Fantasia Barrino is the winner of Season 3 of FOX's "American Idol." Since her win in May 2004, she immediately signed to J Records by BMG U.S. Chairman & CEO Clive Davis, released "I Believe" four weeks later (the first time in Billboard Hot 100 chart history that an artist debuted at #1 with her debut single, which stayed on top for 11 weeks), and released her RIAA platinum debut album, "Free Yourself."
Since then, 22-year-old Fantasia has gathered award nominations from every corner of the
The down-to-earth star (and single mom) from High Point, North Carolina—who used a portion of her earnings to buy her mom a new home—officially entered the record books on July 10, 2004. That was when "I Believe" made its Billboard debut at #1, after setting a one-week 2004 Soundscan sales record in the process. The "Free Yourself" album ultimately spent 10 weeks in the Top 10 on the R&B Albums chart. The second single, "Truth Is" spent an astounding 13 consecutive weeks at 1 on the Urban Adult chart in the spring 2005, and had the most one-week airplay totals ever on an adult record in Billboard and Monitor history.
In June 2005, a full year after her debut single, Fantasia-fever was hotter than ever as she became the first female artist to have three of the top five songs on the Adult R&B chart (which began in 1994). Later that month, she became the first artist in history to chart two of the top three songs on the Adult R&B list, with "Truth Is" at 2 and "Free Yourself" at 3.
Fantasia's success culminated in a New York Times best-selling autobiography, "Life Is Not A Fairy Tale" (Simon & Schuster, September 2005), a candidly revealing memoir that was adapted as a Lifetime original movie in August 2006. Directed by Debbie Allen, and starring Fantasia as herself, the inspirational biopic was seen by more than 19 million viewers, and ranked as the cable channel's second most watched movie in its 22-year history.
In many ways, the movie liberated the artist, a state of affairs that is celebrated on her album "Fantasia." "I've let go of things from the past and I'm having a good time," she reflects. "I was able to let go of the past with the Lifetime movie and now I'm on a whole different level. I worked with some really great people on this album like Missy Elliott, Dre & Vidal, Midi Mafia, and Swizz Beatz and I'm letting everyone know that I've moved on from where I was when I recorded my first album."
Since then, 22-year-old Fantasia has gathered award nominations from every corner of the
Fantasia Barrino American Idol 2011 March 31 Fantasia Barrino American Idol 2010, Season 9 May 12 Fantasia Barrino American Idol 2010, Season 9 May 12 Fantasia Barrino Fantasia for Real Fantasia Barrino Pictures
entertainment industry – the Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Vibe Awards, Soul Train Awards and Soul Train "Lady of Soul" Awards, Billboard Music Awards and R&B & Hip Hop Awards, BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Teen Choice Awards – more than 20 nominations in all. Among the honors she has taken home are Outstanding Female Artist at the NAACP Image Awards; and Top-Selling R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year and Top-Selling Single of the Year for "I Believe" at the year-end Billboard Music Awards.The down-to-earth star (and single mom) from High Point, North Carolina—who used a portion of her earnings to buy her mom a new home—officially entered the record books on July 10, 2004. That was when "I Believe" made its Billboard debut at #1, after setting a one-week 2004 Soundscan sales record in the process. The "Free Yourself" album ultimately spent 10 weeks in the Top 10 on the R&B Albums chart. The second single, "Truth Is" spent an astounding 13 consecutive weeks at 1 on the Urban Adult chart in the spring 2005, and had the most one-week airplay totals ever on an adult record in Billboard and Monitor history.
In June 2005, a full year after her debut single, Fantasia-fever was hotter than ever as she became the first female artist to have three of the top five songs on the Adult R&B chart (which began in 1994). Later that month, she became the first artist in history to chart two of the top three songs on the Adult R&B list, with "Truth Is" at 2 and "Free Yourself" at 3.
Fantasia's success culminated in a New York Times best-selling autobiography, "Life Is Not A Fairy Tale" (Simon & Schuster, September 2005), a candidly revealing memoir that was adapted as a Lifetime original movie in August 2006. Directed by Debbie Allen, and starring Fantasia as herself, the inspirational biopic was seen by more than 19 million viewers, and ranked as the cable channel's second most watched movie in its 22-year history.
In many ways, the movie liberated the artist, a state of affairs that is celebrated on her album "Fantasia." "I've let go of things from the past and I'm having a good time," she reflects. "I was able to let go of the past with the Lifetime movie and now I'm on a whole different level. I worked with some really great people on this album like Missy Elliott, Dre & Vidal, Midi Mafia, and Swizz Beatz and I'm letting everyone know that I've moved on from where I was when I recorded my first album."
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Fantasia Barrino American Idol 2011 March 31 Fantasia Barrino American Idol 2010, Season 9 May 12 Fantasia Barrino American Idol 2010, Season 9 May 12 Fantasia Barrino Fantasia for Real Fantasia Barrino Fantasia for Real Fantasia Barrino Fantasia for Real Fantasia Barrino Pictures
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