heavily played artists in the early days of MTV.
Patricia Mae Andrzejewski was born in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City. Her Polish father, Andrew, was a sheet-metal worker, and her Irish mother, Mildred, a beautician. Her family later moved to North Hamilton Avenue in Lindenhurst, New York, a village within the Long Island town of Babylon.
Patti (as she was known)[citation needed] became interested in theater and began voice lessons, singing her first solo at age eight, at Daniel Street Elementary School, a song called "It Must Be Spring".[citation needed] At Lindenhurst Senior High School (1967–71),[citation needed] Benatar participated in musical theater, playing Queen Guinevere in the school production of Camelot, marching in the homecoming parade, singing at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, and performing a solo of "The Christmas Song" on a holiday recording of the Lindenhurst High School Choir her senior year.[citation needed]
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Patricia Arquette
Patricia T. Arquette (born April 8, 1968) is an American actress and director. She played the lead character in the supernatural drama series Medium for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Arquette was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Lewis Arquette, an actor, and Brenda "Mardi" Olivia (née Nowak), an actress, poet, theater operator, activist, acting teacher and therapist. Arquette's mother was Jewish, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor from Poland, and Arquette's father was a convert to Islam and related to explorer Meriwether Lewis. Her paternal grandfather was comedian Cliff Arquette, and her siblings are actors Rosanna, Alexis, Richmond and David Arquette.
Arquette was raised in Virginia and California.
In 1987, Arquette's first starring roles were as pregnant teenager Stacy in television film Daddy, boarding school student Zero in Pretty Smart, and the attention-getting Kristen Parker in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. In 1991, she won a CableACE Award for her portrayal of a deaf epileptic in Wildflower. In 1993, she starred in Tony Scott's True Romance. She has since appeared in such critically acclaimed movies as Ed Wood as the "worst ever" film director's eventual wife, Beyond Rangoon, Ethan Frome, Lost Highway, Little Nicky, Stigmata, Bringing Out the Dead, Human Nature, Disney's Holes, and Flirting with Disaster.
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Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards (born May 24, 1944), better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry. LaBelle spent 16 years as lead singer of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, who changed their name to Labelle in the early 1970s and released the iconic disco song, "Lady Marmalade".
LaBelle started her solo career shortly after the group disbanded in 1977 and crossed over to pop music with "On My Own", "If Only You Knew", "If You Asked Me To", "Stir It Up" and "New Attitude". She has also recorded R&B ballads such as "You Are My Friend" and "Love, Need and Want You".
LaBelle possesses the vocal range of a soprano.
Patricia Louise Holte was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 24, 1944 . Her father, Henry Holte (alternatively, Holt), was a railroad worker and lounge singer. Her mother, Bertha Holte, was a domestic and housewife. Holte was one of four daughters (Vivian, Barbara, Patricia and Jacqueline). Holte recalls having a happy childhood but said being sexually molested at the age of seven led her to be shy and withdrawn. Holte's parents had an unhappy marriage. When Holte was twelve, her parents split up and Bertha Holte raised her daughters as a single mother. Holte's mother later adopted Claudette Grant, who would become one of Holte's closest friends.
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Paul Gorman
Paul Gorman is a writer, cultural commentator and curator.
From 1978, Gorman worked on weekly news for trade publications. In 1983, Gorman won the Periodical Publishers Association award for campaigning journalism for a series of investigative food industry articles and in 1990 was appointed west coast bureau chief of film trade Screen International, based in Los Angeles.
Between 1993 and 1998, Gorman was contributing editor at Music Week, reporting on leading executives and artists such as Madonna's manager Freddy de Mann, Creation Records founder Alan McGee and U2 manager Paul McGuinness. Between 1994 and 1999, Gorman was contributing editor at Music Business International. During this time he contributed regularly to magazines such as Mojo and conducted the first ever interview with the Spice Girls.
Gorman continues to contribute to magazines and newspapers including the Daily Telegraph, Mojo, Vice and The Word.
In the mid-90s Gorman worked with production company Channel X on developing the trash culture TV series The Strip he created with partner David Knight for Channel 4. In 1999 Gorman directed documentary Las Vegas Grind for Channel 4. This was hosted by Mexican-American artist El Vez, who Gorman subsequently signed to Alan McGee’s record label Poptones, which released two El Vez albums and the single Feliz Navidad in the UK.
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Paul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM (/ˈʃeɪfər/, born November 28, 1949) is a Canadian-American musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.
Shaffer was born and raised in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, Canada, the son of Shirley and Bernard Shaffer, a lawyer. Shaffer was raised in a Jewish family. As a child, Shaffer had lessons on the piano, and moved on to playing the organ by his teenage years, in a band (Fabulous Fugitives) with his schoolmates in Thunder Bay. Later he performed with the "Flash Landing Band" at different venues around Edmonton and the Interior of B.C. Educated at the University of Toronto, he began playing with jazz guitarist Tisziji Muñoz, performing in bands around the bars there, where he found an interest in musicals, and completed his studies, with a B.A. degree in Sociology in 1971.
Shaffer began his music career in 1972 as the musical director for the Toronto production of Godspell, starring Victor Garber, Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas and Andrea Martin. He went on to play piano for a Broadway show called The Magic Show in 1974, then became a member of the house band on NBC's popular Saturday Night Live (SNL) television program from 1975 to 1980 (except for a brief departure in 1977). Though Shaffer was at the piano and appeared to be directing the band's actions, Howard Shore was credited as SNL's musical director, eventually turning the actual conducting of the band to sax player Howard Johnson. Shaffer also regularly appeared in the show's sketches, notably as the pianist for Bill Murray's Nick the Lounge Singer character, and as Don Kirshner.
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Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul ( /ˈæbduːl/; born June 19, 1962) is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.
In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits in the late-1980s and early-1990s. Her six number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 tie her for fifth among the female solo performers who have reached #1 there. She won a Grammy for "Best Music Video – Short Form" for "Opposites Attract" and twice won the "Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography".
After her initial period of success, she suffered a series of setbacks in her professional and personal life, until she found renewed fame and success in the early years of the 21st century as a judge on the television series, American Idol, for eight years, before departing from the show. Abdul had moved on to another television series, CBS's Live to Dance, which debuted in January 2011. The series has since been canceled. Following her judging role in Live to Dance, Abdul moved to the first season of American version of The X Factor with her former American Idol co-judge Simon Cowell which premiered on September 21, 2011.
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Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams (born April 5, 1973), commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of hip-hop band N.E.R.D, which he formed with Hugo and childhood friend Shay Haley. He released his first single "Frontin'" in 2003 and followed up with his first album In My Mind in 2006.
As part of The Neptunes, Williams has produced numerous hit singles for various musicians. The two have earned three Grammy Awards amongst ten nominations. He is also the co-founder of the clothing brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream Clothing. He is a member of the supergroup V.A. Playaz with Fam-Lay, Clipse, Skillz, Missy Elliott, and Timbaland & Magoo.
Pharrell Williams was born on April 5, 1973, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the eldest of three sons of Carolyn, a teacher, and Pharaoh Williams, a handyman. He met Chad Hugo in a seventh-grade summer band camp where Williams played the keyboards and drums and Hugo played tenor saxophone. They were also both members of a marching band; Williams played the snare drum while Chad was student conductor. With Hugo, Williams attended Princess Anne High School where they played in the school band; there he got the name Skateboard P.
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Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy Award nomination and an Academy Award nomination.
Latifah was born, and primarily raised, in East Orange, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Rita (née Bray), a teacher at Irvington High School (her daughter's alma mater), and Lancelot Owens, Sr., a police officer, her parents divorced when Latifah was ten. Latifah was raised in the Baptist church and attended Catholic school in Newark, New Jersey. Her stage name, Latifah (لطيفة laţīfa), meaning "delicate" and "very kind" in Arabic, she found in an Islamic book of names when she was eight. Always a tall girl, the 5'10" Latifah was a power forward on her high school basketball team. She performed the number "Home" from the musical The Wiz in a high school play. She is of African American and Native American ancestry.
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Questlove
Ahmir Khalib Thompson (born on January 20, 1971) known professionally as ?uestlove or Questlove (also known as BROther ?uestion, Questo, Brother Question or Qlove), is an American drummer, DJ, music journalist and record producer. He is best known as the drummer and joint frontman (with Black Thought) for the Grammy Award-winning band The Roots, which is now the in-house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
He has produced for artists such as Common, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Jay-Z, Nikka Costa and more recently, Al Green, Amy Winehouse and John Legend. He is a member of the production teams the Soulquarians, The Randy Watson Experience, and The Grand Wizzards.
Thompson was born in Philadelphia on January 20, 1971. His father was Lee Andrews of Lee Andrews & the Hearts, one of the great 50s doo-wop groups.[citation needed] His parents did not want to leave him with babysitters, so they took him on tour with them. He grew up in backstages of doo-wop shows. By the age of seven, Thompson began drumming on stage at shows, and by 13, had become a musical director.
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Rachel Bilson
Rachel Sarah Bilson (born August 25, 1981) is an American actress. Bilson grew up in a California show business family, and made her television debut in 2003, subsequently becoming well known for playing Summer Roberts on the prime time drama series The O.C. Bilson made her film debut in the 2006 film The Last Kiss and starred in the 2008 action/science fiction film Jumper. She is currently starring as Dr. Zoe Hart on The CW's Hart of Dixie.
Bilson was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of Janice (née Stango), a sex therapist, and Danny Bilson, a writer, director, and producer. Her father is Jewish and her mother, a native of Philadelphia, is Italian American. Bilson's father comes from a show business family; her great-grandfather, George Bilson (born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England), was the head of the trailer department at RKO Pictures; her Brooklyn-born great-grandmother, Hattie Bilson, was a screenwriter; and her grandfather, Bruce Bilson, is a film director. Bilson's parents divorced when she was nine years old, and in 1997, her father remarried Heather Medway, an actress and the mother of Bilson's half-sisters Hattie and Rosemary.
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Randy Jackson
Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson (born June 23, 1956) is an American bassist, singer, record producer, entrepreneur and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. Jackson has won a Grammy Award as a producer.
Jackson was born on June 23, 1956, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, His first marriage, to Elizabeth Jackson, was dissolved in 1990; they had one daughter named Taylor. In 1995, Jackson married Erika Riker, with whom he has two children, a 14-year-old daughter named Zoe and a 12-year-old son named Jordan. In 2003, Jackson lost 114 pounds (52 kg) following gastric bypass surgery. He stated in a February 2008 television commercial that he has type 2 diabetes.
Jackson played in bands with Carlos Santana and Jerry Garcia. In the early 1980s he played on three albums for Jean-Luc Ponty and with the rock band Taxxi. From 1986 to 1987 he was a session musician for the rock group Journey. Jackson played on Journey's 1986 album Raised on Radio. He moved to Italy in the late 1980s and played on a record by Italian pop star Zucchero. The record, Zucchero and the Randy Jackson Band, was produced by Corrado Rustici who played guitar with Jackson on many albums in the early 1980s. He also played with Billy Cobham.
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Renée Zellweger
Renée Kathleen Zellweger (born April 25, 1969) is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire (1996), and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) (which she reprised in its sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)), and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago (2002). She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Cold Mountain (2003).
She has won an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a BAFTA Award, was named Hasty Pudding's Woman of the Year in 2009, and established herself as one of the highest-paid Hollywood actresses as of 2007.
Zellweger was born in Katy, Texas. Her father, Emil Erich Zellweger, is from Au in the canton of St. Gallen,Switzerland, and is a mechanical and electrical engineer who worked in the oil refining business. Her mother, Kjellfrid Irene (née Andreassen), is Norwegian; of part Sámi and Kven (Finnish) descent, Kjellfrid grew up in Kirkenes and Ekkerøy, and is a nurse and midwife who moved to the United States to work as a governess for a Norwegian family in Texas. Zellweger has described herself as being raised in a family of "lazy Catholics and Episcopalians".
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Ron Carter
Ron Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that instrument.
Carter was born in Ferndale, Michigan. He started to play cello at the age of 10, but when his family moved to Detroit, he ran into difficulties regarding the racial stereotyping of classical musicians and instead moved to bass. He attended the historic Cass Technical High School in Detroit, and, later, the Eastman School of Music, where he played in its Philharmonic Orchestra. He gained his bachelor's degree at Eastman in 1959, and in 1961 a master's degree in double bass performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
His first jobs as a jazz musician were with Jaki Byard and Chico Hamilton. His first records were made with Eric Dolphy (another former member of Hamilton's group) and Don Ellis, in 1960. His own first date as leader, Where?, with Dolphy and Mal Waldron and a date also with Dolphy called Out There with George Duvivier and Roy Haynes and Carter on cello; its advanced harmonies and concepts were in step with the third stream movement.
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Roy Haynes
Roy Owen Haynes (born March 13, 1925 in the Roxbury section of Boston, Massachusetts) is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz. He has a highly expressive, personal style ("Snap Crackle" was a nickname given him in the 1950s) and is known to foster a deep engagement in his bandmates.[citation needed]
He has also led his own groups, some performing under the name Hip Ensemble. His most recent recordings as a leader are Fountain of Youth and Whereas, both of which have been nominated for a Grammy Award. He continues to perform worldwide.
His son Graham Haynes is a cornetist. His son, Craig Haynes and grandson, Marcus Gilmore are both drummers.
Haynes made his professional debut in 1944 at the age of seventeen in his native Boston.
Haynes began his full time professional career in 1945. From 1947 to 1949 he worked with saxophonist Lester Young, and from 1949 to 1952 was a member of saxophonist Charlie Parker's quintet. He also recorded at the time with pianist Bud Powell and saxophonists Wardell Gray, and Stan Getz. From 1953 to 1958 he toured with singer Sarah Vaughan.
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RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960), best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta and New York City club scenes during the 1980s and early 90s. RuPaul has on occasion performed as a man in a number of roles, usually billed as RuPaul Charles. RuPaul is noted among famous drag queens for his indifference towards the gender-specific pronouns used to address him—both "he" and "she" have been deemed acceptable. "You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don't care! Just as long as you call me." He hosted a short-running talk show on VH1, and currently hosts reality television shows called RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag U.
RuPaul was born in San Diego, California. His name was given to him by his mother, a Louisiana native. The Ru came from roux, an ingredient used in gumbo. RuPaul struggled as a musician and filmmaker in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1980s. He participated in underground cinema, helping create the low-budget film Star Booty, and an album by the same name. In Atlanta, RuPaul often performed at the Celebrity Club (managed by Larry Tee) as a bar dancer or with his band, Wee Wee Pole, which included the late Todd Butler. RuPaul's first prominent national exposure came with a featured role dancing in the video for "Love Shack" by the B-52s.
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Russell Malone
Russell Malone (born November 8, 1963 in Albany, Georgia) is an essentially self-taughtswing and bebop jazz guitarist. He began working with Jimmy Smith in 1988, and went on to work with Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall throughout the 1990s. .
Malone began playing at the age of four in his home of Albany, Georgia, with a toy guitar his mother had bought him, influenced by musicians such as B.B. King and The Dixie Hummingbirds. However, he cites that the most influential musical experience he had as a youth was "[At the age of twelve] seeing George Benson perform on television…with Benny Goodman." He learned technique from listening to recordings of Benson, Wes Montgomery, and Charlie Christian, among others.
Malone played with jazz organist Jimmy Smith from 1988—1990. He then joined the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band from 1989-1994. In 1995, Malone became part of the Diana Krall trio, participating in three Grammy-nominated albums, the final one in 1999, "When I Look In Your Eyes," winning Best Vocal Jazz Performance. Malone was part of jazz pianist Benny Green's recordings in the late 1990s and 2000: "Kaleidoscope" (1997), "These Are Soulful Days" (1999), and "Naturally" (2000). The two formed a duo partnership, releasing the live recording, "Jazz At The Bistro" in 2003, and the studio recording "Bluebird" in 2004. The duo toured until 2007.
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Ryan Kwanten
Ryan Christian[citation needed]Kwanten (born 28 November 1976) is an Australian actor. He played Vinnie Patterson from 1997 to 2002 on the Australian soap-opera Home and Away. After his stint ended he joined the American teen-oriented drama Summerland portraying Jay Robertson. In 2008, he was cast as Jason Stackhouse in True Blood.
Kwanten was born in Sydney to Eddie Kwanten, a worker at NSW Maritime, and Kris, a lifeline op-shop coordinator. He is of Dutch ancestry on his father's side. Kwanten has two brothers, Mitchell, who is a musician and Lloyd, who is a doctor. He attended St Paul's Catholic College in Manly and later earned a commerce degree from the University of Sydney.
Kwanten began acting on the television shows A Country Practice, Hey Dad..! and Spellbinder. In 1997, he joined the cast of the Australian soap opera Home and Away, playing lifeguard Vinnie Patterson. He eventually chose to leave the series in 2002, shortly after his character married and became a father. Moving to the United States, Kwanten was cast as Jay Robertson in the Lori Loughlin-starring series Summerland, which ran from 2004 to 2005. He appeared in the films Flicka, with Maria Bello, Alison Lohman and Tim McGraw, and Dead Silence, a horror movie in which he played the leading role.
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Sam Trammell
Sam Trammell (born January 29, 1969) is an American stage, film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Sam Merlotte in the HBO vampire series, True Blood, which saw him nominated for a 2010 Scream Award for "Best Supporting Actor".
Sam Trammell was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Trammell graduated from George Washington High School, Charleston, West Virginia. He furthered his studies at Brown University and the University of Paris. He and girlfriend, Missy Yager, have twin boys who were born on August 9, 2011.
Sam Trammell has worked in theater, on-Broadway, off-Broadway, film and television. He is an accomplished New York stage actor whose credits include a Tony nominated performance in "Ah, Wilderness!" at Lincoln Center. Off-Broadway, he starred in "Dealer's Choice (play)", "My Night With Reg", "If Memory Serves", "Ancestral Voices", and most recently, "Kit Marlowe" at the Joseph Papp Public Theater, where he received outstanding reviews. Trammell's big break came when he landed the role of Sam Merlotte on HBO series True Blood.
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Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker (born March 25, 1965) is an American actress and producer.
She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City (1998–2004), for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards. She played the same role in the 2008 feature film based on the show, Sex and the City: The Movie, and in its sequel, Sex and the City 2, which opened on May 26, 2010. Parker has also appeared in many other films.
Sarah Jessica Parker was born in Nelsonville, Ohio, the daughter of Barbara Parker (née Keck), a nursery school operator and teacher, and Stephen Parker, an entrepreneur and journalist. She was one of a total of eight children from her parents' marriage and her mother's second marriage (her full siblings include actors Timothy Britten Parker and Pippin Parker). After her parents' divorce, her mother married Paul Forste, a truck driver and account executive who was a part of Parker's life from an early age. Parker's father, a native of Brooklyn, was of Eastern European Jewish background; his family's original surname was "Bar-Kahn" ("son of Kohen"). Parker's mother was of English and German descent; through her mother, Parker is descended from Esther Elwell, one of the accused during the Salem witch trials. Parker has identified culturally and ethnically with her father's religion, Judaism, although she has had no religious training. She has said that even while her family lived in Cincinnati, her mother emulated a New York lifestyle.
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Scherrie Payne
Scherrie Payne (born November 4, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American singer. The younger sister of singer/actress Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne was the co-lead singer of The Supremes from 1973 to 1977, after Jean Terrell left the group in the fall of 1973. Because of her powerful voice and petite stature of only five-foot-two, she is sometimes referred to as "the little lady with the big voice."
Prior to her tenure with The Supremes, Scherrie Payne was the lead singer for a group known as The Glass House. Other group members included Ty Hunter (later with The Originals), Pearl Jones, and Larry Mitchell. This was a group signed to the Invictus Label, formed by former Motown songwriters Eddie and Brian Holland, and Lamont Dozier. Signed to the label in 1969, they were signed among other popular acts of the early 1970s, including Freda Payne (Scherrie's older sister who saw a #1 hit in 1970 with "Band Of Gold"), and The Honey Cone who saw a #1 hit with "Want Ads" In an ironic twist of fate, 'Want Ads' was originally recorded by Glass House with Scherrie on lead vocals. Scherrie, Edna and Freda all had a similar vocal sound. Unfortunately, The Glass House did not meet this same success. The group saw their biggest hit in 1969 with the Payne-led track "Crumbs Off The Table" which managed the Billboard top 10.
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Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( /ʃəˈkɪərə/,Spanish: [t͡ʃaˈkiɾa]; born February 2, 1977),known mononymously as Shakira, is a Colombian singer-songwriter who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira began performing in school, demonstrating her vocal ability with rock and roll, Latin and Arabic influences with her own original twist on belly dancing. Shakira is a native Spanish speaker and also speaks fluent English and Portuguese as well as some Italian, French, Catalan and Arabic.
After a poor commercial reception with local producers on her first two albums, and being little-known outside Colombia, Shakira decided to produce her own brand of music. In 1995 she released Pies Descalzos, which brought her great fame in Latin America and Spain, and her 1998 album Dónde Están los Ladrones? was a critical success selling over 7 million copies worldwide. In 2001, aided by the worldwide success of her first English single "Whenever, Wherever" that became the best selling single of 2002, she broke through into the English-speaking world with the release of Laundry Service, which sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Four years later, Shakira released two album projects called Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation Vol. 2. Both reinforced her success, particularly with the best selling song of the 2000s, "Hips Don't Lie". In 1997, Shakira founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation. It is a Colombian charity with special schools for poor children all around Colombia. During her career, Shakira has performed at a large number of benefit concerts. Among the most famous are the Live 8 benefit concert in July 2005, the Live Earth concert, Hamburg where she headlined the show, as well as the "Clinton Global Initiative" created by former US President Bill Clinton. She was also invited to the Oval Office by President Barack Obama in February 2010 to discuss early childhood development.
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Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC ( /ʃəˌnaɪ.ə ˈtweɪn/; born Eilleen Regina Edwards; August 28, 1965) is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me (1995), brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and is the ninth best-selling album in the U.S. Her fourth album, Up!, was released in November 2002. To date it has sold 20 million copies worldwide.
Twain has won five Grammy Awards and 27 BMI Songwriter awards. She has had three albums certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America and is the second best-selling artist in Canada, behind Céline Dion, with three of her studio albums certified double diamond by the Canadian Recording Industry Association. She is the first (and currently only) female artist in history to have 3 consecutive albums reach diamond status, indicating sales of at least 10 million, certified by the RIAA. Sometimes referred to as "The Queen of Country Pop", Twain has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide and is ranked 10th best-selling artist of the Nielsen SoundScan era. She was also ranked 72nd on Billboard's "Artists of the decade" (2000–10). Most recently, Twain has her own TV series, Why Not? with Shania Twain, that premiered on the OWN on May 8, 2011. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 2, 2011.
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Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne (née Arden, originally Levy; born 9 October 1952) is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne.
She came into public prominence after appearing in The Osbournes, a reality television show that followed her family's daily routine. Osbourne later became a judge on the talent shows The X Factor and America's Got Talent. Her autobiography, Extreme, has sold in excess of two million copies.
After the success of The Osbournes and The X Factor, hosting her own chat shows and securing advertising contracts, Osbourne was ranked as the 25th richest woman in Britain on the 2009 Sunday Times Rich List. Sharon and husband, Ozzy Osbourne, are currently ranked as the 724th richest people in Britain with an estimated joint wealth of £110 million. Sharon Osbourne is credited with reviving her husband's heavy metal career by founding the summer Ozzfest tour. She currently lives in California and is one of five co-hosts of the daytime series, The Talk, where she discusses controversial topics and contemporary issues. The Talk premiered on 18 October 2010. BBC announced she is expected to host a syndicated daytime version Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in 2012.
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Sherri Shepherd
Sherri Evonne Shepherd (born April 22, 1967) is an American comedienne, actress, and television personality. She is one of five co-hosts on the ABC daytime talkshow, The View, as well as being the current host of the Newlywed Game and having a recurring role as Angie Jordan on the NBC series 30 Rock. As an actress, she has starred in the sitcom Less than Perfect and her own sitcom Sherri on Lifetime.
Shepherd was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Lawrence A. Shepherd (b. 1943) and LaVerne Shepherd (1941–1991), as the eldest of three sisters. When she was 11, her family moved to Hoffman Estates, a Chicago northwest suburb. She attended Winston Churchill Elementary School and Eisenhower Junior High School of Community Consolidated School District 54 and Hoffman Estates High School of District 211.
Shepherd worked a day job as a legal secretary while doing stand-up comedy at night. Her first TV role was on the show, Cleghorne!, starring former Saturday Night Live cast member Ellen Cleghorne. Three years later, Shepherd pursued acting and stand-up comedy full-time, working again as a legal secretary for a day job. She had guest and recurring roles on Everybody Loves Raymond and Living Single as well as regular roles on Suddenly Susan and The Jamie Foxx Show. Perhaps her most successful role prior to The View was playing the main character of Ramona Platt (2002–2006) on the comedy Less than Perfect. She is currently starring in Lifetime Television's Sherri, a sitcom about Shepherd's life.
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Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop. She has won nine Grammy Awards from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
She has performed with The Rolling Stones and has sung duets with Mick Jagger,Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Luciano Pavarotti, John Mellencamp, Kid Rock, Michelle Branch, and Sting among others. She has performed backing vocals for Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Don Henley and Belinda Carlisle. She also sang as part of the back up vocals for the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary celebrating Dylan's 30 years as a recording artist. Crow has released seven studio albums, two compilations, and a live album, and has contributed to film soundtracks. She has sold 16 million albums in the United States and 35 million albums worldwide and her newest album, 100 Miles from Memphis, was released on July 20, 2010. Recently she appeared on NBC's 30 Rock, ABC's GCB and Cougar Town, Disney Channel's Hannah Montana Forever, and Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.
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Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver (born Susan Alexandra Weaver; October 8, 1949) is an American actress. She is known for her role of Ellen Ripley in the four Alien films: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien Resurrection, for which she has received worldwide recognition.
Other notable roles include Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters and its sequel Ghostbusters II, Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey, Working Girl, Death and the Maiden, The Ice Storm, Galaxy Quest, Snow Cake, Prayers for Bobby and Grace Augustine in Avatar.
Weaver has been nominated for three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards (one win), two Emmy Awards, six Saturn Awards (two wins) and six Golden Globe Awards, winning two in 1988 for Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl, becoming the first person ever to have won two acting Golden Globe Awards in the same year. She was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award.
Her 1986 Academy Award nomination for Aliens is considered as a landmark in the recognition of science fiction, action, and horror genres, as well as a major step in challenging the gender role in cinema. Weaver progressively received notoriety for her numerous contributions to the science fiction film history (including minor roles in successful works such as Futurama, WALL-E and Paul) and gained the nickname of "The Sci-Fi Queen".
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Star Jones
Star Jones (previously Star Jones Reynolds; born March 24, 1962) is an American lawyer, journalist, writer, and television personality. She is known for her role as a co-host of the ABC weekday morning talk show The View. She was one of the contestants of the fourth installment of Celebrity Apprentice, coming in 5th place.
Born Starlet Marie Jones in Badin, North Carolina, Star moved to Trenton, New Jersey as a child where she graduated from Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She earned a B.A. degree in The Administration of Justice at American University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She was initiated in the Lambda Zeta Chapter at American University.[citation needed]
Jones was recruited by Court TV in 1991 as a commentator for the William Kennedy Smith rape trial, and spent several years as a legal correspondent for NBC's Today and NBC Nightly News.
She left NBC in 1994 to host her own court show Jones & Jury. Although the show was canceled after one year, Jones quickly was signed up as chief legal analyst on Inside Edition, where she was assigned to lead the coverage of the O. J. Simpson murder case and was the only reporter to interview Simpson during his civil trial, which she covered for American Journal.
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Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums. She has been noted for her ethereal visual style and symbolic lyrics. Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac on December 31, 1974, along with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham. Fleetwood Mac's second album after the incorporation of Nicks and Buckingham, 1977's Rumours, produced four US Top 10 singles (including Nicks's song "Dreams", which was the band's first and only US number one) and remained at No.1 on the American albums chart for 31 weeks, as well as reaching the top spot in various countries around the world. To date the album has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it the eighth best-selling album of all time.
Nicks began her solo career in 1981 with the 8 million selling album Bella Donna, and she has produced six more solo studio albums to date. Her seventh solo studio album entitled In Your Dreams, and her first in ten years, was produced largely by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame and Glen Ballard and was released on May 3, 2011. After the release of her first solo album, Rolling Stone deemed her "The Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll". Having overcome cocaine addiction, and dependency on tranquilizers, Nicks remains a popular solo performer. As a solo artist, she has garnered eight Grammy Award nominations and, with Fleetwood Mac, a further five, of which one was the 1978 award for Album of the Year for Rumours, which they won. As a member of Fleetwood Mac, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Nicks is known for her distintive voice, mystical visual style and symbolic lyrics as well as the famous (sometimes tense) chemistry between herself and former boyfriend and guitarist/vocalist in Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham.
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Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris (born May 13, 1950 as Stevland Hardaway Judkins), known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. Blind since shortly after birth, Wonder signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of eleven, and continues to perform and record for Motown to this day.
Among Wonder's best known works are singles such as "Superstition", "Sir Duke", "I Wish" and "I Just Called to Say I Love You". Well known albums also include Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. He has recorded more than thirty U.S. top ten hits and received twenty-two Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a male solo artist. Wonder is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a holiday in the United States. In 2009, Wonder was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's fiftieth anniversary, with Wonder at number five.
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Susan Lucci
Susan Victoria Lucci (born December 23, 1946) is an American actress, television host, author and entrepreneur, best known for portraying Erica Kane on the ABC daytime drama All My Children. The character is considered an icon, and Lucci has been called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV Guide, with New York Times and Los Angeles Times citing her as the highest-paid actor in daytime television. As early as 1991, her salary had been reported as over $1 million a year.
In 1996, TV Guide ranked Lucci number 37 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. In 2005, she received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006. She named one of VH1’s 200 Top Icons of All-Time and one of Barbara Walters’s Ten Most Fascinating People. She has also played roles in made-for-TV movies, hosted many shows and guest starred on television comedy series, including Saturday Night Live and Hot in Cleveland. She also has her own line of hair care products, perfumes, lingerie and skin care, called The Susan Lucci Collection.
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Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon (born Susan Abigail Tomalin; October 4, 1946) is an American actress. She has worked in movies and television since 1969, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. She had also been nominated for the award for four films before that and has received other recognition for her work. She is also noted for her social and political activism for a variety of liberal causes.
Sarandon was born Susan Abigail Tomalin in New York City to a Roman Catholic family. She is the eldest of nine children of Lenora Marie (née Criscione) and Phillip Leslie Tomalin, who worked as an advertising executive, television producer, and nightclub singer during the big band era. Her father was of English, Irish, and Welsh ancestry, his English ancestors being from Hackney in London. On her mother's side, she is of Italian descent, with ancestors from the regions of Tuscany and Sicily. Sarandon attended Roman Catholic schools.[citation needed] She grew up in Edison, New Jersey, where she graduated from Edison High School in 1964. She then attended The Catholic University of America, from 1964 to 1968, where she began dating actor Chris Sarandon whom she married in 1967.
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Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress. Raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Swift moved to Nashville, Tennessee at the age of fourteen to pursue a career in country music. She signed to the independent label Big Machine Records and became the youngest songwriter ever hired by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house. The release of Swift's self-titled debut album in 2006 established her as a country music star. "Our Song", her third single, made her the youngest sole writer and singer of a number one song on the country chart. She received a Best New Artist nomination at the 50th Grammy Awards.
Swift's second album, Fearless, was released in late 2008. Buoyed by the chart success of the singles "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me", Fearless attracted a crossover audience and became the top-selling album of 2009. The record won four Grammy Awards, with Swift becoming the youngest ever Album of the Year winner. Fearless also received Album of the Year plaudits at the American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards, making it the most awarded album in country music history. In 2010, Swift released her third album, Speak Now, which sold over one million copies in its first week. She then embarked on the 111-date Speak Now World Tour, which was attended by over 1.6 million fans and has become one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time. The album's third single, "Mean", won two Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance. Swift is currently recording her fourth studio album, due for release in the fall of 2012.
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Teri Hatcher
Teri Lynn Hatcher (born December 8, 1964) is an American actress, writer, and presenter. She is known for her television roles as Susan Mayer on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and Lois Lane on the ABC comedy-drama series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. For her work on Desperate Housewives, she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and three Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as a Primetime Emmy nomination.
Hatcher was born in Palo Alto, California, the daughter of Esther (née Beshur), a computer programmer who worked for Lockheed Martin, and Owen Walker Hatcher, Jr., a nuclear physicist and electrical engineer. Her father is of Welsh descent (Hatcher has said that he also has Choctaw ancestry) and her mother is of half Syrian and half Bohemian (Czech)-Irish ancestry. Teri Hatcher took ballet lessons at the San Juan School of Dance in Los Altos. Her big debut was as the lead flying monkey in a production of The Wizard Of Oz.[citation needed] Hatcher grew up in Sunnyvale, California. and attended Mango Junior High (now Sunnyvale Middle School), Fremont High School in Sunnyvale and De Anza College in Cupertino. As an undergraduate she studied mathematics and engineering.
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Terrence Howard
Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an American actor and singer. Having his first major role in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus, Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of television and film roles between 2004 and 2006. His roles in movies includes Winnie, Ray, Lackawanna Blues, Crash, Four Brothers, Hustle & Flow, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Idlewild, August Rush and The Brave One. Howard co-starred in Iron Man and reprised the role in the video game adaption.
His debut album, Shine Through It, was released in September 2008.
Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Cleveland, Ohio , the son of Anita Williams (née Hawkins) and Tyrone Howard. His maternal great-grandmother, Minnie Gentry, was a stage actress, as were his mother and uncles. Both of his parents were biracial, of African American and European American descent; he experienced racism throughout his childhood.[citation needed] His father was involved in what has been termed the Santa Line Slaying, serving 11 months in prison on manslaughter charges after stabbing another man. At the age of 16, Howard emancipated himself from his parents and was put on welfare; at 18, he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. He wanted to be a science teacher, though he had a low GPA in high school and was admitted to the Pratt Institute in New York only after convincing them to give him a special entrance exam. Howard did not complete his education, as he had joined his brother on an audition for The Cosby Show and was cast in the role. Though he did not obtain a degree, Howard claims to be an engineer. Howard had a principal role in a short-lived CBS sitcom, Tall Hopes.
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The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers ( /ˈaɪzliː/ YZ-lee) are an American musical group consisting of brothers Ron and Ernie Isley. The founding members of the band were Ronald Isley, older brothers Rudy and Kelly and younger brother Vernon. Originally formed as a gospel quartet, following the death of brother Vernon, the remaining trio launched a career into doo-wop scoring with their first million-selling hit single, "Shout", in 1959. Follow-up successes came with the 1962 single, "Twist and Shout" and the 1966 Motown single, "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)".
Following the release of their 1969 Grammy Award winning hit, "It's Your Thing" and subsequent other hits on their own label, the family eventually grew to include younger brothers Ernie and Marvin Isley as well as brother-in-law Chris Jasper. From 1973 until 1983, the group would release a successive string of hit albums and singles on the R&B charts, becoming one of the few successful black groups to successfully cross over into the pop charts due to their mixture of soul, funk and rock thanks to the albums, 3 + 3 and The Heat Is On and also helped pioneer the quiet storm format with a string of ballads on their 1970s and 1980s albums.
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Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards. Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Success followed with a string of hits including "River Deep, Mountain High" and the 1971 hit "Proud Mary". With the publication of her autobiography I, Tina (1986), Turner revealed severe instances of spousal abuse against her by Ike Turner prior to their 1976 split and subsequent 1978 divorce. After virtually disappearing from the music scene for several years following her divorce from Ike Turner, she rebuilt her career, launching a string of hits beginning in 1983 with the single "Let's Stay Together" and the 1984 release of her fifth solo album Private Dancer.
Her musical career led to film roles, beginning with a prominent role as The Acid Queen in the 1975 film Tommy, and an appearance in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. She starred opposite Mel Gibson as Aunty Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome for which she received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, and her version of the film's theme, "We Don't Need Another Hero", was a hit single. She appeared in the 1993 film Last Action Hero.
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Tionne Watkins
Tionne Tenese Watkins (born April 26, 1970), better known by her stage name T-Boz, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, author, poet, and executive producer who rose to fame as one-third of the R&B/hip-hop girl group TLC.
Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins was born in Des Moines, Iowa to Gayle Watkins. She is of African American and Native American descent. As a child, Watkins was diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia; her parents both have the homozygous recessive trait which one in 12 people of African descent have. Since the age of seven, Watkins has been in and out of hospitals due to her condition. Watkins' family moved from Des Moines to Atlanta, Georgia, when she was nine years old. Because of her disease, Watkins was not expected to have children or live past her 30s.
An Atlanta local named Crystal Jones held auditions for a local group and chose Watkins, and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes eventually attracted the attention of Perri "Pebbles" Reid and her husband, LaFace Records chief Antonio "L.A." Reid. L.A. Reid replaced Jones with Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and the group was signed in 1991 as TLC. They went on to become one of the most successful girl groups in history and sell over 45 million records worldwide. T-Boz has won four Grammy Awards for her work with TLC.
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Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton (born October 7, 1967) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide. She has a contralto vocal type.[citation needed]
Braxton topped the Billboard 200 with her 1993 self-titled debut album and continued that streak with her second studio album Secrets, which spawned the number-one hits "You're Makin' Me High" and "Un-Break My Heart". Although she had successful albums and singles, Braxton shortly filed for bankruptcy, but then returned with her chart-topping third album, The Heat. In 2009, she returned to the spotlight with "Yesterday", a #12 R&B hit which serves as the first single off her new album Pulse, released on May 4, 2010, which debuted at #1 on Billboard R&B Album Chart. Braxton was involved in the 7th season of the reality show Dancing with the Stars. Her professional partner was Alec Mazo. She was voted off in week five of the competition. It was announced on October 6, 2010 that Braxton once again had filed for bankruptcy. A reality series entitled Braxton Family Values, starring Toni and her sisters, debuted April 12, 2011 on WE tv. WE tv ordered a 13-episode second season of the show after the third episode of the first season. On September 18, 2011, Braxton was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
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Travie McCoy
Travis Lazarus McCoy (born August 6, 1981), known by his stage name Travie McCoy, is an American singer and rapper. He is the lead vocalist of the alternative hip-hop band Gym Class Heroes. He released his debut solo album Lazarus on June 8, 2010.
Raised in Geneva, New York, McCoy became involved with punk rock scenes as a teenager. He formed the group Gym Class Heroes with childhood friend Matt McGinley, and after several line-up changes, the group was signed to Fueled by Ramen, and released their debut album. The group achieved mainstream success in 2006 when its album As Cruel as School Children was released, Gym Class Heroes are most notable for the song "Cupid's Chokehold".
Gym Class Heroes took a three year hiatus from music, leaving McCoy to focus on his solo career; McCoy released his debut solo album, Lazarus, in 2010. The lead single from the album, "Billionaire" featuring Bruno Mars, peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the UK Singles Chart. The single was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. McCoy is signed to T-Pain's label Nappy Boy Entertainment.
wn.com/Travie_McCoy -
Treach
Anthony Criss (born December 2, 1970), better known by his stage name Treach, is an American rapper and actor. He is best known as the lead rapper of the hip hop group Naughty by Nature.
With Naughty by Nature Treach worked with fellow group members Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee. Sometimes he would share verses on songs with Vin Rock, but often, especially on the group's earlier albums, Treach would be the sole performer on the song. Examples of this are some of the group's most well known singles from their self titled second album, such as "O.P.P.," and "Everything's Gonna Be Alright".
His chiseled physique has helped him land roles in crime films, television crime dramas and as a leading man in romance films, including a full frontal in the 2001 crime comedy Love and a Bullet.
He was married to Sandra Denton, better known as "Pepa" of the hip-hop group Salt-n-Pepa, from 1998 to 2001. The couple has a daughter named Egypt. He is also the older brother of rapper Diesel from the Rottin Razkals, a close affiliate group to Naughty by Nature. Treach is a New Jersey Member of the Double II Queen Street Blood Gang.
wn.com/Treach -
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynn Banks (born December 4, 1973). is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, appearing twice on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and working for Victoria's Secret as one of their original Angels. Banks is the creator and host of the UPN/The CW reality television show America's Next Top Model, co-creator of True Beauty, and host of her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show.
Tyra Banks was born in Inglewood, California. She is the daughter of Caroline (née London; now London-Johnson), a medical photographer, and Donald Banks, a computer consultant. She has a brother, Devin, who is five years older. In 1980, when Banks was 6 years old, her parents divorced. Banks attended John Burroughs Middle School and graduated in 1991 from Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. Tyra Banks is one of four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the world's most influential people by Time magazine.
wn.com/Tyra_Banks -
Wanda Jackson
Wanda Lavonne Jackson (born October 20, 1937) is an American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who had success in the mid-1950s and 60s as one of the first popular female rockabilly singers and a pioneering rock and roll artist. She is known to many as the Queen (or First Lady) of Rockabilly.
Jackson mixed country music with fast-moving rockabilly, often recording them on opposite sides of a record. As rockabilly declined in popularity in the mid-1960s, she moved to a successful career in mainstream country music with a string of hits between 1966 and 1973, including "Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine", "A Woman Lives for Love" and "Fancy Satin Pillows".
She has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity among rockabilly revivalists in Europe, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an Early Influence in 2009.
Wanda Jackson was born in Maud, Oklahoma on October 20, 1937, but has lived much of her life in Oklahoma City. Her father, a musician, moved the family to California during the 1940s in hopes of a better life. Two years later, he bought Jackson a guitar and encouraged her to play. He also took her to see performances by Spade Cooley, Tex Williams and Bob Wills, which left a lasting impression. In 1948, when she was 11, the family moved back to Oklahoma. In 1956, she won a talent contest which led to her own radio program, soon extended by 30 minutes.
wn.com/Wanda_Jackson -
Wayne Newton
Wayne Newton (born April 3, 1942) is an American singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He performed over 30,000 solo shows in Las Vegas over a period of over 40 years,[citation needed] earning him the nicknames The Midnight Idol, Mr. Las Vegas and Mr. Entertainment. His well known songs include 1972's "Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast" (his biggest hit, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard chart), "Years" (1980), and his vocal version of "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" (1965). He is best known for his signature song, "Danke Schoen" (1963).
Newton was born Carson Wayne Newton in Norfolk, Virginia, to Evelyn Marie "Smith" (née Plasters) and Patrick Newton, who was an auto mechanic. His father was from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and of Scotch-Irish-Powhatan descent, and his West Virginia-born mother was of German-Cherokee ancestry[not in citation given]. While his father was in the U.S. Navy, Newton spent his early childhood in Roanoke, learning the piano, guitar, and steel guitar at the age of six.
wn.com/Wayne_Newton -
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all-time. Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. She released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know", influenced several African American female artists to follow in her footsteps.
Houston is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits. She is the second artist behind Elton John and the only female artist to have two number-one Billboard 200 Album awards (formerly "Top Pop Album") on the Billboard magazine year-end charts. Houston's 1985 debut album Whitney Houston became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release. The album was named Rolling Stone's best album of 1986, and was ranked at number 254 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
wn.com/Whitney_Houston -
Whitney Port
Whitney Eve Port (born March 4, 1985) is an American television personality, clothing designer, and author. She is known for being one of the main cast members on the former MTV reality series The Hills. She was the narrator and main star of the former MTV reality series spin-off, The City. Port was formerly a fashion contributor for Teen Vogue and has worked for Diane von Fürstenberg.
Port was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of Jeffery and Vicki Lyn Port (née Woskoff). She has an older brother, Ryan, an older sister, Ashley, and two younger sisters, Paige and Jade. Her father, Jeff, is the owner of a fashion company called Swarm. She comes from a Jewish family.
Whitney Port attended Warner Avenue Elementary School. She then went to Crossroads School for the Arts and Sciences for middle school and high school. In 2007, Port graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a degree in gender studies.
Prior to working at Teen Vogue, Port was an intern for the Women's Wear Daily magazine for two summers. She also interned at W magazine for three summers.
wn.com/Whitney_Port
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[Full HD] VH1 Divas Live 1998
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 80:05
- Updated: 29 Jan 2013
0:00 Start 0:54 Mariah Carey Introduction 3:09 My All 8:25 Make It Happen 14:07 Gloria Estefan Introduction 15:07 Turn The Beat Around 20:00 Heaven's What I Feel 25:10 Megamix (Dr. Beat/Conga/Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/1-2-3/Get On Your Feet) 28:48 VH1 Save The Music Spot 34:27 Shania Twain Introduction 35:16 Man! I Feel Like A Woman! 39:46 You're Still The One 43:15 VH1 Save The Music Promo 43:46 Aretha Franklin Introduction 44:54 Chain Of Fools 49:15 Celine Dion Introduction 50:21 River Deep, Mountain High 55:13 Carole King Introduction 55:44 The Reason 1:01:19 My Heart Will Go On 1:06:49 You've Got A Friend 1:12:20 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman & Testimony
http://wn.com/_Full_HD_VH1_Divas_Live_1998
0:00 Start 0:54 Mariah Carey Introduction 3:09 My All 8:25 Make It Happen 14:07 Gloria Estefan Introduction 15:07 Turn The Beat Around 20:00 Heaven's What I Feel 25:10 Megamix (Dr. Beat/Conga/Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/1-2-3/Get On Your Feet) 28:48 VH1 Save The Music Spot 34:27 Shania Twain Introduction 35:16 Man! I Feel Like A Woman! 39:46 You're Still The One 43:15 VH1 Save The Music Promo 43:46 Aretha Franklin Introduction 44:54 Chain Of Fools 49:15 Celine Dion Introduction 50:21 River Deep, Mountain High 55:13 Carole King Introduction 55:44 The Reason 1:01:19 My Heart Will Go On 1:06:49 You've Got A Friend 1:12:20 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman & Testimony
A NATURAL WOMAN VH1 DIVAS LIVE
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:03
- Updated: 28 Jan 2013
http://wn.com/A_NATURAL_WOMAN_VH1_DIVAS_LIVE
Whitney Houston & Mary J. Blige - Ain't No Way (Divas Live '99)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:00
- Updated: 12 Jan 2013
http://wn.com/Whitney_Houston_Mary_J_Blige_Ain't_No_Way_Divas_Live_'99
Adam Lambert Steals the Show VH1 DIVAS 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:13
- Updated: 29 Jan 2013
bit.ly - Subscribe to ClevverMusic! on.fb.me - ClevverMusic Facebook Fan Page! Twitter.com - Follow Us! The divas came out last night for the 2012 VH1 Divas concert, but it was Adam Lambert who stole the show singing Madonna, David, and Donna! Hey guys, you're watching ClevverMusic with your music update. Last night live from Los Angeles VH1 aired their annual musical diva celebration benefiting VH1 Save the Music. Your favorite musical ladies took the stage to perform and pay tribute: Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson, Ciara, Keri Hilson, Miley Cyrus and more. DJ Havana Brown was the house DJ spinning beats in between performances. However, it was 'American Idol' runner-up Adam Lambert who hosted and performed on the show, and crowned the ultimate "diva" in our book. The show opened with 'X Factor' judge Demi Lovato paying respects to the recent Connecticut school shooting victims. Then, the show officially kicked off with an Adam Lambert skit showing the singer as he finds his inner diva with the help of Nene Leakes and Paula Abdul. Then the shows first performance excites with Adam himself singing David Bowie's "Let's Dance" in a black trench coat and his signature black eyeliner and black gloves. But that wasn't the only divalicious Adam performance of the night, he also got down during the Donna Summer tribute singing "Hot Stuff" in a red fur coat and super tight leather pants. We think he did Donna proud. Adam later took his diva-ness to the next level singing Madonna's ...
http://wn.com/Adam_Lambert_Steals_the_Show_VH1_DIVAS_2012
bit.ly - Subscribe to ClevverMusic! on.fb.me - ClevverMusic Facebook Fan Page! Twitter.com - Follow Us! The divas came out last night for the 2012 VH1 Divas concert, but it was Adam Lambert who stole the show singing Madonna, David, and Donna! Hey guys, you're watching ClevverMusic with your music update. Last night live from Los Angeles VH1 aired their annual musical diva celebration benefiting VH1 Save the Music. Your favorite musical ladies took the stage to perform and pay tribute: Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson, Ciara, Keri Hilson, Miley Cyrus and more. DJ Havana Brown was the house DJ spinning beats in between performances. However, it was 'American Idol' runner-up Adam Lambert who hosted and performed on the show, and crowned the ultimate "diva" in our book. The show opened with 'X Factor' judge Demi Lovato paying respects to the recent Connecticut school shooting victims. Then, the show officially kicked off with an Adam Lambert skit showing the singer as he finds his inner diva with the help of Nene Leakes and Paula Abdul. Then the shows first performance excites with Adam himself singing David Bowie's "Let's Dance" in a black trench coat and his signature black eyeliner and black gloves. But that wasn't the only divalicious Adam performance of the night, he also got down during the Donna Summer tribute singing "Hot Stuff" in a red fur coat and super tight leather pants. We think he did Donna proud. Adam later took his diva-ness to the next level singing Madonna's ...
- published: 17 Dec 2012
- views: 27918
- author: ClevverMusic
Katy Perry & Nicki Minaj - Girls Just Want To Have Fun @ VH1 Divas Salute The Troops
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:55
- Updated: 28 Jan 2013
More_videos_here: www.aliansmax.com
http://wn.com/Katy_Perry_Nicki_Minaj_Girls_Just_Want_To_Have_Fun_@_VH1_Divas_Salute_The_Troops
Katy Perry 2010 Vh1 Divas salute the troops full concert (HQ)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 13:52
- Updated: 29 Jan 2013
Subscrible for acoustic/good or rare full concerts of Katy. Katy singing Boogie Woogie Bugle boy with Keri Hilson and Sugarland, California gurls, Girls just wanna have fun with Nicky Minaj, Firework This has one of the best performances of firework, Katy sang from the bottom of her heart.
http://wn.com/Katy_Perry_2010_Vh1_Divas_salute_the_troops_full_concert_HQ
Subscrible for acoustic/good or rare full concerts of Katy. Katy singing Boogie Woogie Bugle boy with Keri Hilson and Sugarland, California gurls, Girls just wanna have fun with Nicky Minaj, Firework This has one of the best performances of firework, Katy sang from the bottom of her heart.
- published: 09 May 2012
- views: 103830
- author: Katy Cat
I Will Always Love You (Live) - Whitney Houston (1999 VH1 Divas Live)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:49
- Updated: 28 Jan 2013
This has to be one of the best live versions of "I Will Always Love You" performed by Whitney Houston at the 1999 Divas Live Background information Birth name***Whitney Elizabeth Houston Born***August 9,1963,Newark, New Jersey,US Origin***East Orange,New Jersey Genres***R&B;, pop,dance,soul,gospel Occupations***Singer,actress,model,film producer,record producer,songwriter Instruments***Vocals,piano Years active***1977--present Labels***Arista (1983--2011)RCA (2011--present) Associated acts***Cissy Houston,Dionne Warwick,Aretha Franklin,Mariah Carey,Bobby Brown,Jermaine Jackson,Enrique Iglesias Official Website: remembering.whitneyhouston.com
http://wn.com/I_Will_Always_Love_You_Live_Whitney_Houston_1999_VH1_Divas_Live
This has to be one of the best live versions of "I Will Always Love You" performed by Whitney Houston at the 1999 Divas Live Background information Birth name***Whitney Elizabeth Houston Born***August 9,1963,Newark, New Jersey,US Origin***East Orange,New Jersey Genres***R&B;, pop,dance,soul,gospel Occupations***Singer,actress,model,film producer,record producer,songwriter Instruments***Vocals,piano Years active***1977--present Labels***Arista (1983--2011)RCA (2011--present) Associated acts***Cissy Houston,Dionne Warwick,Aretha Franklin,Mariah Carey,Bobby Brown,Jermaine Jackson,Enrique Iglesias Official Website: remembering.whitneyhouston.com
- published: 16 Feb 2012
- views: 8749
- author: BrianMercurioMusic
Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and Kelly Clarkson Opening the VH1 DIVAS 2011
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:13
- Updated: 28 Jan 2013
Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and Kelly Clarkson Opening the VH1 DIVAS 2011 I shot this video with my iphone at the Divas I OWN NOTHING
http://wn.com/Jennifer_Hudson,_Mary_J_Blige_and_Kelly_Clarkson_Opening_the_VH1_DIVAS_2011
Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and Kelly Clarkson Opening the VH1 DIVAS 2011 I shot this video with my iphone at the Divas I OWN NOTHING
- published: 29 Dec 2011
- views: 59203
- author: nicole long
2012 VH1 DIVAS REVIEW (Adam Lambert, Kelly Rowland, Miley Cyrus, & More)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 20:17
- Updated: 29 Jan 2013
2012 VH1 DIVAS Adam Lambert - "Let's Dance" Kelly Clarkson - "Catch My Breath" Ciara - "Billie Jean"/ "Got Me Good" Donna Summer Tribute Kelly Rowland - "I Feel Love", "Bad Girls" Keri Hilson - "She Works Hard for the Money" Adam Lambert - "Love to Love You Baby", "Hot Stuff" Kelly Rowland, Keri Hilson & Adam Lambert - "Last Dance" Metric - "Heart of Glass" Demi Lovato - "Give Your Heart a Break" Paloma Faith - "Picking Up the Pieces" Miley Cyrus - "Rebel Yell" Natasha Bedingfield, Iggy Azalea & Bootsy Collins - "Groove Is in the Heart" Metric - "Breathing Underwater" Adam Lambert - "Ray of Light" Whitney Houston Tribute Jordin Sparks - "I'm Every Woman" Melanie Fiona - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"/"It's Not Right but It's Okay" Ledisi, Jordin Sparks & Melanie Fiona - "How Will I Know" Pitbull" - "Don't Stop the Party
http://wn.com/2012_VH1_DIVAS_REVIEW_Adam_Lambert,_Kelly_Rowland,_Miley_Cyrus,_More
2012 VH1 DIVAS Adam Lambert - "Let's Dance" Kelly Clarkson - "Catch My Breath" Ciara - "Billie Jean"/ "Got Me Good" Donna Summer Tribute Kelly Rowland - "I Feel Love", "Bad Girls" Keri Hilson - "She Works Hard for the Money" Adam Lambert - "Love to Love You Baby", "Hot Stuff" Kelly Rowland, Keri Hilson & Adam Lambert - "Last Dance" Metric - "Heart of Glass" Demi Lovato - "Give Your Heart a Break" Paloma Faith - "Picking Up the Pieces" Miley Cyrus - "Rebel Yell" Natasha Bedingfield, Iggy Azalea & Bootsy Collins - "Groove Is in the Heart" Metric - "Breathing Underwater" Adam Lambert - "Ray of Light" Whitney Houston Tribute Jordin Sparks - "I'm Every Woman" Melanie Fiona - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"/"It's Not Right but It's Okay" Ledisi, Jordin Sparks & Melanie Fiona - "How Will I Know" Pitbull" - "Don't Stop the Party
- published: 17 Dec 2012
- views: 25509
- author: theskorpionshow
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals (w/ Heart) on Vh1 Divas - Paris (Oh La La) & Crazy on You
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:24
- Updated: 29 Jan 2013
to skip to Heart part go to 4:12
http://wn.com/Grace_Potter_the_Nocturnals_w_Heart_on_Vh1_Divas_Paris_Oh_La_La_Crazy_on_You
Kelly Clarkson vs. Demi Lovato: VH1 Divas Performances
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:22
- Updated: 28 Jan 2013
A comparison and review of Kelly Clarkson's and Demi Lovato's live performances during VH1 Divas 2012. Both singers are amazing in their own way! They were the only two people I actually wanted to watch during the show. XD Any hateful comments will be deleted!
http://wn.com/Kelly_Clarkson_vs_Demi_Lovato_VH1_Divas_Performances
A comparison and review of Kelly Clarkson's and Demi Lovato's live performances during VH1 Divas 2012. Both singers are amazing in their own way! They were the only two people I actually wanted to watch during the show. XD Any hateful comments will be deleted!
- published: 04 Jan 2013
- views: 3648
- author: TheBiggestKCFan
Miley Cyrus Performing "Rebel Yell" At VH1 Divas 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:46
- Updated: 29 Jan 2013
See Miley Perform Live at the 2012 Vh1 Divas 2012 'Rebel Yell' HQ www.im.co
http://wn.com/Miley_Cyrus_Performing_Rebel_Yell_At_VH1_Divas_2012
See Miley Perform Live at the 2012 Vh1 Divas 2012 'Rebel Yell' HQ www.im.co
- published: 23 Dec 2012
- views: 37540
- author: Red Light Management Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus Vs. Demi Lovato: Biggest VH1 Diva
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:59
- Updated: 29 Jan 2013
Miley Cyrus Vs. Demi Lovato: Biggest VH1 Diva Subscribe to Hollywire | bit.ly Send Chelsea a Tweet! | bit.ly Follow Hollywire! | bit.ly Miley Cyrus Versus Demi Lovato — both ladies performed during last night's annual VH1 Divas concert — so which performance had more Diva in it? First up, Miley showed off her very toned tummy during her performance of Billy Idol's Rebel Yell. In all black leather, the singer wore skintight black pants, and spiked long sleeved mid drift jacket. During the song, the singer did some crowd surfing, head banging and serious rocking out for a very impressive show that screamed diva extraordinaire! Performing her hit single, 'Give Your Heart a Break' -- Demi Lovato made her definitely diva performance entrance from the rafters, as she sat in a circular chair that hung above the crowd. Looking stunning in black leggings and a leather-studded jacket, the singer jumped around stage belting out her song. She hit every high note, and then some! Should we just go ahead and call her Demi Diva Lovato!? Alright guys so between Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato. which singer do you think is the biggest diva?! Let me know!
http://wn.com/Miley_Cyrus_Vs_Demi_Lovato_Biggest_VH1_Diva
Miley Cyrus Vs. Demi Lovato: Biggest VH1 Diva Subscribe to Hollywire | bit.ly Send Chelsea a Tweet! | bit.ly Follow Hollywire! | bit.ly Miley Cyrus Versus Demi Lovato — both ladies performed during last night's annual VH1 Divas concert — so which performance had more Diva in it? First up, Miley showed off her very toned tummy during her performance of Billy Idol's Rebel Yell. In all black leather, the singer wore skintight black pants, and spiked long sleeved mid drift jacket. During the song, the singer did some crowd surfing, head banging and serious rocking out for a very impressive show that screamed diva extraordinaire! Performing her hit single, 'Give Your Heart a Break' -- Demi Lovato made her definitely diva performance entrance from the rafters, as she sat in a circular chair that hung above the crowd. Looking stunning in black leggings and a leather-studded jacket, the singer jumped around stage belting out her song. She hit every high note, and then some! Should we just go ahead and call her Demi Diva Lovato!? Alright guys so between Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato. which singer do you think is the biggest diva?! Let me know!
- published: 17 Dec 2012
- views: 18635
- author: HollywireTV
Adam Lambert - Ray Of Light - VH1 Divas 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:29
- Updated: 29 Jan 2013
Adam Lambert - Ray Of Light - VH1 Divas 2012
http://wn.com/Adam_Lambert_Ray_Of_Light_VH1_Divas_2012
Adam Lambert - Ray Of Light - VH1 Divas 2012
- published: 18 Dec 2012
- views: 20478
- author: lambertlust
Stars React To Connecticut School Shooting @ VH1 Divas - HipHollywood.com
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:04
- Updated: 02 Jan 2013
While celebrating the hottest women in the music biz at VH1 Divas, stars took a moment to reflect to the tragic shooting at Sandy Hooks elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.
http://wn.com/Stars_React_To_Connecticut_School_Shooting_@_VH1_Divas_HipHollywoodcom
While celebrating the hottest women in the music biz at VH1 Divas, stars took a moment to reflect to the tragic shooting at Sandy Hooks elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.
- published: 17 Dec 2012
- views: 995
- author: HipHollywood
Metric Interview- VH1 Divas 2012 Red Carpet
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:55
- Updated: 18 Jan 2013
Indie band Metric was honored to be performing a cover song at VH1 Divas 2012 and chatted with us about their big performance and the re-release of their album "Synthetica" for the Holidays. bit.ly - Subscribe to ClevverMusic! on.fb.me - ClevverMusic Facebook Fan Page! Twitter.com - Follow Us! Hosted by: Deidre Behar
http://wn.com/Metric_Interview_VH1_Divas_2012_Red_Carpet
Indie band Metric was honored to be performing a cover song at VH1 Divas 2012 and chatted with us about their big performance and the re-release of their album "Synthetica" for the Holidays. bit.ly - Subscribe to ClevverMusic! on.fb.me - ClevverMusic Facebook Fan Page! Twitter.com - Follow Us! Hosted by: Deidre Behar
- published: 18 Dec 2012
- views: 1163
- author: ClevverMusic
![Underneath Your Clothes - Shakira - Live @ Vh1 Divas Las Vegas [HQ]](http://web.archive.org./web/20130130060439im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ekGlzfcdVwc/default.jpg "Underneath Your Clothes - Shakira - Live @ Vh1 Divas Las Vegas [HQ]")
Underneath Your Clothes - Shakira - Live @ Vh1 Divas Las Vegas [HQ]
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:59
- Updated: 28 Jan 2013
Shakira singing "Underneath your clothes" Live @ VH1 Divas Las Vegas. This video is dedicated for "gair use" purposes under section 107 Copyright. All Rights reserved to the respective owners.. Taken from album 'Laundry Service" "Underneath Your Clothes" You're a song Written by the hands of God Don't get me wrong cause This might sound to you a bit odd But you own the place Where all my thoughts go hiding And right under your clothes Is where I find them Underneath Your Clothes There's an endless story There's the man I chose There's my territory And all the things I deserve For being such a good girl honey Because of you I forgot the smart ways to lie Because of you I'm running out of reasons to cry When the friends are gone When the party's over We will still belong to each other Underneath Your Clothes There's an endless story There's the man I chose There's my territory And all the things I deserve For being such a good girl honey [x2] I love you more than all that's on the planet Movin' talkin' walkin' breathing You know it's true Oh baby it's so funny You almost don't believe it As every voice is hanging from the silence Lamps are hanging from the ceiling Like a lady tied to her manners I'm tied up to this feeling Underneath Your Clothes There's an endless story There's the man I chose There's my territory And all the things I deserve For being such a good girl honey [x2]
http://wn.com/Underneath_Your_Clothes_Shakira_Live_@_Vh1_Divas_Las_Vegas_HQ_
Shakira singing "Underneath your clothes" Live @ VH1 Divas Las Vegas. This video is dedicated for "gair use" purposes under section 107 Copyright. All Rights reserved to the respective owners.. Taken from album 'Laundry Service" "Underneath Your Clothes" You're a song Written by the hands of God Don't get me wrong cause This might sound to you a bit odd But you own the place Where all my thoughts go hiding And right under your clothes Is where I find them Underneath Your Clothes There's an endless story There's the man I chose There's my territory And all the things I deserve For being such a good girl honey Because of you I forgot the smart ways to lie Because of you I'm running out of reasons to cry When the friends are gone When the party's over We will still belong to each other Underneath Your Clothes There's an endless story There's the man I chose There's my territory And all the things I deserve For being such a good girl honey [x2] I love you more than all that's on the planet Movin' talkin' walkin' breathing You know it's true Oh baby it's so funny You almost don't believe it As every voice is hanging from the silence Lamps are hanging from the ceiling Like a lady tied to her manners I'm tied up to this feeling Underneath Your Clothes There's an endless story There's the man I chose There's my territory And all the things I deserve For being such a good girl honey [x2]
- published: 30 Jul 2011
- views: 121441
- author: deChannel178
#AdamIsADiva | VH1 DIVAS 2012 | Adam Lambert Tease
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:36
- Updated: 29 Jan 2013
We made him host, but #AdamIsADiva - don't you think? Is Adam Lambert letting his VH1 DIVAS hosting duties go to his head? Find out LIVE TONIGHT at 9/8c on VH1! More info and exclusive DIVAS content: www.divas.vh1.com Follow @VH1DIVAS and tweet about the show using #VH1DIVAS Cameos by Nene Leakes and Sutan Amrull (former RuPaul's Drag Race champion Raja)!
http://wn.com/_AdamIsADiva_|_VH1_DIVAS_2012_|_Adam_Lambert_Tease
We made him host, but #AdamIsADiva - don't you think? Is Adam Lambert letting his VH1 DIVAS hosting duties go to his head? Find out LIVE TONIGHT at 9/8c on VH1! More info and exclusive DIVAS content: www.divas.vh1.com Follow @VH1DIVAS and tweet about the show using #VH1DIVAS Cameos by Nene Leakes and Sutan Amrull (former RuPaul's Drag Race champion Raja)!
- published: 16 Dec 2012
- views: 46507
- author: VH1
Kelly Rowland Interview- VH1 Divas 2012 Red Carpet
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:16
- Updated: 17 Jan 2013
Singer Kelly Rowland chatted on the VH1 Divas red carpet about her upcoming album "I'm so excited!" she said. Kelly also got emotional talking about the late Whitney Houston. bit.ly - Subscribe to ClevverMusic on.fb.me - ClevverMusic Facebook Fan Page! Twitter.com - Follow Us!
http://wn.com/Kelly_Rowland_Interview_VH1_Divas_2012_Red_Carpet
Singer Kelly Rowland chatted on the VH1 Divas red carpet about her upcoming album "I'm so excited!" she said. Kelly also got emotional talking about the late Whitney Houston. bit.ly - Subscribe to ClevverMusic on.fb.me - ClevverMusic Facebook Fan Page! Twitter.com - Follow Us!
- published: 17 Dec 2012
- views: 2342
- author: ClevverMusic
Rebel Yell - Miley Cyrus live VH1 Divas 2012 + Best audio + Lyrics
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:12
- Updated: 28 Jan 2013
Miley Cyrus live ! At Vh1 Divas 2012 Selena la Loser on facebook www.facebook.com #RealisticRocker on twitter twitter.com
http://wn.com/Rebel_Yell_Miley_Cyrus_live_VH1_Divas_2012_+_Best_audio_+_Lyrics
Miley Cyrus live ! At Vh1 Divas 2012 Selena la Loser on facebook www.facebook.com #RealisticRocker on twitter twitter.com
- published: 23 Dec 2012
- views: 1918
- author: selena laloser
Ciara Talks 'One Woman Army' At VH1 Divas 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:02
- Updated: 22 Jan 2013
Ciara talks exclusively to That Grape Juice about her new album 'One Woman Army' at VH1 Divas 2012. www.thatgrapejuice.net Click link below for more on That Grape Juice Main Site: thatgrapejuice.net TV Site: thatgrapejuice.tv Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: www.facebook.com
http://wn.com/Ciara_Talks_'One_Woman_Army'_At_VH1_Divas_2012
Ciara talks exclusively to That Grape Juice about her new album 'One Woman Army' at VH1 Divas 2012. www.thatgrapejuice.net Click link below for more on That Grape Juice Main Site: thatgrapejuice.net TV Site: thatgrapejuice.tv Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: www.facebook.com
- published: 23 Dec 2012
- views: 2620
- author: ThatGrapeJuiceVideo
Adam Lambert Talks ' VH1 Divas,' - Yahoo! News
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:20
- Updated: 28 Jan 2013
Adam Lambert Talks ' VH1 Divas,' - Yahoo! News
http://wn.com/Adam_Lambert_Talks_'_VH1_Divas,'_Yahoo!_News
Adam Lambert Talks ' VH1 Divas,' - Yahoo! News
- published: 13 Dec 2012
- views: 4706
- author: joelovekathy
VH1 Divas Review and Frank Ocean done with Music?
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:54
- Updated: 28 Jan 2013
VH1 Divas stuns, Bow Wow on his baby momma, and Frank Ocean talks his future in music. Subscribe! After a very special episode of Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, VH1 premiered a brand new "Divas" special featuring Keri Hilson, LaLa, and a tribute to Whitney Houston. Bow Wow spoke about the relationship of his baby momma and producer hit boi in a radio interview, saying that as long has they respect his relationship with the child he has no problem with it. And finally, Frank Ocean spoke to "The Guardian" , and tells them that Channel Orange my be his only album. Cynthia has all of this for you and more on this Red Hawt Gossip! Sources: bit.ly Follow Cynthia: @CynthiaLuciette Follow Jon: @JonScarlett Follow us on Twitter: @BRK_DWN Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/BRKDWN
http://wn.com/VH1_Divas_Review_and_Frank_Ocean_done_with_Music?
VH1 Divas stuns, Bow Wow on his baby momma, and Frank Ocean talks his future in music. Subscribe! After a very special episode of Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, VH1 premiered a brand new "Divas" special featuring Keri Hilson, LaLa, and a tribute to Whitney Houston. Bow Wow spoke about the relationship of his baby momma and producer hit boi in a radio interview, saying that as long has they respect his relationship with the child he has no problem with it. And finally, Frank Ocean spoke to "The Guardian" , and tells them that Channel Orange my be his only album. Cynthia has all of this for you and more on this Red Hawt Gossip! Sources: bit.ly Follow Cynthia: @CynthiaLuciette Follow Jon: @JonScarlett Follow us on Twitter: @BRK_DWN Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/BRKDWN
- published: 17 Dec 2012
- views: 876
- author: KscopeNetwork
photo: US DoD / U.S. Army Staff Sgt Sun L. Vega, Joint Staff
27 Jan 2013
TEL AVIV – Now that he has secured his second term, President Barack Obama has already secretly pledged to the Palestinians he will press Israel into a new round of so-called land-for-peace negotiations, a top Palestinian Authority negotiator told WND. The negotiator said top members of the Obama administration told the Palestinians the U.S....(size: 2.2Kb)
photo: AP / Ronald Mendes-Agencia RBS
27 Jan 2013
Tweet. Police say at least 232 people have died in a fire that swept through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil. Around 117 others were injured after the blaze broke out while a band was performing at the Kiss club in the southern city of Santa Maria at about 2am (local time). Police earlier said more than 245 people had died in the fire. It is thought pyrotechnics being used for the concert may have caused the blaze ... ....(size: 2.6Kb)
photo: AP / Khalil Hamra
29 Jan 2013
Cairo • An unpredictable new element has entered Egypt’s wave of political unrest. a mysterious group of masked young men called the Black Bloc who present themselves as the defenders of protesters opposed to the Islamist president’s rule. They boast that they’re willing to use force to fight back against Islamists who have attacked protesters in the past — or against police who crack down on demonstrations ... Photos. Join the Discussion ... ....(size: 8.0Kb)
photo: AP / Aleppo Revolution Against Assad Regime
29 Jan 2013
By Alexander Dziadosz and Oliver Holmes. BEIRUT, Jan 29 (Reuters) - At least 65 people were found shot dead with their hands bound in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Tuesday in a "new massacre" in the near two-year revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, activists said. Opposition campaigners blamed the government but it was impossible to confirm who was responsible ... The U.N ... State media did not mention the incident ... STALEMATE ... ....(size: 9.0Kb)
photo: AP / Jerome Delay
29 Jan 2013
French-led forces on Monday seized Mali’s fabled desert city of Timbuktu in a lightning advance north as Islamists fleeing the city torched a building housing priceless ancient manuscripts ... Only one Islamist stronghold, the town of Kidal further north, remains to be retaken ... “We are winning in Mali.” ... Keywords....(size: 1.6Kb)
The Examiner
29 Jan 2013
Kathy Griffin, 50, showed off her fit bikini body at the VH1 Divas Salute the Troops concerts Dec ... Griffin works out a lot and watches her diet.Kathy Griffin, 50, showed off her fit bikini body at the VH1 Divas Salute the Troops concerts Dec ... Griffin works out a lot and watches her diet.Kathy Griffin, 50, showed off her fit bikini body at the VH1 Divas Salute the Troops concerts Dec....(size: 7.3Kb)
Huffington Post
29 Jan 2013
She recieved the Quincy Jones Award for 'Outstanding Career Achievement' in the field of entertainment.1999 VH1 Divas Live. Whitney Houston performs during the VH1 DIVAS LIVE '99 at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Tuesday, April 13 ... (Photo by Frank Mullen/Getty Images)VH1 Divas Duets Post Concert Party....(size: 11.0Kb)
Huffington Post
29 Jan 2013
She recieved the Quincy Jones Award for 'Outstanding Career Achievement' in the field of entertainment.1999 VH1 Divas Live. Whitney Houston performs during the VH1 DIVAS LIVE '99 at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Tuesday, April 13 ... (Photo by Frank Mullen/Getty Images)VH1 Divas Duets Post Concert Party....(size: 13.5Kb)
Huffington Post
29 Jan 2013
She recieved the Quincy Jones Award for 'Outstanding Career Achievement' in the field of entertainment.1999 VH1 Divas Live. Whitney Houston performs during the VH1 DIVAS LIVE '99 at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Tuesday, April 13 ... (Photo by Frank Mullen/Getty Images)VH1 Divas Duets Post Concert Party....(size: 16.6Kb)
Huffington Post
28 Jan 2013
She recieved the Quincy Jones Award for 'Outstanding Career Achievement' in the field of entertainment.1999 VH1 Divas Live. Whitney Houston performs during the VH1 DIVAS LIVE '99 at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Tuesday, April 13 ... (Photo by Frank Mullen/Getty Images)VH1 Divas Duets Post Concert Party....(size: 12.6Kb)
IMDb
28 Jan 2013
... sparked rumors that she and fiance Liam Hemsworth have already married in secret! The VH1 Diva took the opportunity to do some hardcore gushing about her Bf, hitting home a crucial fact....(size: 1.0Kb)
The Examiner
28 Jan 2013
It has been a busy red carpet week. From the VH1 Diva’s concert to the Miss Universe pageant, it’s been a week of fashion overload. Even television show finales, such as ‘X Factor’ rolled out red carpets ... But we did. Sophisticated, elegant and stunning ... The third spot goes to Ciara in Pamella Rowland. Ciara was featured in our red carpet coverage of the VH1 Diva’s concert for her sophisticated look ... Best dressed this week ... Getty Images ... ....(size: 7.9Kb)
The Hollywood Reporter
28 Jan 2013
share. The season eight alum is using a special occasion -- his birthday -- to raise funds for global cultural diversity. Lee Cherry. Adam Lambert is turning 31 years old on Tuesday, and the birthday boy has donated his special day to the We Are Family Foundation ... Adam Lambert Brings the Glam; Miley Cyrus Surfs Crowd, Grabs Crotch at 'VH1 Divas'. STORY ... ....(size: 3.9Kb)
E! Online
28 Jan 2013
Suddenly, the Super Bowl isn't looking so bootylicious ... "I'm going to be in the musical Fela!" she recently told WRUG Media in an interview. "I hate to disappoint the people and tell them that it's not true." ... and 8 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday ... "I love the Super Bowl, but I love my sister [Beyoncé] more, so of course I'll be watching," she said at the VH1 Divas event. ....(size: 4.6Kb)
NBC Washington
28 Jan 2013
Suddenly, the Super Bowl isn't looking so bootylicious. ... "I'm going to be in the musical Fela!" she recently told WRUG Media in an interview. "I hate to disappoint the people and tell them that it's not true." ... and 8 p.m ... "I love the Super Bowl, but I love my sister [Beyonce] more, so of course I'll be watching," she said at the VH1 Divas event. ... ....(size: 10.0Kb)
The Examiner
28 Jan 2013
The SAG Awards brought out the best dressed celebrities to this glamorous event and Jordin Sparks stood out as one of them ... weight loss ... Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo show some love on the red carpet at AMAsJordin Sparks and Jason Derulo featured in February issue of Glamour Jef Holm is single again, splits from Katianna BearBaby on the way for Michael Buble and wife LuisanaKelly Clarkson is stunning on stage at the 2012 VH1 Divas ... ....(size: 6.6Kb)
Huffington Post
27 Jan 2013
Since he sold a story about her to the press in 2011, Mark Evans has yet to have any contact with his daughter Adele -- and he has a feeling that trend isn't going to end ... I knew she had met her new fella ... 2012 ... Adele ... Singer Adele attends 2009 VH1 Divas at Brooklyn Academy of Music on September 17, 2009 in New York City ... Adele performs onstage during 2009 VH1 Divas at Brooklyn Academy of Music on September 17, 2009 in New York City ... ....(size: 6.5Kb)
Huffington Post
24 Jan 2013
She recieved the Quincy Jones Award for 'Outstanding Career Achievement' in the field of entertainment.1999 VH1 Divas Live. Whitney Houston performs during the VH1 DIVAS LIVE '99 at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Tuesday, April 13 ... (Photo by Frank Mullen/Getty Images)VH1 Divas Duets Post Concert Party....(size: 13.6Kb)
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In 1998, VH1 debuted the first annual VH1 Divas concert. VH1 Divas Live was created to support the channel's Save The Music Foundation and subsequent concerts in the series have also benefited that foundation. The VH1 Divas concerts aired annually from 1998 to 2004. After a five year hiatus, the series returned on September 17, 2009 with a younger-skewed revamp.[1] The latest edition, VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul, was recorded on December 18, 2011 and aired the next day on VH1, doubling the previous year's ratings. The next edition, which will air live from Los Angeles in December 2012, will salute the musical legacy of Whitney Houston.
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Contents |
VH1 Divas 1998[link]
| VH1 Divas Live | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:B00000D9W4.jpg | |||||
| Live album by VH1 Divas Live | |||||
| Released | October 6, 1998 | ||||
| Recorded | April 14, 1998 | ||||
| Genre | Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Country | ||||
| Label | VH1 | ||||
| VH1 Divas Live chronology | |||||
|
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VH1 Divas Live: An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation aired live from the Beacon Theatre in New York city on April 14, 1998.
Headliners[link]
Special guest performer[link]
Presenters[link]
- Jennifer Aniston
- Patricia Arquette
- Teri Hatcher
- Sarah MacLachlan
- Sarah Jessica Parker
- Susan Sarandon
The show was produced by Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich, directed by Michael Simon and written by producer/writer Martin Lewis.
Show sequence[link]
- Mariah Carey - "My All"
- Mariah Carey - "Make It Happen"
- Gloria Estefan - "Turn The Beat Around"
- Gloria Estefan - "Heaven's What I Feel"
- Gloria Estefan - Megamix:
- Shania Twain - "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"
- Shania Twain - "You're Still the One"
- Aretha Franklin - "A Rose Is Still A Rose" - Not released on CD, VHS or DVD
- Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey - "Chain of Fools"
- Aretha Franklin - "Here We Go Again" - Not released on CD, VHS or DVD
- Céline Dion - "River Deep, Mountain High"
- Céline Dion and Carole King - "The Reason"
- Céline Dion - "My Heart Will Go On"
- Carole King - "It's Too Late" – Not aired in television broadcast, nor released on CD, VHS or DVD
- Carole King, Céline Dion, Gloria Estefan, and Shania Twain - "You've Got a Friend"
- The Divas - "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"
- The Divas - "Testimony"
Performances on the CD, VHS, and DVD release[link]
- "My All" – 05:45
- "Make It Happen" – 05:29
- "Turn The Beat Around" – 05:07
- "Heaven's What I Feel" – 04:54
- "Dr. Beat"/"Conga"/"Rhythm Is Gonna Get You"/"1-2-3"/"Get on Your Feet" – 03:32
- "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" – 03:55
- "You're Still the One" – 03:33
- "Chain of Fools" – 04:24
- "River Deep, Mountain High" – 05:12
- "The Reason" – 05:59
- "My Heart Will Go On" – 04:41
- "You've Got a Friend" – 05:29
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" – 05:15
- "Testimony" – 09:47
Reviews[link]
Musician credits[link]
(in order of appearance) [2][3]
- Mariah Carey's band: Randy Jackson - Bass; Gigi Gonaway - Drums; Vernon Black - Guitar; Andrew Sherman - Keyboards; Michael Mcknight - Programmer; Juliet Haffner - Viola; Laura Seaton, Andre E. Stien, Peter M. Weimar - Violins; Marquino Brazil - Percussion
- Gloria Estefan's band: Jorge Casa - Bass; Clay Ostwald - Keyboards; Tim Mitchell, Rene Toledo - Guitars; Olin Burgos - Drums; Randy Barlow - Trombone & Trumpet; Teddy Mulet, Douglas Michaels - Trumpet; Kenny Andersom, Tom Timko - Saxes/Reeds; Rita Quintero, Juan"Chieto" Quinonez, George Noriega, Donna Allen - Vocals
- Shania Twain's band: Brent Barcus - Guitar; Andrew Cichon - Bass; James Blair - Drums; Cory Churco, Allison Cornell - Mandolin/Fiddle; Marc D. Muller - Pedal Steel; Hardy Hempill - Keyboards
- Aretha Franklin's band: H.B. Barnum - Conductor; David Rokeach - Drums; Francisco Centeno - Bass; Teddy Richards - Guitar; Richard Gibbs - Piano; Darryll Houston - Organ; Byron Strippling, Glenn Drews, Jorge Arciniega - Trumpet; Robert Trowers, Larry Farrell, Keith O'Quinn - Trombone; Lawrence Feldman, Dave Tofani, Ernie Fields Jr. Roger Rosenberg - Sax; Mae Kohn, Diana Madison, William Moore - Background vocals; Jaqui Whitman - Tambourine; Michael Beardon - Keyboards; Joe Passaro - Percussion
- Céline Dion's band: Claude "Mégo" Lemay - Keyboards; Dominique Messier - Drums; Ives "Ivo" Frulla - Keyboards; André Coutu - Guitars; Paul Picard - Percussion; Élise Dugay- Background vocals & Tin Whistle; Terry Bradford, Julie LeBlanc - Background vocals
Aretha's band was used for her duet with Mariah Carey (Chain of Fools) and the finale (Natural Woman, and Testimony).
Trivia[link]
How the Divas came to be (by Wayne Isaak, VH1 Senior Vice President Music & Talent Relations, August 1998)
"In November 1997, following several months of debate, a small group of us at VH1 finally agreed to turn our annual “VH1 Honors” concert into a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of some of the most notable and popular female voices in contemporary music. Borrowing from several smaller productions, we were determined to create a performance showcase which we titled VH1 Divas Live.
The task of booking such a show was monumental. To gather some of today’s top vocalists together on the same stage, singing both their own songs and a number of collaborations, presented innumerable logistical challenges. We began by researching a list of artists who were actively performing, and factored in those who we thought would work well together. By early December, we had an impressive list of names, and we began to make offers.
In early January 1998, Celine Dion agreed to perform on the show and became our first oficial booking. Our viewers had chosen Celine as VH1’s Artist of the Year in 1996; now, her recording of “My Heart Will Go On” was well on its way to becoming the biggest song of 1998. Since Celine and nearly all of the Divas we had targeted were scheduled to be on the East Coast in mid-April, we decided to move what had become an annual Los Angeles-based event to Gotham City to be held two days after Easter on April 14, 1998. We hastened to secure a venue in New York and to confirm the participation of more Divas.
Aretha Franklin had been on our dream list from day one. We were overjoyed to learn that she was planning an April release for her new album, “A Rose Is Still A Rose”, and would be performing live during that time. Truly, Aretha was and is the definitive Diva, and thus became our role model for the event. With the persuasive efforts of Clive Davis, President of Arista Records, she finally agreed in early March to play the event. And when the Queen of Soul stood in for an ailling Luciano Pavarotti and stole the Grammy Awards telecast with her rendition of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma”, we knew Aretha was going to be magical.
Gloria Estefan was preparing to debut a new LP, “gloria!”, in early June, and responded enthusiastically to our invitation.
From our vantage point in February, Shania Twain was one of country music’s biggest-selling artists, and poised to score a breakthrough pop hit with her new single, “You’re Still The One”. We loved the idea of widening the appeal of our show by including her fans, and we loved the idea of Shania in general. She seemed like a Diva in the making.
From the start, we’d fantasized about having Mariah Carey on the show. But in December and January, her Spring ’98 tour plans were uncertain, and we didn’t want to add another decision to her list. So we built the show to the point of near completion by early March, and only then asked Mariah to join us. She was concerned as to how she’d fit into the already busy evening, but was excited by the prospect of singing with Aretha. After working through her schedule and her repertoire, Mariah finally said yes in mid-March, just hours before our posters and advertisements went to press.
The final addition of Carole King to our artist roster would prove crucial to the success of VH1 Divas Live. Producer Ken Ehrlich and I really wanted Carole to duet Celine on “The Reason”, a song co-written by Carole for Celine’s album, “Let’s Talk About Love”. We also hoped that Carole would lead the whole ensemble through her classic composition, “A Natural Woman” – one of the best songs ever griten from a woman’s point of view. Just nine days before the event, Ms. King agreed to come in from Los Angeles.
Another Carole King standard, “You’ve Got A Friend”, was added and rehearsed onstage the night before the live telecast, with Carole leading Shania, Celine and Gloria through the song with the aid of sheet music purchased that evening from Colony Music store on Broadway. “A Natural Woman” was only fully rehearsed by the group in Ms. Franklin’s bus about hours before the start of the show.
After nearly two-and-a-half hours of singing and musical testimony, network President John Sykes presented a check for $100,000 to VH1 Save The Music in the name of each Diva. The VH1 Save The Music initiative, which helped inspire Divas to join the event, is dedicated to improving the quality of education in America’s public schools by restoring and supporting music programs in communities across the country.
The live broadcast became the highest rated program in VH1’s 13-year history. Twenty million people watched the program in the initial airings on the channel in the US. The feedback we received from viewers, the media, other artists, and the Divas themselves confirmed that we all had been part of an extraordinary musical event."
Additional trivia
- Mariah Carey was very reluctant to join the bill as she felt that it was already too crowded and that she wouldn't get enough air time. She only came on board in the end because she, and she alone was allowed to duet with Aretha. After the show, Patti LaBelle called her to congratulate her for the great job she did with Aretha and the other girls!
- Aretha Franklin was also reluctant to do the show but it was Clive Davis' efforts what convinced her to be part of it!
- Shania Twain was not sure where she was coming, but she agreed to perform just to help saving the music.
- The show nearly fell apart when Aretha Franklin had a Diva moment. Franklin had requested that all air-conditioning be turned off during rehearsals and when she performed because of the negative effect it had on her voice. During the rehearsal, Franklin felt she sounded "off" and stopped the rehearsal. She complained that an air conditioner was on in the building and refused to go on. When a search of the building proved her correct, Aretha Franklin walked off stage and returned to her hotel, refusing to perform. VH1 producers scrambled to appease the upset Franklin. She eventually agreed to go on with the concert and show.
- Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross were asked to participate but both refused.
- Celine Dion said that night everybody wanted to be a Diva (in the positive sense of the word) and that there were no catfights between them. Everyone wanted to give their best and that's what we could see during the show.
VH1 Divas Live (1998) gathered five of the world's most celebrated Divas, but it was not the first time they were meeting each other (or talking about each other):
- Celine Dion and Gloria Estefan were personal friends before the concert was celebrated. And in 1999 with Celine's release of "All The Way", they came together again for a Celine CBS TV Special and they sang a medley of Celine's and Gloria's songs: Celine sang "Here We Are", Gloria then sang Celine's "Because You Loved Me" and both sang "Conga".
- Shania Twain admired Mariah Carey before they met each other in 1998. Shania once said that she believes one of the best singer/songwritters of our generation is Mariah Carey.
- Carole King wrote "The Reason" specially for Celine's album "Let's Talk About Love". Later, Carole covered her own version helped by Celine's background vocals for the album "Love Makes The World".
- Carole King had already wrote with Mariah Carey before Divas the song "If It's Over", which Mariah sang and released on her "MTV Unplugged" album.
- Gloria Estefan was fan of Carole King before Divas. In fact, she covered Carole's "It's Too Late" for her "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" album and she confessed that Carole's "Tapestry" album was a favorite for her mum, which she constantly played as Gloria was growing up.
- Celine has confessed more than once that one of her idols as a child was Aretha Franklin, and she used to sing Aretha's songs in the table of the kitchen of her house in front of all her brothers and sisters.
- Aretha and Gloria had already sang together along with Bonnie Raitt "A Natural Woman" in 1994 for Aretha's Duets TV Special, and she released the song in her "Greatest Hits (1980-1994)" album.
- Gloria Estefan had written the song "Heaven's What I Feel" for Celine Dion's "Let's Talk About Love" album. But Celine finally didn't include it on the album, feeling that it didn't match with the rest of the tracks, so Gloria decided to keep it for herself.
- After Divas, Shania Twain wrote with her then husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange the songs "If Walls Could Talk" and "Goodbye's The Saddest Word" for Celine Dion.
- Mariah Carey wrote the song "Hero" for Gloria Estefan. But she liked it so much that she kept it for herself.
VH1 Divas 1999[link]
| VH1 Divas Live/99 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live album by VH1 Divas Live | ||||
| Released | November 1999 | |||
| Recorded | April 13, 1999 | |||
| Genre | Pop, R&B/Soul | |||
| Length | 73:00 | |||
| Label | VH1 | |||
| VH1 Divas Live chronology | ||||
|
||||
VH1 Divas Live/99: An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation aired live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City on April 13, 1999.
Summary[link]
Strutting through the audience, the indomitable Tina Turner opens VH1's Divas Live 99 by launching into "The Best". She and honorary diva Elton John belt out an energetic version of "The Bitch Is Back". Things turned awkward during rehearsals, however, as Elton John and Turner had a spat when she felt he was "rushing" the tempo of Proud Mary, much to Diva Turner's dissatisfaction. The two briefly sparred in front of onlookers. Turner teased the captivated audience during the slow, sultry opening of "Proud Mary." Cher joins her to wrap up the classic hit, then segues into her own set in which she plays "Believe" (not released as it was lip-synched) and "If I Could Turn Back Time" with her staying power.
After that, LeAnn Rimes performs "How Do I Live" with a sure, powerful voice. Next to her, Brandy sings with a pleasant and soft voice three of her ballads, which appeared on Never Say Never. "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" was sung as a duet with Faith Hill.
The superstar diva Whitney Houston then sang five songs: "It's Not Right But It's Okay", "Ain't No Way", "I Will Always Love You", "My Love Is Your Love" and "I'm Every Woman"; of which only "I Will Always Love You" "Ain't No Way" and "I'm Every Woman" were used on the CD, VHS and DVD release. Mary J. Blige featured on Houston's rendition of "Ain't No Way" and Chaka Khan joined Houston for the closing number, "I'm Every Woman".
Headliners[link]
Very special guest performer[link]
Special guest performers[link]
Presenters[link]
- Sarah Michelle Gellar
- Gloria Reuben
- Elizabeth Hurley
- Ashley Judd
- Claudia Schiffer
- Cheri Oteri
- Ana Gasteyer
- Molly Shannon
- Celebrities shown in the audience included Hugh Grant, Donald Trump, Susan Lucci, Star Jones, Martha Stewart, and Paul Shaffer. Paul Gorman was also present.
Show sequence[link]
- Tina Turner - "The Best"
- Tina Turner - "Let's Stay Together" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Tina Turner and Elton John - "The Bitch Is Back"
- Tina Turner, Elton John, and Cher - "Proud Mary"
- Elton John - "I'm Still Standing"
- Elton John and LeAnn Rimes - "Written in the Stars" – Not released on CD or DVD
- LeAnn Rimes - "How Do I Live"
- Elton John - "Like Father Like Son" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Cher - "If I Could Turn Back Time"
- Cher - "Believe" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Brandy - "Have You Ever"/"Almost Doesn't Count"
- Brandy and Faith Hill - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
- Faith Hill - "This Kiss"
- Whitney Houston - "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" – Not released on CD or DVD; However, audio version now available for download on iTunes
- Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige - "Ain't No Way"
- Whitney Houston and Treach - "My Love Is Your Love" – Not released on CD or DVD; However, audio version now available for download on iTunes
- Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"
- Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan - "I'm Every Woman"
- Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Brandy, LeAnn Rimes, and Mary J. Blige - "I'm Every Woman (reprise)"
Performances on the CD, VHS, and DVD release[link]
- Tina Turner - "The Best"
- Tina Turner and Elton John - "The Bitch Is Back"
- Tina Turner, Elton John, and Cher - "Proud Mary"
- Cher - "If I Could Turn Back Time"
- LeAnn Rimes - "How Do I Live"
- Elton John - "I'm Still Standing"
- Brandy - "Have You Ever"/"Almost Doesn't Count"
- Brandy and Faith Hill - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
- Faith Hill - "This Kiss"
- Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige - "Ain't No Way"
- Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"
- Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan - "I'm Every Woman"
- Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, and LeAnn Rimes - "I'm Every Woman (reprise)"
Charts and certification[link]
| Chart (2000) | Provider | Peak position |
Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austrian Albums Chart | Media Control | 43 | |
| French Albums Chart | SNEP/IFOP | 42 | |
| Dutch Albums Chart | IFPI | 41 | |
| German Top 100 Albums | Media Control | 60 | |
| Swiss Top 100 Albums | Media Control | 14 | |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | Billboard | 90 | Gold (CD) / Gold (DVD) |
Trivia[link]
- Whitney Houston was the first asked to appear, hence Arista releasing the album.
- TLC, her Arista stable mates were added soon after, with Tina and Cher being approached at the same time.
- TLC was initially slated to appear during the finale with Whitney and Chaka, but were forced to pull out when group member T-Boz had a sickle cell anemia crisis.
- Mary J. Blige, Brandy and Treach were added to the bill after Whitney's request.
- Faith Hill was a last minute replacement for TLC. All TLC was going to do was sing "I'm Every Woman" with Whitney. Faith Hill’s appearance resulted on her crossover to Europe.
- VH1 approached Barbra Streisand but she said that she would only do it if she got top billing, with Tina, Whitney and Cher referred to as ‘guests’.
- They then approached Gladys Knight, who turned down the show stating that she didn’t consider herself to be a Diva, despite Whitney and Tina trying to persuade her.
- Diana Ross was again asked to be part of the show and again gave a "no" for an answer.
- As VH1 were unable to find another headliner, Whitney and Arista suggested Brandy, who Whitney had recently filmed ‘Cinderella’ with.
- Patti LaBelle was asked to guest on a duet of a gospel song with Whitney. This would have been a welcome addition as she is a friend of both Whitney and Cher, but she declined a one-song guest spot.
- Tina, and particularly Cher, were a little annoyed when Mary J. Blige was asked to duet with Whitney instead of Patti, not because they had anything against her, but because with Brandy already added at her request it looked as though Whitney was trying to take over.
- Cher and Whitney fell out when Chaka Khan and Treach were added at Whitney’s request. Again, Cher had nothing against the artists themselves but she felt that Whitney and Arista were trying to take over the show in order to promote ‘My Love is Your Love’, especially as Cher had her own album, ‘Believe’, to promote.
- Cher lipsynched on "Believe", the full song. On Divas 2002, she only sang live on the chorus.
- Elton John was brought in to soothe the tempers as a friend of both Cher and Tina. He in turn brought along Leann Rimes, and Faith Hill was asked to appear to even up the sides a bit more.
- Whitney and Mary were originally going to duet on ‘I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Loved You)’, but they loved ‘Ain’t No Way’.
- Tina and Elton were planning on touring together in the summer of ’99 so they thought the Divas show would be a good place to try some things out. Elton had become a little annoyed when Tina changed the lyrics of ‘The Bitch is Back’ from ‘I get high stiffing pots of glue’ to ‘I get high just thinking about the things I do’, but could understand why she did it. They fell out big time though when during rehearsals for ‘Proud Mary’ Tina suggested he play a certain part differently, to which he said ‘I’m the best f*cking piano player you’ll ever have!’ and stormed off the stage. They never rehearsed the song again and it put an end to their planned tour even though Elton dedicated ‘I’m Still Standing’ to her by way of an apology.
- The official reason given for Cher and Tina not taking part in the finale was that they were staying with Elton who couldn’t really sing on ‘I’m Every Woman’. The truth was Cher wouldn’t be on stage with Whitney and Elton and Tina were still not on good terms although they are reconciled now. It’s also said that Tina was called away because of an emergency at her European home.
VH1 Divas 2000[link]
VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross - An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation was the first of three concerts in the series not aired live. It was recorded on April 9, 2000 at New York's Madison Square Garden and first aired on April 11, 2000. Diana Ross requested the concert be recorded as time constraints for the airing of commercials would not allow enough time for her to change costumes. The well-received show took a mammoth 6 hours to record. This special also marked the introduction of Lynda Laurence and Scherrie Payne as Supremes, who were touring with Diana Ross. Laurence and Payne were Supremes during the 1970s.
This concert has not been entirely released on CD or DVD. Only two songs were released as b-sides of singles from two of the performers.
Headliners[link]
Special guest performers[link]
Presenters[link]
Show sequence[link]
- Mariah Carey - "Love Hangover/Heartbreaker (Remix)" - Audio version included in Mariah's single "Can't Take That Away"
- Donna Summer - "Reflections"
- Faith Hill - "Breathe"
- Faith Hill - "Love Child"
- Donna Summer - "Bad Girls"
- Donna Summer - "Love Is The Healer"
- Mariah Carey - "Can’t Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)"
- Faith Hill - "What's In It For Me"
- RuPaul - "I'm Coming Out"
- Destiny's Child - "Say My Name"
- Destiny's Child - "Upside Down" - Audio version included in Destiny's Child single "Jumpin Jumpin"
- Diana Ross - "Touch Me In The Morning"
- Diana Ross - "Endless Love"
- Diana Ross - "The Best Years Of My Life"
- Diana Ross & The Supremes - "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
- Diana Ross & The Supremes - "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart"
- Diana Ross and Mariah Carey - Medley: "Baby Love" and "Stop! In The Name Of Love"
- The Divas - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
- Diana Ross - "I Will Survive"
Trivia[link]
- Diana Ross was the first to be approached, but insisted she would only do the show if it were a tribute to her. As VH1 had no other headliners in place, they conceded and started to look for other performers. She was also allowed ‘creative input’ over the other Divas and the songs they performed as a tribute to her.
- Before they locked in Diana they were thinking about having Dionne Warwick, Annie Lennox, Mary J. Blige and Tina Turner as headliners. Tina was ruled out very early as she was performing elsewhere in New York that same night.
- Mariah was the second to be approached and agreed on the understanding that she would be allowed to duet with Diana.
- When VH1 started asking for other performers it seemed there were very few willing parties. Some said it was because Divas were keen on paying tribute to one Diva whilst others said that it was more to do with a personal dislike of Diana.
- Diana had to personally call Donna Summer to get her to appear when VH1 failed to get any willing guests.
- Faith Hill had a new album to promote so she was added although Diana was unsure how a country Diva would fit into what she saw as her night of soul. You’ll notice that at the finale when Diana thanks every Diva apart from Faith. Producers convinced Diana to have Faith on the show, as she was having chart success with her hit single "Breathe".
- Missy Elliot was added to expand the show’s fan base but after a few rehearsals Diana had her kicked off the show, as she didn’t like her interpretation of ‘Upside Down.’
- Diana was not keen on having The Supremes on the show as she was very keen for it to be a tribute to Diana Ross rather than Diana Ross and The Supremes, although she was soon persuaded by her management that having them on, and having the other Divas sing Supreme songs would be good publicity for the upcoming tour.
- According to several reports, Christina Aguilera was also in talks to appear on the show that year, as she was hot off of her Grammy win for Best New Artist at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Instead, Aguilera appeared on 'Men Strike Back' later that month. Aguilera's camp denied the rumors of a rivalry with Mariah Carey and stated that Aguilera could not originally appear on 'Divas' because she had been scheduled to perform on SNL.
- Donna Summer was scheduled to sing a Supremes medley with Diana Ross and Mariah Carey and a VH1 Divas preview program actually shows them rehearsing together, however on the night of the concert only Ross and Carey performed the medley. No reason was given for Summer's non appearance in that part of the show although rumors began to emerge that Summer was unhappy that not enough rehearsal time had been given for that particular segment and she felt she was not in good voice. Summer ultimately performed two solo slots and was regarded by many as the star of the show.
- Destiny's Child were a "last minute" addition to the show and their performance was Diana's favorite that night.
- It was hoped that Liza Minnelli, a personal friend of Diana would appear but at the time she was still in very poor health so couldn’t take part.
- With only a week to go before the show was due to air there were only five acts locked in and The Supremes were only intended to be guests.
- Diana had to call on friend RuPaul to expand the numbers and Destiny’s Child flew in to join the show just two days before the night.
- It was also hoped that they could persuade Lionel Richie to join the line-up for ‘Endless Love’ but he was the supporting act for Tina Turner that night.
- Diana insisted that all the other acts would appear before she did and refused to allow other acts to come on in between her set whilst she changed. This meant that the show had to be recorded. It took about six hours to record in total and was plagued by technical problems. One producer joked that Mary Wilson must have been in the control box!
- Diana’s duet with Mariah was due to have included Donna but she refused to go on under rehearsed. Diana had got angry with Mariah for arriving late for the rehearsal because she was out buying the matching outfits that they both wore. Diana also forbade Mariah from doing that high-pitched screech noise with her voice saying ‘Oh no, you’re not going to do that at the end of my song!’. You’ll notice that during this performance, and in the finale with Faith, Diana has one eye on her part and the other on instructing the Divas on what they should be doing. So much so that she forgot the words to her own song.
- Diana was not particularly happy with all the Divas being on stage for the finale, feeling it should be just her. She was even more annoyed when she came back on stage after the finale to perform ‘I Will Survive’ only to find that the band had already left the stage, having done a marathon six hour session.
- The CD was never released at Diana’s request. Her reason was that there were already so many of her greatest hits albums out that she didn’t want to exploit her fans by having them buy another one. The general opinion at VH1 was that she didn’t want to be on a recorded CD where she was upstaged and out sung by every other performer.
- VH1 had such a bad experience with Diana and she caused so many problems that they have no plans to ever ask her to appear again.
VH1 Divas 2001[link]
VH1 Divas Live: The One And Only Aretha Franklin - An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation. This all-star tribute (the last such "Divas" event to use the format) to Aretha Franklin took place at New York's Radio City Music Hall. As the previous year, this concert was not released on CD or DVD. However, most of Aretha's performances were released years later on the iTunes US Store.
Mary J. Blige and Jill Scott were hand-picked by Aretha to honor her.
Everyone in the audience and at home was hoping to see Janet Jackson perform, as she was announced as one of the guests, but she only appeared to praise Franklin and introduce one of the videos that remembered her career achievements. Jackson got the longest standing ovation of the night, though.
Headliners[link]
- Aretha Franklin
- Mary J. Blige
- Backstreet Boys
- Marc Anthony
- Celia Cruz
- Jill Scott
- Nelly Furtado
- Kid Rock
Special guest performers[link]
- Bishop Paul Morton & Choir
- Herbie Hancock
- Clark Terry
- Ron Carter
- Roy Haynes
- James Carter
- Russell Malone
- Stevie Wonder
Presenters[link]
- Janet Jackson
- Pamela Anderson
- Edie Falco
- Lorraine Bracco
- Aida Turturro
- Drea de Matteo
- Sigourney Weaver
- Renée Zellweger
Show sequence[link]
- Aretha Franklin - "I Can't Turn You Loose" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
- Aretha Franklin and Backstreet Boys - "Chain Of Fools" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
- Aretha Franklin - "Ain't No Way" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
- Marc Anthony and Celia Cruz – "Quimbara"
- Jill Scott - "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman"
- Jill Scott - "A Long Walk"
- Aretha Franklin - "Think" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
- Nelly Furtado - "I'm Like a Bird"
- Mary J. Blige - "Day Dreaming"
- Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin - "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"
- Aretha Franklin - "Nessun Dorma" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
- Aretha Franklin with Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Roy Haynes, James Carter, and Russell Malone - Mumbles
- Aretha Franklin and Kid Rock - "Rock Steady" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
- Aretha Franklin with Bishop Paul Morton & Choir - "Precious Memories" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
- Aretha Franklin - "Respect" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
- Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Celia Cruz, Nelly Furtado, Backstreet Boys, Stevie Wonder, Marc Anthony, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Roy Haynes, James Carter, Russell Malone, and Aretha Franklin's Band - "Freeway Of Love" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
VH1 Divas 2002[link]
| VH1 Divas Las Vegas | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Vh1divas.jpg | |||||
| Live album by VH1 Divas Live | |||||
| Released | October 22, 2002 | ||||
| Recorded | May 23, 2002 | ||||
| Genre | Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Country | ||||
| Label | VH1 | ||||
| VH1 Divas Live chronology | |||||
|
|||||
VH1 Divas Las Vegas: An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation aired live from the MGM Grand Las Vegas on May 23, 2002. For the first time, Divas Live broadcasted from a city other than New York. This time around, Las Vegas played host city to the fifth Divas concert. A CD/DVD of the concert was released later that year, but not all the performances or performers (most notably those of co-headliner Mary J. Blige) were included, due to various record label issues.
After being invited by Whitney Houston in 1999, an appearance that gave her big publicity worldwide, Mary J. Blige asked her friend to join her on Divas three years later to perform together her song "Rainy Dayz".
Headliners[link]
Special guest performers[link]
- Anastacia
- Stevie Nicks
- Whitney Houston
- Cyndi Lauper
- Special diva guitarist Meredith Brooks
- Host: Ellen DeGeneres
- Announcer: Wayne Newton
Show sequence[link]
- Ellen DeGeneres - "Shoop" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Céline Dion and Anastacia – "You Shook Me All Night Long"
- Cher – "Believe"
- Cher – "Song for the Lonely"
- Cher and Cyndi Lauper – "If I Could Turn Back Time" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Dixie Chicks – "Long Time Gone" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Shakira – "Underneath Your Clothes"
- Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston – "Rainy Dayz" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Mary J. Blige – "No More Drama" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Dixie Chicks – "Wide Open Spaces" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Dixie Chicks and Stevie Nicks – "Landslide"
- Anastacia – "One Day in Your Life"
- Mary J. Blige and Shakira – "Love Is A Battlefield" – Not released on CD or DVD
- Céline Dion – "I'm Alive"
- Céline Dion – "A New Day Has Come"
- Elvis Tribute Finale Medley:
- Anastacia - "Jailhouse Rock"
- Dixie Chicks - "That's All Right (Mama)" - Not released on CD or DVD
- Shakira - "Always on My Mind"
- Mary J. Blige - "Blue Suede Shoes" - Not released on CD or DVD
- Stevie Nicks - "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" - Not released on CD or DVD
- Cher - "Heartbreak Hotel"
- Céline Dion - "Can't Help Falling in Love"
- The Divas – "You Shook Me All Night Long (reprise)" – Not released on CD or DVD
VH1 Divas 2003[link]
VH1 Divas Duets: An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation aired live from the MGM Grand Las Vegas on May 22, 2003.
Due to her contract with Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Celine Dion performed a pre-recorded live version of her song.
This concert has not been released on CD or DVD.
Headliners[link]
Special guest performers[link]
- Céline Dion
- Shania Twain
- Bobby Brown
- Pat Benatar
- The Isley Brothers
- 'Born To Diva' winner Tarralyn Ramsey
- Stevie Wonder
- Host: Queen Latifah
- Presenters: Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler
Show sequence[link]
- Queen Latifah - "When You're Good To Latifah"
- Beyoncé and Jewel - "Proud Mary"
- Céline Dion - "Have You Ever Been In Love"
- Chaka Khan - Medley: "I Feel For You"/"I'm Every Woman"
- Mary J. Blige - Medley: "Real Love"/"Love No Limit"/"Family Affair"
- The Isley Brothers and Ashanti - "Who's That Lady?"
- Beyoncé - "Dangerously In Love"
- Lisa Marie Presley - "Lights Out"
- Lisa Marie Presley and Pat Benatar - "Heartbreaker"
- Ashanti - "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)"
- Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown - Medley: "Something In Common"/"My Love"
- Jewel - "Intuition"
- Chaka Khan and Mary J. Blige - "Sweet Thing"
- Tarralyn Ramsey - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
- Whitney Houston - "Try It On My Own"
- Stevie Wonder tribute medley:
- Shania Twain and Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"
- Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder - "I Was Made To Love Her"
- Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
- Jewel and Stevie Wonder - "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"
- Mary J. Blige and Stevie Wonder - "Superwoman"
- Ashanti and Stevie Wonder - "Do I Do"
- Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder - "Tell Me Something Good"
- Queen Latifah and Stevie Wonder - "Living For The City"
- Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Chaka Khan, Jewel, Ashanti and Queen Latifah - "Higher Ground"
VH1 Divas 2004[link]
VH1 Divas: An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation aired live from the MGM Grand Las Vegas on April 18, 2004.
The show marks the first appearance of close friends and R&B and soul legends Patti LaBelle (who was told by producers that she’d be considered "top dog" [4]) and Gladys Knight after they had turned down previous offers to appear. Gladys could not stay for the finale due to obligations with her one woman show at the famed Flamingo Las Vegas. Kylie Minogue was originally confirmed as a headliner for the 80s themed show, but withdrew shortly after.
Aside from the normal set of presenters, the concert also featured video testimonials from Chaka Khan, Carly Simon, Gloria Estefan, Vanessa Williams, Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Kathy Griffin (in what would prove to be the first of three consecutive appearances), Marg Helgenberger, and Usher on the word "diva", their favorite divas, as well as the importance of music education in schools.
This concert has not been released on CD or DVD.
Headliners[link]
Special guest performers[link]
- Blondie
- Tom Jones
- The Pussycat Dolls (featuring Carmen Electra)
- Sheila E.
Presenters[link]
Show sequence[link]
- Patti LaBelle, Jessica Simpson, and Cyndi Lauper - "Lady Marmalade"
- Debbie Harry and Eve - "Rapture"
- Joss Stone - "Fell In Love With A Boy"
- Ashanti - "Medley: I'm Coming Out / Mo' Money Mo' Problems"
- Patti LaBelle - "New Day"
- Cyndi Lauper and Sheila E. - "Stay"
- Cyndi Lauper and Patti LaBelle - "Medley: Time After Time / True Colors"
- Jessica Simpson - "Take My Breath Away"
- Jessica Simpson - "Angels"
- Patti LaBelle - "Love, Need And Want You"
- Patti LaBelle - "If Only You Knew"
- Patti LaBelle - "You'll Never Walk Alone"
- Tom Jones and The Pussycat Dolls - "Medley: Tainted Love / You Can Leave Your Hat On"
- Blondie - "Good Boys"
- Blondie and Joss Stone - "One Way Or Another"
- Gladys Knight - "The Way We Were"
- Gladys Knight Medley:
- Gladys Knight and Joss Stone - "I Don't Want To Do Wrong"
- Gladys Knight and Jessica Simpson - "Midnight Train To Georgia"
- Gladys Knight, Jessica Simpson, and Joss Stone - "I've Got To Use My Imagination"
- 80's Medley Finale:
- Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Joss Stone, Jessica Simpson, Sheila E., Ashanti, and The Pussycat Dolls - "New Attitude (Reprise)"
VH1 Divas 2009[link]
|
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 2009 VH1 Divas |
VH1 Divas: An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation aired live on September 17, 2009 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. Paula Abdul hosted and performed. This concert, which featured a new and younger crop of divas as headliners, has not been released on CD or DVD.
Headliners[link]
Special guest performers[link]
Presenters[link]
- Liza Minnelli
- Kathy Griffin
- Corbin Bleu
- Keri Hilson
- Toni Braxton
- Whitney Port
- Kathy Lee Gifford
- Hoda Kotb
- Lauren Conrad
- Ryan Kwanten
- Sam Trammell
- Asher Book, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Kherington Payne, Naturi Naughton, and Walter Perez from the cast of Fame.[5]
Show sequence[link]
- Paula Abdul - Medley: "Cold Hearted"/"Opposites Attract"/"Straight Up"/"Forever Your Girl"
- Jennifer Hudson - "Spotlight"
- Kelly Clarkson - "Already Gone"
- Jordin Sparks - "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)"
- Adele - "Hometown Glory"
- Leona Lewis - "Happy"
- Leona Lewis and Cyndi Lauper - "True Colors"
- Miley Cyrus - "Party in the U.S.A."
- Adele and India Arie - "Video"
- Jordin Sparks and Martina McBride - "A Broken Wing"
- Jennifer Hudson and Stevie Wonder - "All In Love Is Fair"
- Miley Cyrus and Sheryl Crow - "If It Makes You Happy"
- Kelly Clarkson and Melissa Etheridge - "Bring Me Some Water"
VH1 Divas 2010[link]
VH1 Divas Salute The Troops was the second of the three concerts in the series not aired live. It was recorded on Friday, December 3, 2010 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar while Paramore was filmed earlier in the week at Army Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. The special first aired on Sunday, December 5, 2010 and broadcast internationally by the Armed Forces Network.[6] [7]
The concert also featured a telecast featuring First Lady Michelle Obama, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé (in her third appearance on the series), Fergie, P!nk, Ke$ha, and Carrie Underwood (marking the concert series’ fourth appearance by an American Idol contestant), delivering special messages to the troops. Certain select servicemen and women from Miramar, Naval Base Coronado, Camp Pendleton, and Camp Arifjan[1] were also presented in video portraits, documenting their careers and journey in the US military.
This show has not been released on CD or DVD.
Hosted by[link]
Headliners[link]
Special guest performers[link]
- Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart
- MC Lyte
Presenters[link]
- Brandy
- Marisa Miller
- Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino from Jersey Shore
- Jeffrey Ross
- Michael Strahan
and several servicemen and servicewomen
Show sequence[link]
- Katy Perry, Keri Hilson, and Jennifer Nettles - "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
- Katy Perry - "California Gurls"
- Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream" – Not aired in television broadcast [8]
- Katy Perry - "Hot N Cold" – Not aired in television broadcast
- Paramore - "The Only Exception"
- Paramore – "Decode" – Not aired in television broadcast [9]
- Paramore – "Misery Business" – Not aired in television broadcast
- Sugarland and MC Lyte - "Stuck Like Glue"
- Sugarland – "Tonight" – Not aired in television broadcast
- Sugarland – "All I Want to Do" – Not aired in television broadcast
- Grace Potter and The Nocturnals – "Top Gun Anthem" / "Paris (Oh La La)"
- Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – "Medicine" – Not aired in television broadcast
- Grace Potter and The Nocturnals and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart - "Crazy On You"
- Grace Potter and The Nocturnals and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart – "Rockin' in the Free World" - Not aired in television broadcast
- Nicki Minaj – "Moment 4 Life" – Not aired in television broadcast
- Nicki Minaj - "Right Thru Me"
- Nicki Minaj – "Roman's Revenge" – Not aired in television broadcast
- Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj - "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"
- Paramore - "My Hero"
- Keri Hilson – "Turnin Me On" – Not aired in television broadcast
- Keri Hilson – "Knock You Down" – Not aired in television broadcast
- Keri Hilson - "Pretty Girl Rock"
- Sugarland and Keri Hilson - "Think"
- Katy Perry - "Firework"
VH1 Divas 2011[link]
VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul was the third of three concerts in the series not aired live. It was taped on December 18, 2011 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City,[10] and aired the next evening on VH1, paying tribute to the places that helped create or contributed to soul music: Chicago, Detroit, London, Philadelphia and Memphis.[11]
Anita Baker, who was going to sing with Jill Scott, had to drop out moments before the concert after disagreements with producers,[12] allowing Marsha Ambrosius and Ledisi to step in and perform in their places during the Detroit medley.[13]
Kelly Clarkson twisted her ankle on the way into the concert, though she still performed as planned.
Headliners[link]
House band[link]
Special guest performers[link]
- Marsha Ambrosius
- Erykah Badu
- Boyz II Men
- Estelle
- Wanda Jackson
- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
- Chaka Khan
- Ledisi
- Travie McCoy
- Martha Reeves
- Mavis Staples
Presenters[link]
- La La Anthony
- Common
- Terrence Howard
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Queen Latifah
- Nas
- Dolly Parton
- Archie Panjabi
- Sherri Shepherd
Show sequence[link]
- Medley:
- Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson - "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
- Jennifer Hudson - "Spotlight"
- Mary J. Blige" - "Real Love"
- Kelly Clarkson - "Since U Been Gone"
- Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson - "You Keep Me Hangin' On (Reprise)"
- Memphis tribute:
- Jennifer Hudson and Jessie J - "Knock on Wood"
- Erykah Badu, Chaka Kahn, and Mavis Staples - "I'll Take You There"
- Florence + the Machine with Golden Orb Girls - "Shake It Out"
- Detroit medley:
- Marsha Ambrosius, Sharon Jones and Martha Reeves - "Nowhere to Run"
- Kelly Clarkson and Ledisi - "Chain of Fools"
- Marsha Ambrosius and Ledisi - "Sweet Love"
- Jessie J - "Domino"
- Mary J. Blige - "Mr. Wrong"
- Amy Winehouse Tribute:
- Philadelphia medley:
- Estelle and Travie McCoy - "Wake Up Everybody"
- Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Black Thought - "You Got Me"
- Boyz II Men - "Motownphilly"
- Jill Scott - "Hear My Call"
- Kelly Clarkson - "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)"
- London medley:
- Estelle, Erykah Badu, Marsha Ambrosius, and ?uestlove - "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)"
- Florence Welch - "Walking On Broken Glass"
- Jennifer Hudson - "Night of Your Life"
- Chicago medley:
- Sharon Jones and Ledisi - "Rescue Me"
- Mary J. Blige and Chaka Kahn - "Ain't Nobody"
- Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings - "He Said I Can" – Not aired in television broadcast
VH1 Divas 2012[link]
VH1 Divas Salute The Musical Legacy Of Whitney Houston will air live from Los Angeles in December 2012. [14].
References[link]
- ^ a b "Katy Perry and new 'Divas' ready to play Miramar | UTSanDiego.com". Signonsandiego.com. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/02/katy-perry-nicki-minaj-miramar-tonight/. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0500101/fullcredits
- ^ Musician's Union Contract, AFM Local 802 -5765-50010956
- ^ "Patti LaBelle: Top 'Diva'". CBS News. April 15, 2004. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/15/earlyshow/leisure/music/main612092.shtml.
- ^ a b "Jennifer Hudson Joins VH1 Divas! | Vh1 Blog". Blog.vh1.com. 2009-09-08. http://blog.vh1.com/2009-09-08/jennifer-hudson-joins-vh1-divas/. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ "Associated Press". Hosted2.ap.org. 2009-09-17. http://hosted2.ap.org/APDefault/entertainment/Article_2010-10-14-US-Music-VH1-Divas/id-d7fe786927294ee88fffe0032ae4957a. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ VH1 Divas Support The Troops In High Fashion
- ^ Elias, Matt (2010-12-03). "Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Paramore Salute Troops At 'VH1 Divas' - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653558/20101204/perry_katy.jhtml. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
- ^ "‘VH1 Divas Salute the Troops,’ in photos and video | Tune In Music City | The Tennessean". Blogs.tennessean.com. 2010-12-06. http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/12/06/vh1-divas-salute-the-troops-in-photos-and-video/. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
- ^ AP – Thu, Oct 27, 2011 (2011-10-27). "Clarkson, Blige to honor soul cities for VH1 Divas - Yahoo! News". News.yahoo.com. http://news.yahoo.com/clarkson-blige-honor-soul-cities-vh1-divas-120619956.html. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
- ^ . http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/clarkson-blige-hudson-among-those-to-honor-soulful-cities-at-annual-vh1-divas-concert/2011/10/27/gIQAOkHoLM_story.html. [dead link]
- ^ »» (2011-12-28). "Anita Baker Explains ‘VH1 Divas’ Drama: 5 Other Famous Show Feuds". Rollingout.com. http://rollingout.com/music/music-news/anita-baker-explains-vh1-divas-drama-5-other-famous-show-feuds/. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
- ^ Graham, Mark (2011-12-19). "EXCLUSIVE: The Unflappable Ledisi On Performing “Sweet Love” On VH1 DIVAS: “What You Saw Was My Rehearsal And Performance All Together” – | VH1 Tuner". Vh1.com. http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2011-12-19/ledisi-sweet-love-vh1-divas/. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
- ^ Graham, Mark (2012-05-08). "VH1 DIVAS 2012 Will Salute The Musical Legacy Of The Late Whitney Houston – | VH1 Tuner". Vh1.com. http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2012-05-08/vh1-divas-2012-will-salute-the-musical-legacy-of-the-late-whitney-houston/. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is about the person. For her 1985 eponymous album, see Whitney Houston (album).
| Whitney Houston | |
|---|---|
 Whitney Houston performing at Good Morning America in Central Park on September 1, 2009 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Whitney Elizabeth Houston |
| Born | (1963-08-09)August 9, 1963 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | February 11, 2012(2012-02-11) (aged 48) Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, soul, pop, dance, gospel |
| Occupations | Singer, actress, model, film producer, record producer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1977–2012 |
| Labels | Arista, RCA |
| Associated acts | Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Jermaine Jackson, Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Bobby Brown |
| Website |
 Whitney Houston's autograph |
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all-time.[1] Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide.[2][3] She released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know",[4] influenced several African American female artists to follow in her footsteps.[5][6]
Houston is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits.[7] She is the second artist behind Elton John and the only female artist to have two number-one Billboard 200 Album awards (formerly "Top Pop Album") on the Billboard magazine year-end charts.[8] Houston's 1985 debut album Whitney Houston became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release. The album was named Rolling Stone's best album of 1986, and was ranked at number 254 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[9] Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.[9]
Houston's first acting role was as the star of the feature film The Bodyguard (1992). The film's original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Its lead single "I Will Always Love You", became the best-selling single by a female artist in music history. With the album, Houston became the first act (solo or group, male or female) to sell more than a million copies of an album within a single week period under Nielsen SoundScan system.[9] The album makes her the top female act in the top 10 list of the best-selling albums of all time, at number four. Houston continued to star in movies and contribute to their soundtracks, including the films Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996). The Preacher's Wife soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album in history.[10]
Life and career[link]
1963–1976: Early life[link]
Whitney Houston was born in what was then a middle-income neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, the second child of Army serviceman and entertainment executive John Russell Houston, Jr. (September 13, 1920 – February 2, 2003), and gospel singer Cissy Houston (née Emily Drinkard).[11] She was of African American, Native American and Dutch descent.[12] Her mother, along with cousins Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, godmother Darlene Love[13] and honorary aunt Aretha Franklin[14] were all notable figures in the gospel, rhythm and blues, pop, and soul genres.[15] She met her honorary aunt at age 8, or 9, when her mother took her to a recording studio.[16] Houston was raised a Baptist, but was also exposed to the Pentecostal church. After the 1967 Newark riots, the family moved to a middle-class area in East Orange, New Jersey, when she was four.[17]
At the age of 11, Houston began to follow in her mother's footsteps and started performing as a soloist in the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where she also learned to play the piano.[18] Her first solo performance in the church was "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah".[19] When Houston was a teenager, she attended Mount Saint Dominic Academy, a Catholic girls' high school in Caldwell, New Jersey, where she met her best friend Robyn Crawford, whom she described as the "sister she never had".[20] While Houston was still in school, her mother continued to teach her how to sing.[5] In addition to her mother, Franklin, and Warwick, Houston was also exposed to the music of Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, and Roberta Flack, most of whom would have an impact on her as a singer and performer.[21]
1977–1984: Early career[link]
Houston spent some of her teenage years touring nightclubs where her mother Cissy was performing, and she would occasionally get on stage and perform with her. In 1977, at age 14, she became a backup singer on the Michael Zager Band's single "Life's a Party".[22] In 1978, at age 15, Houston sang background vocals on Chaka Khan's hit single "I'm Every Woman", a song she would later turn into a larger hit for herself on her monster-selling The Bodyguard soundtrack album.[23][24] She also sang back-up on albums by Lou Rawls and Jermaine Jackson.[23]
In the early 1980s, Houston started working as a fashion model after a photographer saw her at Carnegie Hall singing with her mother. She appeared in Seventeen[25] and became one of the first women of color to grace the cover of the magazine.[26] She was also featured in layouts in the pages of Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Young Miss, and appeared in a Canada Dry soft drink TV commercial.[27] Her striking looks and girl-next-door charm made her one of the most sought after teen models of that time.[27] While modeling, she continued her burgeoning recording career by working with producers Michael Beinhorn, Bill Laswell and Martin Bisi on an album they were spearheading called One Down, which was credited to the group Material. For that project, Houston contributed the ballad "Memories", a cover of a song by Hugh Hopper of Soft Machine. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice called her contribution "one of the most gorgeous ballads you've ever heard".[28] She also appeared as a lead vocalist on one track on a Paul Jabara album, entitled Paul Jabara and Friends, released by Columbia Records in 1983.[29]
Houston had previously been offered several recording agencies (Michael Zager in 1980, and Elektra Records in 1981), however her mother declined the offers stating her daughter must first complete high school.[22][30] In 1983, Gerry Griffith, an A&R representative from Arista Records, saw her performing with her mother in a New York City nightclub and was impressed. He convinced Arista's head Clive Davis to make time to see Houston perform. Davis too was impressed and offered a worldwide recording contract which Houston signed. Later that year, she made her national televised debut alongside Davis on The Merv Griffin Show.[31]
Houston signed with Arista in 1983, but did not begin work on her album immediately.[1] The label wanted to make sure no other label signed the singer away. Davis wanted to ensure he had the right material and producers for Houston's debut album. Some producers had to pass on the project due to prior commitments.[32] Houston first recorded a duet with Teddy Pendergrass entitled "Hold Me" which appeared on his album, Love Language.[33] The single was released in 1984 and gave Houston her first taste of success, becoming a Top 5 R&B hit.[34] It would also appear on her debut album in 1985.
1985–1986: Rise to international prominence[link]
With production from Michael Masser, Kashif, Jermaine Jackson, and Narada Michael Walden, Houston's debut album Whitney Houston was released in February 1985. Rolling Stone magazine praised Houston, calling her "one of the most exciting new voices in years" while The New York Times called the album "an impressive, musically conservative showcase for an exceptional vocal talent".[35][36] Arista Records promoted Houston's album with three different singles from the album in the US, UK and other European countries. In the UK, the dance-funk "Someone for Me", which failed to chart in the country, was the first single while "All at Once" was in such European countries as the Netherlands and Belgium, where the song reached the top 5 on the singles charts, respectively.[37]
In the US, the soulful ballad "You Give Good Love" was chosen as the lead single from Houston's debut to establish her in the black marketplace first.[38] Outside the US, the song failed to get enough attention to become a hit, but in the US, it gave the album its first major hit as it peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and No. 1 on the Hot R&B chart.[32] As a result, the album began to sell strongly, and Houston continued promotion by touring nightclubs in the US. She also began performing on late-night television talk shows, which were not usually accessible to unestablished black acts. The jazzy ballad "Saving All My Love for You" was released next and it would become Houston's first No. 1 single in both the US and the UK. She was then an opening act for singer Jeffrey Osborne on his nationwide tour. "Thinking About You" was released as the promo single only to R&B-oriented radio stations, which peaked at number ten on the US R&B Chart. At the time, MTV had received harsh criticism for not playing enough videos by black, Latino, and other racial minorities while favoring white acts.[39] The third US single, "How Will I Know", peaked at No. 1 and introduced Houston to the MTV audience thanks to its video. Houston's subsequent singles from this, and future albums, would make her the first African-American female artist to receive consistent heavy rotation on MTV.[26]
By 1986, a year after its initial release, Whitney Houston topped the Billboard 200 albums chart and stayed there for 14 non-consecutive weeks.[40] The final single, "Greatest Love of All", became Houston's biggest hit at the time after peaking No. 1 and remaining there for three weeks on the Hot 100 chart, which made her debut the first album by a female artist to yield three No. 1 hits. Houston was No. 1 artist of the year and Whitney Houston was the No. 1 album of the year on the 1986 Billboard year-end charts, making her the first female artist to earn that distinction.[40] At the time, Houston released the best-selling debut album by a solo artist.[41] Houston then embarked on her world tour, Greatest Love Tour. The album had become an international success, and was certified 13× platinum (diamond) in the United States alone, and has sold a total of 25 million copies worldwide.[42]
At the 1986 Grammy Awards, Houston was nominated for three awards including Album of the Year.[43] She was not eligible for the Best New Artist category due to her previous hit R&B duet recording with Teddy Pendergrass in 1984.[44] She won her first Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for "Saving All My Love for You".[45] Houston's performance of the song during the Grammy telecast later earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.[46]
Houston won seven American Music Awards in total in 1986 and 1987, and an MTV Video Music Award.[47][48] The album's popularity would also carry over to the 1987 Grammy Awards when "Greatest Love of All" would receive a Record of the Year nomination. Houston's debut album is listed as one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and on The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Definitive 200 list.[49][50] Houston's grand entrance into the music industry is considered one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years, according to USA Today.[51] Following Houston's breakthrough, doors were opened for other African-American female artists such as Janet Jackson and Anita Baker to find notable success in popular music and on MTV.[52][53]
[edit] 1987–1991: Whitney, I'm Your Baby Tonight and "The Star Spangled Banner"
With many expectations, Houston's second album, Whitney, was released in June 1987. The album again featured production from Masser, Kashif and Walden as well as Jellybean Benitez. Many critics complained that the material was too similar to her previous album. Rolling Stone said, "the narrow channel through which this talent has been directed is frustrating".[54] Still, the album enjoyed commercial success. Houston became the first female artist in music history to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and the first artist to enter the albums chart at number one in both the US and UK, while also hitting number one or top ten in dozens of other countries around the world. The album's first single, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)", was also a massive hit worldwide, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topping the singles chart in many countries such as Australia, Germany and the UK. The next three singles, "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional", and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" all peaked at number one on the US Hot 100 chart, which gave her a total of seven consecutive number one hits, breaking the record of six previously shared by The Beatles and The Bee Gees.[55][56] Houston became the first female artist to generate four number-one singles from one album. Whitney has been certified 9× Platinum in the US for shipments of over 9 million copies, and has sold a total of 20 million copies worldwide.[57]
At the 30th Grammy Awards in 1988, Houston was nominated for three awards, including Album of the Year, winning her second Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)".[58][59] Houston also won two American Music Awards in 1988 and 1989, respectively, and a Soul Train Music Award.[60][61][62] Following the release of the album, Houston embarked on the Moment of Truth World Tour, which was one of the ten highest grossing concert tours of 1987.[63] The success of the tours during 1986–87 and her two studio albums ranked Houston No. 8 for the highest earning entertainers list according to Forbes magazine.[64] She was the highest earning African-American woman overall and the third highest entertainer after Bill Cosby and Eddie Murphy.[64]
Houston was a supporter of Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement. During her modeling days, the singer refused to work with any agencies who did business with the then-apartheid South Africa.[65][66] On June 11, 1988, during the European leg of her tour, Houston joined other musicians to perform a set at Wembley Stadium in London to celebrate a then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday.[65] Over 72,000 people attended Wembley Stadium, and over a billion people tuned in worldwide as the rock concert raised over $1 million for charities while bringing awareness to apartheid.[67] Houston then flew back to the US for a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City in August. The show was a benefit concert that raised a quarter of a million dollars for the United Negro College Fund.[68] In the same year, she recorded a song for NBC's coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics, "One Moment in Time", which became a Top 5 hit in the US, while reaching number one in the UK and Germany.[69][70][71] With her world tour continuing overseas, Houston was still one of the top 20 highest earning entertainers for 1987–88 according to Forbes magazine.[72][73]
In 1989, Houston formed The Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, a non-profit organization that has raised funds for the needs of children around the world. The organization cares for homelessness, children with cancer or AIDS, and other issues of self-empowerment.[74] With the success of her first two albums, Houston was undoubtedly an international crossover superstar, the most prominent since Michael Jackson, appealing to all demographics. However, some black critics believed she was "selling out".[6] They felt her singing on record lacked the soul that was present during her live concerts.[25]
At the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards, when Houston's name was called out for a nomination, a few in the audience jeered.[75][76] Houston defended herself against the criticism, stating, "If you're gonna have a long career, there's a certain way to do it, and I did it that way. I'm not ashamed of it".[25] Houston took a more urban direction with her third studio album, I'm Your Baby Tonight, released in November 1990. She produced and chose producers for this album and as a result, it featured production and collaborations with L.A. Reid and Babyface, Luther Vandross, and Stevie Wonder. The album showed Houston's versatility on a new batch of tough rhythmic grooves, soulful ballads and up-tempo dance tracks. Reviews were mixed. Rolling Stone felt it was her "best and most integrated album".[77] while Entertainment Weekly, at the time thought Houston's shift towards an urban direction was "superficial".[78]
The album contained several hits: the first two singles, "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "All the Man That I Need" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; "Miracle" peaked at number nine; "My Name Is Not Susan" peaked in the top twenty; "I Belong to You" reached the top ten of the US R&B chart and garnered Houston a Grammy nomination; and the sixth single, the Stevie Wonder duet "We Didn't Know", reached the R&B top twenty. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and went on to be certified 4× platinum in the US while selling twelve million total worldwide.
File:W. Houston & G. Bush at White house.jpg
Houston met with President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office in 1990, while in Washington, D.C., to participate in the Youth Leadership Forum
In 1990, Houston was the spokesperson for a youth leadership conference hosted in Washington, D.C. She had a private audience with President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office to discuss the associated challenges.
With America entangled in the Persian Gulf War, Houston performed "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium on January 27, 1991.[79] Due to overwhelming response to her rendition, it was released as a commercial single and video of her performance, and reached the Top 20 on the US Hot 100, making her the only act to turn the national anthem into a pop hit of that magnitude (Jose Feliciano's version reached No. 50 in November 1968).[80][81] Houston donated all her share of the proceeds to the American Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund. As a result, the singer was named to the Red Cross Board of Governors.[79][82][83]
Her rendition was considered the benchmark for singers and critically acclaimed.[84] Rolling Stone commented that "her singing stirs such strong patriotism. Unforgettable", and the performance ranked No. 1 on the 25 most memorable music moments in NFL history list. VH1 listed the performance as one of the greatest moments that rocked TV.[85][86] Following the attacks on 9/11, it was released again by Arista Records, all profits going towards the firefighters and victims of the attacks. This time it peaked at No. 6 in the Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[87]
Later in 1991, Houston put together her Welcome Home Heroes concert with HBO for the soldiers fighting in the Persian Gulf War and their families. The free concert took place at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia in front of 3,500 servicemen and women. HBO descrambled the concert so that it was free for everyone to watch.[88] Houston's concert gave HBO its highest ratings ever.[89] She then embarked on the I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour.
[edit] 1992–1994: Marriage to Bobby Brown and The Bodyguard
Throughout the 1980s, Houston was romantically linked to American football star Randall Cunningham and actor Eddie Murphy, whom she dated.[90] She then met R&B singer Bobby Brown at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards. After a three-year courtship, the two were married on July 18, 1992.[91] On March 4, 1993, Houston gave birth to their daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown, her only child, and his fourth. Brown would go on to have several run-ins with the law, including some jail time.[91]
With the commercial success of her albums, movie offers poured in, including offers to work with Robert De Niro, Quincy Jones, and Spike Lee; but Houston felt the time wasn't right.[90] Houston's first film role was in The Bodyguard, released in 1992 and co-starring Kevin Costner. Houston played Rachel Marron, a star who is stalked by a crazed fan and hires a bodyguard to protect her. USA Today listed it as one of the 25 most memorable movie moments of the last 25 years in 2007.[92] Houston's mainstream appeal allowed people to look at the movie color-blind.[93]
Still, controversy arose as some felt the film's advertising intentionally hid Houston's face to hide the film's interracial relationship. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 1993, the singer commented that "people know who Whitney Houston is – I'm black. You can't hide that fact."[21] Houston received a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actress. The Washington Post said Houston is "doing nothing more than playing Houston, comes out largely unscathed if that is possible in so cockamamie an undertaking",[94] and The New York Times commented that she lacked passion with her co-star.[95] Despite the film's mixed reviews, it was hugely successful at the box office, grossing more than $121 million in the U.S. and $410 million worldwide, making it one of the top 100 grossing films in film history at its time of release, though it is no longer in the top 100 due to rising ticket prices since the time the film was released.[96]
The film's soundtrack also enjoyed big success. Houston executive produced and contributed six songs for the motion picture's adjoining soundtrack album. Rolling Stone said it is "nothing more than pleasant, tasteful and urbane".[97] The soundtrack's lead single was "I Will Always Love You", written and originally recorded by Dolly Parton in 1974. Houston's version of the song was acclaimed by many critics, regarding it as her "signature song" or "iconic performance". Rolling Stone and USA Today called her rendition "the tour-de-force".[98][99] The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for a then-record-breaking 14 weeks, number one on the R&B chart for a then-record-breaking 11 weeks, and number one on the Adult Contemporary charts for five weeks, thus becoming the first single to top those three charts simultaneously for five weeks.[100]
The single was certified 4× platinum by the RIAA, making Houston the first female artist with a single to reach that level in the RIAA history and becoming the best-selling single by a female artist in the US.[101][102][103] The song also became a global success, hitting number-one in almost all countries, and one of the best-selling singles of all time with 12 million copies sold.[104] The soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 chart and remained there for 20 non-consecutive weeks, the longest tenure by any album on the chart in the Nielsen SoundScan era, and became one of the fastest selling albums ever.[105] During Christmas week of 1992, the soundtrack sold over a million copies within a week, becoming the first album to achieve that feat under Nielsen SoundScan system.[106][107] With the follow-up singles "I'm Every Woman", a Chaka Khan cover, and "I Have Nothing" both reaching the top five, Houston became the first female artist to ever have three singles in the Top 11 simultaneously.[108][109][110] The album was certified 17× platinum in the US alone,[111] with worldwide sales of 44 million,[112] making The Bodyguard the biggest-selling album by a female act on the list of the world's Top 10 best-selling albums, topping Shania Twain's 40 million sold for Come On Over.[113]
Houston won three Grammys for the album in 1994, including two of the Academy's highest honors, Album of the Year and Record of the Year. In addition, she won a record 8 American Music Awards at that year's ceremony including the Award of Merit,[114] 11 Billboard Music Awards, 3 Soul Train Music Awards in 1993–94 including Sammy Davis, Jr. Award as Entertainer of the Year,[115] 5 NAACP Image Awards including Entertainer of the Year,[116][117][118] a record 5 World Music Awards,[119] and a BRIT award.[120] Following the success of the project, Houston embarked on another expansive global tour, The Bodyguard World Tour, in 1993–94. Her concerts, movie, and recording grosses made her the third highest earning female entertainer of 1993–94, just behind Oprah Winfrey and Barbra Streisand according to Forbes magazine.[121] Houston placed in the top five of Entertainment Weekly's annual "Entertainer of the Year" ranking[122] and was labeled by Premiere magazine as one of the 100 most powerful people in Hollywood.[123]
In October 1994, Houston attended and performed at a state dinner in the White House honoring newly elected South African president Nelson Mandela.[124][125] At the end of her world tour, Houston performed three concerts in South Africa to honor President Mandela, playing to over 200,000 people. This would make the singer the first major musician to visit the newly unified and apartheid free nation following Mandela's winning election.[126] The concert was broadcast live on HBO with funds of the concerts being donated to various charities in South Africa. The event was considered the nation's "biggest media event since the inauguration of Nelson Mandela".[127]
[edit] 1995–1997: Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher's Wife, and Cinderella
In 1995, Houston starred alongside Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon in her second film Waiting to Exhale, a motion picture about four African-American women struggling with relationships. Houston played the lead character Savannah Jackson, a TV producer in love with a married man. She chose the role because she saw the film as "a breakthrough for the image of black women because it presents them both as professionals and as caring mothers".[128] After opening at number one and grossing $67 million in the US at the box office and $81 million worldwide,[129] it proved that a movie primarily targeting a black audience can cross over to success, while paving the way for other all-black movies such as How Stella Got Her Groove Back and the Tyler Perry movies that have become popular in the 2000s.[130][131][132] The film is also notable for its portrayal of black women as strong middle class citizens as opposed to stereotypes.[133] The reviews were mainly positive for the ensemble cast. The New York Times said "Ms. Houston has shed the defensive hauteur that made her portrayal of a pop star in 'The Bodyguard' seem so distant."[134] Houston was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Actress In A Motion Picture", but lost to her co-star Bassett.
The film's accompanying soundtrack, Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album, was produced by Houston and Babyface. Though Babyface originally wanted Houston to record the entire album, she declined. Instead, she "wanted it to be an album of women with vocal distinction", and thus gathered several African-American female artists for the soundtrack, to go along with the film's strong women message.[128] As a result, the album featured a range of contemporary R&B female recording artists along with Houston, such as Mary J Blige, Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton, Patti Labelle, and Brandy. Houston's "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" peaked at No. 1, and then spent a record eleven weeks at the No. 2 spot and eight weeks on top of the R&B Charts. "Count On Me", a duet with CeCe Winans, hit the US Top 10; and Houston's third contribution, "Why Does It Hurt So Bad", made the Top 30. The album debuted at No. 1, and was certified 7× Platinum in the United States, denoting shipments of seven million copies.[57] The soundtrack received strong reviews as Entertainment Weekly said "the album goes down easy, just as you'd expect from a package framed by Whitney Houston tracks.... the soundtrack waits to exhale, hovering in sensuous suspense"[135] and has since ranked it as one of the 100 Best Movie Soundtracks.[136] Later that year, Houston's children's charity organization was awarded a VH1 Honor for all the charitable work.[137]
In 1996, Houston starred in the holiday comedy The Preacher's Wife, with Denzel Washington. She plays a gospel-singing wife of a pastor (Courtney B. Vance). It was largely an updated remake of the 1948 film "The Bishop's Wife" which starred Loretta Young, David Niven and Cary Grant. Houston earned $10 million for the role, making her one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood at the time and the highest earning African American actress in Hollywood.[138] The movie, with its all African-American cast, was a moderate success, earning approximately $50 million at the U.S. box offices.[139] The movie gave Houston her strongest reviews so far. The San Francisco Chronicle said Houston "is rather angelic herself, displaying a divine talent for being virtuous and flirtatious at the same time" and that she "exudes gentle yet spirited warmth, especially when praising the Lord in her gorgeous singing voice".[140] Houston was again nominated for an NAACP Image Award and won for Outstanding Actress In A Motion Picture.
Houston recorded and co-produced, with Mervyn Warren, the film's accompanying gospel soundtrack. The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album included six gospel songs with Georgia Mass Choir that were recorded at the Great Star Rising Baptist Church in Atlanta. Houston also duetted with gospel legend Shirley Caesar. The album sold six million copies worldwide and scored hit singles with "I Believe in You and Me" and "Step by Step", becoming the largest selling gospel album of all time. The album received mainly positive reviews. Some critics, such as that of USA Today, noted the presence of her emotional depth,[141] while The Times said "To hear Houston going at full throttle with the 35 piece Georgia Mass Choir struggling to keep up is to realise what her phenomenal voice was made for".[142]
In 1997, Houston's production company changed its name to BrownHouse Productions and was joined by Debra Martin Chase. Their goal was "to show aspects of the lives of African-Americans that have not been brought to the screen before" while improving how African-Americans are portrayed in film and television.[143] Their first project was a made-for-television remake of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. In addition to co-producing, Houston starred in the movie as the Fairy Godmother along with Brandy, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, and Bernadette Peters. Houston was initially offered the role of Cinderella in 1993, but other projects intervened.[144] The film is notable for its multi-racial cast and nonstereotypical message.[145] An estimated 60 million viewers tuned into the special giving ABC its highest TV ratings in 16 years.[146] The movie received seven Emmy nominations including Outstanding Variety, Musical or Comedy, while winning Outstanding Art Direction in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Special.[147]
Houston and Chase then obtained the rights to the story of Dorothy Dandridge. Houston was to play Dandridge, who was the first African American actress to be nominated for an Oscar. She wanted the story told with dignity and honor.[143] However, Halle Berry also had rights to the project and she got her version going first.[148] Later that year, Houston paid tribute to her idols such as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Dionne Warwick by performing their hits during the three-night HBO Concert Classic Whitney, live from Washington, D.C. The special raised over $300,000 for the Children's Defense Fund.[149] Houston received The Quincy Jones Award for outstanding career achievements in the field of entertainment at the 12th Soul Train Music Awards.[150][151]
[edit] 1998–2000: My Love Is Your Love and Whitney: The Greatest Hits
After spending much of the early and mid 1990s working on motion pictures and their soundtrack albums, Houston's first studio album in eight years, the critically acclaimed My Love Is Your Love, was released in November 1998. Though originally slated to be a greatest hits album with a handful of new songs, recording sessions were so fruitful that a new full-length studio album was released. Recorded and mixed in only six weeks, it featured production from Rodney Jerkins, Wyclef Jean and Missy Elliott. The album debuted at number thirteen, its peak position, on the Billboard 200 chart.[152] It had a funkier and edgier sound than past releases and saw Houston handling urban dance, hip hop, mid-tempo R&B, reggae, torch songs, and ballads all with great dexterity.[153]
From late 1998 to early 2000, the album spawned several hit singles: "When You Believe" (US No. 15, UK No. 4), a duet with Mariah Carey for 1998's The Prince of Egypt soundtrack, which also became an international hit as it peaked in the Top 10 in several countries and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song;[154] "Heartbreak Hotel" (US No. 2, UK No. 25) featured Faith Evans and Kelly Price, received a 1999 MTV VMA nomination for Best R&B Video,[155] and number one on the US R&B chart for seven weeks; "It's Not Right But It's Okay" (US No. 4, UK No. 3) won Houston her sixth Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance;[156] "My Love Is Your Love" (US No. 4, UK No. 2) with 3 million copies sold worldwide;[157] and "I Learned from the Best" (US No. 27, UK No. 19).[158][159] These singles became international hits as well, and all the singles, except "When You Believe", became number one hits on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play chart. The album sold four million copies in America, making it certified 4× platinum, and a total of eleven million copies worldwide.[42]
The album gave Houston some of her strongest reviews ever. Rolling Stone said Houston was singing "with a bite in her voice"[160] and The Village Voice called it "Whitney's sharpest and most satisfying so far".[161] In 1999, Houston participated in VH-1's Divas Live '99, alongside Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, and Cher. The same year, Houston hit the road with her 70 date My Love Is Your Love World Tour. The European leg of the tour was Europe's highest grossing arena tour of the year.[162] In November 1999, Houston was named Top-selling R&B Female Artist of the Century with certified US sales of 51 million copies at the time and The Bodyguard Soundtrack was named the Top-selling Soundtrack Album of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[163] She also won The Artist of the Decade, Female award for extraordinary artistic contributions during the 1990s at the 14th Soul Train Music Awards, and an MTV Europe Music Award for Best R&B.[164][165][166][167][168]
In May 2000, Whitney: The Greatest Hits was released worldwide. The double disc set peaked at number five in the United States, reaching number one in the United Kingdom.[159][169] In addition, the album reached the Top 10 in many other countries.[170] While ballad songs were left unchanged, the album features house/club remixes of many of Houston's up-tempo hits. Included on the album were four new songs: "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" (a duet with Enrique Iglesias), "Same Script, Different Cast" (a duet with Deborah Cox), "If I Told You That" (a duet with George Michael), and "Fine", and three hits that had never appeared on a Houston album: "One Moment in Time", "The Star Spangled Banner", and "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful", a duet with Jermaine Jackson from his 1986 Precious Moments album.[171] Along with the album, an accompanying VHS and DVD was released featuring the music videos to Houston's greatest hits, as well as several hard-to-find live performances including her 1983 debut on The Merv Griffin Show, and interviews.[172] The greatest hits album was certified 3× platinum in the US, with worldwide sales of 10 million.[173][174]
[edit] 2000–2005: Just Whitney, and personal struggles
Though Houston was seen as a "good girl" with a perfect image in the 1980s and early 1990s, by the late 1990s, her behavior changed. She was often hours late for interviews, photo shoots and rehearsals, and canceling concerts and talk-show appearances.[175][176] With the missed performances and weight loss, rumors about Houston using drugs with her husband circulated. On January 11, 2000, airport security guards discovered marijuana in both Houston's and husband Bobby Brown's luggage at a Hawaii airport, but the two boarded the plane and departed before authorities could arrive. Charges were later dropped against them,[177] but rumors of drug usage between the couple would continue to surface. Two months later, Clive Davis was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Houston had been scheduled to perform at the event, but failed to show up.[178]
Shortly thereafter, Houston was scheduled to perform at the Academy Awards but was fired from the event by musical director and longtime friend Burt Bacharach. Her publicist cited throat problems as the reason for the cancellation. In his book The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings Backstage at the Academy Awards, author Steve Pond revealed that "Houston's voice was shaky, she seemed distracted and jittery, and her attitude was casual, almost defiant", and that while Houston was to sing "Over the Rainbow", she would start singing a different song.[179] Houston later admitted to having been fired.[180] Later that year, Houston's long-time executive assistant and friend, Robyn Crawford, resigned from Houston's management company.[178]
In August 2001, Houston signed the biggest record deal in music history with Arista/BMG. She renewed her contract for $100 million to deliver six new albums, on which she would also earn royalties.[181][182][183] She later made an appearance on Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special. Her extremely thin frame further spurred rumors of drug use. Houston's publicist said, "Whitney has been under stress due to family matters, and when she is under stress she doesn't eat."[184] The singer was scheduled for a second performance the following night but canceled.[185] Within weeks, Houston's rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" would be re-released after the September 11 attacks, with the proceeds donated to the New York Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Fraternal Order of Police.[186] The song peaked at No. 6 this time on the US Hot 100, topping its previous position.[158]
In 2002, Houston became involved in a legal dispute with John Houston Enterprise. Although the company was started by her father to manage her career, it was actually run by company president Kevin Skinner. Skinner filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit and sued for $100 million (but lost), stating that Houston owed the company previously unpaid compensation for helping to negotiate her $100 million contract with Arista Records and for sorting out legal matters.[187] Houston stated that her 81-year-old father had nothing to do with the lawsuit. Although Skinner tried to claim otherwise, John Houston never appeared in court.[188] Houston's father later died in February 2003.[189] The lawsuit was dismissed on April 5, 2004, and Skinner was awarded nothing.[190]
Also in 2002, Houston did an interview with Diane Sawyer to promote her then-upcoming album. The interview was the highest-rated television interview in history.[citation needed] During the prime-time special, Houston spoke on topics including rumored drug use and marriage. She was asked about the ongoing drug rumors and replied, "First of all, let's get one thing straight. Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let's get that straight. Okay? We don't do crack. We don't do that. Crack is wack."[180] The line was from Keith Haring's mural which was painted in 1986 on the handball court at 128th Street and 2nd Avenue.[191] Houston did, however, admit to using other substances at times, including cocaine.[180]
In December 2002, Houston released her fifth studio album, Just Whitney.... The album included productions from then-husband Bobby Brown, as well as Missy Elliott and Babyface, and marked the first time that Houston did not produce with Clive Davis as Davis had been released by top management at BMG. Upon its release, Just Whitney... received mixed reviews.[192] The album debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart and it had the highest first week sales of any album Houston had ever released.[193] The four singles released from the album, didn't fare well on the Billboard Hot 100, but became Hot Dance Club Play hits. Just Whitney... was certified platinum in the United States, and sold approximately three million worldwide.[194]
On a June 2003 trip to Israel, Houston said of her visit, "I've never felt like this in any other country. I feel at home, I feel wonderful."[195]
In late 2003, Houston released her first Christmas album One Wish: The Holiday Album, with a collection of traditional holiday songs. Houston produced the album with Mervyn Warren and Gordon Chambers. A single titled "One Wish (for Christmas)" reached the Top 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and the album was certified gold in the US. Having always been a touring artist, Houston spent most of 2004 touring and performing in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Russia. In September 2004, she gave a surprise performance at the World Music Awards in a tribute to long time friend Clive Davis. After the show, Davis and Houston announced plans to go into studio to work on her new album.[196]
In early 2004, husband Bobby Brown starred in his own reality TV program, Being Bobby Brown (on the Bravo network), which provided a view into the domestic goings-on in the Brown household. Though it was Brown's vehicle, Houston was a prominent figure throughout the show, receiving as much screen time as Brown. The series aired in 2005 and featured Houston in, what some would say, not her most flattering moments. The Hollywood Reporter said it was "undoubtedly the most disgusting and execrable series ever to ooze its way onto television."[197] Despite the perceived train-wreck nature of the show, the series gave Bravo its highest ratings in its time slot and continued Houston's successful forays into film and television.[198] The show was not renewed for a second season after Houston stated that she would no longer appear in it, and Brown and Bravo could not come to an agreement for another season.[199]
[edit] 2006–2012: Return to music, I Look to You, tour and film comeback
After years of controversy and turmoil, Houston separated from Bobby Brown in September 2006, filing for divorce the following month.[200] On February 1, 2007, Houston asked the court to fast track their divorce.[201] The divorce was finalized on April 24, 2007, with Houston granted custody of the couple's daughter.[202] On May 4, Houston sold the suburban Atlanta home featured in Being Bobby Brown for $1.19 million.[203] A few days later, Brown sued Houston in Orange County, California court in an attempt to change the terms of their custody agreement. Brown also sought child and spousal support from Houston. In the lawsuit, Brown claimed that financial and emotional problems prevented him from properly responding to Houston's divorce petition.[204] Brown lost at his court hearing as the judge dismissed his appeal to overrule the custody terms, leaving Houston with full custody and Brown with no spousal support.[205] In March 2007, Clive Davis of Arista Records announced that Houston would begin recording a new album.[206] In October 2007, Arista released another compilation The Ultimate Collection outside the United States.[207]
Houston gave her first interview in seven years in September 2009, appearing on Oprah Winfrey's season premiere. The interview was billed as "the most anticipated music interview of the decade".[208] Whitney admitted on the show to using drugs with former husband Bobby Brown, who "laced marijuana with rock cocaine".[209] By 1996, she told Oprah, "[doing drugs] was an everyday thing... I wasn't happy by that point in time. I was losing myself."[210]
Houston released her new album, I Look to You, in August 2009.[211] The album's first two singles are "I Look to You" and "Million Dollar Bill". The album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, with Houston's best opening-week sales of 305,000 copies, marking Houston's first number one album since The Bodyguard, and Houston's first studio album to reach number one since 1987's Whitney. Houston also appeared on European television programs to promote the album. She performed the song "I Look to You" on the German television show Wetten, dass..?. Three days later, she performed the worldwide first single from I Look To You, Million Dollar Bill, on the French television show Le Grand Journal. Houston appeared as guest mentor on The X Factor in the United Kingdom. She performed "Million Dollar Bill" on the following day's results show, completing the song even as a strap in the back of her dress popped open two minutes into the performance. She later commented that she "sang [herself] out of [her] clothes".
The performance was poorly received by the British media, and was variously described as "weird" and "ungracious",[212] "shambolic"[213] and a "flop". Despite this reception, "Million Dollar Bill" jumped to its peak from 14 to number 5 (her first UK top 5 for over a decade), and three weeks after release "I Look to You" went gold. Houston appeared on the Italian version of The X Factor, performing the same song "Million Dollar Bill" to excellent reviews.[214] She was awarded the Gold Certificate for achieving over 50,000 CD sales of "I Look To You" in Italy.[215] In November, Houston performed "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" at the 2009 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California. Two days later, Houston performed both songs on the Dancing With The Stars season 9 finale. As of December 2009, "I Look to You" has been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of more than one million copies in the United States.[216] On January 26, 2010, her debut album was re-released in a special edition entitled Whitney Houston – The Deluxe Anniversary Edition.[217]
Houston later embarked on a world tour, entitled the Nothing but Love World Tour. It was her first world tour in over ten years and was announced as a triumphant comeback. However, some poor reviews and rescheduled concerts brought some negative media attention.[218][219] Houston canceled some concerts due to illness and received widespread negative reviews from fans who were disappointed in the quality of her voice and performance. Some fans reportedly walked out of her concerts.[220]
In January 2010, Houston was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards, one for Best Female Artist and one for Best Music Video. She won the award for Best Music Video for her single "I Look to You". On January 16, she received The BET Honors Award for Entertainer citing her lifetime achievements spanning over 25 years in the industry. The 2010 BET Honors award was held at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. and aired on February 1, 2010. Jennifer Hudson and Kim Burrell performed in honor of her, garnering positive reviews. Houston also received a nomination from the Echo Awards, Germany's version of the Grammys, for Best International Artist. In April 2010, the UK newspaper The Mirror reported that Houston was thinking about recording her eighth studio album and wanted to collaborate with will.i.am (of The Black Eyed Peas), her first choice for a collaboration.[221]
Houston also performed the song "I Look to You" on the 2011 BET Celebration of Gospel, with gospel–jazz singer Kim Burrell, held at the Staples Center, Los Angeles. The performance aired on January 30, 2011. Early in 2011, she gave an uneven performance in tribute to cousin Dionne Warwick at music mogul Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy gala. In May 2011, Houston enrolled in a rehabilitation center again, as an out-patient, citing drug and alcohol problems. A representative for Houston said that it was a part of Houston's "longstanding recovery process".[222]
In September 2011, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Houston would produce and star alongside Jordin Sparks and Mike Epps in the remake of the 1976 film Sparkle. In the film, Houston portrays Sparks' "not-so encouraging mother". Houston would have executive producer credits on top of acting credits according to Debra Martin Chase, producer of Sparkle. She stated that Houston deserved the title considering she had been there from the beginning in 2001, when Houston obtained Sparkle production rights. R&B singer Aaliyah – originally tapped to star as Sparkle – died in a 2001 plane crash. Her death derailed production, which would have begun in 2002.[223][224][225] Houston's remake of Sparkle was filmed in the fall of 2011,[226] and is set for release by TriStar Pictures in August 2012.[227]
Death[link]
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Wikinews has related news: American pop star Whitney Houston dies at 48 |
On February 9, 2012, Houston visited singers Brandy and Monica, together with Clive Davis, at their rehearsals for Davis' pre-Grammy Awards party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.[228][229] That same day, she made her last public performance, when she joined Kelly Price on stage in Hollywood, California, and sang "Jesus Loves Me".[230][231]
On February 11, 2012, Houston was found dead in suite 434 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, submerged in the bathtub.[232][233] The cause of death was not immediately known.[234][235] It was later ruled by the coroner to have been an "accidental drowning".[236] Beverly Hills paramedics arrived at approximately 3:30 p.m. and found the singer unresponsive and performed CPR. Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. PST.[234][237] Local police said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent."[238] On March 22, 2012, the Los Angeles County coroner's office reported the cause of Houston's death was drowning and the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use".[239] The office stated the amount of cocaine found in Houston's body indicated that she used the substance shortly before her death.[240] Toxicology results revealed additional drugs in her system: Benadryl, Xanax, marijuana and Flexiril.[241] The manner of death was listed as an "accident".[242]
Houston had an invitation-only memorial on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. The service was scheduled for two hours, but lasted for four hours.[243] Among those who performed at the funeral were Stevie Wonder (rewritten version of "Ribbon in the Sky," and "Love's in Need of Love Today"), CeCe Winans ("Don't Cry" and "Jesus Loves Me"), Alicia Keys ("Send Me an Angel"), Kim Burrell (rewritten version of "A Change Is Gonna Come") and R. Kelly ("I Look to You"), interspersed with hymns by the church choir and remarks by Clive Davis, Houston’s record producer; Kevin Costner; Ricky Minor her music director; her cousin Dionne Warwick and Ray Watson, her security guard for the past 11 years. Aretha Franklin was listed on the program and was expected to sing, but was unable to attend the service.[244][245] Bobby Brown, Houston's ex-husband, was also invited to the funeral but he left before the service began.[246] Houston was buried on Sunday, February 19, 2012, in Fairview Cemetery, in Westfield, New Jersey next to her father, John Russell Houston, who died in 2003.[247]
Reaction[link]
The Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party that Houston was expected to attend, and that featured many of the biggest names in music and movies, went on as scheduled although it was quickly turned into a tribute to Houston. Davis spoke about Houston's death at the evening's start: "By now you have all learned of the unspeakably tragic news of our beloved Whitney's passing. I don't have to mask my emotion in front of a room full of so many dear friends. I am personally devastated by the loss of someone who has meant so much to me for so many years. Whitney was so full of life. She was so looking forward to tonight even though she wasn't scheduled to perform. Whitney was a beautiful person and a talent beyond compare. She graced this stage with her regal presence and gave so many memorable performances here over the years. Simply put, Whitney would have wanted the music to go on and her family asked that we carry on."[248]
Tony Bennett spoke of Houston's death before performing at Davis' party. He said, "First, it was Michael Jackson, then Amy Winehouse, now, the magnificent Whitney Houston". Bennett sang "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" and said of Houston, "When I first heard her, I called Clive Davis and said, 'You finally found the greatest singer I've ever heard in my life.'"[249]
Some celebrities opposed Davis' decision to continue on the party while a police investigation was being conducted in Houston's hotel room and her body was still in the building. Chaka Khan, in an interview with CNN's Piers Morgan on February 13, 2012, shared that she felt the party should have been canceled, saying "I thought that was complete insanity. And knowing Whitney I don't believe that she would have said 'the show must go on.' She's the kind of woman that would've said 'Stop everything! Un-unh. I'm not going to be there.' [...] I don't know what could motivate a person to have a party in a building where the person whose life he had influenced so enormously and whose life had been affected by hers. They were like... I don't understand how that party went on."[250] Sharon Osbourne condemned the Davis party, declaring "I think it was disgraceful that the party went on. I don't want to be in a hotel room when there's someone you admire who's tragically lost their life four floors up. I'm not interested in being in that environment and I think when you grieve someone, you do it privately, you do it with people who understand you. I thought it was so wrong."[251]
Several other celebrities released statements responding to Houston's death. Dolly Parton, whose song "I Will Always Love You" was covered by Houston, said, "I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed'." Aretha Franklin said, "It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen."[252] Mariah Carey said, "Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend ... She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth."[253] Oprah Winfrey, who did an in-depth interview with Houston in 2009, wrote on Twitter "To me Whitney was THE VOICE. We got to hear a part of God every time she sang. Heart is heavy, spirit grateful for the GIFT of her."[254] Quincy Jones said, "I am absolutely heartbroken at the news of Whitney’s passing. Ashford & Simpson first made me aware of Whitney when she was just sixteen, and I always regretted not having had the opportunity to work with her. She was a true original and a talent beyond compare. I will miss her terribly."[253]
Moments after news of her death emerged, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News all broke from their regularly scheduled programming to dedicate time to non-stop coverage of Houston's death. All three featured live interviews with people who knew Houston including those that have worked with her, interviewed her along with some of her peers in the music industry. Saturday Night Live displayed a photo of a smiling Houston, alongside Molly Shannon, from her 1996 appearance.[255][256] MTV and VH-1 interrupted their regularly scheduled programming on Sunday February 12 to air many of Houston's classic videos with MTV often airing news segments in between and featuring various reactions from fans and celebrities.
Houston's former husband, Bobby Brown, was reported to be "in and out of crying fits" since receiving the news. He did not cancel a scheduled performance and within hours of his ex-wife's sudden death, an audience in Mississippi observed as Brown blew kisses skyward, tearfully saying: "I love you, Whitney".[257]
Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the 54th Grammy Awards, announced that Jennifer Hudson would perform a tribute to Houston at the February 12, 2012, awards. He said "event organizers believed Hudson – an Academy Award-winning actress and Grammy Award-winning artist – could perform a respectful musical tribute to Houston". Ehrlich went on to say: "It's too fresh in everyone's memory to do more at this time, but we would be remiss if we didn't recognize Whitney's remarkable contribution to music fans in general, and in particular her close ties with the Grammy telecast and her Grammy wins and nominations over the years".[258] At the start of the awards ceremony, a footage of Houston performing "I Will Always Love You" from 1994 Grammys was shown following a prayer read by host, LL Cool J. Later in the program following a montage of photos of musicians who died in 2011 with Houston singing "Saving All My Love for You" at the 1986 Grammys, Hudson paid tribute to Houston and the other artists by performing "I Will Always Love You".[259][260]
Houston was honored in the form of various tributes at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards, held on February 17. A image montage of Houston and important black figures who died in 2011 was followed by video footage from the 1994 ceremony, which depicted her accepting two Image Awards for outstanding female artist and entertainer of the year. Following the video tribute, Yolanda Adams delivered a rendition of "I Love the Lord" from The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack. In the finale of the ceremony, Kirk Franklin and The Family started their performance with "Greatest Love of All."[261] The 2012 BRIT Awards, which took place at London's O2 Arena on February 21, also paid tribute to Houston by playing a 30-second-video montage of her music videos with a snippet of "One Moment in Time" as the background music in the ceremony's first segment.[262] New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said that all New Jersey state flags would be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, February 21 to honor Houston.[263] Accompanied by Esperanza Spalding belting out "What a Wonderful World" along with the Southern California Children's Choir, Houston was featured in the In Memoriam montage alongside other cinema greats at the 84th Academy Awards, held at the Hollywood and Highland Center on February 26, 2012.[264][265]
Artistry and legacy[link]
Voice[link]
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One of Houston's best selling singles worldwide and recognized songs, "I Will Always Love You" prominently uses melismas.
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Houston was a mezzo-soprano,[266][267] and was commonly referred to as "The Voice" in reference to her exceptional vocal talent.[268] Her vocal range extended from G below middle C (G3) to high B-flat (B♭5); she could belt out to treble F (F5).[269] She was third in MTV's list of 22 Greatest Voices,[270] and sixth on Online Magazine COVE's list of the 100 Best Pop Vocalists with a score of 48.5/50.[271] In 2008, Rolling Stone listed Houston as the thirty-fourth of the 100 greatest singers of all time, stating, "Her voice is a mammoth, coruscating cry: Few vocalists could get away with opening a song with 45 unaccompanied seconds of singing, but Houston's powerhouse version of Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' is a tour de force."[98] Matthew Perpetua from Rolling Stone also eulogized Houston's vocal, enumerating ten performances, including "How Will I Know" from the 1986 MTV VMAs and "The Star Spangled Banner" at the 1991 Super Bowl. "Whitney Houston was blessed with an astonishing vocal range and extraordinary technical skill, but what truly made her a great singer was her ability to connect with a song and drive home its drama and emotion with incredible precision," he stated. "She was a brilliant performer, and her live shows often eclipsed her studio recordings."[272]
Jon Caramanica of The New York Times commented, "Her voice was clean and strong, with barely any grit, well suited to the songs of love and aspiration. [...] Hers was a voice of triumph and achievement, and it made for any number of stunning, time-stopping vocal performances."[273] Mariah Carey stated, "She [Whitney] has a really rich, strong mid-belt that very few people have. She sounds really good, really strong."[274] While in her review of I Look to You, music critic Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times writes, "[Houston's voice] stands like monuments upon the landscape of 20th century pop, defining the architecture of their times, sheltering the dreams of millions and inspiring the climbing careers of countless imitators", adding "When she was at her best, nothing could match her huge, clean, cool mezzo-soprano".[267]
Lauren Everitt from BBC News Magazine commented on melisma used in Houston's recording and its influence. "An early 'I' in Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' takes nearly six seconds to sing. In those seconds the former gospel singer-turned-pop star packs a series of different notes into the single syllable," stated Everitt. "The technique is repeated throughout the song, most pronouncedly on every 'I' and 'you'. The vocal technique is called melisma, and it has inspired a host of imitators. Other artists may have used it before Houston, but it was her rendition of Dolly Parton's love song that pushed the technique into the mainstream in the 90s. [...] But perhaps what Houston nailed best was moderation." Everitt said that "[i]n a climate of reality shows ripe with 'oversinging', it's easy to appreciate Houston's ability to save melisma for just the right moment".[275]
Houston's vocal stylings have had a significant impact on the music industry. She has been called the "Queen of Pop" for her influence during the 1990s, commercially rivaling Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.[276] Stephen Holden from The New York Times, in his review of Houston's Radio City Music Hall concert on July 20, 1993, praised her attitude as a singer, writing, "Whitney Houston is one of the few contemporary pop stars of whom it might be said: the voice suffices. While almost every performer whose albums sell in the millions calls upon an entertainer's bag of tricks, from telling jokes to dancing to circus pyrotechnics, Ms. Houston would rather just stand there and sing." With regard to her singing style, he added: "Her [Houston's] stylistic trademarks – shivery melismas that ripple up in the middle of a song, twirling embellishments at the ends of phrases that suggest an almost breathless exhilaration – infuse her interpretations with flashes of musical and emotional lightning."[277]
Elysa Gardner of the Los Angeles Times in her review for The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack praised Houston's vocal ability highly, commenting, "She is first and foremost a pop diva – at that, the best one we have. No other female pop star – not Mariah Carey, not Celine Dion, not Barbra Streisand – quite rivals Houston in her exquisite vocal fluidity and purity of tone, and her ability to infuse a lyric with mesmerizing melodrama."[278]
Influence[link]
During the 1980s, MTV was coming into its own and received criticism for not playing enough videos by black artists. With Michael Jackson breaking down the color barrier for black male artists, Houston did the same for black female artists. She became the first black female artist to receive heavy rotation on the network following the success of the "How Will I Know" video.[279] Following Houston's breakthrough, other African-American female artists, such as Janet Jackson and Anita Baker, were successful in popular music.[52][53] Baker commented that "Because of what Whitney and Sade did, there was an opening for me... For radio stations, black women singers aren't taboo anymore."[280]
Allmusic noted her contribution to the success of black artists on the pop scene, commenting, "Houston was able to handle big adult contemporary ballads, effervescent, stylish dance-pop, and slick urban contemporary soul with equal dexterity" and that "the result was an across-the-board appeal that was matched by scant few artists of her era, and helped her become one of the first black artists to find success on MTV in Michael Jackson's wake".[281] The New York Times stated that "Houston was a major catalyst for a movement within black music that recognized the continuity of soul, pop, jazz and gospel vocal traditions".[282] Richard Corliss of Time magazine commented on her initial success breaking various barriers:
Of her first album's ten cuts, six were ballads. This chanteuse [Houston] had to fight for air play with hard rockers. The young lady had to stand uncowed in the locker room of macho rock. The soul strutter had to seduce a music audience that anointed few black artists with superstardom. [...] She was a phenomenon waiting to happen, a canny tapping of the listener's yen for a return to the musical middle. And because every new star creates her own genre, her success has helped other blacks, other women, other smooth singers find an avid reception in the pop marketplace.[283]
Stephen Holden of The New York Times said that Houston "revitalized the tradition of strong gospel-oriented pop-soul singing".[284] Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times referred to the singer as a "national treasure".[267] Jon Caramanica, other music critic of The New York Times, called Houston "R&B's great modernizer," adding "slowly but surely reconciling the ambition and praise of the church with the movements and needs of the body and the glow of the mainstream".[273] He also drew comparisons between Houston's influence and other big names' on 1980s pop:
She was, alongside Michael Jackson and Madonna, one of the crucial figures to hybridize pop in the 1980s, though her strategy was far less radical than that of her peers. Jackson and Madonna were by turns lascivious and brutish and, crucially, willing to let their production speak more loudly than their voices, an option Ms. Houston never went for. Also, she was less prolific than either of them, achieving most of her renown on the strength of her first three solo albums and one soundtrack, released from 1985 to 1992. If she was less influential than they were in the years since, it was only because her gift was so rare, so impossible to mimic. Jackson and Madonna built worldviews around their voices; Ms. Houston’s voice was the worldview. She was someone more to be admired, like a museum piece, than to be emulated.[273]
The Independent's music critic Andy Gill also wrote about Houston's influence on modern R&B and singing competitions, comparing it to Michael Jackson's. "Because Whitney, more than any other single artist ― Michael Jackson included ― effectively mapped out the course of modern R&B, setting the bar for standards of soul vocalese, and creating the original template for what we now routinely refer to as the 'soul diva'," stated Gill. "Jackson was a hugely talented icon, certainly, but he will be as well remembered (probably more so) for his presentational skills, his dazzling dance moves, as for his musical innovations. Whitney, on the other hand, just sang, and the ripples from her voice continue to dominate the pop landscape." Gill said that there "are few, if any, Jackson imitators on today's TV talent shows, but every other contestant is a Whitney wannabe, desperately attempting to emulate that wondrous combination of vocal effects – the flowing melisma, the soaring mezzo-soprano confidence, the tremulous fluttering that carried the ends of lines into realms of higher yearning".[285]
Houston was considered by many to be a "singer's singer", who had an influence on countless other vocalists, both female and male.[98][286] Similarly, Steve Huey from Allmusic wrote that the shadow of Houston's prodigious technique still looms large over nearly every pop diva and smooth urban soul singer – male or female – in her wake, and spawned a legion of imitators.[281] Rolling Stone, on her biography, stated that Houston "redefined the image of a female soul icon and inspired singers ranging from Mariah Carey to Rihanna".[287] Essence ranked Houston the fifth on their list of 50 Most Influential R&B Stars of all time, calling her "the diva to end all divas".[288]
A number of artists have acknowledged Houston as an influence, including Celine Dion,[289] Mariah Carey,[98] Toni Braxton,[290] Christina Aguilera,[291] LeAnn Rimes,[292] Jessica Simpson,[293] Nelly Furtado,[294][295] Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears,[296] Ciara,[297] P!nk,[296] Ashanti,[298] Robin Thicke,[299] Jennifer Hudson, Stacie Orrico, Amerie,[300] and Destiny's Child.[296][301] Mariah Carey, who was often compared to Houston, said, "She [Houston] has been a big influence on me."[302] She later told USA Today that "none of us would sound the same if Aretha Franklin hadn't ever put out a record, or Whitney Houston hadn't."[303] Celine Dion who was the third member of the troika that dominated female pop singing in the 1990s, did a telephone interview with Good Morning America on February 13, 2012, telling "Whitney's been an amazing inspiration for me. I've been singing with her my whole career, actually. I wanted to have a career like hers, sing like her, look beautiful like her."[304] Beyoncé told the Globe and Mail that Houston "inspired [her] to get up there and do what [she] did".[305] She also wrote on her website on the day after Houston's death, "I, like every singer, always wanted to be just like [Houston]. Her voice was perfect. Strong but soothing. Soulful and classic. Her vibrato, her cadence, her control. So many of my life's memories are attached to a Whitney Houston song. She is our queen and she opened doors and provided a blueprint for all of us."[306]
Mary J. Blige said that Houston inviting her onstage during VH1's Divas Live show in 1999 "opened doors for [her] all over the world".[307] Brandy stated, "The first Whitney Houston CD was genius. That CD introduced the world to her angelic yet powerful voice. Without Whitney, half of this generation of singers wouldn't be singing."[308] Kelly Rowland, in an Ebony's feature article celebrating black music in June 2006, recalled that "[I] wanted to be a singer after I saw Whitney Houston on TV singing 'Greatest Love of All'. I wanted to sing like Whitney Houston in that red dress." She added that "And I have never, ever forgotten that song [Greatest Love of All]. I learned it backward, forward, sideways. The video still brings chills to me. When you wish and pray for something as a kid, you never know what blessings God will give you."[309]
Alicia Keys said "Whitney is an artist who inspired me from [the time I was] a little girl".[310] Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson cites Houston as her biggest musical influence. She told Newsday that she learned from Houston the "difference between being able to sing and knowing how to sing".[311] Leona Lewis, who has been called "the new Whitney Houston", also cites her as an influence. Lewis stated that she idolized her as a little girl.[312][313]
Awards and achievements[link]
Further information: List of awards and nominations received by Whitney Houston and Whitney Houston chart records and achievements
Houston was the most awarded female artist of all time, according to Guinness World Records,[1] with two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards as of 2010. She held the all-time record for the most American Music Awards of any female solo artist and shared the record with Michael Jackson for the most AMAs ever won in a single year with eight wins in 1994.[314] Houston won a record 11 Billboard Music Awards at its fourth ceremony in 1993.[315] She also had the record for the most WMAs won in a single year, winning five awards at the 6th World Music Awards in 1994.[316]
In May 2003, Houston placed at number three on VH1's list of "50 Greatest Women of the Video Era", behind Madonna and Janet Jackson.[317] She was also ranked at number 116 on their list of the "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons of All Time".[318] In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's 50th anniversary, ranking Houston at number nine.[319][320] Similarly, she was ranked as one of the "Top 100 Greatest Artists of All Time" by VH1 in September 2010.[321] In November 2010, Billboard released its "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years" list and ranked Houston at number three whom not only went on to earn eight number one singles on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but also landed five number ones on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[322]
Houston's debut album is listed as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine[49] and is on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Definitive 200 list.[50] In 2004, Billboard picked the success of her first release on the charts as one of 110 Musical Milestones in its history.[323] Houston's entrance into the music industry is considered one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years, according to USA Today in 2007. It stated that she paved the way for Mariah Carey's chart-topping vocal gymnastics.[51] In 1997, the Franklin School in East Orange, New Jersey was renamed to The Whitney E. Houston Academy School of Creative and Performing Arts. In 2001, Houston was the first artist to be given a BET Lifetime Achievement Award.[324]
Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 200 million albums and singles worldwide.[2][3] She was ranked as the fourth best-selling female artist in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with 55 million certified albums sold in the US.[216][325]
She held an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Grambling State University, Louisiana.[326]
Discography[link]
Main articles: Whitney Houston discography and Whitney Houston videography
- Studio Albums
- 1985: Whitney Houston
- 1987: Whitney
- 1990: I'm Your Baby Tonight
- 1998: My Love Is Your Love
- 2002: Just Whitney
- 2009: I Look to You
- Holiday Albums
Filmography[link]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes and awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Bodyguard | Rachel Marron | Feature film
|
| 1995 | Waiting to Exhale | Savannah Jackson | Feature film
|
| 1996 | The Preacher's Wife | Julia Biggs | Feature film
|
| 1997 | Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella | Fairy Godmother | Made-for-television film, part of a revival of the Wonderful World of Disney.[335]
|
| 2012 | Sparkle | Emma | Posthumous release |
| Year | Title | Network | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Gimme a Break! | NBC | Rita | "Katie's College" (Season 3, Episode 20, air date: March 15, 1984)[338] |
| As the World Turns | CBS | Herself | Houston appeared on the soap on August 1–2, 1984, with Jermaine Jackson singing two duets off a new album he was releasing at the time: "Take Good Care of My Heart" and "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do." They taped their appearance on July 25 at CBS Studios in New York City. | |
| 1985 | Silver Spoons | NBC | Herself | "Head Over Heels" (Season 4, Episode 1, air date: September 15, 1985)[338] She performed the edited version of "Saving All My Love for You", changing some of the words. |
| 2002 | Boston Public | Fox | Herself | She performed "Try It On My Own" from the 2002 studio album Just Whitney. |
| Year | Company | Promoting | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Dr Pepper/Seven Up | Canada Dry (soft drink beverage) |
United States |
|
| 1986 | Coca-Cola | Diet Coke (soft drink beverage) |
United States | |
| 1988 | Coca-Cola | Diet Coke (soft drink beverage) |
United States |
|
| 1989 | Sanyo | Electronics (the stereo, TV) |
Japan |
|
| 1994/ 1995 |
AT&T | Telephone services | United States | |
| 1999 | Nissin | Consumer credit business | Japan |
|
| Year | Title | Director | Notes and awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella | Robert Iscove | Executive producer[350]
|
| 2001 | The Princess Diaries | Garry Marshall | Producer[351]
|
| 2003 | The Cheetah Girls | Oz Scott | Producer[356] |
| 2004 | The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement | Garry Marshall | Producer[357] |
| 2006 | The Cheetah Girls 2: When in Spain | Kenny Ortega | Co-executive producer[358] |
Tours[link]
Main article: List of Whitney Houston tours and concerts
http://wn.com/Whitney_Houston
Related pages:
http://de.wn.com/Whitney Houston
http://es.wn.com/Whitney Houston
http://ru.wn.com/Хьюстон, Уитни
http://cs.wn.com/Whitney Houston
http://pt.wn.com/Whitney Houston
http://pl.wn.com/Whitney Houston
http://hi.wn.com/व्हिटनी ह्यूस्टन
http://it.wn.com/Whitney Houston
http://id.wn.com/Whitney Houston
http://nl.wn.com/Whitney Houston
http://fr.wn.com/Whitney Houston
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
Not to be confused with Adam Lamberg.
| Adam Lambert | |
|---|---|
 Adam Lambert at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards (2010) |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Adam Mitchel Lambert |
| Born | (1982-01-29) January 29, 1982 (age 30) Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Origin | Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego |
| Genres | Pop,[1] pop rock[1] |
| Occupations | Musician, singer-songwriter, actor |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | 19, RCA |
| Associated acts | Queen |
| Website | adamofficial.com |
Adam Mitchel Lambert (born January 29, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and stage actor. Born in Indianapolis but raised in San Diego, Lambert had dreamed of becoming a performer after appearing in numerous amateur productions in his childhood and adolescence. His passion overtook him when deciding to drop out of college, pursue his career, and perform in various professional theatrical productions across the world.
Lambert came to prominence following his appearance on the eighth season of American Idol.[2] Although he was runner-up, Lambert launched a music career with the release of his debut studio album For Your Entertainment (2009) after signing with 19 in a joint venture with RCA. Debuting at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 198,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week, and reaching the top 10 in several countries worldwide, the album subsequently achieved international success with its singles "For Your Entertainment", "Whataya Want from Me" and "If I Had You".[3][4][5] Soon after, he embarked on his first headlining worldwide concert tour, Glam Nation, making him the only American Idol contestant to do so in the year following his Idol season. The tour was followed by two live releases: an extended play entitled Acoustic Live! (2010), and a live CD/DVD Glam Nation Live (2011), which debuted at number one on the SoundScan Music Video chart.[6] Lambert took executive producer credit and was a principal writer on his second studio album, Trespassing, which was released to critical acclaim on May 15, 2012.[7] Trespassing made its debut in the number one spot on the Billboard 200 album chart,[8] also topping the Billboard Digital Albums Chart and Canada's Digital Albums Chart.[9][10]With this accomplishment, Lambert makes music history as the first openly gay artist to achieve the top charting position.[11][12][13]
Citing influence from various artists, Lambert has become recognized for his flamboyant, theatrical and androgynous performance style, and his powerful and technically skilled tenor voice with multi-octave range.[14][15] He has accrued numerous awards and nominations, including a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and has sold nearly two million copies of his debut album worldwide as of April 2012[16] and 4.2 million singles worldwide as of January 2011.[17] The Times identified Lambert as the first openly gay mainstream pop artist to launch a career on a major label in the U.S., while The LA Times ranked him fifth in its list of the top 120 American Idol contestants.[18][19]
Contents |
Biography[link]
Early life (1982–2000)[link]
Adam Lambert was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on January 29, 1982, to mother Leila (née Mitchel), an interior designer; and father Eber Lambert, a program manager for Novatel Wireless.[20] He has a younger brother, Neil.[20] His father is of mostly Norwegian descent and his mother is Jewish. Lambert was raised in his mother's religion[21][22][23] and has since performed in Hebrew at Jewish events, singing songs such as "Shir LaShalom" at a 2005 tribute concert to assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin[24] and performing at the San Diego Temple of the Arts multiple times, including at the Kol Nidre service on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.[25]
Shortly after Lambert's birth, his family moved to California when a job opportunity opened for his father in San Diego.[26] At first, they lived in Rancho Bernardo but settled in Rancho Peñasquitos after his brother was born.[26] Attending Deer Canyon Elementary School, Lambert began performing with Metropolitan Educational Theatre network from the age of nine and appeared in local productions of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Fiddler on the Roof with the company.[26][27] Around this age, he also received voice coaching and continued his passion for performing while he attended Mesa Verde Middle School.[20]
While attending Mount Carmel High School (MCHS), he became heavily involved with theater and choir, frequently performed vocals with the school's jazz band, MC Jazz, and loyally competed in the local Air Bands competitions.[26] Some of his memorable MCHS performances included Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance and "It's Only a Paper Moon" with MC Jazz.[28] Still thrilled by the stage, Lambert auditioned for Starlight Theatre, a professional outdoor theater company in Balboa Park, where he performed in the ensemble for Hello, Dolly!, Camelot, The Music Man, Grease and as Captain Hook in Peter Pan.[20][26] After graduating in 2000, he moved to Orange County to attend college. Shortly after enrollment, Lambert had a change of heart, pushed by his intense desire to perform. He left school after only five weeks and moved to Los Angeles. "I just decided that what I really wanted to do was try to work in the real entertainment world," he said. "Life is all about taking risks to get what you want."[28]
Career beginnings (2001–2008)[link]
At 19, Lambert landed his first job, touring on a cruise ship with Anita Mann Productions for ten months.[29] Afterwards, he began auditioning again and performed in light opera in Orange County, California.[29] By 21, he was signed with a manager and cast in a European tour of Hair for six months.[29] "That was a huge turning point for me personally, because I finally got comfortable in my own skin. I was discovering a lot about myself. Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, a lot of it."[29] He dyed his hair black, and while in Germany, reportedly started smoking cannabis and tried ecstasy.[30] In 2004, he appeared in the Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) production of Brigadoon[31] and a Pasadena Playhouse production of 110 in the Shade,[32] before being cast in the role of Joshua in The Ten Commandments: The Musical at the Kodak Theatre alongside Val Kilmer. Lambert, still unknown, was one of the few facets of the production to garner a positive review.[32][33] After coming to the attention of the casting director for the musical Wicked, he was hired as the understudy for the role of Fiyero in addition to being an ensemble member in the first national touring production of the musical from 2005, and the Los Angeles production from 2007. He finished performances with the musical in 2008.[32] Beginning in 2004, he regularly performed at the Upright Cabaret and the Zodiac Show, which was co-created by Carmit Bachar of the Pussycat Dolls.
During this same period, Lambert briefly moonlighted as the front man for underground rock band The Citizen Vein with Steve Sidelnyk, Tommy Victor and Monte Pittman.[34] He remembers, "We did three gigs and that was it and we recorded a couple things, like rough recordings, and I don't know, it didn't quite click."[35] He also worked as a demo singer and a session musician; a compilation of his 2005 recordings were later released on the album Take One (2009)[36] by Hi Fi Recordings and Wilshire Records. Upon their release, Lambert issued a statement: "Back in 2005 when I was a struggling artist, I was hired as a studio singer to lend my vocals to tracks written by someone else. I was broke at the time and this was my chance to make a few bucks, so I jumped at the opportunity to record for my first time in a professional studio. The work I did back then in no way reflects the music I am currently in the studio working on."[37]
[edit] American Idol (2009)
Main articles: American Idol (season 8) and For Your Entertainment (album)
Lambert auditioned for the eighth season of American Idol in San Francisco, California. He recalls his decision to audition for the show came after a week at Burning Man where he experimented with "certain funguses." He went on to say that "I had a psychedelic experience where I looked up at the clouds and went, 'Oh!' I realized that we all have our own power, and that whatever I wanted to do, I had to make happen."[38] During his initial audition, Lambert sang the songs "Crazy", "Rock With You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody".[35] Although advancing to Hollywood week and performing "What's Up" and "Believe" as solos and "Some Kind of Wonderful" in the group performance,[39] judges Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi feared he was too theatrical.[35] Nonetheless, he advanced to the top 36 where contestants were split into three groups of 12. Lambert was in group 2 and performed "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction",[39] after which, he was voted into the top 13, joining fellow group 2 performers Allison Iraheta and Kris Allen. Lambert and Allen became roommates in the Idol mansion.[21]
The first week of live shows, Lambert sang Michael Jackson's "Black or White", leading to praiseful support from all four judges.[40] The following week, Lambert sang a version of "Ring of Fire". While Randy Jackson, DioGuardi, and Paula Abdul all liked his performance, Cowell called it "indulgent rubbish".[40] On Motown night, Lambert sang an acoustic version of The Miracles' "The Tracks of My Tears". The judges all liked it, and Smokey Robinson, the week's mentor and the original singer-songwriter, gave Lambert a standing ovation. When Lambert performed "Play That Funky Music", DioGuardi capped the judge's across-the-board positive reaction with: "Every week I cannot wait to get to the show and see what you’re going to do next."[40] Advancing to the top 8, he sang the 2001 Michael Andrews and Gary Jules arrangement of "Mad World". Because the show had exceeded its time slot, only Cowell gave a critique, which he did by simply giving Lambert a standing ovation. During the results the next night, the other judges agreed that a standing ovation was the best critique of Lambert's performance.[40] The next week, he performed "Born to Be Wild" to which Abdul responded, "You're one of the bravest contestants I've ever witnessed", but Cowell questioned the performance's overall likability factor in the general public.[40]
Photos of Lambert romantically kissing another man surfaced in the midst of the American Idol competition. Highlighted as controversial, they were presented and discussed by conservative commentators on The O'Reilly Factor, who called them "embarrassing", but did not agree that the images would impact the competition.[41] Lambert confirmed that the photos were of him, stating he had nothing to hide and has always been open about his life.[42] Mainstream media speculation centered on Lambert's sexuality; presuming he was gay, he would be the first gay American Idol.[43][note 1] Much of the media focus regarded the readiness of American Idol voters for an openly gay winner.[43] Asked by Rolling Stone whether the speculation surrounding his sexual orientation impacted the final vote, Lambert laughed and said "probably".[44] He confirmed that he was gay in a Rolling Stone cover story interview shortly after he was named the American Idol runner-up.[30]
For his second top 7 performance, Lambert sang "If I Can't Have You", delivering what DioGuardi described as his "most memorable performance", while Cowell described his vocals as "immaculate" and Abdul was reduced to tears.[40] A week later, he returned with "Feeling Good" which received mixed reception from the judges who felt his edgy and dramatic theatrical performance was "a little too Broadway." For the first and only time, he ended up in the bottom two after the public vote, but received enough votes to remain in the competition.[40] Down to the top 4, Lambert was the first to perform and sang "Whole Lotta Love". Cowell commented, "that was one of my favorite performances" admitting that "nobody can top that now", while Abdul described Lambert's performance as "a whole lotta perfect." He followed it by "nailing" his duet of "Slow Ride" with fellow competitor Allison Iraheta later in the night.[40] For the top 3 show, he performed "One" before Cowell declared, "If you are not in the final next week, it will be one of the biggest upsets", and followed it with "Cryin' before Abdul affirmed, "we'll be seeing you next week and many years after that."[40] He also visited his hometown and reprised his earlier successes of "Black or White" and "Mad World" at his alma mater, Mount Carmel High School.[45] Afterwards, San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders declared May 8, 2009, "Adam Lambert Day."[46]
Friends from the start, Lambert and Kris Allen were safe, and into the final. Lambert performed three solo songs in the final, reprising "Mad World" as his choice. He followed this by the 1960s civil rights anthem "A Change Is Gonna Come", picked by producer Simon Fuller, to a tremendously positive judge reaction. "That was the best I've EVER heard you sing, EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER!" cooed Abdul. "Whatever happens with this Idol journey, I know you're going to be iconic."[40] The mandatory winner's single, "No Boundaries", was then performed by both Lambert and Allen. After the performance, Cowell summed up Lambert's journey, "Over the entire season, you've been one of the best, most original contestants we've ever had on the show. The hope and whole idea of a show like this is to find a worldwide star, and I truly believe we've found that in you."[40] Alongside the usual solo performances, Lambert also performed a medley of "Beth", "Detroit Rock City", and "Rock and Roll All Nite" with rock band Kiss and joined with Kris Allen, Brian May and Roger Taylor (of Queen) to perform the anthem "We Are the Champions" during the final episode before the results were announced.[47] Lambert was announced as the runner-up for the eighth season of American Idol but, upon winning, Kris Allen stated, "Adam deserved this." Explaining this remark later, Allen said that he thought Lambert deserved to win as much as he did, and that Lambert "was the most consistent person all year. He was seriously one of the most gifted performers that I've ever met."[48] Lambert's version of the winner's single was released alongside Allen's version. The LA Times later ranked Lambert 5th in its list of the top 120 American Idol contestants, selected from seasons 1 to 9 of the show, above Allen.[49]
[edit] American Idol season 8 performances and results
| Week # | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Order # | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | Auditioner's Choice | "Rock with You" "Bohemian Rhapsody" |
Michael Jackson Queen |
N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood | First Solo | "What's Up" | 4 Non Blondes | N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood | Group Performance | "Some Kind of Wonderful" | Soul Brothers Six | N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood | Second Solo | "Believe" | Cher | N/A | Advanced |
| Top 36/Semi-Final 2 | Billboard Hot 100 Hits to Date | "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" | The Rolling Stones | 12 | Advanced |
| Top 13 | Michael Jackson | "Black or White" | Michael Jackson | 11 | Safe |
| Top 11 | Grand Ole Opry | "Ring of Fire" | Anita Carter | 5 | Safe |
| Top 10 | Motown | "The Tracks of My Tears" | The Miracles | 8 | Safe |
| Top 9 | Top Downloads | "Play That Funky Music" | Wild Cherry | 8 | Safe |
| Top 8 | Year They Were Born (1982) | "Mad World" | Tears for Fears | 8 | Safe |
| Top 7 | Songs from the Cinema | "Born to Be Wild" – Easy Rider | Steppenwolf | 3 | Safe |
| Top 7A | Disco | "If I Can't Have You" | Yvonne Elliman | 5 | Safe |
| Top 5 | Rat Pack Standards | "Feeling Good" | Cy Grant | 5 | Bottom 2 |
| Top 4 | Rock and Roll Solo Duet |
"Whole Lotta Love" "Slow Ride" with Allison Iraheta |
Led Zeppelin Foghat |
1 6 |
SafeB |
| Top 3 | Judge's Choice (Simon Cowell) Contestant's Choice |
"One" "Cryin'" |
U2 Aerosmith |
3 6 |
Safe |
| Top 2 | Contestant's Choice Simon Fuller's Choice Coronation Song |
"Mad World" "A Change Is Gonna Come" "No Boundaries" |
Tears for Fears Sam Cooke Kris Allen/Adam Lambert |
1 3 5 |
Runner-up |
- ^ Note A: Due to the judges using their one save to save Matt Giraud, the Top 7 remained intact for an additional week.
- ^ Note B: It was only announced that Allison Iraheta received the lowest number of votes this week. The other member(s) of the bottom two or three were never revealed, and the safe contestants were announced in random order.
Fresh from the competition, Lambert participated in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 with his fellow top 10 contestants which visited 50 cities in the United States and Canada from July 5 to September 15, 2009 and was the recipient of two 2009 awards: the Young Hollywood Award for Artist of the Year and the Teen Choice Award for Male Reality/Variety Star.[50][51] He reteamed with fellow American Idol contestants Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta for a special Idols Rock My Town concert in February which was held at the Highline Ballroom in New York City.[52] When Lambert appeared a guest on Larry King Live (guest-hosted by Ryan Seacrest) along with Kris Allen, judge Paula Abdul, and the rest of the top ten finalists, he stated that he planned to create a pop rock, multi-genre album fused with electronic production.[53] Lambert stuck to those intentions; the album he subsequently released conformed highly to his description of the album he planned to make.[54]
[edit] For Your Entertainment and touring (2009–2011)
For Your Entertainment, Lambert's debut studio album, was released in 2009. Number three on the Billboard 200[55] and selling 198,000 copies in the United States in its first week,[5] the album sees Lambert in collaboration with a number of producers, majorly Rob Cavallo, and a string of writers that includes Matthew Bellamy, Ryan Tedder, Rivers Cuomo, Justin Hawkins, P!nk, Linda Perry and Lady Gaga.[56] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 71, which indicates "generally favorable reviews" with Entertainment Weekly writing, "he's still the belle of what turns out to be one heck of a glitter-pop ball," and All Music Guide stating, "there's a lot of pure pop pleasure here, more than any immediate post-Idol album has ever delivered." But Rolling Stone gave it a more mixed review: "The songs sound great but feel strangely stuffy--[it] seems like a disc that was overthought."[57] Its Claude Kelly and Dr. Luke-produced lead single "For Your Entertainment" preceded the album's release but was not as successful as its second single "Whataya Want from Me" which impacted on charts worldwide, became his highest-peaking single (at number 10) on the Billboard Hot 100, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 53rd awards ceremony. Another notable single included on the album was "Time for Miracles", which was originally intended as only the ending theme for the disaster movie 2012; Queen guitarist Brian May lauded the "truly sensational" song, admitting that he was "completely blown away" upon hearing the track.[58] Since its release, For Your Entertainment has sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide [59] and was certified gold in the US.[3][60][54]
On November 22, Lambert performed "For Your Entertainment" at the American Music Awards of 2009. The controversial performance, which was the night's finale, showed Lambert kissing a male bassist, grinding a dancer's head against his pelvis, and grabbing the crotch of another.[61] In response, the Parents Television Council, a conservative decency campaigning group,[62] urged viewers to complain to the FCC,[63] despite the fact that the performance occurred "outside the FCC's usual 6am-10pm time frame prohibiting the broadcast of indecent material".[64] ABC received about 1,500 telephoned complaints and cancelled Lambert's scheduled November 25 performance on Good Morning America.[65][66] Consequently, CBS invited Lambert to perform on The Early Show instead, on the same date, in New York City.[67] When discussing the incident in a backstage Rolling Stone interview after the performance, Lambert stated: "Female performers have been doing this for years—pushing the envelope about sexuality—and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out. We're in 2009—it's time to take risks, be a little more brave, time to open people's eyes and if it offends them, then maybe I'm not for them. My goal was not to piss people off, it was to promote freedom of expression and artistic freedom."[61] Lambert returned to the AMA's two years later as a presenter, and was warmly received.[68]
In the months surrounding his album release, Lambert appeared on the cover of a number of high-profile magazines including Entertainment Weekly in May 2009,[69] Rolling Stone in June 2009[70] and Details in November 2009.[71] In his Details shoot he was photographed with a nude woman, sparking controversy.[72] His Rolling Stone cover story became the magazine's best selling issue of the year.[73] He appeared on the cover of Out magazine in their "Out 100" issue (11/09),[74] again sparking controversy when Out's publisher issued him an open letter questioning the "gayness" of his image.[75] The Canadian website and magazine Rockstar Weekly published an Adam Lambert fan magazine in February 2010 featuring fun and inspirational stories from Lambert fans around the world. The issue sold out quickly in its limited first run and was re-issued in October 2010 with extra pages.[76] In April it was revealed that Lambert had been chosen one of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People 2010.[77] He appeared on the cover of Japan's May 2010 issue of Rolling Stone magazine, after his single "For Your Entertainment" reached its fifth consecutive number-one spot on their radio airplay charts.[78] In November 2011, Lambert appeared on the cover of The Advocate, which included an in-depth interview about his upcoming album and other topics.[79] The issue immediately became a sought-after item, since the magazine is available by subscription only.[80]
In support of the album, Lambert performed at various events since its release, both in the US and internationally. These included radio-sponsored events, live concerts, and televised events. In December 2009, he hosted and performed at a number of radio-sponsored Jingle Balls, in New York, Miami, and Tampa, Florida.[81] And, to ring in the New Year, he headlined the Gridlock New Year's Eve 2010 festival at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The event, hosted by Pamela Anderson, benefited the American Red Cross.[82] In February 2010, AOL Music unleashed a special, intimate, five-song mini-concert on AOL Sessions where Lambert performed "Whataya Want from Me", the Lady Gaga-written "Fever", "Strut", "If I Had You" and "Soaked".[83] The same month, he performed another intimate acoustic concert for IHeartRadio where he stopped the performance of "Whataya Want from Me" to ask an audience member to stop talking on her cell phone.[84] Later that month, Lambert performed his first official solo concert, held at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California,[85] where played to a sold-out audience of 3,500 fans, some of whom came from as far away as Thailand and Australia to attend the concert.[86] On March 31, 2010, Lambert performed a set in Berns, Stockholm, Sweden.[87] In April 2010, he performed two concerts in British Columbia, Canada; the first on April 8 in Coquitlam, BC, and another concert at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond B.C. the following night.[88] A year later in May 2011, Lambert performed at the Maxidrom Festival in Moscow, Russia, to an estimated crowd of 50,000 people[89] while July saw him at the Ste Agathe en Feux Festival in Quebec, Canada.
At the start of June 2010, Lambert embarked on his debut headlining concert tour Glam Nation, playing throughout the United States with Allison Iraheta and Orianthi before performing throughout Europe and Asia. His concert in Malaysia on October 10, 2010, went ahead as planned, despite protests from an Islamist political party.[90] Lambert performed a total of 113 shows; nearly all of them sold out.[91] The concert performed at Indianapolis was filmed for Lambert's first video release Glam Nation Live, a package included a 13-track CD with a DVD which featured the concert and behind-the-scenes footage.[92] The concert, which MTV called "out of this world", and his subsequent video release, were well-received, with Entertainment Weekly saying that it "sizzles" with the energy that Lambert's vocals bring in a live concert setting.[93] Glam Nation Live debuted at number one on the SoundScan Music Video chart[94] and landed in the number-12 spot on Billboard's 2011 year-end chart for music video sales.[95] This followed the release of his first extended play (EP), titled Acoustic Live!, which included acoustic versions of his songs recorded live in various countries. The EP garnered excellent reviews and was called "electrifying" by the New York Daily News.[96][97][98]
On November 6, 2011, Lambert joined the legendary band Queen as lead singer for a special performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the band was honored with the Global Icon Award. In a "spectacular" performance that closed the show, Lambert and Queen presented a medley of the classic hits “The Show Must Go On”, "We Will Rock You", and "We Are the Champions".[99] On December 9, Roger Taylor was quoted as saying they are in talks with Lambert about fronting some more live shows for Queen, calling the artist "a really great performer with an astonishing voice."[100]
[edit] Trespassing (2012–present)
After changing management from 19 Entertainment to Direct Management Group in August 2011,[101] Lambert announced that his second studio album, Trespassing, would be released on March 20, 2012; and that he would serve as executive producer.[102] In mid-February, he reported that the release had been delayed to "Mapril", citing last minute additions of new songs and collaborations.[103] After unveiling snippets of four more album tracks, Lambert announced in late March that the album would drop on May 15, 2012.[104][105] Anticipation for the release has been building and is considerable.[106][107][108] The title track was co-written with Grammy Award winning Pharrell Williams,[109] while the album's lead single, "Better Than I Know Myself", a collaboration with Dr. Luke and Claude Kelly,[110] was released on December 20, 2011 to all digital retailers.[102] His debut live performance of the single on January 17, 2012, on the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno received overwhelmingly positive reviews, focusing on Lambert's soaring and impeccable vocals on this melodically challenging song, as well as his more stripped down and sophisticated look.[111][112][113][114] Its reprise on the The Ellen DeGeneres Show two days later, brought equally favorable reviews as well as an interview.[115][116] The commanding album cover art by Lambert's friend and Art Director/Photographer for Trespassing, Lee Cherry, was revealed on January 24. The image is a dramatic departure from Lambert's depiction on the 2009 cover of For Your Entertainment, signaling a new era in his career.[117][118]
On January 29, Lambert's 30th birthday, he was the first American artist to play the Q-Snowcase in Zell Am See, Austria. In a five-song acoustic set, he performed three songs from the new album—including a debut unplugged version of the title track "Trespassing," described as "fierce and funky" in this rendition.[119]
Lambert premiered his provocative and "stunningly art-directed" video of "Better Than I Know Myself" on his Vevo channel on February 3, 2012.[120] Directed by Ray Kay, the video provides the viewer with split screen and split personality entree into an interpretative world where dark and light collide and coalesce. The multiple meanings attached to the work serve as the introduction to the theme of the album Trespassing, which Lambert says reflects the dark and light sides of himself through song.[121][122]
It was announced in February that Lambert would take the stage with Queen to headline the U.K.'s Sonisphere Festival on July 7, 2012. The performance was to have particular significance as its location at Knebworth Park marks the site of Freddie Mercury's final performance with the band in August 1986. In announcing the lineup, Sonisphere cited the "potent chemistry" between Lambert and Queen at the EMAs, as well as the event's historic significance.[123][124] Discussing the date, Brian May remarked that he expected Lambert to be a "great interpreter" of Mercury's songs: “It will be challenging – my God, it will be challenging," said May.[125] Queen announced an additional appearance with Lambert in Moscow's Olympic Stadium, on June 30, 2012.[126][127] Subsequently, the Sonisphere Knebworth festival was cancelled due to logistics and "circumstances,"[128] with both Queen and Lambert expressing disappointment and sadness respectively, but also hope for "redress" in the future.[129][130] Days later, Roger Taylor announced that Queen and Lambert would perform three summer dates in addition to their Moscow show: two in London in early July and one in Kiev that would also feature Elton John as a headliner.[131][132] In late April, another concert was added in Wrocław, Poland, for July 7, where Queen and Lambert will headline a new rock festival.[133] Queen announced that a third London show would be added on July 14, as a result of the instantaneous sell-out of the earlier two London dates.[134][135]
Lambert performed "Trespassing" on April 9, 2012, at the Logo channel's fifth annual NewNowNext Awards, where he closed the show with a "rousing" and "in-your-face" performance.[136][137] On April 11, he announced via twitter, that the album's next single would be Never Close Our Eyes, written by Bruno Mars and produced by Dr. Luke.[138][139] Reviews for the song, which was released digitally on April 17,[140] have been overwhelmingly positive.[141][142] "Never Close Our Eyes" debuted on national television on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 27, 2012, when Lambert performed for their concert series, again garnering positive reviews.[143][144] He appeared on Good Morning America -- the show from which he was cut following his controversial American Music Awards of 2009 performance—on May 14, to sing "Never Close Our Eyes" and co-host the Pop News segment.[145] He announced via Twitter that he would return to the American Idol stage for his third consecutive year to perform "Never Close Our Eyes" on the results show that precedes Idol's final week.[146] The May 17 performance was touted for its vibrant energy and dazzle, as well as for the powerhouse vocals that have become Lambert's signature.[147][148][149]
Trespassing was released on May 15, 2012, following more than a week of major news stories and a preponderance of positive reviews.[150][151][152][153] Lambert tweeted his excitement at finding that the album had spent its first day at the top of the U.S. iTunes album chart.[154][155]On May 23, the album debuted in the number one position on the Billboard 200 chart, selling upwards of 77,000 copies.[156][157]Lambert again took to twitter, referencing the historic significance of being the first openly gay artist to reach this pinnacle, and as usual, acknowledging the help of his fans.[158]
The video for "Never Close Our Eyes," released on May 29, flipped the song's more personal, manifest content on its head, as Lambert had done with "Trespassing"'s first video release, "Better Than I Know Myself." Directed by Dori Oskowitz, it depicts a a drab, futuristic, Orwellian-type landscape which becomes transformed through rebellion, visually represented by dazzling neon color and celebratory dance. The latter signify the return (and triumph) of individual expression, advancing the album's themes of dark vs. light, and suppression vs. self-affirmation.[159][160][161]
Television (2009–2011)[link]
Lambert has made numerous television appearances since leaving the American Idol stage.
In May 2009, he performed outdoors at the Fifth Avenue studios of CBS' The Early Show with his rendition of "Mad World".[162] The following morning, he was interviewed on Live with Regis and Kelly, and again performed “Mad World.”[163]
He was interviewed for a segment of the ABC News magazine show 20/20 in June 2009, which was promoted as the first televised discussion by Lambert of his sexuality. The interview reviewed much of his musical career, leading into the up-coming 2009 Idol Tour.[164]
In August 2009, he appeared with fellow Idols David Cook and Kris Allen on the Good Morning America televised concert series held in Central Park, New York City. He sang a nearly acoustic version of Muse’s “Starlight,” which had become part of his set list for the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009, then running concurrently.[165][166]
On November 25, 2009, Lambert performed his single "Whataya Want from Me" on The Late Show with David Letterman. Earlier that day, he had debuted the song live on The Early Show, where he also sang "Music Again" from the newly released For Your Entertainment album. The appearances provided a segue from his controversial American Music Awards performance that had occurred only days earlier.[167]
Lambert began December 2009 with an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The interview segment covered his AMA performance as well as the newly released For Your Entertainment. Lambert later performed his new single "Whataya Want from Me",[168] which he reprised in an acoustic version on Ellen’s February 10, 2011 show, soon after being nominated for a Grammy Award for his vocal performance of the song.[169] In May 2010, he returned to perform a new single, "If I Had You".[170]
Lambert was chosen for Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009, and appeared on the December 10 show to be interviewed by Walters.[171] That same morning, he appeared on The View, another interview format which also included a performance of "Whataya Want from Me".[172] Both the Barbara Walters special and The View are ABC shows: the same network which had reacted by banning Lambert after receiving complaints following his November American Music Awards appearance. As a result, the performance on The View was pre-recorded.
Lambert appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on December 14, 2009, and performed his single.[173] He provided another live performance two days later on the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance. Appearing with other superstar artists, Lambert's "Whataya Want from Me" stole the show, according to an MTV review. Earlier that day, he appeared on Chelsea Lately, with host Chelsea Handler.[174]
Lambert appeared for the first time on The Jay Leno Show on December 21, 2009, giving a lengthy interview and performing "Whataya Want from Me".[175] He was invited back in March 2010 to close the second episode of The Tonight Show featuring Jay Leno, with a performance of the song "Sleepwalker" from his debut album.[176] Lambert performed his newly released single "If I Had You" on Leno's May 21, 2010, show.[177]
Lambert began 2010 with a January interview and performance of "If I Had You" on The Oprah Winfrey Show.[178] A few days prior, he was interviewed for the Fuse TV "On the Record" segment.[179] In February, he could be seen as Grammy correspondent on the Red Carpet for Entertainment Tonight.[180] In March, as part of his swing through Australia to promote his album, he performed on "So You Think You Can Dance", as well as the popular morning show "Sunrise".[181] Lambert also did a series of television appearances in Japan,[182] as part of his Asian and European promotional tour.
In the same month, Lambert was selected to inaugurate the newly resurrected award-winning VH1 Unplugged concert series, for which he interviewed as well as performed stripped-down versions of five songs from For Your Entertainment.[183] March 2010 also saw him as a featured artist on the ABC News Nightline "Playlist" segment, in which he discussed his musical influences and favorite tracks.[184]
In April 2010, Lambert returned to American Idol as the first former contestant to mentor during an Elvis Presley themed week, followed by a performance of "Whataya Want from Me".[185] His contributions drew praise, including from then Idol musical director Rickey Minor.[186] In May, continuing his swing though Europe, he gave a guest interview for Finland X Factor 's the "Chaos Tube," also performing "Whataya Want from Me" on the show.[187]
Lambert appeared on Canada's MuchMusic Video Awards on June 20, 2010, picking up the UR Fav International Video award for "Whataya Want from Me" which he also performed.[188] On November 11, 2010 he was the subject of his own E! True Hollywood Story, which included in-depth interviews with family members, friends, music journalists and others.[189] In December, Lambert was the subject of another in-depth interview for CNN Talk Asia, which he recorded while on the international leg of his tour.[190]
Lambert walked the 2011 Grammy Awards red carpet on February 13, 2011, in honor of his nomination in the Best Male Pop Vocal category for "Whataya Want from Me". He was also one of five participants in the Grammy Social Media Rock Stars Summit, which kicked off a three-day online Grammy event preceding the show. Other participants included senior executives from Facebook, Pandora and Foursquare, and Grammy award winner Chamillionaire. The summit focused on issues relevant to music and its interface with social and new media platforms.[191][192]
In the February 19, 2011, episode of MTV’s “10 0n Top”, Lambert was interviewed during a limo ride to the Grammy Award event, where he discussed his nomination, fashion and favorites for the evening. The show focusses on the ten “most texted and talked about young celebs at the moment.”[193][194]
Lambert returned to the American Idol stage for the March 10, 2011, results show, singing an acoustic version of his song "Aftermath", accompanied only by guitar. The track appears in its original form on his debut album For Your Entertainment. After the performance, a dance remix version was made available for purchase, with proceeds benefitting The Trevor Project.[195]
Lambert was profiled in an episode of VH1's celebrated Behind the Music series, which premiered on August 7, 2011. The hour-long documentary featured never-before-seen home video, as well as interviews with friends, family, and music industry experts. Lambert revealed details about a broad range of topics, including early struggles with his sexuality, his experience in the theater, the circumstances that led to his American Idol audition, and the events surrounding the release of his debut album For Your Entertainment.[196]
MTV's "Talk@Playground" presented Lambert with an opportunity to fuse two of his passions, fashion and music. In a piece that aired internationally in September 2011, Lambert was paired with friend and founder of Skingraft Designs, Jonny Cota, to discuss their growth as artists as well as what inspires them creatively. Lambert had worn Skingraft designs on American Idol and his Glam Nation Tour.[197][198]
On September 22, 2011, Lambert again put his flair for fashion and music to work as guest judge on Project Runway. Contestants were charged with designing attire for the Rolling Stone cover shoot of emerging rock band The Sheepdogs. Lambert offered constructive critique that was well received by both contestants and judges.[199]
Lambert donned his mentor cap on November 13, 2011, when he appeared as a "Major" in an episode of The Hub TV Network's Majors & Minors. As they rehearsed and performed his platinum hit "Whataya Want from Me", the young singing contestants were provided with expertise focused on the importance of stage presence and emotional engagement with the audience.[200]
On November 20, 2011, after a two-year absence, Lambert returned to the American Music Awards, introducing a performance by the group OneRepublic. Rejecting claims that the singer was banned from the show in 2009, Executive Producer Larry Klein said that he's anticipating future Lambert performances: “Adam Lambert is a friend of ours, he's talented and I like everything about him."[201]
Lambert made his third fashion-related television appearance of Fall 2011 when he appeared on the Sundance Channel program All on the Line with Joe Zee on December 9. Fast becoming a fashion icon himself, Lambert was chosen as the subject around which the show's young designers created a suitably modern look, which was then critiqued by Lambert and the hosts.[202][203]
Artistry[link]
Voice[link]
Critics, celebrities and colleagues have been outspoken in their praise for Lambert’s vocal abilities. In a 2009 Associated Press interview, Wicked casting director Bernard Telsey, who recalled Lambert's audition and his amazing voice, said: "I literally remember saying, 'Oh my God, this guy has the highest range’.”[204] Record producer Rob Cavallo once described Lambert as having an unlimited range, as well as being able to sing every note on a guitar from the lowest to the highest.[205][206] David Stroud, a Los Angeles based vocal teacher, coached Lambert for his 2010 international Glam Nation Tour, in which he performed 113 shows without vocal rest.[207] Stroud described Lambert as being able to "do extreme things with his voice that most singers will probably never be able to do.” [208] In a March 2012 interview, rock legend Meat Loaf rated Lambert's voice in the company of only two others, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, based on "that jet pack quality to their voice that just lets it take off."[209]
In 2011, when he took the stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards alongside honoree Queen, it was a fitting match for Lambert, whose theatrical style and vocals have often been compared with Freddie Mercury's.[210] Brian May, legendary guitarist for Queen, noted that Lambert’s voice has “sensitivity, depth, maturity, and awesome range and power which will make jaws drop”;[211] while Roger Taylor added that Lambert had "the best range I've ever heard" in a BBC interview in 2012.[212] Pharrell Williams, after collaborating with Lambert on his Trespassing album, commented, “This kid has a voice like a siren – there’s no guys singing in that Steve Winwood-Peter Cetera range.”[213]
Style and Image[link]
Lambert is best known for his theatrical performance style, which draws upon his personal eye for presentation and extensive stage experience. Kathie Bretches-Urban, co-founder of the Metropolitan Educational Theatre (now MET2) where Lambert performed as a youth, said Lambert “has invested his entire life in music and performing. He worked, much like an athlete would do, on his singing with voice lessons for his entire life.” [204] Lambert honed his theatrical style and stage swagger further, experimenting with outrageous makeup, hair, costumes, jewelry and fingernail polish when he became a regular featured performer in the L.A. glam-rock stage spectacle The Zodiac Show.[204] While a contestant on Idol, Lambert's meticulous and varied stagings of himself in each of his performances, kept audiences and judges glued as much to his presence and stylings as to his powerful voice.[214]
Influences[link]
Lambert was inspired when his father gave him access to his large record collection of 70’s music. He quickly gravitated towards theatrical rock from artists such as Madonna, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Queen, Aerosmith, and Led Zeppelin.[215][216] Lambert has recognized Michael Jackson and Madonna as musically influential for him, saying they were the “King and Queen” because they both creatively merged their music with makeup, outfits and theatrical music videos.[217] He has often cited that many of his strongest influences have been British singers, such as Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and Robert Plant. He told the Daily Star, “Those are the people I really gravitate towards.” [218] When asked who his favorite performer of the glam rock era is, Lambert answered David Bowie: “he took costumes and story concepts for his Ziggy Stardust character to the next level. His music is amazing, and his lyrics are really intelligent.”[219] In an interview with NPR, Lambert said he spent hours upon hours listening to Queen, trying to figure out how Freddie Mercury did what he did with his voice. “His voice has so much texture to it, he kind of grabs at everything and squeezes it.” Lambert says that Mercury was “completely over the top in the best possible way” and as an openly gay performer, "he owes a debt to Mercury's flamboyance decades ago."[220]
Lambert’s own music has been influenced by numerous genres including classic rock, pop, and electronic music. His theatrical performance style draws heavily from his stage experience.[221] The type of artist Lambert sees himself as being is “one that creates from the ground up, not only an amazing song, but one with a beat, and a story, and a look, and a theme.”[217] For his sophomore album, he used inspiration from classic disco, 90’s electronica, funk and dubstep music.[213]
Philanthropy[link]
Since his appearance on American Idol, Lambert has supported various charitable organizations and raises money through donations by fans. As of October 2011, these donations reached $1,000,000.[222] In January 2009, Lambert asked fans to donate in his name to DonorsChoose.org, an online education charity that allows the public to directly donate to school projects instead of giving him gifts for his 28th birthday. 2,435 fans showed their support, donating $322,700, which provided resources and supplies to nearly 332,527 students.[223] In June 2010, Lambert again teamed up with charity and asked fans to join his "Glam A Classroom" campaign to support music and arts programs in high-need public schools. By the end of the campaign, 3,020 fans had donated $208,590, reaching 284,672 students,[224] and bringing total contributions for DonorsChoose to $531,290. In October 2010, Lambert collaborated a second Signature Collection design with The Pennyroyal Studio, the Infinity pendant, which raised an additional $43,092 for the DonorsChoose charity. The pendant design was retired in October 2010.[225]
Lambert has also contributed to the MusiCares charity when he and The Pennyroyal Studio collaborated the design of an Eye of Horus pendant. The sale of this Eye of Horus pendant raised $32,000 in 7 days. The pendant design was retired in August 2009.[226] In January 2011, he started a campaign to raise $29,000 for charity: water to commemorate his 29th birthday. Funds raised by charity: water go towards bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Fans surpassed the goal set by Lambert in less than five hours, and donations reached $60,000 by the end of the next 24 hours. On Lambert's birthday, more than $115,000 in donations came in. According to the charity, that amount broke the record for most donations in a single day, and crashed their servers. By the end of the campaign, Lambert's fans had raised $323,803, which helped 16,190 people receive clean water.[227]He continued his efforts for his 30th birthday, at the end of January 2012, this time asking fans to "give up" their birthdays in an ongoing fundraiser that had raised 82,000 by May 2012.[228]
Lambert is one of several artists to perform at Royal Albert Hall on June 7, 2012 in a concert benefiting the Rays Of Sunshine Children's Charity. The charity grants wishes to seriously ill children.[229]
LGBT advocacy[link]
Lambert, himself openly gay, has contributed to the advancement of social acceptance towards LGBT people. He was presented the "Equality Idol Award" by Sam Sparro at the Equality California Los Angeles annual Equality Awards in August 2011 for being an exemplary role model for the LGBT community.[230] He was honored with his mother the following month at the PFLAG National Los Angeles event for his "authentic" voice.[231] He and his mother were presented awards which together interlocked to compose the PFLAG logo, symbolizing support by and for families and friends of LGBT individuals.[232] Lambert received a GLAAD Media Award nomination for Outstanding Music Artist in 2010. The same year, he lent his voice to a one-and-a-half minute video message on YouTube for the It Gets Better campaign – a project created by columnist Dan Savage in response to school bullying and a rash of suicides among young LGBT people aiming to "provide hope to youth struggling with their identity." Recorded while he was touring, the clip shows Lambert encouraging viewers to take pride in themselves, and not allow bullies to prevail.[233]
The following March, he released a Billboard remix version of his For Your Entertainment song "Aftermath" with a portion of the proceeds going to support The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT youth.[234] He raised an additional $43,500 for The Trevor Project after collaborating with The Pennyroyal Studio to make his own Peace pendant.[235] In October 2011, he raised another $2,100 from donations given on behalf of the Adam Lambert Glambert Fan Army for the MTV Dance Party Marathon. This raised funds to combat bullying in honor of National Bullying Prevention Month and was split between the LGBT charities GLSEN, It Gets Better Project, GSA, HRC, The Trevor Project and GLAAD.[236][237]
In January 2012, in an exclusive interview with UK music news magazine Pressparty, Lambert recognised that despite the social progress made in the United States, there is still a long way to go, particularly in the music industry. “I still long for the LGBT community's diversity to be more broadly represented in the entertainment industry. I think larger strides have been made in film and TV but we still are just at the beginning with mainstream music. I consider myself a post-gay man working in a pre-gay industry”, he said.[238]
Personal life[link]
Lambert is currently in a relationship with Finnish reality TV personality Sauli Koskinen.[239]
Discography[link]
Main article: Adam Lambert discography
- For Your Entertainment (2009)
- Trespassing (2012)
Concert tours[link]
- American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 (2009)
- Glam Nation Tour (2010)
Awards and nominations[link]
- Billboard Year-End Chart Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Adam Lambert | Top Artist | Nominated |
| For Your Entertainment | Top 200 Album | Nominated | |
| "Whataya Want from Me" | Top Hot 100 Song | Nominated | |
| Top Radio Song | Nominated | ||
| Top Digital Song | Nominated | ||
| Top Adult Contemporary Song | Nominated | ||
| Top Canadian Hot 100 Song | Nominated |
- Billboard Japan Music Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Adam Lambert | Top Pop Artist | Nominated |
- BMI Pop Music Award
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Whataya Want from Me" | Award-Winning Songs | Won |
- Bravo Otto Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Adam Lambert | Best International Artist | Nominated |
- CMA Wild and Young Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Adam Lambert | Best International Male Singer | Won |
| "Whataya Want from Me" | Best International Single | Won |
- EMMA Award Finland
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Adam Lambert | People's Choice | Nominated |
- Flecking Records
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Adam Lambert | Entertainer of the Year | Won |
| Sexiest Male Celebrity | Won | ||
| 2011 | Male Musician of the Year | Won | |
| Male Fashion Icon of the Year | Won | ||
| Male Twitterer Icon of the Year | Won | ||
| Good News of the Year | Won | ||
| Male Star of the Year | Won |
- Fonogram – Hungarian Music Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | For Your Entertainment | International Modern Pop/Rock Album of the Year | Won |
- GLAAD Media Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Adam Lambert | Outstanding Music Artist | Nominated |
- Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Whataya Want from Me" | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance | Nominated |
- Mashable Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Adam Lambert | Must-Follow Musician on Social Media | Nominated |
- MTV O Music Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Adam Lambert | Must Follow Artist on Twitter | Won |
| Adam Lambert | Fan Army FTW | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Adam Lambert | Fan Army FTW | Pending |
- MuchMusic Video Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Whataya Want from Me" | UR Fave International Video | Won |
| Adam Lambert | International Video of the Year – Artist | Nominated |
- People's Choice Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Adam Lambert | Break-Out Musical Artist | Nominated |
- Teen Choice Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Adam Lambert | Choice Male Reality/Variety Star | Won |
| American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 | Choice Summer Tour (shared with American Idol top 10) | Nominated | |
| Adam Lambert | Choice Red Carpet Icon – Male | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Adam Lambert | Choice Music: Male Artist | Nominated |
- VH1's Do Something Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Adam Lambert | Do Something Music Artist | Nominated |
- Young Hollywood Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Adam Lambert | Artist of the Year | Won |
Notes[link]
- ^ Clay Aiken, American Idol (season 2) runner-up came out as gay in 2008. Will Young, the 2002 winner of the inaugural Pop Idol contests on which all the other Idol series are based, came out as gay after he won.
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- ^ "You Did It! Adam Lambert Raises $1,000,000 Donated for Charity!". 2011-10-06. http://www.adamofficial.com/us/news/you-did-it-adam-lambert-raises-1000000-donated-charity. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Adam Lambert Supports Education". http://www.donorschoose.org/adam-lambert. Retrieved 2011-11 03.
- ^ "Adam & Glam Nation Support Education". http://www.donorschoose.org/glam-nation. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Adam Lambert-DonorsChoose.org". http://www.pennyroyalstudio.com/shop/signature-collection/adam-lambert-donorschoose-org/. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Adam Lambert-Musicares". http://www.pennyroyalstudio.com/shop/signature-collection/adam-lambert-musicares/. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Adam's 29th Birthday". http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=12617. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Adam's 30th Birthday". http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=22963. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
- ^ Corner, Lewis (2012-05-21). "Leona Lewis, Adam Lambert for Royal Albert Hall London concert". http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a382717/leona-lewis-adam-lambert-for-royal-albert-hall-london-concert.html. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
- ^ "Adam Lambert, Kathy Griffin to celebrate LGBT victories at Los Angeles Equality Awards". 2011-08-10. http://sdgln.com/news/2011/08/10/adam-lambert-kathy-griffin-celebrate-lgbt-victories-los-angeles-equality-awards. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ Kinser, Jeremy (2011-09-27). "Adam Lambert and Mother Both Honored by PFLAG". http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/09/27/Adam_Lambert_and_Mother_Honored_By_PFLAG/. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
- ^ "The PFLAG National 2011 LA Event". http://community.pflag.org/page.aspx?pid=1474. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (2010-10-28). "Adam Lambert Encourages Gay Fans in It Gets Better". http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650170/adam-lambert-encourages-gay-fans-it-gets-better-video.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Adam Lambert Donates Portion of Proceeds from "Aftermath" Remix to The Trevor Project". http://www.thetrevorproject.org/news/adam-lambert-returns-american-idol-stage-thursday-march-10th-perform-acoustic-version-his-song. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Adam Lambert-The Trevor Project". http://www.pennyroyalstudio.com/shop/signature-collection/adam-lambert-the-trevor-project/. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "O Music Awards Dance Marathon In Full Swing!". 2011-10-32. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673410/o-music-awards-dance-marathon-record.jhtml.
- ^ "Adam Lambert Glambert Fanarmy". http://www.crowdrise.com/AdamLambertGlambertFanArmy/fundraiser/glambertfanarmy. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Pressparty interview". http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/adamlambert/view/37904/. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ^ "Reinventing Adam Lambert, the Outtakes". 2011-10-21. http://news.advocate.com/post/11735531870/reinventing-adam-lambert-the-outtakes. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
External links[link]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Adam Lambert |
- Official website
- Adam Lambert at the Internet Movie Database
- Adam Lambert at American Idol
- Adam Lambert: A Glamorous Life – a slideshow by Life magazine
- Wicked Good: Adam Lambert's American Idol Journey at Broadway.com
- MC alumnus Adam Lambert competes on American Idol; makes top 8 at MCSUN.org
- The Ten Commandments: The Musical, pictures and description of the show from Lanightlife.com
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lambert, Adam |
| Alternative names | Glambert |
| Short description | Singer |
| Date of birth | January 29, 1982 |
| Place of birth | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
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"Katy Hudson" redirects here. For the album, see Katy Hudson (album). For the Australian fashion designer, see Katie Perry.
| Katy Perry | |
|---|---|
 Katy Perry at the Logie Awards in 2011 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson |
| Also known as | Katy Hudson |
| Born | (1984-10-25) October 25, 1984 (age 27) Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop, rock, dance, gospel |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, actress |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | Red Hill, Island, Columbia, Capitol |
| Associated acts | The Matrix |
| Website | Katyperry.com |
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson[1] (born October 25, 1984), known by her stage name Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Perry grew up with gospel music, and during her first year of high school she pursued a music career as Katy Hudson, releasing her first studio album called Katy Hudson which failed to chart. She recorded a solo album later, which was never released. After signing with Capitol Music Group in 2007, her fourth record label in seven years, she adopted the stage name Katy Perry.
She first gained recognition with the release of her first mainstream album, One of the Boys in 2008, which spawned three Billboard Hot 100 top-ten songs—"I Kissed A Girl", "Hot n Cold" and "Waking Up In Vegas". Perry supported the album with her Hello Katy Tour. In 2010, her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010), which topped the Billboard 200 chart, and spawned five number one singles—"California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T." and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"—Teenage Dream was the only album (after Michael Jackson's Bad)—to do so, and the first female in history to achieve this milestone. She embarked on the California Dreams Tour, which grossed nearly $60 million worldwide.[2] Perry re-released the album under the name of Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection on March 26, 2012, and the re-release has already spawned the number-one single "Part of Me".
Perry is the only artist to spend over 52 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, and has since heightened this to 69 weeks.[3] As of 2012, Perry has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards. She was named 2011's "Artist of the Year" by MTV.[4] She has sold 37.6 million digital tracks in the United States and 11 million albums worldwide.[5] Perry was a guest judge on the seventh series of The X Factor UK and the ninth season of American Idol. She has released fragrances "Purr" and "Meow". She ventured into film, voicing Smurfette in the 2011 film The Smurfs. Perry was married to British comedian Russell Brand from 2010 to 2012.
Contents |
Early life[link]
Perry was born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson in Santa Barbara, California[6] to Keith, a West Coast scenester in the 1960s,[7] and Mary Hudson (née Perry), an evangelist who grew up in Southern California and had a "tempestuous" first marriage in Zimbabwe.[7] Perry has Portuguese, German, Irish, and English ancestry.[8][9][10] She is the second child of two pastors.[11] She has an older sister named Angela Hudson and younger brother named David Hudson.[12] Perry's mother's aunt and uncle were screenwriter Eleanor Perry and director Frank Perry.[7] Perry was incorporated into her parents' ministry[11] and sang in their church between the ages of 9 and 17.[13] She grew up listening to gospel music,[14] was not allowed to listen to what her mother called "secular music",[13][15] and attended Christian schools and camps.[11] As a child, Perry learned how to dance in a recreation building in Santa Barbara. She was taught by seasoned dancers and began with swing, Lindy Hop, and jitterbug.[16] She took her GED after her first year at Dos Pueblos High School and decided to leave school in the pursuit of a career in music.[17] Perry initially started singing "because [she] was at that point in [her] childhood where [she] was copycatting [her] sister and everything she [would do]."[17] Her sister practiced with cassette tapes, while Perry took the tapes herself when her sister was not around. She rehearsed the songs and performed them in front of her parents, who suggested she take vocal coaching. She grabbed the opportunity and began taking lessons at the age of nine and continued until she was sixteen. She later enrolled in at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, and studied Italian opera for a short period of time.[17]
Career[link]
1999–2006: Career beginnings[link]
When Perry was 15, her singing in church attracted the attention of rock veterans from Nashville, Tennessee, who brought her there to polish her writing skills.[18] In Nashville, Perry started recording demos and was taught by country music veterans how to craft songs and play guitar.[13][15] Perry signed to the Christian music label Red Hill, under which she recorded her first album at the age of 15.[19] Performing as Katy Hudson, she released a self-titled gospel rock album in 2001.[18] She supported this album with The Strangely Normal Tour, accompanied by Phil Joel, LaRue, Luna Halo, Earthsuit and V*Enna.[20] The album was unsuccessful as the label ceased operations at the end of 2001.[19] She later changed her surname to Perry, her mother's maiden name, because "Katy Hudson" was too close to film actress Kate Hudson.[18][21]
At the age of 17, Perry left her home for Los Angeles, where she worked with Glen Ballard on an album for Island Records.[22] Growing up listening to mostly gospel music, Perry had few references when she began recording songs.[13] Asked by the producer with whom she would like to collaborate, Perry had no idea. That night, she went with her mother to a hotel. Inside, she turned on VH1 and saw producer Glen Ballard talking about Alanis Morissette;[13] Ballard produced Morissette's Jagged Little Pill, which had a "huge influence" on Perry.[18] She expressed interest in working with Ballard to her initial collaborator, who arranged a meeting for her with Ballard in Los Angeles. Perry presented one of her songs to Ballard. Ballard then helped Perry develop her songwriting over the next few years.[13] The album was due for release in 2005,[18][19] but Billboard reported it also went nowhere.[19] Perry was dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group.[7] Some of Perry and Ballard's collaborations included "Box", "Diamonds" and "Long Shot", were posted on her official MySpace page. "Simple", one of the songs she recorded with Ballard, was released on the soundtrack to the 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.[23][24] "Long Shot" and "I Do Not Hook Up" was later recorded by Kelly Clarkson for her 2009 album All I Ever Wanted.[25]
Perry signed to Columbia Records in 2004. However, the label was not amenable with her vision, not putting her in the "driver's seat".[19] Instead, one of Columbia's ideas was to pair Perry with the record production team The Matrix, who was working on an album, to serve as its female vocalist. Although the album was later shelved,[26] she caught the attention of the music press: Her burgeoning music career led to her being named "The Next Big Thing" in October 2004 by Blender magazine.[19] With no album project ongoing, Perry began recording her own. Eighty percent completed, however, Columbia decided not to finish it and dropped her from the label.[19] While waiting to find another label, she worked in an independent A&R company called Taxi Music. In 2006, Perry was featured in the tail-end of the video to P.O.D.'s single "Goodbye for Now".[27] She made a cameo appearance in Carbon Leaf's video, "Learn to Fly".
[edit] 2007–09: Commercial success with One of the Boys and MTV Unplugged
Main articles: One of the Boys (Katy Perry album) and MTV Unplugged (Katy Perry album)
While in the process of being dropped by Columbia in 2006, the company's publicity executive Angelica Cob-Baehler enthusiastically recommended Perry to Virgin Records chairman Jason Flom.[28] At the time Flom was leading a complete revival in fortunes at the label and looking to crown recent achievements by breaking a global pop act.[28] Despite mixed reactions from fellow Virgin executives, Flom became convinced that Perry could be that breakthrough star, and at the start of 2007 extended discussions with Columbia resulted in Perry signing to the newly created Capitol Music Group, a merger between Virgin and Capitol. As part of the deal, the label secured the masters to the unfinished album, recorded while at Columbia, that would go on to form a significant part of her official mainstream debut album, One of the Boys.[28]
The Columbia recordings were seen by Flom as being "very strong but lacking an undeniable smash or two that would work both at U.S. pop radio and internationally" and so one of the executive's first actions after completing the signing was to set up a collaboration between Perry and the writer-producer Dr. Luke.[28] The results were the songs "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold". Establishing her image was one of the immediate concerns of her management.[19] A campaign was started in November 2007 with the release of the video to "Ur So Gay", aimed at introducing her to the music market. A digital EP led by "Ur So Gay" was later released to create online buzz and press story.[11][19][29] This was a successful move that resulted in bringing Perry to the attention of Madonna,[19] who mentioned her on KISS FM and KRQ's JohnJay & Rich morning show in Arizona. On March 10, 2008, she appeared as herself on the ABC Family television series, Wildfire, on the episode "Life's Too Short".[30]
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In the next step of promoting the album, Perry undertook a two-month tour of radio stations. The album's official lead single, "I Kissed a Girl", was released on May 6, 2008. Perry's A&R, Chris Anokute, told HitQuarters the song and its controversial theme had met with strong resistance at the label: "People said, 'This is never going to get played on the radio. How do we sell this? How’s this going to be played in the bible belt?'"[29] Anokute said that they needed the support of one of the label's radio promoters to convince people to believe in the record; otherwise, Perry would have likely been dropped again. Capitol's SVP of Promotions, Dennis Reese, saw the vision and helped push the single on national radio. The first station to pick it up and take a chance was The River in Nashville. After playing it for three days they were innundated with enthusiastic calls.[29] With the song climbing atop the charts, Perry embarked on the annual Warped Tour music festival, which her management used to "establish her as a credible performer and make sure she wasn't seen as just a one-hit wonder."[19] The single was a commercial success, peaking at number one for seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.[19] It has since become a major worldwide hit, topping charts in 30 countries,[26] including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.[31] On June 12, 2008, Perry appeared as herself on the daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless,[30] posing for the cover to the June 2008 issue of the fictional magazine Restless Style.[32] Perry also performed backing vocals on the song, "Another Night in the Hills" from Gavin Rossdale's 2008 solo album Wanderlust.[33]
One of the Boys was released on June 17, 2008, to mixed critical reviews.[34] The album has reached number nine on the Billboard 200,[35] and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[36] Perry released her second single, "Hot n Cold", which became her second top three single in dozens of countries around the world, including the United States where it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100,[19] as well as topping the charts in Germany, Canada, and Denmark. After Perry wrapped up her appearance at the Warped Tour, she went on tours in Europe. She later launched her first headlining tour, the Hello Katy Tour, in January 2009.[19] "I Kissed a Girl" earned Perry a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2009 Grammy Awards.[37] Perry was nominated in five categories at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Female Video, but lost to Britney Spears.[38] She won Best New Act at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards, which she co-hosted,[39] and Best International Female Artist at the 2009 BRIT Awards.[40] On February 9, 2009, both "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold" were certified three-time platinum by Recording Industry Association of America for individual digital sales of over three million.[41] The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Perry in its 2010 version as the "Best Start on the US Digital Chart by a Female Artist," for having her first two singles sell over two million digital copies.[42]
The Matrix's self-titled debut album, which features Perry, was later released via the team's label, Let's Hear It, during Perry's solo tour. When the release date was scheduled, "I Kissed a Girl" had been charting well. Matrix member Lauren Christy spoke to Perry about the decision, but she wanted to hold the release until the fourth single of One of the Boys had been dispatched. Despite their communication, The Matrix was released on January 27, 2009, via iTunes Store.[43]
In December 2008, Perry apologized to British singer Lily Allen for remarks in which she called herself a "skinnier version" of her, saying she meant it as a joke.[44] Allen retaliated and told a British radio station that she "happen[ed] to know for a fact that she [Perry] was an American version" of her because their record company needed "to find something controversial and 'kooky'" like her.[45] In January 2009, Perry embarked on her first headlining world tour, the Hello Katy Tour, visiting North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Beginning on January 23, 2009, and ending on November 28, 2009, the tour consisted of 89 concerts. During that time, Perry also opened select concerts for the band No Doubt, on their Summer Tour 2009.
On May 16, 2009, Perry performed at the opening ceremony of the annual Life Ball in Vienna, Austria.[46] In June 2009, lawyers acting for Perry opposed the then-recent trademark of Australian fashion designer Katie Perry, who uses her own name to market loungewear.[47] Some media outlets reported this as a lawsuit, which Perry denied on her blog.[48] Katie Perry reported on her blog that at a hearing with IP Australia on July 10, 2009, the singer's lawyers withdrew their opposition to the trademark.[49] During the summer of 2009 Perry filmed a cameo appearance for Get Him to the Greek; her scene, in which she kisses her future fiancé Russell Brand was cut, and does not appear in the final film. Discussing the issue with MTV, Perry hypothesized there may have been some fear that seeing the two make out would have taken viewers out of the experience.[50] In 2009, Perry was featured on two singles: in August, a remix of Colorado-based band 3OH!3's song "Starstrukk" (the idea for the collaboration having come after Perry's tour that featured 3OH!3 as the supporting act, the song being released by iTunes on September 8, 2009); and, thereafter, in December, on "If We Ever Meet Again", the fourth single from Timbaland's album Shock Value II.[51] In October 2009, MTV Unplugged revealed that Perry was one of the artists to perform for them, and that she would be releasing a live album of the performance, including two new tracks, "Brick by Brick" and Fountains of Wayne cover "Hackensack".[52] The album, released on November 17, included both a CD and a DVD,[53] and debuted at No. 168 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
[edit] 2010–present: Teenage Dream, film debut and The Complete Confection
Main article: Teenage Dream (Katy Perry album)
Perry appeared as a guest judge alongside Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh during the Dublin audition stage of the seventh series of the British television show The X Factor on June 28, 2010.[54] She was one of the many celebrities chosen to fulfil the role of judge whilst Dannii Minogue was on maternity leave. In May 2010, Perry released the first single from her second studio album, Teenage Dream entitled, "California Gurls". The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks.[55][56] "Teenage Dream" was released as the second single from her album, and it also topped the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her third number one and second from the album. Teenage Dream was released August 24, 2010 and debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart with sales of 192,000 copies in its first week.[57] The album as since sold over 2 million copies in the US, being certified Platinum by the RIAA. Following the album's release, the third single "Firework" was released and became the third consecutive single from Teenage Dream to top the Hot 100. With this, Perry became the first female in eleven years to have three consecutive number-ones from one album.[58] In February 2011, Perry released the fourth single, "E.T.", a remixed version featuring Kanye West, that peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for five non-consecutive weeks.[59] The music video for "E.T." was directed by Floria Sigismondi and features Shaun Ross as the main love interest. With "E.T." at number one on the chart of May 12, 2011, Perry became the first artist to spend 52 consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.[3] In June 2011, Perry released the fifth single, "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)". A remixed version featuring American rapper Missy Elliot was released in early August.[60] The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 on August 17, 2011, making Perry the first female and second artist (tied with Michael Jackson) ever to have five No. 1 singles from one album. Also, when the song reached number 1 in the Pop Songs airplay chart, "Teenage Dream" became the first album to have 5 number 1's from the same album on that chart. Additionally, when the song reached number one in the Adult Pop Songs airplay chart, the album become the first to have 4 number 1's from the same album on the chart.[61] In October 2011, Perry released the sixth single, "The One That Got Away". It reached No. 3 on Hot 100, becoming the third album in history to produce six top five hit singles,[62] and the seventh song from Teenage Dream to reach the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs, the most by any album and setting a new record in the chart.[63] Perry released a "The One That Got Away" remix featuring American rapper B.o.B. in December 2011. An acoustic version of the song was released in January 2012.[64]
From February 2011 to January 2012, Perry embarked on an extensive world tour in support of Teenage Dream, the California Dreams Tour, playing 124 shows in Europe, Australasia, Asia, North America and South America and earning over $59 million.[2] Perry made her perfume debut, releasing a fragrance named "Purr" in November. It is packaged in a cat-shaped bottle, and is available through Nordstrom stores.[65][66] She followed it up with the fragrance's first flanker, "Meow".[67][68]
In July 2011, Perry made her film debut in the 3D family film The Smurfs as Smurfette. The Smurfs earned $557,771,535 worldwide during its theatrical run. Perry appeared at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2011. She was nominated for ten awards, received the most nominations of the ceremony and was the first singer to have four different music videos shown in various categories, eventually winning three of those, Video of the Year for "Firework", Best Collaboration and Best Special Effects for "E.T.". On September 17, 2011, marked Perry' 69th consecutive week in the Top 10 with single "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)".[69][70] On September 23, 2011, she performed, along with Elton John, Brazilian Claudia Leitte and friend Rihanna, on the opening day of the 2011 Rock in Rio festival, which was extended to October 2.[71] Perry performed for 100 thousand people, a show that received high praise from critics and audience alike.[72]
On December 14, 2011, the annual list Forbes was elected the third singer who earned more than US$44 million, behind Lady Gaga (US$90 million) and Taylor Swift (US$45 million).[73] On December 15, 2011, Perry was elected the Artist of the Year by MTV, for their performance on the charts worldwide and won the record during the year.[4] On December 20, 2011, She released a Barbie doll that represents her style in 2012.[74] On January 8, 2012, Perry was named the sixth best-selling digital artist of all time in the United States, having sold 37,620,00 million singles and albums as of 2011, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[75]
In the week ending January 15, 2012, Perry became the first artist ever to have five songs sell over 5 million digital copies in the USA.[76] Perry was once again recruited by EA Games to promote their new expansion pack The Sims 3: Showtime for their The Sims game franchise. The game content was based on Perry.[77] Perry became the first person to have six songs top the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart.[78] In March 27, 2012, she re-released Teenage Dream under the title Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection on March 27, 2012. The lead single from the re-release (and seventh single from the Teenage Dream era overall) was "Part of Me", which released in February, debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[79] Perry has announced that she will release a part-biopic, part-concert film to be shown in 3D titled Katy Perry: Part of Me to be released on the 4th of July weekend of 2012 by Paramount Pictures.[80][81] In April 2012, Perry performed in India for the first time at the opening ceremony of 5th edition of Indian Premier League, cricket match, in Chennai along with Indian actors Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Prabhu Deva.[82][83][84] She performed her songs "Teenage Dream" and a remix version of "California Gurls".[85][83][86][87] In April 2012, Perry stated that she was working on new music and changing her musical style, "My music is about to get real f—ing dark. You'd never see my face because my hair would be in it."[88]
Artistry[link]
Musical style and themes[link]
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Perry has a contralto vocal range.[89] Perry's first album is of the Gospel music genre.[11][19] She related that her perspective in music was "a bit enclosed and very strict", and everything she did was church-related.[11] Her second album, One of the Boys, is described as "secular" and "rock," and reflects a departure from her religious musical roots.[11] Her next album Teenage Dream featured more pop songs in the vein of Boys.[16][90] In her childhood, Perry was introduced to the music of Alanis Morissette and Freddie Mercury, the late frontman of the British band Queen.[26] In her tribute to Mercury on what would have been his 65th birthday, Perry stated; "Without you I wouldn't be making music or doing what I do because your lyrics inspired me as a 15 year old girl."[91] Queen's song "Killer Queen" has inspired her to pursue a career in pop music after her first album.[11] She also described that Morissette's album Jagged Little Pill as having influenced her music profoundly; even going on to work with Morissette's collaborator on the album, Glen Ballard because of that.[18] Influence also came from a number of female pop rock singers, including Cyndi Lauper, Shirley Manson, Pat Benatar and Joan Jett, as "they came out with a vengeance."[92] Perry also cited Madonna as another big influence, saying "I want to evolve like Madonna."[93][94]
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A 22 second sample of Part of Me, a song with a pop rock influence, which is a common genre for Perry's songs.
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Perry is artistically involved in her projects, especially in the writing process. Since she could play guitar, she would start writing songs at home and present it to her producers. Perry is mostly inspired by specific moments of her life. She said it is easy for her to write songs about heartbreak.[13] Most of the themes in One of the Boys deal with heartbreak, teen adventure, and "puking into toilets".[18] Perry's mother reportedly told British tabloid Daily Mail that she dislikes her daughter's music, calling it "shameful and disgusting".[11][95] Perry said her mother was misquoted and told MTV that it was false information.[95] Her songs "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed a Girl" have received negative reactions from both religious and gay sectors.[95] The songs have been respectively labeled as being homophobic and promoting homosexuality, as well as "lez ploitational".[11] Musicians Pink, Kathleen Hanna and Beth Ditto criticized "I Kissed A Girl" as offensive to the LGBT community.[96][97][98] MTV mentioned criticism suggesting that Perry is using "bi-curiosity" as a way to sell records.[95] Perry responded to the controversy surrounding "Ur So Gay": "It's not a negative connotation. It's not, 'you're so gay,' like, 'you're so lame,' but the fact of the matter is that this boy should've been gay. I totally understand how it could be misconstrued or whatever ... It wasn't stereotyping anyone in particular, I was talking about ex-boyfriends."[99] Perry has written several songs for other singers, including Ashley Tisdale ("Time's Up"), Selena Gomez & the Scene ("Rock God" and "That's More Like It"), Kelly Clarkson ("Long Shot" and "I Do Not Hook Up"), Jessica James ("Bullet" and "Girl Next Door"), Lesley Roy ("Slow Goodbye"), and Kady Malloy ("Wish You the Worst").
Public image[link]
Perry is known for her unconventional style of dress.[16] It is often humorous, bright in color, and reminiscent of different decades, and she frequently uses fruit-shaped accessories, mainly watermelon, as part of her outfits.[92] Perry's transformation into an artist began with fashion, inspired by American film actress Dominique Swain's portrayal in the 1997 film Lolita.[18] She defines her fashion style as "a bit of a concoction of different things".[16] Her fashion has caught the attention of designers.[11][92] In June 2008, a publicity photo that showed Perry posing with a switchblade was criticized.[100] The picture was defended as only an effort to give Perry a "sexy, harder edge".[100] The criticism leveled at her was mocked by Perry who subsequently posed with a spoon instead.[101] She was ranked 7th in Rolling Stone's global Queen of Pop poll in July 2011.[102] Perry is also a gay activist. According to Dosomething.org, Perry had stated "I am a gay activist and I say that proudly. I voted no on Prop 8 (California’s Nov. 4, 2008, amendment declaring that marriage is defined as a union solely between a man and a woman), of course."[103]
Personal life[link]
Perry has had relationships with Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy, whom she met in a recording studio in New York,[21] breaking up in December 2008;[104] Relient K frontman Matt Thiessen, with whom she worked on her album Teenage Dream[105] and British comedian Russell Brand.
Perry first met Brand in the summer of 2009 when she filmed a cameo appearance for Brand's film Get Him to the Greek. Although the cameo ultimately did not make it into the final cut of the movie, Perry later noted that the "scene called for me to make out with him...And on the way down the stairs after the scene, I was hopping like a bunny. I hop like a bunny when I'm happy".[106][107] Perry and Brand began dating after meeting again several months later in September 2009 at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where Brand, as host, remarked, "Katy Perry didn't win an award and she's staying at the same hotel as me, so she's gonna need a shoulder to cry on. So in a way, I'm the real winner tonight."[108] The couple became engaged in December 2009 while vacationing in India.[109][110][111] At the time, Perry stated that she had plans to take dual British citizenship. "One of the first things I'll do is apply for dual citizenship. I'm not too sure if I have to take a test as I've not had time to look into it. But England is like my second home".[112] In an August 2010 interview with Rolling Stone, Perry also noted that, "I am sensitive to Russell taking the Lord's name in vain and to Lady Gaga putting a rosary in her mouth. I think when you put sex and spirituality in the same bottle and shake it up, bad things happen."[113][114][115] Perry and Brand married on October 23, 2010, in a traditional Hindu ceremony near the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan, India, the same location where Brand proposed.[116][117]
After 14 months of marriage, Brand filed for divorce from Perry on December 30, 2011, in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences.[118][119] The announcement of the divorce followed media speculation that the couple was having marital problems, including an Us Weekly report that they had got into a "massive fight" and spent Christmas 2011 on opposite sides of the globe, with Perry in Hawaii and Brand in London, both without their wedding rings.[120][121] After Perry and Brand reached an agreement on financial issues, a judge granted the divorce request in February 2012; however the divorce will not become effective until July 2012, as California law requires a six-month interval from the initial filing.[122]
Discography[link]
Main article: Katy Perry discography
- Katy Hudson (2001)
- One of the Boys (2008)
- Teenage Dream (2010)
Tours[link]
|
Headlining
Co-headlining
|
Opening act
Promotional
|
Filmography[link]
| Television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008 | Young and the Restless, TheThe Young and the Restless | Herself | Episode 8914 |
| Wildfire | Herself | "Life's Too Short" (Season 4, episode 8) | |
| 2010 | American Idol | Guest judge | Season 9, episode 5 |
| The X Factor | Guest judge | Series 7, episode 2 | |
| Sesame Street | Herself | Online special (deleted from televised episode due to viewer controversy) | |
| The Simpsons | Herself | 1 episode, "The Fight Before Christmas" | |
| Extreme Makeover: Home Edition | Herself | "Boys Hope/Girls Hope" (Season 8, Episode 1) | |
| 2010–2011 | Saturday Night Live | Herself / Host / Musical Guest | "Amy Poehler/Katy Perry" (Season 36, episode 681) "Katy Perry/Robyn" (Season 37, episode 710) |
| 2011 | How I Met Your Mother | Honey | 1 episode, "Oh Honey" People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Guest Star |
| America's Got Talent | Guest judge | July 27 (Season 6, Qtr Finals 3 results) | |
| Perez Hilton Superfan | Herself | 1 episode, aired December 14, 2011 | |
| 2012 | Raising Hope | Rikki | 1 episode, "Single White Female Role Model" |
| Film | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Get Him to the Greek | Herself | Deleted scene Uncredited |
| Out in the Desert | Herself | Post-production | |
| 2011 | The Smurfs | Smurfette | Voice Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie Voice |
| The Muppets | Herself | Deleted scene Cameo appearance |
|
| 2012 | Katy Perry: Part of Me | Herself | Main Role 3D film |
| 2012 | The Smurfs 2 | Smurfette | Voice |
Awards and nominations[link]
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Katy Perry
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bedwetters |
MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act 2008 |
Succeeded by Lady Gaga |
| Preceded by Snoop Dogg |
MTV Europe Music Awards host 2008–2009 |
Succeeded by Eva Longoria |
| Preceded by Jonas Brothers |
Teen Choice Awards host 2010 |
Succeeded by Kaley Cuoco |
|
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References[link]
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- ^ a b Trust, Gary (May 12, 2011). "Katy Perry Celebrates Year In Hot 100's Top 10". Billboard. billboard.com, Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/column/chartbeat/katy-perry-celebrates-year-in-hot-100-s-1005180662.story. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
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- ^ California Birth IndexArchived 18 January 2010 at WebCite
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- ^ Kaufman, Gil (November 7, 2008). "Americans Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kanye West, 30 Seconds To Mars Dominate 2008 MTV EMAs". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598808/20081107/katy_perry.jhtml. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ Paine, Andre (February 18, 2009). "Duffy Triumphs With Three BRIT Awards". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/duffy-triumphs-with-three-brit-awards-1003942721.story. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
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- ^ Kaufman, Gil (January 27, 2009). "The Matrix Drop Long-Lost Album Featuring Katy Perry". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1603622/20090127/katy_perry.jhtml. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
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- ^ Sydney fashion designer defends business against pop star Katy Perry, smartcompany.com.au, June 16, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2009.
- ^ Katy Perry Not Suing Fashion Designer Katie Perry LimeLife, June 19, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
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- ^ Langhorne, Cyrus (September 1, 2010). "Sales Wrap: Eminem Gets Knocked From The Top, Drake Hits A Milli, Fantasia & Usher Make Strong Debuts". Sohh.com. http://www.sohh.com/2010/09/eminem_gets_knocked_from_the_top_drake_h.html. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
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- ^ Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' Yields Sixth Hot 100 Top Five Hit
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- ^ Twitter | @katyperry
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- ^ [1]
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- ^ "Katy Perry reveals 'soppy' new love songs". Metro. http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/music/817502-katy-perry-reveals-soppy-new-love-songs. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Vena, Jocelyn (August 20, 2008). "Katy Perry Responds To Rumors Of Parents' Criticism: 'They Love And Support Me'". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1593166/20080820/katy_perry.jhtml. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ "Pink's Gay Pals Not Happy With Perry's Song". contactmusic.com. November 6, 2008. http://www.contactmusic.com/news/pinks-gay-pals-not-happy-with-perrys-song_1085781. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ Goodman, Abbey (June 7, 2011). "The original riot grrrl on Katy Perry, '90s revival". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/07/kathleen.hanna.documentary/. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
- ^ "Talkin' Trash: Rock Star Insults That Still Sting". Spinner.com. May 7, 2010. http://www.spinner.com/2010/05/07/famous-feuds-in-music/. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
- ^ "Katy Perry: The New Gay Interview". TheNewGay.net. June 10, 2008. http://www.thenewgay.net/2008/06/katy-perry-new-gay-interview.html. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
- ^ a b Watson, Roland; Costello, Miles; Fleming, Sam (October 22, 2008). "Pop star Katy Perry under fire for posing with a knife". The Times (London). http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4990823.ece. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- ^ Khan, Urmee (October 27, 2008). "Katy Perry, the singer mocks knife picture by posing with a spoon". The Daily Telegraph (UK). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3267762/Katy-Perry-the-singer-mocks-knife-picture-by-posing-with-a-spoon.html. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
- ^ "Readers Poll: The Queen of Pop" Queen of Pop pole, Rolling Stone
- ^ "Katy Perry talks about gay rights in interview with CGG". Dosomething.org. November 4, 2008. http://www.dosomething.org/page/katy-perry-talks-about-gay-rights-interview-with-cgg. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
- ^ Laudadio, Marisa (January 2, 2009). "Katy Perry & Travis McCoy Break Up". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20249866,00.html. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
- ^ Stars, Bryan. "Relient K Interview Matt Thiessen Paramore Tour 2010". Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Myd3UUY-c.
- ^ "Katy Perry Explains Why She Was Cut From 'Get Him To The Greek'". MTV. June 5, 2010. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1640830/katy-perry-explains-why-was-cut-from-get-him-greek.jhtml. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
- ^ "Re What Does Katy Perry See In Russell Brand". Wn.com. http://wn.com/Re_What_Does_Katy_Perry_See_in_Russell_Brand?!?_F11_. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ Ziegbe, Mawuse (September 4, 2010). "Katy Perry, Russell Brand's Love Story Began At The VMAs – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647232/20100904/perry_katy.jhtml. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ Clench, James (October 3, 2009). "Brand new lovers". The Sun (UK). http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2666479/Lovebirds-Russell-Brand-and-Katy-Perry-pictured-for-first-time-on-date.html. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ "Russell Brand proposes to his American girlfriend Katy Perry". Hello Magazine. January 6, 2010. http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/201001062689/russell-brand/katy-perry/engaged-wed/1/. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
- ^ "Katy Perry And Russell Brand: A Timeline Of Their Love". MTV. January 6, 2010. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1629147/20100106/id_1962774.jhtml. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
- ^ "Katy Perry looks plastic fantastic in latex as Teenage Dream tops album chart | Mail Online". Daily Mail (London). September 7, 2010. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1309398/Katy-Perry-looks-plastic-fantastic-latex-Teenage-Dream-tops-album-chart.html. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
- ^ Dinh, James (August 5, 2010). "Katy Perry Says Mixing Sex And Religion Makes 'Bad Things Happen' – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1645124/katy-perry-mixing-sex-religion-makes-bad-things-happen.jhtml. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ By Rolling Stone (August 3, 2010). "Sex, God and Katy Perry: The New Issue of Rolling Stone | Rolling Stone Music". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sex-god-and-katy-perry-the-new-issue-of-rolling-stone-20100803. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Rolling Stone All Access | Subscribe and Access the Complete Archive Online". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/plus/archive#/2/1174/C1/P. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "News – Katy Perry, Russell Brand Wed in Elaborate Indian Ceremony – Celebrity News". UsMagazine.com. http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/katy-perry-russell-brand-tie-the-knot-20102310. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ Prithwish Ganguly, TNN, Oct 26, 2010, 12.00 am IST (October 26, 2010). "Katy affirms Brand loyalty – The Times of India". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Katy-affirms-Brand-loyalty/articleshow/6808817.cms. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ Russell Brand and Katy Perry are getting a divorce, Sarah Anne Hughes, Washington Post, December 30, 2011 (Retrieved December 30, 2011)
- ^ "Russell Brand files for divorce from Katy Perry". BBC. December 30, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16369331. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
- ^ "Exclusive: Katy Perry, Russell Brand Spent Christmas Apart After "Massive Fight"". Usmagazine. December 25, 2011. http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/katy-perry-russell-brand-spent-christmas-apart-after-massive-fight-20112812. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- ^ Luchina Fisher (December 25, 2011). "Katy Perry, Russell Brand Seen Without Wedding Rings". abcnews. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/12/katy-perry-russell-brand-not-wearing-wedding-rings/. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "Katy Perry, Russell Brand Finalize Divorce". Huffington Post. February 8, 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/08/katy-perry-russell-brand-finalize-divorce_n_1264204.html. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
- ^ "The Strangely Normal Tour – Phil Joel, Earthsuit, V*Enna & Katy Hudson". Epinions.com. 2001-02-07. http://www.epinions.com/content_929341572?sb=1. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
External links[link]
 |
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Katy Perry |
Media related to Katy Perry at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
- Katy Perry at the Internet Movie Database
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Perry, Katy |
| Alternative names | Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson |
| Short description | American singer-songwriter |
| Date of birth | October 25, 1984 |
| Place of birth | Santa Barbara, California, United States |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
| Nicki Minaj | |
|---|---|
 Minaj at 2010 MTV Music Awards |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Onika Tanya Maraj |
| Born | (1982-12-08) December 8, 1982 (age 29)[1] Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Origin | South Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, R&B, pop |
| Occupations | Rapper, singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Cash Money Records, Young Money Entertainment, Universal Republic Records, Universal Motown |
| Associated acts | Young Money |
| Website | mypinkfriday.com |
Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1982), known by her stage name Nicki Minaj ( /mɪˈnɑːʒ/), is a Trinidadian-born American rapper and singer-songwriter. She was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago and when she was 5 years of age she moved to the New York City borough of Queens, where she grew up.
After releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 and being signed to Young Money Entertainment in August 2009, Minaj released her debut album, Pink Friday, in November 2010. It quickly became a commercial success, peaking at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a month after its release.[2][3] She became the first female solo artist to have seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.[4] Her second single, "Your Love", reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, making Minaj the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002.[5] She also became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List.[6] Minaj was named the 2011 Rising Star by Billboard.[7] Her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded was released on April 3, 2012.
Contents |
Early life[link]
Maraj was born in 1982[1][note 1] in Saint James, a suburb of Trinidad and Tobago's capital city Port of Spain.[8][9][10] Her parents are of mixed Indian and Afro-Trinidadian ancestry[11][12] and she lived in Saint James with her grandmother until age five, because her parents were looking for a place to live in the Queens borough of New York City at the time. Her mother would occasionally visit, and one day, when Minaj was five, her mother picked her up to move to Queens.[13] According to Minaj, her father drank heavily, took drugs, and once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire.[14]
She attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she played the clarinet.[13] She graduated from LaGuardia High School.[15][16] At LaGuardia, a school specializing in music and the visual and performing arts, Minaj participated in the drama program.[15] She had initially planned to sing at LaGuardia but lost her voice on the day of the audition.[15]
Career[link]
2007–09: Mixtapes and Young Money[link]
Minaj released her first mixtape in 2007 after releasing Playtime Is Over with Dirty Money Records. She released another mixtape on July 7, 2008, titled Sucka Free, under the label Be. On April 18, 2009, Minaj released a third mixtape and appeared in XXL magazine.[17] She won the Female Artist of the Year award at the 2008 Underground Music Awards.[18] Minaj released Beam Me Up Scotty, another mixtape, in April 2009 under the label of Trapaholics Records; it received positive coverage on both BET and MTV.[19][20]
In August 2009, Minaj signed a record deal with Young Money Entertainment, with distribution from Universal Motown Records, after fellow American rapper Lil Wayne discovered her and secured the record deal.[17][21] She then had a solo rap verse in their single "BedRock," which became a commercial success, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Minaj also appeared on "Roger That", which charted at number 56. The song, and in particular Minaj, received positive reviews from critics.[22] Both songs were included in Young Money Entertainment's debut collaborative studio album We Are Young Money, which was released in December 2009. The album charted in the top ten on the Billboard 200, reaching number 9 and later receiving a Gold Certification by the RIAA. She was then chosen by Mariah Carey to be featured on her single and music video for "Up Out My Face". Critics praised her collaboration for helping to maintain Carey's feminine image and providing a polite track for the female R&B singer.[23]
[edit] 2010–11: Pink Friday
Main article: Pink Friday
After a major record label bidding war, Young Money Entertainment announced on August 31, 2009 that Minaj had been released from a 360 deal with the label in which she retains and owns all of her 360 rights – including merchandising, sponsorships, endorsements, touring and publishing.[24] In an interview with 95.8 Capital FM, Rihanna stated that after the two collaborated on "Raining Men" from her album Loud that the duo would be teaming up together for a possible second collaboration on Minaj's Pink Friday.[25] Hip-hop rap artist and producer Kanye West was also confirmed for the album.[26] On August 3, 2010 Minaj revealed on a Ustream.tv channel that the album's name would be Pink Friday, in reference to Black Friday.[27]
Pink Friday was released on November 19, 2010 in both standard and deluxe versions.[28][29] A buzz single, "Massive Attack", was released in April.[30] In August, Minaj released "Your Love" as the first official single from her debut album. The single peaked at 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and topped the Rap Songs chart. Minaj became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List[6] and the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002.[31] In October 2010, Minaj became the first artist to have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously.[4] Minaj released a joint single with The Black Eyed Peas front man, will.i.am titled, "Check It Out", which is Minaj's most successful single to date in Europe. "Right thru Me" was released September 24, 2010; the music video was released in late October. "Moment 4 Life" was released as the fourth single. The track featured Canadian rapper Drake and was released on December 7, 2010, becoming a success on the Billboard Hot 100. The single peaked at number 5 on the Hot Rap Songs.[32] The album gained a Platinum certification in the United States a month after the release.[3]
On January 29, 2011, Minaj appeared on Saturday Night Live as the musical guest, performing "Right Thru Me" and "Moment 4 Life". On February 9, 2011, it was announced that Pink Friday had reached number one on the Billboard 200 in its eleventh week on the chart.[33] It was hinted by Simon Cowell that Minaj would join the judging panel of the American version of the The X Factor.[34] Starting in June 2011, Minaj will be supporting Pink Friday by serving as an opening act along with Jessie and the Toy Boys and Nervo on Britney Spears' sixth concert tour, the Femme Fatale Tour, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale.[35] She also was featured on the official remix of Spears' track "Till the World Ends" along with Spears and singer Kesha, which charted at number 3 in the US in April 2011.[36] "Super Bass" was released from Pink Friday in May 2011, the single charted within the top 10 in many countries including; United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada and more.[37] The song gained positive reviews from critics.[38][39] Minaj will voice a character in the 3D animated film, Ice Age: Continental Drift, as an unknown character.[40][41] Minaj is also featured on French DJ David Guetta's 2011 album, Nothing but the Beat on "Where Them Girls At" and "Turn Me On".
[edit] 2011–present: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
Main article: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
Minaj's second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, was first announced through Twitter in November 2011 and was released on April 2, 2012 in the United Kingdom and April 3, 2012 in the United States. The album features collaborations with producers Hit-Boy, Dr. Luke, Rico Beats, Kenoe, RedOne and Oak. Cash Money A&R Joshua Berkman told HitQuarters that Minaj was extremely particular about the beats and music she used saying: "She wouldn't just rap or sing on anything – I could give her a thousand tracks and she may only like one or two."[42] Preceding the album's release, three promotional singles were released: Roman in Moscow (which didn't make the final cut of the album), "Stupid Hoe," and "Roman Reloaded." The album's first single, "Starships", was released on February 14.[43] "Starships" became Minaj's best-peaking single in the United Kingdom, when it reached a peak of 2. It has also peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it her second top 10 arrival following, "Super Bass" in 2011. The music video was released on April 26th, 2012.[44]
On February 12, 2012, Minaj debuted her song "Roman Holiday" at the 54th Grammy Awards. It was the first song ever performed on the Grammy stage by a solo female rapper.[45] The exorcism-themed performance drew a mixed response online.[46][47]
She was featured on Madonna's twelfth studio album, titled MDNA, alongside M.I.A. on its lead single "Give Me All Your Luvin'", for which a music video has been directed by Megaforce.[48] The trio performed the song for the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show.[49] She was also featured on a song called "I Don't Give A", another track from the album.
She released her second single, "Right by My Side", which features Chris Brown, on March 27, 2012, after premiering on Minaj's website on March 20, 2012.[50] Following the album's release, it peaked at number 24 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. It also peaked in the lower regions of the UK singles chart, at position #101. The third single, "Beez in the Trap", which features 2 Chainz was released to U.S. Urban radio on April 24, 2012. It was premiered on DJ Flex's radio show at Hot 97 on March 20, 2012. It has peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Rap Songs Chart.[51] The video was premiered on April 6, 2012 on Minaj's official VEVO account.[52]
Artistry[link]
Image[link]
Minaj has been noted by the media for her curvaceous figure.[53][54][55][56] In an interview with Vibe Minaj discussed her sexual image stating, "[w]hen I grew up I saw females doing certain things, and I thought I had to do that exactly. The female rappers of my day spoke about sex a lot... and I thought that to have the success they got, I would have to represent the same thing. When in fact I didn’t have to represent the same thing."[57] In an interview with Interview, Minaj commented on her sexual image again stating, "I made a conscious decision to try to tone down the sexiness, I want people—especially young girls—to know that in life, nothing is going to be based on sex appeal. You’ve got to have something else to go with that.”[58] Minaj has a tattoo in Chinese characters that reads "上帝與你常在" (shàngdì yǔ nǐ cháng zài)[59] on her left arm, meaning, "God is always with you."[60]
Alter egos[link]
While growing up, Minaj's home life was often chaotic, with her parents constantly fighting.[61] As a means of escape, she would create characters and live her life through them.[61] In an interview with New York she stated, "To get away from all their fighting, I would imagine being a new person. 'Cookie' was my first identity – that stayed with me for a while. I went on to 'Harajuku Barbie,' then 'Nicki Minaj'. Fantasy was my reality."[61]
On November 18, 2010, Minaj assumed a different alter-ego named "Nicki Teresa".[62] Wearing a colorful scarf around her head, she went around as the "healer to her fans" as she visited them at The Garden of Dreams Foundation at Fuse studios in New York City.[62] Minaj made an appearance on Lopez Tonight on December 6, 2010 and presented a different alter-ego for the Spanish-inspired occasion, named "Rosa" (pronounced Rrrrrosa).[63]
In April 2012, Minaj was asked if Roman, Martha and Rosa come out in the bedroom saying “No, they don’t come out in the bedroom, but other people come out in the bedroom,” she told Big Boy during his “Backstage Breakfast,” adding, “And there’s only one person that would know who that personality is". Minaj did not name her alter-ego.[64]
For her debut album, Minaj created another alter-ego named "Roman Zolanski".[65] She stated that in songs like "Bottoms Up" with Trey Songz it is not Minaj rapping, but instead Roman Zolanski, and claims that Roman is her "twin brother". She claims that he was born inside her, out of rage, and becomes him when she is angry. She has also said 'He is a demon inside her'. Roman has been compared to Eminem's alter ego Slim Shady, and on the song "Roman's Revenge" from Pink Friday, Minaj and Eminem collaborate, using these alter egos.[66] On the collaboration, she said "The new album is going to have a lot of Roman on it ... And if you're not familiar with Roman, then you will be familiar with him very soon. He’s the boy that lives inside of me. He's a lunatic and he's gay and he'll be on there a lot."[67] Roman also has a "mother" called "Martha Zolanski",[68] who also appeared on the song "Roman's Revenge", with a British accent,[69] and on "Roman Holiday", singing for the first time.[70][71] Martha appears in the video for "Moment 4 Life" where she appears to be Minaj's magical Godmother. In songs such as "All I Do Is Win (Remix)" it is Minaj rapping.[65] Minaj stated that on her debut album, fans will get to "meet" Nicki, Roman and Onika.[65]
Influences[link]
Minaj has stated that artists who have influenced her musical style include Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, Jadakiss, Natasha Bedingfield, Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott.[72][73] She was also inspired by Janet Jackson,[74] Madonna, Britney Spears, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Jones,[75] M.I.A. and Cyndi Lauper.[76][77][78]
Product and endorsements[link]
During her career, Minaj has signed contracts with a variety of corporate interests. Companies she contracted with include soft drink manufacturer Pepsi;[79] Mattel, which produced a custom a Nicki Minaj-themed Barbie;[80] and MAC Cosmetics, as part of an AIDS-awareness campaign in Latin America.[81]
Personal life[link]
Minaj is a Christian, and on Christmas Day in 2011, she indicated her faith in Jesus by tweeting John 3:16.[82][83] In addition, she states that after her father went to rehab and started attending church, "he got saved and started changing his life."[84] Minaj states that her heroes are "God. And my mother."[85][86]
While some songs and interviews have implied that Minaj is bisexual,[87][88] she has said that she does not date nor have sex with women,[15] but added in an interview with Out magazine, "I don’t date men either."[89] In an interview with Vibe she commented, "I just embrace all people of all lifestyles and I don’t tell them they are bad people. And I say girls are beautiful and girls are sexy and they need to be told that, and if they don’t have anyone to tell them that and mean it, I’m gonna tell them that. But I feel like people always wanna define me and I don’t wanna be defined."[90] She reiterated her dislike of being labeled in an interview with Out, saying: "The point is, everyone is not black and white. There are so many shades in the middle, and you’ve got to let people feel comfortable with saying what they want to say when they want to say it."[89]
During an interview in the May 2010 issue of Details, Minaj was asked if she felt hip-hop was becoming more gay-friendly. She responded, "I think the world is getting more gay-friendly, so hip-hop is too. But it's harder to imagine an openly gay male rapper being embraced, people view gay men as having no street credibility. But I think we'll see one in my lifetime."[88]
In July 2011, Minaj's cousin Nicholas Telemaque was murdered near his home in Brooklyn, New York City.[91] Telemaque was referenced in Minaj's song "Champion" in her second studio album.[92]
Discography[link]
Main article: Nicki Minaj discography
- Pink Friday (2010)
- Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012)
Touring[link]
- Pink Friday Tour (2012)
See also[link]
References[link]
- ^ a b "Police Report: Nicki's Asst. Struck Minaj w/ Suitcase". TMZ.Com. http://www.tmz.com/2011/07/13/nicki-minaj-police-report-dallas-hotel-cut-lip-struck-face/. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History at Billboard". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/artist/nicki-minaj/chart-history/998160?f=305&g=Albums#/artist/nicki-minaj/chart-history/998160?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ a b "RIAA Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Minaj&format=&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ a b "Nicki Minaj Makes History With Seven Billboard Hot 100 Songs". MTV News. October 8, 2010. http://rapfix.mtv.com/2010/10/08/nicki-minaj-makes-history-with-seven-billboard-hot-100-songs/. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ Trust, Gary (June 30, 2010). "Chart Beat Wednesday: Train, Dirty Heads, Nicki Minaj". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/column/chartbeat/chart-beat-wednesday-train-dirty-heads-nicki-1004101492.story. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ a b "MTV's Hottest MC List". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/specials/hottest/mc/index.jhtml. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ Nicki Minaj Named Billboard's 'Rising Star' for 2011 | Billboard.com
- ^ Telesford, Nigel (November 1, 2010). "Minaj magic". Trinidad Express. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Minaj_magic-106430523.html. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ Pink Friday (CD liner). Nicki Minaj. Young Money Entertainment/Cash Money Records/Universal Motown. 2010. 0015133-02. "TRINIDAD!!! WE DID IT!!! Thank you so very much for all the love and support. I am truly honored to have been born on the most beautiful island in the world!"
- ^ Concepcion, Mariel (September 22, 2010). "Nicki Minaj Fans Scammed, Rapper To Perform In Trinidad". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/column/the-juice/nicki-minaj-fans-scammed-rapper-to-perform-1004115889.story. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ^ McGarry, Kevin (2009) "The New Queen Bee | Meet Nicki Minaj", New York Times, June 4, 2009
- ^ "Girls". Complex Magazine. 2009. http://www.complex.com/girls//08/worlwide-wednesday-the-10-hottest-multiracial-women?page=3. Retrieved February 16, 2011. [dead link]
- ^ a b O'Connor, Siobhan (June 23, 2010). "Character Study: Just How Real Is Nicki Minaj? (Pg 3)". Vibe. http://www.vibe.com/content/character-study-just-how-real-nicki-minaj-pg-3. Retrieved October 26, 2010. "...Nicki was a little girl in Trinidad who missed her mom. Born in 1984, Onika Tanya Maraj spent her first five years in a clown-car of a house, full of cousins and friends and animals. Like lots of people awaiting entry to the United States, Nicki idealized what her life would be like once she got to New York. "
- ^ "Nicki Minaj: Hip-Hop's Hottest Sidekick Goes Solo". Details. May 2010. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/04/19/nicki-minajs-naughty-gift-for-lil-wayne/. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
- ^ a b c d O'Connor, Siobhan (June 23, 2010). "Character Study: Just How Real Is Nicki Minaj?". Vibe. http://www.vibe.com/content/character-study-just-how-real-nicki-minaj-cover-story. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ Jeffries, David. "Nicki Minaj > Biography". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p1049866/biography. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
- ^ a b "FEATURE: Nicki Minaj:Climax", XXL, November 24, 2008
- ^ "Nicki Minaj – Beware Sucka MCs", HipHopRuckus, August 28, 2008
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (2009) "Lil Wayne Introduces Nicki Minaj", MTV, May 4, 2009
- ^ "SoundOff TV: One On One With LowKey & Nicki Minaj[dead link]", BET, May 1, 2009
- ^ Concepcion, Mariel (January 15, 2010). "Nicki Minaj: Artists To Watch 2010". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/news/nicki-minaj-artists-to-watch-2010-1004059642.story. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj steals spotlight from fellow Young Money band". Xxlmag.com. http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=66266. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
- ^ Stewart, Allison (2010-01-12). "Reviews of singles from Justin Vernon, Mariah Carey, Maino, Quasi and Tony Yayo". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/11/AR2010011103195.html. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (October 15, 2009). "Nicki Minaj Says Her Debut Single Will Drop Next Month". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1623931/20091015/minaj__nicki.jhtml. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ Rihanna launches 'Loud' in London. Capital FM. Retrieved on December 24, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Looks to Kanye West, Swizz Beatz for Debut Album". Rap-Up.com. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/03/03/nicki-minaj-looks-to-kanye-west-swizz-beatz-for-debut-album/. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Announces Album Title". Rap-Up.com. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/08/03/nicki-minaj-announces-album-title/. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ "Pink Friday" (in German). Amazon.de. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0042RUMEQ/. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
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- ^ rosa[dead link]
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- ^ "Nicki Minaj Says Her Album Drops First Quarter Next Year; Can Her Looks Carry Her To Platinum Status?". DimeWars. http://dimewars.com/Video/Nicki-Minaj-Says-Her-Album-Drops-First-Quarter-Next-Year--Can-Her-Looks-Carry-Her-To-Platinum-Status-.aspx?bcmediaid=83fc42ba-e312-4c73-91e8-d326c80e720c. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
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- ^ [Nicki Minaj Talks about Her Perfume, Praises Cyndi Lauper and Pisses of Her Nail Lady]
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- ^ a b Ganz, Caryn (10 September 2010). "The Curious Case of Nicki Minaj". Out. http://out.com/detail.asp?page=2&id=27391. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
- ^ "EXTRA, EXTRA: Lost Nicki Minaj Quotes". VIBE. July 6, 2010. http://vibe.com/content/extra-extra-lost-nicki-minaj-quotes-pg-2.
- ^ Sulla-Heffinger, Anthony (2011-07-05). "Rap star Nicki Minaj's cousin shot dead in Brooklyn". New York Post. Carlucci, Paul. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/rap_star_nicki_minaj_cousin_shot_vDse0S8oxJesPOQdHT6MdJ. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ^ Maraj, Onika, Tyler Williams, Nikhil Seetharam, Aubrey Graham, and Jay Jenkins, Jones, Nasir. Champion. 2012. N.p.: Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic, 2012. Print.
Notes[link]
- ^ Minaj's birthyear has been reported in various media outlets as being 1984. The most definitive source, however, is the official Dallas Police Report from July 2011 which states her birthdate is 12/08/1982.
External links[link]
 |
Book: Nicki Minaj |
| Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print. | |
- Official website
- Nicki Minaj at the Internet Movie Database
- Media related to Nicki Minaj at Wikimedia Commons
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Minaj, Nicki |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | |
| Date of birth | December 8, 1982 |
| Place of birth | Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
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