American actress, singer, and songwriter of R&B music is Fantasia Monique Barrino. She gained notoriety at the age of 19 after competing in the “American Idol” competition. At the age of seventeen, she gave birth to her first child and dropped out of high school. Her specialty was music, and her professional trajectory was set by her victory in the American Idol competition. After winning, she landed a record deal with “J Records” and dropped her lead single, “I Believe.” Being the first debut single to debut at the top of the “Billboard Hot 100” list made history. Her first studio album, “Free Yourself,” was certified “platinum” and debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 list. Fantasia and her father had a strained relationship, and she has overcome an attempt at suicide. Her relationships were inconsistent; she had several affairs that ultimately resulted in an abortion. In 2011, she gave birth to her second child. After that, she wed businessman Kendall Taylor and at last had a stable existence. “Life Is Not a Fairy Tale,” her autobiography, went on to become a best-seller. She today has a happy life with her spouse and is a star in her own right.
Early Life & Childhood of Fantasia Barrino
On June 30, 1984, in High Point, North Carolina, US, Fantasia was born into Diane and Joseph Barrino. Her family had a strong musical background. Her uncles performed R&B music in the 1970s as members of “The Barrino Brothers.” This family characteristic had an impact on her, and at age five, she began to sing. While competing on “American Idol,” Ricco Barrino, her brother, was eliminated before reaching the championship round.
She went to High Point’s “Andrews High School.” She was sexually assaulted by a classmate there. When she became pregnant with her first kid at sixteen, she was seeing Brandel Shouse. On August 8, 2001, she gave birth to her daughter Zion Quari Barrino after dropping out of high school.
Career of Fantasia Barrino
After winning the 2004 season of “American Idol,” Fantasia became well-known. At the age of 19, she made history by being the youngest “American Idol.” Her performance of “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess” was thought to be among the best on the program. Her career took off as a result of her success, and she was able to take part in the US tours of “American Idol” and “Kelly, Ruben and Fantasia: Home for the Holidays,” the Christmas special.
After agreeing to a deal with “J Records,” she dropped her lead single, “I Believe.” On the ‘Billboard Hot 100’ list, this became the first debut single to debut at number one. The single’s CD was awarded a “double platinum” certification by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA).
November 2004 saw the release of “Free Yourself,” her debut studio album. It made its debut on the “Billboard 200” list at position eight. One of the album’s tracks, “Truth Is,” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. The album received a platinum certification in the United States. Her song “Baby Mama” caused a stir when it was released since it supported single parenthood.
She promoted her record by appearing as a guest on several TV shows in 2005. She also provided the voice of Aretha Franklin in the television series “American Dreams” and in the episode “A Star is Torn” of “The Simpsons.” In honor of then-Senator Barack Obama, she also gave a performance at the “NAACP Image Awards,” where she was presented with the “Outstanding Female Artist” award.
In 2006, “The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale,” her autobiographical film, had over 19 million views on Lifetime. It rose to become the second-most watched show on the channel ever.
In December 2006, she released “Fantasia,” her second album. It received a “gold” certification. She played the lead role in the Broadway adaptation of “The Color Purple,” which was adapted on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize–winning book of the same name. It increased her popularity as a theater actor and singer. She was honored with a 2007 “Theatre World Award” for her role in the musical.
She was chosen by Oprah Winfrey to star in the 2008 film adaptation of “The Color of Purple.” The next year, she and her mother both sang for a gospel record. August 2010 saw the release of “Back to Me,” her third studio album. This was a cross between her Broadway and American Idol performances from before.
For her song “Bittersweet,” she won the 2011 Grammy for “Best Female R&B Vocal Performer.” In the biopic based on the book “Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel,” she played the role of Mahalia Jackson. In February 2012, “VH1” compiled a list of the “100 Greatest Women in Music,” and she came in at number 32.
She made an appearance in a 2012 cover of Cyndi Lauper’s song “True Colors.” Later that year, she co-wrote and released the smash song “In the Middle of the Night.” In November 2013, she made a comeback to Broadway, starring in the musical After Midnight. Critics gave her favorable reviews for it.
In October 2014, she was inducted into the “North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.” That same year, she and Dave Koz collaborated on a Christmas record. On the “Billboard 200 Chart,” her 2016 album “The Definition of…” made its debut at position six. In October 2017, “Christmas after Midnight,” her most recent Christmas album, was published by Concord Records.
Large-scale Works of Fantasia Barrino
The studio albums “Fantasia” (2006), “Free Yourself” (2004), “Back to Me” (2010), “Side Effects of You” (2013), “The Definition of… ” (2016), and “Christmas After Midnight” (2017) have all been released by Fantasia.
In the 2006 film “The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale,” she starred as herself.
The Broadway productions of “The Color Purple” (2007) and “After Midnight” (2013–2014) both featured her.
“American Idol” (2004), “American Dreams” (2004), “The Simpsons” (2005), “All of Us” (2005), “An Evening of Stars” (2007, 2009, and 2011), “Fantasia for Real” (2010), “Black Girls Rock!” (2010), “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2013), “Celebrities Undercover” (2014), and “Joyful Noise” (2016) are a few of her noteworthy TV projects.
“Life Is Not a Fairy Tale,” her autobiography, was published in 2005.
Honors & Accomplishments of Fantasia Barrino
At the 2004 Billboard Music Awards, her song “I Believe” took home the titles of “Top Selling Single of the Year” and “Top Selling R&B/Hip Hop Single of the Year.”
She was honored with the 2005 Vibe Music Award for R&B Voice of the Year and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist. At the 2006 ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Awards, she took home the “Most Performed Song” trophy for both “Free Yourself” and “Truth Is.”
At the 2007 Broadway.com Awards, she was named the “Favourite (Female) Replacement” for her portrayal of “The Color Purple.”
She and Jennifer Hudson shared the 2009 NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Duo.”
She was the recipient of the 2010 Barbados Music Awards’ “International Award of Excellence.”
For her song “Bittersweet,” she won the 2011 Grammy Award for “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.”
She received the “BOE Global Artist Award” at the “Grammy Producers Brunch” in 2013.
Personal Life of Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia’s father and her had a strained connection during her difficult upbringing. She never finished high school and thought she was illiterate when it came to signing papers.
She had several affairs, which ultimately resulted in an abortion. She also attempted suicide once but failed. She committed her life to music and at last found her own identity.
On December 13, 2011, she gave birth to Dallas Xavier Barrino, her second child. After starting a relationship with businessman Kendall Taylor in 2013 and being married to him in July of 2015, her lifestyle became more solid.
Facts of Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia had to have surgery to remove a cyst from her vocal chords, which kept her out of several “The Color Purple” performances.
“Side Effects of You,” her fourth album, introduced a brand-new genre she dubbed “rock soul.” In 2013, this gained a lot of popularity.
Net worth of Fantasia Barrino
The estimated net worth of Fantasia Barrino is about $1 million.