Estreou na noite desta terça-feira, 31, o novo videoclipe de Rihanna. "Man Down" foi filmado na Jamaica e é dirigido pelo diretor Anthony Mandler. O quinto single do álbum "LOUD" é descrito como uma homenagem a Bob Marley.
By: fah
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Shakira revela "Adoraria lançar um álbum em árabe",
Durante sua passagem pelo Marrocos, Shakira revelou que gostaria de gravar um álbum de canções de língua árabe. "Seria um desafio fazer um álbum em árabe. Eu teria primeiro que aprender o idioma, mas estou completamente aberta a experiência. Em algum momento adoraria que isso acontecesse", revelou durante entrevista coletiva.
A cantora brincou que, embora ela possua ascendência síria, "ateeni boosa" é a única frase em árabe que ela sabe. A frase significa um pedido de um beijo em português.
Sua atual turnê mundial chega às cidades de Valência e Almeria esta semana.
By: Fah
Black Eyed Peas canta "Don't Stop The Party" em programa de televisão
By: Fah
Monday, May 30, 2011
Yoon Eun Hye
Profile
* Name: 윤은혜 / Yoon Eun Hye (Yun Eun Hye)
* Nicknames: "JamGgoDae" (Stick) / "Pooh"
* Profession: Actress, singer and model
* Birthdate: 1984-Oct-03
* Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
* Height: 168cm
* Weight: 48kg
* Star sign: Libra
* Blood type: O
* Family: Younger brother
* Talent agency: Kraze Entertainment ntertainment
Dramas
2010: MBC, Personal Preference (Ep.8 cameo appearance)
2009: KBS, Take Care of the Young Lady
2007: MBC, The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince
2006: KBS, The Vineyard Man
MBC, Goong (aka. Princess Hours)
Films
2002: Emergency 19
2006: Escaping Charisma (aka. The Legend of Seven Cutter)
2011: My Black Mini Dress
Recognitions
* 2009 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Yoon Sang Hyun (Take Care of the Young Lady)
* 2009 KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Take Care of the Young Lady)
* 2008 44th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best TV Actress Award (The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince)
* 2007 MBC Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award - Actress (The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince)
* 2006 The Grime Awards: Best Actress Award (The Vineyard Man)
* 2006 KBS Drama Awards: Best New Actress Award (The Vineyard Man)
* 2006 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Oh Man Suk (The Vineyard Man)
* 2006 MBC Drama Awards: Best New Actress Award (Goong)
* 2002 SBS Music Awards: Representative Award
* 2001 Award Model Line: Best Dressed Singer Award
* 1999 10th Seoul Music Awards: Disk Bonsang
Trivia
* Education: Joong Kyung High School, Kyung Hee Cyber University (Tourism Management degree)
* Hobbies: Photography
* Specialty: Drawing
* In late 2007, she was involved in projects for a cause such as Wish Come True and Letters from the Angels No. 5 Campaign
* She was one of the ten Hallyu stars of 2007 thus she became one of the most highly paid actresses in television at the age of 23.
* Yoon Eun-hye was formerly in Baby VOX; she was the last member to join and stayed with the group from 1999 until 2005.
Variety Show
* X-Man (2004-2005)
* Name: 윤은혜 / Yoon Eun Hye (Yun Eun Hye)
* Nicknames: "JamGgoDae" (Stick) / "Pooh"
* Profession: Actress, singer and model
* Birthdate: 1984-Oct-03
* Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
* Height: 168cm
* Weight: 48kg
* Star sign: Libra
* Blood type: O
* Family: Younger brother
* Talent agency: Kraze Entertainment ntertainment
About Yoon Eun Hye
Yoon Eun Hye first entered the entertainment industry in 1999 as a member of the K-pop girl group Baby Vox. She left the group in 2005 to pursue an acting career. Yoon performed her first major role in a drama, Goong as Shin Chae-gyung. This role propelled her to stardom. She portrayed as a tough girl named Han Su in her first movie, Escaping from Charisma. Her next drama after Goong was a comedy called The Vineyard Man. Yoon Eun Hye was the lead star of The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince portraying the lead in the drama. Criticism of her acting arose after the first episode aired, but then came to a stop, after displaying her acting talent as the drama proceeded. In light of this, different companies were eying her to endorse their products due to her increased popularity.
Yoon Eun Hye first entered the entertainment industry in 1999 as a member of the K-pop girl group Baby Vox. She left the group in 2005 to pursue an acting career. Yoon performed her first major role in a drama, Goong as Shin Chae-gyung. This role propelled her to stardom. She portrayed as a tough girl named Han Su in her first movie, Escaping from Charisma. Her next drama after Goong was a comedy called The Vineyard Man. Yoon Eun Hye was the lead star of The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince portraying the lead in the drama. Criticism of her acting arose after the first episode aired, but then came to a stop, after displaying her acting talent as the drama proceeded. In light of this, different companies were eying her to endorse their products due to her increased popularity.
Dramas
2010: MBC, Personal Preference (Ep.8 cameo appearance)
2009: KBS, Take Care of the Young Lady
2007: MBC, The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince
2006: KBS, The Vineyard Man
MBC, Goong (aka. Princess Hours)
Films
2002: Emergency 19
2006: Escaping Charisma (aka. The Legend of Seven Cutter)
2011: My Black Mini Dress
Recognitions
* 2009 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Yoon Sang Hyun (Take Care of the Young Lady)
* 2009 KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Take Care of the Young Lady)
* 2008 44th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best TV Actress Award (The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince)
* 2007 MBC Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award - Actress (The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince)
* 2006 The Grime Awards: Best Actress Award (The Vineyard Man)
* 2006 KBS Drama Awards: Best New Actress Award (The Vineyard Man)
* 2006 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Oh Man Suk (The Vineyard Man)
* 2006 MBC Drama Awards: Best New Actress Award (Goong)
* 2002 SBS Music Awards: Representative Award
* 2001 Award Model Line: Best Dressed Singer Award
* 1999 10th Seoul Music Awards: Disk Bonsang
Trivia
* Education: Joong Kyung High School, Kyung Hee Cyber University (Tourism Management degree)
* Hobbies: Photography
* Specialty: Drawing
* In late 2007, she was involved in projects for a cause such as Wish Come True and Letters from the Angels No. 5 Campaign
* She was one of the ten Hallyu stars of 2007 thus she became one of the most highly paid actresses in television at the age of 23.
* Yoon Eun-hye was formerly in Baby VOX; she was the last member to join and stayed with the group from 1999 until 2005.
Variety Show
* X-Man (2004-2005)
Jennifer Joanna Aniston
FACTS ABOUT JENNIFER ANISTON
| Date of Birth: | 11 February 1969 |
| Birthplace: | Sherman Oaks, California |
| Age: | 41 |
| First Name: | Jennifer |
| Middle Name: | Joanna |
| Last Name: | Aniston |
| Build: | Slim |
| Height: | 5' 6" (168 cm) |
| Eye Color: | Blue |
| Hair Color: | Dyed Blonde |
| Star Sign: | Aquarius |
| Claim to Fame: | Rachel on Friends |
| Occupation: | American actress |
| Religion: | Agnostic |
| Occupation Category: | Actress |
| Nationality: | American |
| Alternative Names: | Jen Aniston, Jen, Jenny |
BIOGRAPHY FOR JENNIFER ANISTON
Jennifer Joanna Aniston (born Feb. 11, 1969 (42 years ago)) is an American actress. She became famous in the 1990 (21 years ago) for her role as Rachel Green in the popular US sitcom Friends, a role for which she won an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
She has starred in several Hollywood films. While most of her movie roles have been in comedies such as Bruce Almighty, Office Space, Rumor Has It, and the romantic comedies Along Came Polly and The Break-Up, she has also appeared in movies from other genres, such as the comedy-horror Leprechaun and the crime thriller Derailed. The most recent movies that she has starred in are Marley & Me and He's Just Not That into You.
EARLY YEARS
Jennifer Aniston was born in Sherman Oaks, California, and grew up in New York City. She is the daughter of the actor John Aniston and actress Nancy Dow. Aniston's father is a Greek American, born Yannis Anastassakis, on the island of Crete, Greece, while her mother is of Italian-Scottish descent and was born in New York City. Aniston has two half-brothers, John Melick (older) and Alex Aniston (younger). Aniston's godfather was the actor Telly Savalas, her father's best friend. She lived in Greece for one year as a child with her family, and they later relocated to New York City. Her father has appeared in the soap operas Days of our Lives, Love of Life and Search for Tomorrow. Aniston attended the New York Rudolf Steiner School 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. She supported herself with several part-time jobs, including working as a telemarketer and bike messenger. In 1989 (22 years ago), she moved to Los Angeles, California.
CAREER
Aniston moved to Hollywood and was cast in her first TV role in 1990 (21 years ago), starring as a regular on the short-lived series Molloy and in the TV movie Camp Cucamonga. She also co-starred in Ferris Bueller, a TV adaptation of the 1986 (25 years ago) hit movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The series, however, was quickly canceled. Aniston then appeared in two more failed TV comedy shows, The Edge and Muddling Through, and guest-starred on Quantum Leap, Herman's Head, and Burke's Law. After the string of canceled shows, along with her appearance in the critically derided 1992 (19 years ago) horror film, Leprechaun, Aniston considered giving up acting. Aniston's plans changed, however, after auditioning for Friends, a sitcom that was set to debut on NBC's 1994–1995 fall line-up. The producers of the show originally wanted Aniston to audition for the role of Monica Geller, but Courtney Cox was discovered to be best suited for the part of Monica. Thus, Aniston was cast as Rachel Green. She played the character of Rachel from 1994 (17 years ago) until the show ended in 2004 (7 years ago).
The program was successful and Aniston, along with her co-stars, gained wide renown among TV viewers. Her hairstyle at the time, which became known as the "Rachel", was widely copied. Aniston received a salary of one million dollars per episode for the last two seasons of Friends, as well as five Emmy nominations (two for Supporting Actress, three for Lead Actress), including a win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. According to the Guinness World Book of Records (2005, 6 years ago), Aniston (along with her female costars) became the highest paid TV actress of all time with her $1 million-per-episode paycheck for the tenth season of Friends.
Jennifer Aniston was cast in a Heineken commercial which was later banned due to branding issues. Later, in 1994 (17 years ago), Microsoft invited Aniston, along with Friends co-star Matthew Perry, to shoot a 30-minute promotional advertisement for their new operating system, Windows 95. She gained critical acclaim for her performances in The Object of My Affection (1998, 13 years ago), a comedy drama about a girl who falls for a gay man, and in the low-budget 2002 (9 years ago) film, The Good Girl, directed by Miguel Arteta, playing an unglamorous cashier in a small town. The latter movie opened in relatively few theaters—under 700 in total—taking $14M in the U.S. box office. In late 2005 (6 years ago), Aniston appeared in two major studio films, Derailed and Rumor Has It.
In addition to her career as a TV actress, Aniston has enjoyed a very successful movie career. Her biggest box office success to date was her appearance in 2003's Bruce Almighty, in which she played the girlfriend of title character Jim Carrey. Aniston then starred in the 2004 (7 years ago) film, Along Came Polly opposite Ben Stiller. In 2006 (5 years ago), Aniston appeared in the low-budget drama, Friends with Money, which was first shown at the Sundance movie Festival, received a limited release. Aniston's next film, The Break-Up, which was released on Jun. 2, grossed approximately $39.17 million during its opening weekend, despite lukewarm reviews.
In 2007 (4 years ago), Aniston guest starred in an episode of Courteney Cox (12 walls) Arquette's series Dirt. Aniston played Arquette's snobby rival Tina Harrod. In addition to acting, Aniston has also directed a hospital emergency room-set short movie named Room 10, starring Robin Wright Penn and Kris Kristofferson; Aniston has noted that she was inspired to direct by actress Gwyneth Paltrow (6 walls), who directed a short movie in 2006 (5 years ago).
Forbes listed Aniston as the 10th richest woman in the entertainment industry for the year 2007 (4 years ago). She is behind such powerhouses as Oprah Winfrey, J. K. Rowling, Madonna, Mariah Carey (29 walls), Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez (30 walls) and is ahead of Britney Spears (80 walls), Christina Aguilera (88 walls) and the Olsen twins. Aniston's net worth is approximately $110 million. Aniston was also included in the annual Star Salary Top 10 of trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter for 2006 (5 years ago). According to Forbes in Oct. 2007 (4 years ago), Aniston was the top-selling celebrity face of the entertainment industry. In 2008 (3 years ago), Aniston landed the seventeenth spot on Forbes Celebrity 100 list based on "earnings and fame." Forbes listed Aniston's earnings as $27 million.
Aniston appeared in the third episode of Season 3 of NBC's 30 Rock playing Liz Lemon's old college roommate who stalks Jack Donaghy.
Aniston appears naked in a series of photographs that are published on the cover and inside pages of the Jan. 2009 (2 years ago) issue of GQ. She tells the magazine that she feels more comfortable today than she did in her twenties or early thirties. "I'm healthier. I'm more at peace in my mind and with my body," Aniston says.
Aniston at the 2008 (3 years ago) premier of Marley & Me.
This file is a candidate for speedy deletion. It may be deleted after Wednesday, 12 Aug. 2009 (2 years ago).On dec. 25, 2008 (3 years ago), Marley & Me, in which Aniston starred alongside Owen Wilson, was released. It set a record for the largest Christmas Day box office ever with $14.75 million in ticket sales.It earned a total of $51.7 million over the four-day weekend and placed #1 at the box office, a position it maintained for two weeks. As of Feb. 15, 2009 (2 years ago) its total worldwide gross was $161,608,269.
Her next movie in wide release, He's Just Not That into You, opened in Feb. 2009 (2 years ago). The movie made $27.5 million, ranking #1 at the box office in its opening weekend. While the movie received mixed reviews, Aniston along with Jennifer Connelly (12 walls), and Ben Affleck (7 walls) are often praised by critics as being the stand-outs in the film.
As of 2009 (2 years ago), Aniston's movies have grossed $900,618,847 in the United States.
In Jul. 16, 2009 (2 years ago) Jennifer Aniston was nominated for the 2009 (2 years ago) Emmy Awards for her work in 30 Rock.
PERSONAL LIFE
Aniston dated her Ferris Bueller costar Charlie Schlatter in 1990 (21 years ago). She began a relationship with Daniel MacDonald in 1991 (20 years ago). They broke up in 1994 (17 years ago) shortly before she was cast in Friends. She briefly dated musician Adam Duritz in 1995 (16 years ago). From 1995 (16 years ago) to 1998 (13 years ago), she was romantically involved with actor Tate Donovan and the couple were reportedly engaged.
In 1998 (13 years ago), she began dating actor Brad pitt (15 walls) and married him on Jul. 29, 2000 (11 years ago), in a lavish Malibu wedding. For a few years their marriage was considered the rare Hollywood success. However, the couple announced their separation on Jan. 6, 2005 (6 years ago). Pitt became involved with actress Angelina Jolie (147 walls), though Pitt has denied cheating on Aniston with her. Pitt and Aniston were seen together publicly after announcing their separation, even at a dinner party for Aniston's birthday, and friends of the couple had declared they were reconciling. Aniston, however, filed for divorce on Mar. 25, 2005 (6 years ago). It was finalized on Oct. 2, 2005 (6 years ago). Media reports speculated that the split was due to Aniston's refusal to have children with him. Aniston denied that this was the cause of their split in an August, 2005 (6 years ago) Vanity Fair interview, stating, "...I've always wanted to have children, and I would never again give up that experience for a career."
Aniston revealed that her divorce prompted her to reach out to her mother, Nancy, from whom she was estranged for nearly a decade. They initially became estranged when Nancy talked about her daughter on a TV show and later wrote a book entitled, From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir (1999, 12 years ago). Aniston has also stated she was devastated by the death of her longtime therapist, whose work helped make her separation from Pitt easier. Aniston said her relationship with Pitt, which she does not regret, was "seven very intense years together" and that "it was a beautiful, complicated relationship."
Following her divorce, Aniston began a relationship with actor Vince Vaughn, with whom she costarred in The Break Up. Relationship troubles were reported in sep. 2006 (5 years ago), followed by a confirmed split in dec. of that year. She briefly dated male model Paul Sculfor for a few months in 2007 (4 years ago). In Apr. 2008 (3 years ago), she began dating singer John Mayer. The couple had broken up after a seven-month courtship in August, but resumed the relationship in October, before splitting again in Mar. 2009 (2 years ago).
Aniston has had two septoplasties to correct her deviated septum—one which was incorrectly done in 1994 (17 years ago) and the second in Jan. 2007 (4 years ago). Septoplasty is a surgical operation that helps alleviate a common condition that can lead to breathing difficulty and trouble sleeping.
She is the godmother of Coco Riley Arquette, the daughter of her good friends, actors Courteney Cox (12 walls) Arquette and David Arquette.
FILMOGRAPHY
Camp Cucamonga
Leprechaun
She's the One
Dream for an Insomniac
Picture Perfect
'Til There was You
The Object of My Affection
The Iron Giant
Office Space
Rock Star
The Good Girl
Bruce Almighty
Along Came Polly
Rumor Has It...
Derailed
The Break-Up
Friends with Money
Room 10
Marley & Me
He's Just Not That into You
Management
Love Happens
The Baster
The Bounty
Pumas
Nineteen Minutes
TV-SHOWS (SERIES)
Ferris Bueller
The Edge
Friends
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
1996 (15 years ago): Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, Friends
2000 (11 years ago): TV Guide Awards: Editor's Choice
2001 (10 years ago): People's Choice Award: Favorite Female TV Performer, Friends
2001 (10 years ago): Aftonbladet TV Prize, Sweden: Best Foreign TV Personality- Female, Friends
2002 (9 years ago): 54th Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Friends
2002 (9 years ago): People's Choice Award: Favorite Female TV Performer, Friends
2002 (9 years ago): Hollywood movie Festival: Actress of the Year
2002 (9 years ago): Teen Choice Award: Choice TV Actress- Comedy, Friends
2002 (9 years ago): Aftonbladet TV Prize, Sweden: Best Foreign TV Personality- Female, Friends
2003 (8 years ago): Golden Globe Award: Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series - Musical or Comedy, Friends
2003 (8 years ago): People's Choice Award: Favorite Female TV Performer, Friends
2003 (8 years ago): Teen Choice Award: Choice TV Actress- Comedy, Friends
2003 (8 years ago): Teen Choice Award: Choice Movie Actress- Drama/Action Adventure, The Good Girl
2003 (8 years ago): Aftonbladet TV Prize, Sweden: Best Foreign TV Personality- Female, Friends
2004 (7 years ago): Logie Awards: Most Popular Overseas Star, Friends
2004 (7 years ago): People's Choice Award: Favorite Female TV Performer, Friends
2004 (7 years ago): Teen Choice Award: Choice TV Actress- Comedy, Friends
2004 (7 years ago): Aftonbladet TV Prize, Sweden: Best Foreign TV Personality- Female, Friends
2005 (6 years ago): ShoWest Convention Awards: Female Star of the Year
2006 (5 years ago): Teen Choice Award: Choice Movie Chemistry (shared with Vince Vaughn), The Break-Up
2007 (4 years ago): People's Choice Award: Favorite Female Movie Star
2007 (4 years ago): GLAAD Media Awards: Vanguard Award
2007 (4 years ago): CineVegas International movie Festival: Best Short movie for Room 10
2009 (2 years ago): 61st Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, 30 Rock (TBA)
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Ali Larter
FACTS ABOUT ALI LARTER
| Date of Birth: | 28 February 1976 |
| Birthplace: | Cherry Hill, New Jersey |
| Age: | 34 |
| First Name: | Ali |
| Last Name: | Larter |
| Build: | Athletic |
| Height: | 5' 8" (173 cm) |
| Eye Color: | Blue |
| Hair Color: | Red |
| Star Sign: | Pisces |
| Claim to Fame: | Final Destination |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Occupation Category: | Actress |
| Nationality: | American |
| Alternative Names: | Allegra Coleman |
BIOGRAPHY FOR ALI LARTER
Alison Elizabeth "Ali" Larter (born Feb. 28, 1976 (35 years ago)) is an American actress and former fashion model best known for her screen roles aimed at teenage audiences. Larter can currently be seen on the hit TV series Heroes. She has also had roles in successful Hollywood movies including, Varsity Blues (1999, 12 years ago), Drive Me Crazy (1999, 12 years ago), House on Haunted Hill (1999, 12 years ago), Final Destination (2000, 11 years ago), Legally Blonde (2001, 10 years ago), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001, 10 years ago), Final Destination 2 (2003, 8 years ago), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007, 4 years ago) and Obsessed (2009, 2 years ago).
EARLY YEARS
Larter was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the daughter of Margaret, a homemaker, and Danforth Larter, a trucking executive. She attended Carusi Middle School and Cherry Hill High School West. She began modeling with Ford Models at the age of fourteen and traveled the world. At seventeen, Larter settled temporarily in Japan. Later, in 1995 (16 years ago), she accompanied her boyfriend in his move to Los Angeles, California. Soon afterwards, he left her and she flew to Australia "to put a little distance between us." Back in Los Angeles, she began taking acting classes at a friend's suggestion.
CAREER
Early work
In Nov. 1994 (17 years ago), Larter portrayed the hoax model Allegra Coleman in Esquire magazine. The article published in the magazine told of the fictional model's relationship with David Schwimmer, how Quentin Tarantino broke up with Mira Sorvino to date her, and Woody Allen's overhaul of a movie to have her star. Even after the hoax had been revealed, its effects lingered, and various talent agencies sought to represent the non-existent Coleman.
Larter landed her first professional roles in 1997 (14 years ago), in which she appeared for one episode in the Brooke Shields' TV series, Suddenly Susan, and the short lived TV series Chicago Sons. The roles were followed by a number of other appearances on Dawson's Creek, Chicago Hope and Just Shoot Me!
In 1999 (12 years ago), Larter began her movie career with an appearance in Varsity Blues which re-united her with Dawson's Creek star Van Der Beek, and close friend Amy Smart. Varsity Blues drew a domestic box office gross of $53 million, making Larter's first movie a commercial success. Larter's most infamous scene was one with her wearing nothing but whipped cream (aka "the whipped-cream bikini") in attempts to seduce Van Der Beek's character. Afterwards, Larter appeared in teen comedies, Giving It Up and Drive Me Crazy. That year as well, Larter starred in the horror remake House on Haunted Hill. Made for around $20 million, the movie was panned by the critics but grossed $15 million on its opening weekend and went on to earn over $40 million.
Critical success
In 2000 (11 years ago), Larter starred in the teenage audience aimed horror movie Final Destination as Clear Rivers. The following year in 2001 (10 years ago), she appeared in the comedy Legally Blonde with Reese Witherspoon (11 walls), western American Outlaws with Colin Farrell and the Kevin Smith movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. That year as well, Larter appeared on the cover of Maxim magazine (55 walls) and performed in the stage play The Vagina Monologues in New York City. The next year in 2002 (9 years ago), Larter was ranked #40 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World". In 2003 (8 years ago), Larter reprised her role as Clear Rivers in the sequel to Final Destination, Final Destination 2. In 2005 (6 years ago), Larter appeared in the independent movie Confess and the romantic comedy A Lot Like Love alongside Amanda Peet (6 walls) and Ashton Kutcher.
2006 saw Larter in the biographical movie Crazy based on guitarist Hank Garland. As of sep. 2006 (5 years ago), Larter has been portraying Jessica/Niki Sanders & Tracy Strauss on the NBC Emmy Award-nominated science fiction drama TV series Heroes, created by Tim Kring. The show includes an ensemble cast including Hayden Panettiere (55 walls), Milo Ventimiglia (4 walls), Leonard Roberts, Kristen Bell (94 walls), Masi Oka and Greg Grunberg. Larter's character Niki Sanders, who is a wife and mother, is a former internet stripper from Las Vegas who exhibits superhuman strength and an alternate personality who goes by the name of Jessica. After completing half its first season, Heroes had already collected an assortment of honors and accolades, and Larter had been nominated for "Best Supporting Actress" for the 33rd Saturn Awards. As of the third season, Larter portrays a new character, Tracy Strauss.
In 2007 (4 years ago), Larter starred in the Bollywood Marigold as the title character alongside Salman Khan, which was released in August. She also joined the cast of the popular movie franchise Resident Evil: Extinction portraying the character Claire Redfield in the horror movie with Milla Jovovich. Her role sent her to Mexicali, Mexico for filming from May to late Jul. in which she also dyed her hair a light red for the film. Larter explains on her character Claire, "She became the leader of this convoy. She's incredibly strong, patient. I think she serves a role for everyone within this convoy, let it be a mother to someone, a buddy, a best friend." Larter also attended the 2007 (4 years ago) Comic Con International, her second appearance at the event, to promote the film, which was released in theaters on sep. 21, 2007 (4 years ago). That year she also appeared in the comedy Homo Erectus. Larter was also featured as #6 in Maxim's Hot 100 for 2007 (4 years ago).
In an interview for Resident Evil: Extinction, Larter had expressed interest in producing movies in the future, saying, "I definitely have many ideas and different avenues that I want to take as my career goes on."
In Mar. 2008 (3 years ago), it was announced that Larter would star opposite Beyonce Knowles (37 walls) and Idris Elba in the Screen Gems-produced movie Obsessed, about an office executive (Elba) whose marriage to Knowles' character is threatened by the aggressive interests of a co-worker, to be portrayed by Larter. Shooting took place in the summer of 2008 (3 years ago). "Obsessed" was released in theaters Apr. 24, 2009 (2 years ago) in the United States.
PERSONAL LIFE
Larter is a good friend of actress Amy Smart (10 walls) with whom she co-starred in Varsity Blues and Erick Alegria, a former Sam's Kid. Larter has also lived in Miami and then New York City after the spring of 2002 (9 years ago), where she studied at Michael Howard Studios. In Jan. 2007 (4 years ago), she moved to Los Angeles to take on the commitment of working on Heroes.
On Aug. 1st, 2009 (2 years ago), Larter wed her longtime boyfriend, actor Hayes MacArthur, in a small ceremony in Maine.
FILMOGRAPHY
House on Haunted Hill
Varsity Blues
Drive Me Crazy
Giving It Up
Final Destination
American Outlaws
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Legally Blonde
Final Destination 2
Three Way
Confess
A Lot Like Love
Marigold
Crazy
Resident Evil: Extinction
Homo Erectus
Obsessed
Resident Evil Afterlife
TV-SHOWS (SERIES)
Suddenly Susan
Chicago Sons
Chicago Hope
Just Shoot Me!
Dawson's Creek
Entourage
Heroes
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Stacey Dash
| Birth Date: | January 20, 1966 |
| Birth Place: | The Bronx, New York, USA |
| Height: | 5' 5" |
| Sex: | F |
| Nationality: | American |
| Profession: | actress |
| Education: | Paramus High School in Paramus, New Jersey |
| Husband/Wife: | Brian Lovell (producer; married on July 16, 1999) |
| Brother: | Darien Dash |
| Son: | Austin (born in 1991; father: singer Christopher Williams) |
| Cousin: | Damon Dash (CEO of Rock-a-Fella Records; born on May 3, 1971) |
| Claim to fame: | Played Dionne in Clueless (1995) |
She made her first TV appearance in Farrell for the People starring Valerie Harper and a virtually unknown Ed O'Neill in 1982, which did not make it past its pilot episode. Her notable first appearance was as 'Michelle' in the 1985 The Cosby Show episode "Denise's Friend" alongside Lisa Bonet, and in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Dash's first substantial television role was in the 1988 television series TV 101, which also featured Matt LeBlanc and Sam Robards. The series was canceled after 13 episodes.
Dash's first major film role was in the Richard Pryor comedy Moving in 1988. She also had sizeable roles in Mo' Money and Renaissance Man during this time. In 1995, Dash starred as a femme fatale in a low budget film, Illegal in Blue. Dash received her big break with the 1995 film Clueless, which starred Alicia Silverstone and Brittany Murphy. Dash played Cher's high school best friend Dionne Marie Davenport, even though Dash was twenty-eight at the time. In 1996 the film spawned a television spinoff, also called Clueless, in which Dash reprised her role as Dionne and Rachel Blanchard played Cher. The series ran from 1996–1999.
After the television series ended, she appeared in View from the Top (2003) and smaller budget films, including Gang Of Roses (2003), and Getting Played (2005). She also has appeared in small guest roles on television shows such as Eve and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Dash played Vanessa Weir in the television series, The Strip, which was not successful and was canceled after several episodes.
In 2001, Dash was featured in a music video by Carl Thomas for the single "Emotional". In 2004, Dash was featured in a music video by Kanye West, label mate of her cousin Damon Dash for the single "All Falls Down." At age 40, Stacey Dash posed nude in the August 2006 issue of Playboy. Also in 2006, she was featured in singer Marques Houston's video, "Favorite Girl". In 2006, she launched her own lingerie line called Letters of Marque.
In 2007, she completed filming roles in I Could Never Be Your Woman, Nora's Hair Salon II, Fashion Victim, Ghost Image and American Primitive. For 2008 release, she filmed Phantom Punch and Secrets Of A Hollywood Nurse for television, and the feature film Close Quarters.
Dash performed in the 2008 reality television series, Celebrity Circus. Prior to the series premiere, Dash suffered a broken rib while training. Despite the injury, Dash performed on the trapeze bungee during the premiere and continued on to be a finalist. Dash finished second behind Antonio Sabato, Jr.
Dash made a guest appearance on the television series The Game in early 2009. In March 2010, she said she will be starring in her own reality show on VH1.
source :en.wikipedia
christina aguilera
FACTS ABOUT CHRISTINA AGUILERA
Date of Birth: 18 December 1980
Birthplace: Staten Island, New York
Age: 29
First Name: Christina
Middle Name: Maria
Last Name: Aguilera
Build: Slim
Height: 5' 1?" (156 cm)
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Star Sign: Sagittarius
Claim to Fame: Genie in a Bottle
Occupation: Singer
Religion: Roman Catholic
Occupation Category: Singer
Nationality: American
Music Genre: Pop, Pop/Rock
Music Style: Adult Contemporary, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Contemporary R&B, Dance-Pop, Neo-Soul, Pop, R&B, Teen Pop
Music Mood: Carefree, Cheerful, Earnest, Energetic, Exuberant, Freewheeling, Fun, Happy, Party/Celebratory, Playful, Romantic, Rousing, Sensual, Sentimental, Sexy, Stylish, Sweet, Theatrical, Trashy, Warm
Musical Instrument: Vocals
Alternative Names: Xtina, Christina Maria (Aguilera) Bratman, Christina Aquilera
BIOGRAPHY FOR CHRISTINA AGUILERA
Christina María Aguilera (born dec. 18, 1980 (31 years ago)) is an American pop musician. Aguilera first appeared on national TV in 1990 (21 years ago) as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's TV series The New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994. Aguilera signed to RCA Records after recording "Reflection" for the movie Mulan. She came to prominence following her debut album Christina Aguilera (1999, 12 years ago), which was a commercial success spawning three number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. A Latin pop album, Mi Reflejo (2001, 10 years ago), and several collaborations followed which garnered Aguilera worldwide success but she was displeased with her lack of input in her music and image.
After parting from her management, Aguilera took creative control over her second studio album Stripped (2002, 9 years ago), which received mixed reviews and produced substantial sales. The second single, "Beautiful", was a commercial success and sustained the album's sales amidst controversy over Aguilera's sexual image. Aguilera's third studio album Back to Basics (2006, 5 years ago), included elements of soul, jazz, and blues music, and was released to positive critical reception.
Aside from being known for her vocal ability, music videos and ever-changing image, musically, she includes themes of dealing with public scrutiny, her childhood, and female empowerment in her music. Apart from her work in music, she has also dedicated much of her time as a philanthropist for charities, human rights and world issues. Aguilera's work has earned her numerous awards, including four Grammy Awards and one Latin Grammy Award, amongst eighteen nominations. She has become one of the most successful recording artists of the decade, selling more than 42 million records worldwide.
EARLY YEARS
Aguilera was born in Staten Island, New York, to Fausto Wagner Xavier Aguilera, a Sergeant in the U.S. Army at the time and Shelly Loraine Fidler, a teacher of the Spanish language. Aguilera's father was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador (Christina's maternal grandmother emigrated from County Clare, Ireland.) Her father, Fausto, was stationed at Earnest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Japan. Aguilera lived with her father and mother until she was seven years old. Aguilera grew up hearing Spanish and thus understands the language, although she is more fluent in English. When Aguilera's parents divorced, her mother took her, and her younger sister Rachel, to her grandmother's home in Rochester, Pennsylvania, a town outside of Pittsburgh. According to both Aguilera and Fidler, her father was very controlling, as well as physically and emotionally abusive. She later wrote about her difficult childhood in the songs "I'm OK" in Stripped, and "Oh Mother" in Back to Basics. Although her father has written to Aguilera, she has ruled out any chance of reuniting with him. Since then, Fidler has married a paramedic named Jim Kearns, and changed her name.
As a child, Aguilera aspired to be a singer. She was known locally as "the little girl with the big voice", singing in local talent shows and competitions. According to VH1's Driven, whenever competitors learned they would be up against her in any given week, they would immediately withdraw, prompting insiders to claim it was "like sending a lamb to the slaughter." Her peers soon became jealous of her and would frequently subject her to ridicule, ostracism, and, in one gym class, attempted assault. Acts of vandalism around her house included the slashing of the tires on the family car. Eventually, the family relocated to another suburb in the Pittsburgh area (this time, Wexford) and took to secrecy about Aguilera's talent lest another backlash occur. She attended Marshall Middle School near Wexford and North Allegheny Intermediate High School until she was later home schooled.
On Mar. 15, 1990 (21 years ago), she appeared on Star Search singing "A Sunday Kind of Love", but lost the competition at number 2. Soon after losing on Star Search, she returned home and appeared on Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV's Wake Up with Larry Richert to perform the same song. People remarked that the then ten-year-old "sounded 20."
Throughout her youth in Pittsburgh, Aguilera sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Pittsburgh Penguins (9 walls) hockey, Pittsburgh Steelers football and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games. Her first major role in entertainment came in 1993 (18 years ago) when she joined the Disney Channel's variety show The New Mickey Mouse Club. Her co-stars included Justin Timberlake (11 walls), Britney Spears (80 walls), Ryan Gosling and Keri Russell, the show lasted another year until its cancellation. According to the documentary Driven, Aguilera's co-stars called her "the Diva". One of her most notable performances was of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing".
At the age of fourteen, Aguilera recorded her first song, "All I Wanna Do", a hit duet with Japanese singer Keizo Nakanishi. In 1997 (14 years ago), she represented the United States at the "Golden Stag" International Festival with a two-song set.
CAREER
1998–2001: Pop music beginnings and Christina Aguilera
In 1998 (13 years ago), Aguilera sang the High "E" in full voice (and again on the song "Candyman" from her Back To Basics album for a full 8 seconds) (E5) on a cover of Whitney Houston's "Run to You" which she recorded with a tape recorder in her bathroom. She was then selected to record the song "Reflection" for the Disney production of Mulan (1998, 13 years ago). Recording "Reflection" led to Aguilera earning a contract with RCA Records the same week. "Reflection" peaked within the top twenty on the Adult Contemporary Singles Chart, and it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Song" in 1998 (13 years ago). Under the exclusive representation of Steve Kurtz, Aguilera's self-titled debut album Christina Aguilera was released on Aug. 24, 1999 (12 years ago). It reached the top of the Billboard 200 and Canadian album charts, selling eight million copies in the U.S. and over sixteen million copies worldwide. The album is also included in the Top 100 Albums of All Time list of The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) based on US sales.
Her singles "Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants" and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)" topped the Billboard Hot 100 during 1999 (12 years ago) and 2000 (11 years ago), and "I Turn to You" reached #3. According to the album's songwriters, Aguilera wanted to display the range and audacity in her voice during the promotion of the album, and performed acoustic sets and appeared on TV shows accompanied only by a piano. She ended the year on MTV's New Year's Special, as she performed and was MTV's first artist of the millennium. At the 42nd Grammy Awards Aguilera received a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance nomination for "Genie in a Bottle" and despite earlier predictions, she won the award Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Aguilera's manager Kurtz told MTV that Christina was talking about recording a Spanish-language album even before she recorded her debut album. In 2000 (11 years ago) Aguilera started recording with producer Rudy Pérez in Miami. Later in 2000 (11 years ago), Aguilera, first emphasized her Latin heritage by releasing her first Spanish album, Mi Reflejo on sep. 12, 2000 (11 years ago). This album contained Spanish versions of songs from her English debut as well as new Spanish tracks. Though some criticized Aguilera for trying to cash in on the Latin music boom at the time. According to Pérez, Aguilera was only semi-fluent, while recording. She understood the language, because she has grown up with her father, who is a native of Ecuador. He added "Her Latin roots are undeniable". The album still managed to peak at #27 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Latin charts for 20 weeks. In 2001 (10 years ago), it won Aguilera a Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. The album went Gold in the US. She also won the World Music Award as the best selling Latin artist that year.
Aguilera also released a Christmas album on Oct. 24, 2000 (11 years ago) called My Kind of Christmas. It peaked at #28 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified Platinum in the US. Ricky Martin asked Aguilera to duet with him on the track "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" from his album Sound Loaded; released in 2001 (10 years ago) as the album's second single. The single reached number one on the World Chart.
In 2001 (10 years ago), Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink were chosen to remake Labelle's 1975 (36 years ago) single "Lady Marmalade" for the movie Moulin Rouge! and its soundtrack. The single Missy Elliott produced hit number one on the Hot 100 for five weeks and was the most successful airplay-only single in history. It also reached number one in eleven other countries amd earned all four performers a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Aguilera's appearance in the music video was compared to that of Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider. The video won two MTV Video Music Awards including Video of the Year in 2001 (10 years ago), where Aguilera accepted the award saying, "I guess the big hair paid off."
That year a single emerged into record stores called "Just Be Free", one of the demos Aguilera recorded when she was around fifteen years old. When RCA Records discovered the single, they advised fans not to purchase it. Months later, Warlock Records was set to release Just Be Free, an album which contains the demo tracks. Aguilera filed a breach of contract and unfair competition suit against Warlock and the album's producers to block the release. Instead, the two parties came to a settlement to release the album. Aguilera lent out her name, likeness and image (wallpaper) for an unspecified amount of damages. Many of the details of the lawsuit remain confidential. When the album was released in Aug. 2001 (10 years ago), it had a photograph of Aguilera when she was fifteen years old.
Although Aguilera's debut album was very well received, she was dissatisfied with the music and image (wallpaper) her management had created for her. Aguilera was marketed as a bubblegum pop singer because of the genre's upward financial trend. She mentioned plans of her next album to have much more depth, both musically and lyrically. Aguilera's views of Steve Kurtz's influence in matters of the singer's creative direction, the role of being her exclusive personal manager and overscheduling had in part caused her to seek legal means of terminating their management contract. She revealed while recording her then upcoming album, "I was being overworked. You find out that someone you thought was a friend is stealing money behind your back, and it's heartbreaking. I put faith in the people around me, and unfortunately, it bit me in the butt." Kurtz was terminated and Irving Azoff was hired as her new manager.
2002–2003: Stripped era
In sep. 2001 (10 years ago), Aguilera began recording the album of new material that has the title of stripped. On Oct. 29, 2002 (9 years ago), after much delay, Aguilera's second full-length English album, Stripped, was released, selling more than 330,000 copies in the first week and peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200. Unlike previous work, the album showcased Aguilera's raunchier side. The majority of Stripped was co-written by Aguilera (who had recently signed a global music publishing contract with BMG Music Publishing), and was influenced by many different subjects and music styles, including contemporary R&B, gospel, soul, balladry, pop rock, and hip hop. The majority of the album was produced by Scott Storch and singer-songwriter Linda Perry who produced her more personal records. Rockwilder and singer Alicia Keys (12 walls) also contributed a track each. Upon initial release, the album was very well-received by critics, although Aguilera's vocals were overlooked as she began to cultivate a more sexually provocative image. After the release of the album, she took part in photoshoots for magazines, many of these photographs featured her nude or semi-nude. Her cover for Rolling Stone, featured the singer only wearing boots and a well-placed electric guitar. It was during this time Aguilera referred to herself as "Xtina", even getting a tattoo of her nickname on the back of her neck and several piercings.
Initially, the raunchy image (wallpaper) had a negative effect on Aguilera in the U.S., especially after the release of her controversial "Dirrty" music video. She denied that this change was a matter of publicity, claiming that the image (wallpaper) better reflected her true personality than did the image (wallpaper) she cultivated back in 1999 (12 years ago). While the video for "Dirrty" became very popular on MTV, it disappointed on the U.S. singles chart. However, the single was a hit worldwide, reaching number one in the UK and Ireland. The second single, "Beautiful" received critical praise. The classically influenced ballad reached number one in several countries and peaked at #2 in the US. "Beautiful" earned Aguilera the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Three more singles ("Fighter", "Can't Hold Us Down" featuring Lil' Kim, "The Voice Within") were released in the following two years and were hits that helped the album stay on the charts for the next two years. Stripped stayed on the U.S. and UK album charts well into 2004 (7 years ago), and went on to be certified four-times platinum in the U.S. with over twelve million copies sold worldwide. It appeared at number ten on Billboard's year-end album chart. Kelly Clarkson's second single "Miss Independent" was co-written by Aguilera, having been half-finished for Stripped.
Aguilera joined Justin Timberlake (11 walls) that Jun. on the final leg of his international Justified tour, held in the U.S. This portion of the tour became a co-headliner called the "Justified & Stripped Tour". In August, an overhead lighting grid collapsed from the ceiling of the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, causing major damage to the sound and video equipment below. Because the collapse occurred hours before the show, only a few stagehands were injured, but a few shows were cancelled or postponed. In the fourth quarter of that year, Aguilera continued to tour internationally without Timberlake, and changed the name of the tour to the "Stripped World Tour". She also dyed her hair black. It was one of the top-grossing tours of that year, and sold out most of its venues. Rolling Stone readers named it the best tour of the year. She was a special guest performer with the Pussycat Dolls' dance troupe and appeared on a Maxim spread alongside them. Her second Maxim cover that year set record sales for the issue, by the end of the year she topped the annual Hot 100 list later saying, "We had fun working with certain clothes, or the lack thereof." After much delay, Aguilera's first DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) live-recording from a concert tour, Stripped Live in the UK, was released in Nov. 2004 (7 years ago).
In light of the tour's success, another U.S. tour was scheduled to begin in mid-2004 with a new theme. The tour however was scrapped because of the vocal cord injuries Aguilera suffered shortly before the tour's opening date. In a tribute to Madonna's performance at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards, Aguilera performed a kiss with the singer-actress at the 2003 (8 years ago) edition of the ceremony in August. The incident occurred during the opening performance of Madonna's songs "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" with fellow popstar Britney Spears.
2004–2007: Artistic development and Back to Basics
Aguilera later decided to embrace a more mature image; this move was met with more praise than criticism, with articles using punch lines such as "From Crass to Class." She eventually dyed her hair cherry blonde and recorded a jingle, "Hello", for a Mercedes-Benz ad. Shortly after, she dyed her hair flaxen blonde and cut it short, and took on a Marilyn Monroe look; she is one of the main proponents (along with Dita Von Teese (20 walls), Gwen Stefani (16 walls), and Ashley Judd (62 walls)) in bringing back the 1920s-1940s Hollywood glamour look.
In late summer 2004 (7 years ago), Aguilera released two singles. The first, "Car Wash", was a remake of the Rose Royce disco song recorded as a collaboration with rapper Missy Elliott for the soundtrack to the movie Shark Tale. The second song was also a collaboration, but this time as a second single from one of Nelly's double-release albums, Sweat, titled "Tilt Ya Head Back". Both singles failed commercially in the U.S., but did considerably better in other parts of the world.
Aguilera collaborated with jazz artist Herbie Hancock on a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You" recorded for Hancock's album Possibilities, released in Aug. 2005 (6 years ago). Aguilera and Hancock were later nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. She helped open the 50th Anniversary for Disneyland performing "When You Wish upon a Star", and she also collaborated with Andrea Bocelli on the song "Somos Novios" for his album Amore.
Aguilera's third English studio album, Back to Basics, released Aug. 15, 2006 (5 years ago), debuted at #1 in the U.S., the U.K. and eleven other countries. Aguilera described the double CD as "a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music, but with a modern twist." Although critics commented on the album's length saying, "At one disc, this would have been nothing short of masterful." The critically acclaimed lead single "Ain't No Other Man" was a substantial success, reaching #2 on the World Chart, #6 in the U.S., and #2 in U.K. Producers on the album included DJ Premier, Kwamé, Linda Perry, and Mark Ronson. One track, "F.U.S.S.", was written as a response to the animosity between Aguilera and her former producer Scott Storch. In an interview she said, "That's a way of burying my experience with him. When I tried to work with him again, he made uncalled-for demands. It was disappointing that someone would get affected like that." She received writing credit for the album and was the executive producer. The follow-up singles did very well in different regions, "Hurt" in Europe and "Candyman" in the Pacific. She co-directed both music videos, the former with Floria Sigismondi who directed her "Fighter" video, and the latter, "Candyman", with director/photographer Matthew Rolston which was inspired by The Andrews Sisters. According to Sony BMG, Back to Basics has sold over 4.5 million units worldwide.
In late 2006 (5 years ago) Aguilera collaborated with Sean "Diddy" Combs on a track, titled "Tell Me", from his album Press Play. She also began the "Back to Basics Tour" in Europe followed by a 41-date North American tour in early 2007 (4 years ago). After this, she toured Asia and Australia, where it was supposed to end on Aug. 3, however she canceled her dates in Melbourne and her final two in Auckland due to an illness. Her extravagant arena tour included cabaret, three-ring circus and juke joint sets and 10 piece costumes designed by Roberto Cavalli. It was the most successful US tour by a female in 2007 (4 years ago). In early 2008 (3 years ago), she released her concert DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) Back to Basics: Live and Down Under.
At the 49th Grammy Awards, Aguilera again won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ain't No Other Man". She made a noteworthy performance at the ceremony paying tribute to James Brown with her rendition of his song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". In Jan. 2007 (4 years ago), she was named the 19th richest woman in entertainment by Forbes, with a net worth of US$60 million.
Aguilera performed "Steppin' Out With My Baby" with Tony Bennett on his NBC special Tony Bennett: An American Classic and on Saturday Night Live. They performed at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards where both specials received Emmys. "Steppin' Out" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
2008–present: Keeps Gettin' Better and forthcoming album
In 2008 (3 years ago) Aguilera was featured on the soundtrack to the film, Shine a Light, from a live recording of the song "Live With Me" with the Rolling Stones. The film's soundtrack was released on Apr. 1, 2008 (3 years ago). To commemorate Aguilera's ten years in the music industry, RCA Records released, Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits on Nov. 11, 2008 (3 years ago) exclusively at Target stores. The greatest hits included her first three number one singles, and other songs released from her previous three albums. The album's lead single, "Keeps Gettin' Better" was premiered at the 2008 (3 years ago) MTV Video Music Awards and was her highest debut peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In a Jul. 2008 (3 years ago) interview Aguilera revealed several details about her album saying, "I can tell you that this record is all about fun. I'll be referencing Pop art, Andy Warhol's art. So it will [sound] fun and fast-paced, and visually, it will be full of color". She also added, "there's also going to be a modern element to it that comes from my love of Tokyo". Australian singer-songwriter Sia, will contribute her songwriting skills for Aguilera's album saying, "I'm going to write with Christina in mid-September - It might not work, she might not like any of the stuff I write, and it may not make the cut, but I'm pretty excited about it." She launched her online radio station which is part of Clear Channel's iheartradio revealing details about her upcoming projects. There she revealed that she worked with M.I.A., Santigold and Ladytron adding, "The overall versatility of this record is truly something special for me. The result was just crazy magic. There truly is something for everyone to enjoy on the record." The album is expected for release in Fall 2009 (2 years ago).
Film and TV
In 1991 (20 years ago) Aguilera auditioned for a role on The New Mickey Mouse Club, however she did not meet the age requirements. Two years later she joined the cast performing musical numbers and sketch comedy until the show's cancellation in 1994 (17 years ago). Since then Aguilera has done numerous TV appearances, in 1999 (12 years ago) she made a cameo appearance performing on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. She hosted a Saturday Night Live episode in 2004 (7 years ago) prior which included a Sex & The City skit where she portrayed Samantha Jones revealing to everyone she was a man the entire time. Prior to this she appeared as a musical guest for episodes hosted by Christopher Walken in 2000 (11 years ago), Salma Hayek (21 walls) in 2003 (8 years ago) and then again in 2006 (5 years ago) with Alec Baldwin. In regards to acting in film, she's mentioned in several interviews that she intends to pursue edgy acting roles similar to Angelina Jolie. She voiced a small singing part in the animated movie Shark Tale playing a rastafarian jellyfish in the film's closing musical number. The film's stars included, among others, Jolie herself.
In 2008 (3 years ago) she appeared in the Martin Scorsese documentary Shine A Light which chronicles a two day Rolling Stones concert in New York City's Beacon Theatre. The movie features Aguilera performing "Live With Me" alongside Mick Jagger. Shine A Light premiered at the Berlin movie Festival on Feb. 7 and was released worldwide on Apr. 4, 2008 (3 years ago). She will appear as herself in the upcoming Judd Apatow film, Get Him to the Greek.
Aguilera will appear as a guest judge on the sixth season of Project Runway on Lifetime TV.
In 2009 (2 years ago) Variety confirmed that she will be working in her first feature film, a musical, titled Burlesque, scheduled to begin shooting in late 2009 (2 years ago). Aguilera will portray a small town girl who "finds love, family and success in a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club". The movie will be directed by Steve Antin and co-star Cher.
Products and endorsement
In 2000 (11 years ago), Aguilera was the face for make-up line Fetish where she worked in choosing colors and packaging for the line. She ended her contract the following year. Throughout her career Aguilera has endorsed several brands, including Skechers, Mercedes-Benz, Verizon Wireless, and soft drink giants Coca-Cola in 2001 (10 years ago), and Pepsi in 2006 (5 years ago). She became the muse and model for fashion house Versace appearing in a campaign for the 2003 (8 years ago) fall line. In 2004 (7 years ago) Aguilera earned £200,000GBP (about $500,000USD) for opening the summer sale at London's Harrods store which took in record breaking profits during the four week period. Aguilera signed a contract with European cell phone operator Orange to promote the new Sony Ericsson Walkman phone during the 2006 (5 years ago) World Cup.
In 2008 (3 years ago) jewelry designer Stephen Webster and close friend of Aguilera released "Shattered", a collection of sterling silver pieces, through Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Aguilera, who inspired the collection, was featured as a Hitchcock heroine saying, "Working together on this campaign and collection has been an incredible experience. I am honored to be a part of it all." They reprised their work together for Webster's 2009 (2 years ago) spring line.
Aguilera released two fragrances throughout Europe, the first one Xpose, was released in late 2004 (7 years ago) and sold relatively well. Through Procter and Gamble Aguilera released her signature fragrance, Simply Christina in 2007 (4 years ago). In Christmas 2007 (4 years ago), the fragrance became the number one perfume in the UK, and Germany where it topped sales for the year. The perfume won as the people's choice for favorite celebrity fragrance at the annual UK Fifi Awards 2008 (3 years ago). She released her third fragrance, Inspire, accompanied with a body care collection, on sep. 1, 2008 (3 years ago). The perfume hit shelves in the US, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Northern and Eastern Europe. It is Aguilera's first fragrance released outside of Europe. Her worldwide ad campaign included a TV ad shot by David LaChapelle and was released in the US through Macy's department stores. The release coincided with Macy's 150th anniversary which featured Aguilera in commemorative photos. She is set to release her fourth fragrance By Night in October.
PERSONAL LIFE
1999–2003
In late 1999 (12 years ago), Aguilera was rumored to have dated MTV VJ Carson Daly. The relationship was the subject of much discussion after the release of Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady", in which Eminem (16 walls) satirically suggests that Aguilera had performed fellatio on both Daly and Fred Durst, the lead singer of Limp Bizkit, and had given the rapper himself a venereal disease. Aguilera called the song's innuendo "disgusting" and "untrue." Aguilera and Eminem (16 walls) reportedly resolved the issue three years later backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards.
In Oct. 2000 (11 years ago), Aguilera filed a Breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit against Steve Kurtz for improper, undue and inappropriate influence over her professional activities, as well as fraud. According to legal documents, Kurtz did not protect her rights and interests. Instead, he took action that was for his own interest, at the cost of hers. The lawsuit came about when Aguilera discovered Kurtz used more of her commissionable income than he was allotted, and had paid other managers to assist him. She also petitioned the California State Labor Commission to nullify the contract. After terminating Kurtz's services, Irving Azoff was hired as her new manager.
Kurtz countersued later that month for breach of contract, claiming that the singer violated the same agreement she had sued to void. In the lawsuit, he included others close to Aguilera, alleging their intent to sabotage his business relationship with her. He also singled out Azoff for being in violation of the terms of Kurtz's contract.
Aguilera appeared twice on Mr. Blackwell's Ten Worst Dressed Women's list in 2000 (11 years ago) and 2002 (9 years ago). It was during this time Aguilera's image (wallpaper) was ridiculed for her heavy make-up and outfits during award shows and public events. Aguilera insisted she doesn't mind the criticism and was merely making a statement. While seeing one of her music videos, Aguilera's grandma was disappointed saying, "I nearly died when I saw she was wearing so little. I rang her mom and said, 'Oh my God, what is Christina doing?' I feel sad for her really -- she is so young. I totally understand why people criticize her."
She dated Puerto Rican dancer Jorge Santos, he appeared on her tour and music videos throughout 2000 (11 years ago). They dated for nearly two years until the relationship ended on sep. 11, 2001 (10 years ago). He remained her dancer well into 2002 (9 years ago).
In 2003 (8 years ago), Aguilera was in several public feuds with other musicians including Pink who had worked with her on "Lady Marmalade", the singer mocked Aguilera on stage by using a blow-up doll during her tour. Kelly Osbourne also remarked that Aguilera was, "one of the most disgusting human beings in the world." Later that year at the MTV Europe Awards where Aguilera was hosting, Osbourne commented on the red carpet calling her a "cow", Aguilera was later seen throwing darts at a picture (wallpaper) of Kelly during the telecast. Several years later however Aguilera purchased The Osbourne house from Sharon and Ozzy which seemed to have ended their feud.
2004–2008
Aguilera began dating music marketing executive Jordan Bratman in 2002 (9 years ago). Their engagement was announced in Feb. 2005 (6 years ago), and they married on Nov. 19, 2005 (6 years ago), in a Napa Valley estate. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Aguilera revealed that she and Bratman enjoy being nude on Sundays, saying, "You have to keep marriage alive, spice it up". The story received so much attention that following the news supermodel Heidi Klum (67 walls) told Degeneres that she and her husband Seal would consider doing the same ritual.
In May 2006 (5 years ago), she posed nude for a Marilyn Monroe-inspired photoshoot in GQ magazine where she re-created several photographs done by Monroe and spoke about her marriage to Bratman. In the issue she also expressed disappointment in fellow singer Mariah Carey (29 walls), saying that Carey "was never cool to me", and that "one time we were at a party, I think she got really drunk, and had really derogatory things to say to me." Carey then released a statement saying, "It is sad yet predictable that she would use my name at this time to reinvent past incidents for promotional gain." Aguilera responded saying, "My intentions were not to upset Mariah with any statements published or taken out of context. I have all the respect in the world for her."
On sep. 9, 2007 (4 years ago), at a birthday party for a mutual friend, Paris Hilton (99 walls) publicly congratulated the singer on her pregnancy. Aguilera, however, had not yet confirmed her pregnancy at the time. Aguilera later confirmed this on Nov. 4 in an interview with Glamour magazine. On Jan. 12, 2008 (3 years ago), Aguilera gave birth to her son, Max Liron Bratman, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. His Latin firstname and Hebrew middle name roughly translate into “My Greatest Song”. Aguilera was reportedly paid $1.5 million by People magazine for her baby pictures, which according to Forbes places fifth on the list of the most expensive celebrity baby photos.
FILMOGRAPHY
1993–1995: Mickey Mouse Club — Herself
1999 (12 years ago): Beverly Hills, 90210 — Herself
2000 (11 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Musical guest
2003 (8 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Musical guest
2004 (7 years ago): Shark Tale — Voice
2004 (7 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Hostess
2006 (5 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Musical guest
2008 (3 years ago): Shine a Light — Musical guest
2010 (last year): Burlesque - Lead Role
DISCOGRAPHY
Studio albums:
Christina Aguilera (1999, 12 years ago)
Stripped (2002, 9 years ago)
Back to Basics (2006, 5 years ago)
Light & Darkness (2009, 2 years ago)
Other albums:
Mi Reflejo (2000, 11 years ago)
My Kind of Christmas (2000, 11 years ago)
Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits (2008, 3 years ago)
DVDs:
Genie Gets Her Wish (1999, 12 years ago)
My Reflection (2001, 10 years ago)
Stripped Live in the U.K. (2004, 7 years ago)
Back to Basics: Live and Down Under (2008, 3 years ago)
TOURS
Christina Aguilera: In Concert Tour (2000/2001)
Justified/Stripped Tour / Stripped World Tour (2003, 8 years ago)
Back to Basics Tour (2006/2007)
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Date of Birth: 18 December 1980
Birthplace: Staten Island, New York
Age: 29
First Name: Christina
Middle Name: Maria
Last Name: Aguilera
Build: Slim
Height: 5' 1?" (156 cm)
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Star Sign: Sagittarius
Claim to Fame: Genie in a Bottle
Occupation: Singer
Religion: Roman Catholic
Occupation Category: Singer
Nationality: American
Music Genre: Pop, Pop/Rock
Music Style: Adult Contemporary, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Contemporary R&B, Dance-Pop, Neo-Soul, Pop, R&B, Teen Pop
Music Mood: Carefree, Cheerful, Earnest, Energetic, Exuberant, Freewheeling, Fun, Happy, Party/Celebratory, Playful, Romantic, Rousing, Sensual, Sentimental, Sexy, Stylish, Sweet, Theatrical, Trashy, Warm
Musical Instrument: Vocals
Alternative Names: Xtina, Christina Maria (Aguilera) Bratman, Christina Aquilera
BIOGRAPHY FOR CHRISTINA AGUILERA
Christina María Aguilera (born dec. 18, 1980 (31 years ago)) is an American pop musician. Aguilera first appeared on national TV in 1990 (21 years ago) as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's TV series The New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994. Aguilera signed to RCA Records after recording "Reflection" for the movie Mulan. She came to prominence following her debut album Christina Aguilera (1999, 12 years ago), which was a commercial success spawning three number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. A Latin pop album, Mi Reflejo (2001, 10 years ago), and several collaborations followed which garnered Aguilera worldwide success but she was displeased with her lack of input in her music and image.
After parting from her management, Aguilera took creative control over her second studio album Stripped (2002, 9 years ago), which received mixed reviews and produced substantial sales. The second single, "Beautiful", was a commercial success and sustained the album's sales amidst controversy over Aguilera's sexual image. Aguilera's third studio album Back to Basics (2006, 5 years ago), included elements of soul, jazz, and blues music, and was released to positive critical reception.
Aside from being known for her vocal ability, music videos and ever-changing image, musically, she includes themes of dealing with public scrutiny, her childhood, and female empowerment in her music. Apart from her work in music, she has also dedicated much of her time as a philanthropist for charities, human rights and world issues. Aguilera's work has earned her numerous awards, including four Grammy Awards and one Latin Grammy Award, amongst eighteen nominations. She has become one of the most successful recording artists of the decade, selling more than 42 million records worldwide.
EARLY YEARS
Aguilera was born in Staten Island, New York, to Fausto Wagner Xavier Aguilera, a Sergeant in the U.S. Army at the time and Shelly Loraine Fidler, a teacher of the Spanish language. Aguilera's father was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador (Christina's maternal grandmother emigrated from County Clare, Ireland.) Her father, Fausto, was stationed at Earnest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Japan. Aguilera lived with her father and mother until she was seven years old. Aguilera grew up hearing Spanish and thus understands the language, although she is more fluent in English. When Aguilera's parents divorced, her mother took her, and her younger sister Rachel, to her grandmother's home in Rochester, Pennsylvania, a town outside of Pittsburgh. According to both Aguilera and Fidler, her father was very controlling, as well as physically and emotionally abusive. She later wrote about her difficult childhood in the songs "I'm OK" in Stripped, and "Oh Mother" in Back to Basics. Although her father has written to Aguilera, she has ruled out any chance of reuniting with him. Since then, Fidler has married a paramedic named Jim Kearns, and changed her name.
As a child, Aguilera aspired to be a singer. She was known locally as "the little girl with the big voice", singing in local talent shows and competitions. According to VH1's Driven, whenever competitors learned they would be up against her in any given week, they would immediately withdraw, prompting insiders to claim it was "like sending a lamb to the slaughter." Her peers soon became jealous of her and would frequently subject her to ridicule, ostracism, and, in one gym class, attempted assault. Acts of vandalism around her house included the slashing of the tires on the family car. Eventually, the family relocated to another suburb in the Pittsburgh area (this time, Wexford) and took to secrecy about Aguilera's talent lest another backlash occur. She attended Marshall Middle School near Wexford and North Allegheny Intermediate High School until she was later home schooled.
On Mar. 15, 1990 (21 years ago), she appeared on Star Search singing "A Sunday Kind of Love", but lost the competition at number 2. Soon after losing on Star Search, she returned home and appeared on Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV's Wake Up with Larry Richert to perform the same song. People remarked that the then ten-year-old "sounded 20."
Throughout her youth in Pittsburgh, Aguilera sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Pittsburgh Penguins (9 walls) hockey, Pittsburgh Steelers football and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games. Her first major role in entertainment came in 1993 (18 years ago) when she joined the Disney Channel's variety show The New Mickey Mouse Club. Her co-stars included Justin Timberlake (11 walls), Britney Spears (80 walls), Ryan Gosling and Keri Russell, the show lasted another year until its cancellation. According to the documentary Driven, Aguilera's co-stars called her "the Diva". One of her most notable performances was of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing".
At the age of fourteen, Aguilera recorded her first song, "All I Wanna Do", a hit duet with Japanese singer Keizo Nakanishi. In 1997 (14 years ago), she represented the United States at the "Golden Stag" International Festival with a two-song set.
CAREER
1998–2001: Pop music beginnings and Christina Aguilera
In 1998 (13 years ago), Aguilera sang the High "E" in full voice (and again on the song "Candyman" from her Back To Basics album for a full 8 seconds) (E5) on a cover of Whitney Houston's "Run to You" which she recorded with a tape recorder in her bathroom. She was then selected to record the song "Reflection" for the Disney production of Mulan (1998, 13 years ago). Recording "Reflection" led to Aguilera earning a contract with RCA Records the same week. "Reflection" peaked within the top twenty on the Adult Contemporary Singles Chart, and it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Song" in 1998 (13 years ago). Under the exclusive representation of Steve Kurtz, Aguilera's self-titled debut album Christina Aguilera was released on Aug. 24, 1999 (12 years ago). It reached the top of the Billboard 200 and Canadian album charts, selling eight million copies in the U.S. and over sixteen million copies worldwide. The album is also included in the Top 100 Albums of All Time list of The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) based on US sales.
Her singles "Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants" and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)" topped the Billboard Hot 100 during 1999 (12 years ago) and 2000 (11 years ago), and "I Turn to You" reached #3. According to the album's songwriters, Aguilera wanted to display the range and audacity in her voice during the promotion of the album, and performed acoustic sets and appeared on TV shows accompanied only by a piano. She ended the year on MTV's New Year's Special, as she performed and was MTV's first artist of the millennium. At the 42nd Grammy Awards Aguilera received a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance nomination for "Genie in a Bottle" and despite earlier predictions, she won the award Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Aguilera's manager Kurtz told MTV that Christina was talking about recording a Spanish-language album even before she recorded her debut album. In 2000 (11 years ago) Aguilera started recording with producer Rudy Pérez in Miami. Later in 2000 (11 years ago), Aguilera, first emphasized her Latin heritage by releasing her first Spanish album, Mi Reflejo on sep. 12, 2000 (11 years ago). This album contained Spanish versions of songs from her English debut as well as new Spanish tracks. Though some criticized Aguilera for trying to cash in on the Latin music boom at the time. According to Pérez, Aguilera was only semi-fluent, while recording. She understood the language, because she has grown up with her father, who is a native of Ecuador. He added "Her Latin roots are undeniable". The album still managed to peak at #27 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Latin charts for 20 weeks. In 2001 (10 years ago), it won Aguilera a Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. The album went Gold in the US. She also won the World Music Award as the best selling Latin artist that year.
Aguilera also released a Christmas album on Oct. 24, 2000 (11 years ago) called My Kind of Christmas. It peaked at #28 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified Platinum in the US. Ricky Martin asked Aguilera to duet with him on the track "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" from his album Sound Loaded; released in 2001 (10 years ago) as the album's second single. The single reached number one on the World Chart.
In 2001 (10 years ago), Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink were chosen to remake Labelle's 1975 (36 years ago) single "Lady Marmalade" for the movie Moulin Rouge! and its soundtrack. The single Missy Elliott produced hit number one on the Hot 100 for five weeks and was the most successful airplay-only single in history. It also reached number one in eleven other countries amd earned all four performers a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Aguilera's appearance in the music video was compared to that of Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider. The video won two MTV Video Music Awards including Video of the Year in 2001 (10 years ago), where Aguilera accepted the award saying, "I guess the big hair paid off."
That year a single emerged into record stores called "Just Be Free", one of the demos Aguilera recorded when she was around fifteen years old. When RCA Records discovered the single, they advised fans not to purchase it. Months later, Warlock Records was set to release Just Be Free, an album which contains the demo tracks. Aguilera filed a breach of contract and unfair competition suit against Warlock and the album's producers to block the release. Instead, the two parties came to a settlement to release the album. Aguilera lent out her name, likeness and image (wallpaper) for an unspecified amount of damages. Many of the details of the lawsuit remain confidential. When the album was released in Aug. 2001 (10 years ago), it had a photograph of Aguilera when she was fifteen years old.
Although Aguilera's debut album was very well received, she was dissatisfied with the music and image (wallpaper) her management had created for her. Aguilera was marketed as a bubblegum pop singer because of the genre's upward financial trend. She mentioned plans of her next album to have much more depth, both musically and lyrically. Aguilera's views of Steve Kurtz's influence in matters of the singer's creative direction, the role of being her exclusive personal manager and overscheduling had in part caused her to seek legal means of terminating their management contract. She revealed while recording her then upcoming album, "I was being overworked. You find out that someone you thought was a friend is stealing money behind your back, and it's heartbreaking. I put faith in the people around me, and unfortunately, it bit me in the butt." Kurtz was terminated and Irving Azoff was hired as her new manager.
2002–2003: Stripped era
In sep. 2001 (10 years ago), Aguilera began recording the album of new material that has the title of stripped. On Oct. 29, 2002 (9 years ago), after much delay, Aguilera's second full-length English album, Stripped, was released, selling more than 330,000 copies in the first week and peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200. Unlike previous work, the album showcased Aguilera's raunchier side. The majority of Stripped was co-written by Aguilera (who had recently signed a global music publishing contract with BMG Music Publishing), and was influenced by many different subjects and music styles, including contemporary R&B, gospel, soul, balladry, pop rock, and hip hop. The majority of the album was produced by Scott Storch and singer-songwriter Linda Perry who produced her more personal records. Rockwilder and singer Alicia Keys (12 walls) also contributed a track each. Upon initial release, the album was very well-received by critics, although Aguilera's vocals were overlooked as she began to cultivate a more sexually provocative image. After the release of the album, she took part in photoshoots for magazines, many of these photographs featured her nude or semi-nude. Her cover for Rolling Stone, featured the singer only wearing boots and a well-placed electric guitar. It was during this time Aguilera referred to herself as "Xtina", even getting a tattoo of her nickname on the back of her neck and several piercings.
Initially, the raunchy image (wallpaper) had a negative effect on Aguilera in the U.S., especially after the release of her controversial "Dirrty" music video. She denied that this change was a matter of publicity, claiming that the image (wallpaper) better reflected her true personality than did the image (wallpaper) she cultivated back in 1999 (12 years ago). While the video for "Dirrty" became very popular on MTV, it disappointed on the U.S. singles chart. However, the single was a hit worldwide, reaching number one in the UK and Ireland. The second single, "Beautiful" received critical praise. The classically influenced ballad reached number one in several countries and peaked at #2 in the US. "Beautiful" earned Aguilera the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Three more singles ("Fighter", "Can't Hold Us Down" featuring Lil' Kim, "The Voice Within") were released in the following two years and were hits that helped the album stay on the charts for the next two years. Stripped stayed on the U.S. and UK album charts well into 2004 (7 years ago), and went on to be certified four-times platinum in the U.S. with over twelve million copies sold worldwide. It appeared at number ten on Billboard's year-end album chart. Kelly Clarkson's second single "Miss Independent" was co-written by Aguilera, having been half-finished for Stripped.
Aguilera joined Justin Timberlake (11 walls) that Jun. on the final leg of his international Justified tour, held in the U.S. This portion of the tour became a co-headliner called the "Justified & Stripped Tour". In August, an overhead lighting grid collapsed from the ceiling of the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, causing major damage to the sound and video equipment below. Because the collapse occurred hours before the show, only a few stagehands were injured, but a few shows were cancelled or postponed. In the fourth quarter of that year, Aguilera continued to tour internationally without Timberlake, and changed the name of the tour to the "Stripped World Tour". She also dyed her hair black. It was one of the top-grossing tours of that year, and sold out most of its venues. Rolling Stone readers named it the best tour of the year. She was a special guest performer with the Pussycat Dolls' dance troupe and appeared on a Maxim spread alongside them. Her second Maxim cover that year set record sales for the issue, by the end of the year she topped the annual Hot 100 list later saying, "We had fun working with certain clothes, or the lack thereof." After much delay, Aguilera's first DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) live-recording from a concert tour, Stripped Live in the UK, was released in Nov. 2004 (7 years ago).
In light of the tour's success, another U.S. tour was scheduled to begin in mid-2004 with a new theme. The tour however was scrapped because of the vocal cord injuries Aguilera suffered shortly before the tour's opening date. In a tribute to Madonna's performance at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards, Aguilera performed a kiss with the singer-actress at the 2003 (8 years ago) edition of the ceremony in August. The incident occurred during the opening performance of Madonna's songs "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" with fellow popstar Britney Spears.
2004–2007: Artistic development and Back to Basics
Aguilera later decided to embrace a more mature image; this move was met with more praise than criticism, with articles using punch lines such as "From Crass to Class." She eventually dyed her hair cherry blonde and recorded a jingle, "Hello", for a Mercedes-Benz ad. Shortly after, she dyed her hair flaxen blonde and cut it short, and took on a Marilyn Monroe look; she is one of the main proponents (along with Dita Von Teese (20 walls), Gwen Stefani (16 walls), and Ashley Judd (62 walls)) in bringing back the 1920s-1940s Hollywood glamour look.
In late summer 2004 (7 years ago), Aguilera released two singles. The first, "Car Wash", was a remake of the Rose Royce disco song recorded as a collaboration with rapper Missy Elliott for the soundtrack to the movie Shark Tale. The second song was also a collaboration, but this time as a second single from one of Nelly's double-release albums, Sweat, titled "Tilt Ya Head Back". Both singles failed commercially in the U.S., but did considerably better in other parts of the world.
Aguilera collaborated with jazz artist Herbie Hancock on a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You" recorded for Hancock's album Possibilities, released in Aug. 2005 (6 years ago). Aguilera and Hancock were later nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. She helped open the 50th Anniversary for Disneyland performing "When You Wish upon a Star", and she also collaborated with Andrea Bocelli on the song "Somos Novios" for his album Amore.
Aguilera's third English studio album, Back to Basics, released Aug. 15, 2006 (5 years ago), debuted at #1 in the U.S., the U.K. and eleven other countries. Aguilera described the double CD as "a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music, but with a modern twist." Although critics commented on the album's length saying, "At one disc, this would have been nothing short of masterful." The critically acclaimed lead single "Ain't No Other Man" was a substantial success, reaching #2 on the World Chart, #6 in the U.S., and #2 in U.K. Producers on the album included DJ Premier, Kwamé, Linda Perry, and Mark Ronson. One track, "F.U.S.S.", was written as a response to the animosity between Aguilera and her former producer Scott Storch. In an interview she said, "That's a way of burying my experience with him. When I tried to work with him again, he made uncalled-for demands. It was disappointing that someone would get affected like that." She received writing credit for the album and was the executive producer. The follow-up singles did very well in different regions, "Hurt" in Europe and "Candyman" in the Pacific. She co-directed both music videos, the former with Floria Sigismondi who directed her "Fighter" video, and the latter, "Candyman", with director/photographer Matthew Rolston which was inspired by The Andrews Sisters. According to Sony BMG, Back to Basics has sold over 4.5 million units worldwide.
In late 2006 (5 years ago) Aguilera collaborated with Sean "Diddy" Combs on a track, titled "Tell Me", from his album Press Play. She also began the "Back to Basics Tour" in Europe followed by a 41-date North American tour in early 2007 (4 years ago). After this, she toured Asia and Australia, where it was supposed to end on Aug. 3, however she canceled her dates in Melbourne and her final two in Auckland due to an illness. Her extravagant arena tour included cabaret, three-ring circus and juke joint sets and 10 piece costumes designed by Roberto Cavalli. It was the most successful US tour by a female in 2007 (4 years ago). In early 2008 (3 years ago), she released her concert DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) Back to Basics: Live and Down Under.
At the 49th Grammy Awards, Aguilera again won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ain't No Other Man". She made a noteworthy performance at the ceremony paying tribute to James Brown with her rendition of his song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". In Jan. 2007 (4 years ago), she was named the 19th richest woman in entertainment by Forbes, with a net worth of US$60 million.
Aguilera performed "Steppin' Out With My Baby" with Tony Bennett on his NBC special Tony Bennett: An American Classic and on Saturday Night Live. They performed at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards where both specials received Emmys. "Steppin' Out" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
2008–present: Keeps Gettin' Better and forthcoming album
In 2008 (3 years ago) Aguilera was featured on the soundtrack to the film, Shine a Light, from a live recording of the song "Live With Me" with the Rolling Stones. The film's soundtrack was released on Apr. 1, 2008 (3 years ago). To commemorate Aguilera's ten years in the music industry, RCA Records released, Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits on Nov. 11, 2008 (3 years ago) exclusively at Target stores. The greatest hits included her first three number one singles, and other songs released from her previous three albums. The album's lead single, "Keeps Gettin' Better" was premiered at the 2008 (3 years ago) MTV Video Music Awards and was her highest debut peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In a Jul. 2008 (3 years ago) interview Aguilera revealed several details about her album saying, "I can tell you that this record is all about fun. I'll be referencing Pop art, Andy Warhol's art. So it will [sound] fun and fast-paced, and visually, it will be full of color". She also added, "there's also going to be a modern element to it that comes from my love of Tokyo". Australian singer-songwriter Sia, will contribute her songwriting skills for Aguilera's album saying, "I'm going to write with Christina in mid-September - It might not work, she might not like any of the stuff I write, and it may not make the cut, but I'm pretty excited about it." She launched her online radio station which is part of Clear Channel's iheartradio revealing details about her upcoming projects. There she revealed that she worked with M.I.A., Santigold and Ladytron adding, "The overall versatility of this record is truly something special for me. The result was just crazy magic. There truly is something for everyone to enjoy on the record." The album is expected for release in Fall 2009 (2 years ago).
Film and TV
In 1991 (20 years ago) Aguilera auditioned for a role on The New Mickey Mouse Club, however she did not meet the age requirements. Two years later she joined the cast performing musical numbers and sketch comedy until the show's cancellation in 1994 (17 years ago). Since then Aguilera has done numerous TV appearances, in 1999 (12 years ago) she made a cameo appearance performing on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. She hosted a Saturday Night Live episode in 2004 (7 years ago) prior which included a Sex & The City skit where she portrayed Samantha Jones revealing to everyone she was a man the entire time. Prior to this she appeared as a musical guest for episodes hosted by Christopher Walken in 2000 (11 years ago), Salma Hayek (21 walls) in 2003 (8 years ago) and then again in 2006 (5 years ago) with Alec Baldwin. In regards to acting in film, she's mentioned in several interviews that she intends to pursue edgy acting roles similar to Angelina Jolie. She voiced a small singing part in the animated movie Shark Tale playing a rastafarian jellyfish in the film's closing musical number. The film's stars included, among others, Jolie herself.
In 2008 (3 years ago) she appeared in the Martin Scorsese documentary Shine A Light which chronicles a two day Rolling Stones concert in New York City's Beacon Theatre. The movie features Aguilera performing "Live With Me" alongside Mick Jagger. Shine A Light premiered at the Berlin movie Festival on Feb. 7 and was released worldwide on Apr. 4, 2008 (3 years ago). She will appear as herself in the upcoming Judd Apatow film, Get Him to the Greek.
Aguilera will appear as a guest judge on the sixth season of Project Runway on Lifetime TV.
In 2009 (2 years ago) Variety confirmed that she will be working in her first feature film, a musical, titled Burlesque, scheduled to begin shooting in late 2009 (2 years ago). Aguilera will portray a small town girl who "finds love, family and success in a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club". The movie will be directed by Steve Antin and co-star Cher.
Products and endorsement
In 2000 (11 years ago), Aguilera was the face for make-up line Fetish where she worked in choosing colors and packaging for the line. She ended her contract the following year. Throughout her career Aguilera has endorsed several brands, including Skechers, Mercedes-Benz, Verizon Wireless, and soft drink giants Coca-Cola in 2001 (10 years ago), and Pepsi in 2006 (5 years ago). She became the muse and model for fashion house Versace appearing in a campaign for the 2003 (8 years ago) fall line. In 2004 (7 years ago) Aguilera earned £200,000GBP (about $500,000USD) for opening the summer sale at London's Harrods store which took in record breaking profits during the four week period. Aguilera signed a contract with European cell phone operator Orange to promote the new Sony Ericsson Walkman phone during the 2006 (5 years ago) World Cup.
In 2008 (3 years ago) jewelry designer Stephen Webster and close friend of Aguilera released "Shattered", a collection of sterling silver pieces, through Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Aguilera, who inspired the collection, was featured as a Hitchcock heroine saying, "Working together on this campaign and collection has been an incredible experience. I am honored to be a part of it all." They reprised their work together for Webster's 2009 (2 years ago) spring line.
Aguilera released two fragrances throughout Europe, the first one Xpose, was released in late 2004 (7 years ago) and sold relatively well. Through Procter and Gamble Aguilera released her signature fragrance, Simply Christina in 2007 (4 years ago). In Christmas 2007 (4 years ago), the fragrance became the number one perfume in the UK, and Germany where it topped sales for the year. The perfume won as the people's choice for favorite celebrity fragrance at the annual UK Fifi Awards 2008 (3 years ago). She released her third fragrance, Inspire, accompanied with a body care collection, on sep. 1, 2008 (3 years ago). The perfume hit shelves in the US, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Northern and Eastern Europe. It is Aguilera's first fragrance released outside of Europe. Her worldwide ad campaign included a TV ad shot by David LaChapelle and was released in the US through Macy's department stores. The release coincided with Macy's 150th anniversary which featured Aguilera in commemorative photos. She is set to release her fourth fragrance By Night in October.
PERSONAL LIFE
1999–2003
In late 1999 (12 years ago), Aguilera was rumored to have dated MTV VJ Carson Daly. The relationship was the subject of much discussion after the release of Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady", in which Eminem (16 walls) satirically suggests that Aguilera had performed fellatio on both Daly and Fred Durst, the lead singer of Limp Bizkit, and had given the rapper himself a venereal disease. Aguilera called the song's innuendo "disgusting" and "untrue." Aguilera and Eminem (16 walls) reportedly resolved the issue three years later backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards.
In Oct. 2000 (11 years ago), Aguilera filed a Breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit against Steve Kurtz for improper, undue and inappropriate influence over her professional activities, as well as fraud. According to legal documents, Kurtz did not protect her rights and interests. Instead, he took action that was for his own interest, at the cost of hers. The lawsuit came about when Aguilera discovered Kurtz used more of her commissionable income than he was allotted, and had paid other managers to assist him. She also petitioned the California State Labor Commission to nullify the contract. After terminating Kurtz's services, Irving Azoff was hired as her new manager.
Kurtz countersued later that month for breach of contract, claiming that the singer violated the same agreement she had sued to void. In the lawsuit, he included others close to Aguilera, alleging their intent to sabotage his business relationship with her. He also singled out Azoff for being in violation of the terms of Kurtz's contract.
Aguilera appeared twice on Mr. Blackwell's Ten Worst Dressed Women's list in 2000 (11 years ago) and 2002 (9 years ago). It was during this time Aguilera's image (wallpaper) was ridiculed for her heavy make-up and outfits during award shows and public events. Aguilera insisted she doesn't mind the criticism and was merely making a statement. While seeing one of her music videos, Aguilera's grandma was disappointed saying, "I nearly died when I saw she was wearing so little. I rang her mom and said, 'Oh my God, what is Christina doing?' I feel sad for her really -- she is so young. I totally understand why people criticize her."
She dated Puerto Rican dancer Jorge Santos, he appeared on her tour and music videos throughout 2000 (11 years ago). They dated for nearly two years until the relationship ended on sep. 11, 2001 (10 years ago). He remained her dancer well into 2002 (9 years ago).
In 2003 (8 years ago), Aguilera was in several public feuds with other musicians including Pink who had worked with her on "Lady Marmalade", the singer mocked Aguilera on stage by using a blow-up doll during her tour. Kelly Osbourne also remarked that Aguilera was, "one of the most disgusting human beings in the world." Later that year at the MTV Europe Awards where Aguilera was hosting, Osbourne commented on the red carpet calling her a "cow", Aguilera was later seen throwing darts at a picture (wallpaper) of Kelly during the telecast. Several years later however Aguilera purchased The Osbourne house from Sharon and Ozzy which seemed to have ended their feud.
2004–2008
Aguilera began dating music marketing executive Jordan Bratman in 2002 (9 years ago). Their engagement was announced in Feb. 2005 (6 years ago), and they married on Nov. 19, 2005 (6 years ago), in a Napa Valley estate. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Aguilera revealed that she and Bratman enjoy being nude on Sundays, saying, "You have to keep marriage alive, spice it up". The story received so much attention that following the news supermodel Heidi Klum (67 walls) told Degeneres that she and her husband Seal would consider doing the same ritual.
In May 2006 (5 years ago), she posed nude for a Marilyn Monroe-inspired photoshoot in GQ magazine where she re-created several photographs done by Monroe and spoke about her marriage to Bratman. In the issue she also expressed disappointment in fellow singer Mariah Carey (29 walls), saying that Carey "was never cool to me", and that "one time we were at a party, I think she got really drunk, and had really derogatory things to say to me." Carey then released a statement saying, "It is sad yet predictable that she would use my name at this time to reinvent past incidents for promotional gain." Aguilera responded saying, "My intentions were not to upset Mariah with any statements published or taken out of context. I have all the respect in the world for her."
On sep. 9, 2007 (4 years ago), at a birthday party for a mutual friend, Paris Hilton (99 walls) publicly congratulated the singer on her pregnancy. Aguilera, however, had not yet confirmed her pregnancy at the time. Aguilera later confirmed this on Nov. 4 in an interview with Glamour magazine. On Jan. 12, 2008 (3 years ago), Aguilera gave birth to her son, Max Liron Bratman, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. His Latin firstname and Hebrew middle name roughly translate into “My Greatest Song”. Aguilera was reportedly paid $1.5 million by People magazine for her baby pictures, which according to Forbes places fifth on the list of the most expensive celebrity baby photos.
FILMOGRAPHY
1993–1995: Mickey Mouse Club — Herself
1999 (12 years ago): Beverly Hills, 90210 — Herself
2000 (11 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Musical guest
2003 (8 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Musical guest
2004 (7 years ago): Shark Tale — Voice
2004 (7 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Hostess
2006 (5 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Musical guest
2008 (3 years ago): Shine a Light — Musical guest
2010 (last year): Burlesque - Lead Role
DISCOGRAPHY
Studio albums:
Christina Aguilera (1999, 12 years ago)
Stripped (2002, 9 years ago)
Back to Basics (2006, 5 years ago)
Light & Darkness (2009, 2 years ago)
Other albums:
Mi Reflejo (2000, 11 years ago)
My Kind of Christmas (2000, 11 years ago)
Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits (2008, 3 years ago)
DVDs:
Genie Gets Her Wish (1999, 12 years ago)
My Reflection (2001, 10 years ago)
Stripped Live in the U.K. (2004, 7 years ago)
Back to Basics: Live and Down Under (2008, 3 years ago)
TOURS
Christina Aguilera: In Concert Tour (2000/2001)
Justified/Stripped Tour / Stripped World Tour (2003, 8 years ago)
Back to Basics Tour (2006/2007)
Source: en.wikipedia.org
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