Alexandra Burke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexandra Burke
Burke in October 2011
Born	Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke (1988-08-25) 25 August 1988 (age 36) Islington, London, England
Works	See Alexandra Burke discography
Children	2
Parent(s)	Melissa Bell (mother)
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop soul EDM
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Syco Music Epic RCA Decca

Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke (born 25 August 1988) is an English singer, songwriter, and actress. She became famous after winning the fifth series of the TV talent show The X Factor in 2008.

After winning, she signed with Syco Music. Her first single was a cover of "Hallelujah". It broke a European record by selling 105,000 copies in just one day. The song became the best-selling single of 2008 in the UK and was the Christmas number one.

In 2009, Burke released her first album, Overcome. It went straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart. The album had four number-one singles: "Hallelujah", "Bad Boys", "All Night Long", and "Start Without You". These hits earned her three nominations for the BRIT Awards.

Burke has also become a star in musical theatre. She has played the lead role in shows like The Bodyguard and Sister Act the Musical. In 2017, she was a runner-up on the popular BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.

Life and Career

Early Life

Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke was born in Islington, London, on 25 August 1988. Her mother was the singer Melissa Bell from the group Soul II Soul.

Because her mother was often on tour, Alexandra learned to be responsible at a young age. She helped look after her younger brother. Her parents separated when she was young, but they both remained involved in raising their children.

The X Factor Journey

In 2005, Burke first auditioned for the second series of The X Factor. She made it to the final seven contestants in her category, but the judge Louis Walsh felt she was too young to continue. Burke didn't give up and spent the next three years taking professional singing lessons.

She returned to The X Factor in 2008 and was mentored by Cheryl. During the live shows, she impressed the judges and the public with powerful performances. She sang songs like Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and Christina Aguilera's "Candyman".

In the semi-final, she performed Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music". For the final, she sang a duet of "Listen" with her hero, Beyoncé. Burke won the competition with 58% of the final vote, beating the boyband JLS.

Her winner's single, "Hallelujah", became the Christmas number one song of 2008. It sold over a million copies. As the winner, Burke won a £1 million recording contract with Syco, a record label co-owned by Sony Music Entertainment.

2009–2010: Breakthrough with Overcome

Burke during the All Night Long Tour in 2011

Burke's first album, Overcome, was released in October 2009. Her first single from the album, "Bad Boys", featured the rapper Flo Rida and went to number one in the UK.

The album produced more hit singles, including "Broken Heels" and "All Night Long". In 2009, Burke also signed a deal with the fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana to be the face of their new line.

In 2010, she released "Start Without You", which became her third number-one single. She later released a new version of her album Overcome with new tracks. The final single from the album was "The Silence".

2010–2012: Heartbreak on Hold

Alexandra Burke in 2011.

For her second album, Burke wanted to try a new sound. She worked with famous producers like RedOne. In June 2011, it was announced that she had signed a new record deal with RCA Records.

The first single from her second album was "Elephant", which was released in March 2012. It reached number three on the UK charts. The second single was "Let It Go".

Her second album, Heartbreak on Hold, was released in June 2012.

2014–2017: Success in Musical Theatre

In 2014, Burke made her debut in London's West End. She played the main role of Rachel Marron in the musical The Bodyguard. The show is based on the famous 1992 movie starring Whitney Houston. Burke's performance was very popular.

After the show closed in London, she continued to play the role in a tour across the UK and Ireland from 2015 to 2016.

In 2016, Burke took on another lead role, playing Deloris Van Cartier in the UK tour of Sister Act: The Musical. She toured with the show for a year.

2017: Strictly Come Dancing

In August 2017, Burke was announced as a contestant on the TV show Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with professional dancer Gorka Márquez.

The pair did very well, receiving many perfect scores from the judges. They reached the final and finished as runners-up.

Strictly Come Dancing scores

average: 36.4

2018–present: More Music and Theatre

In March 2018, Burke released her third album, The Truth Is. That same year, she returned to the West End to star in the musical Chess alongside Michael Ball. She also played the role of Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago.

From 2018 to 2020, she once again played Rachel Marron in a touring production of The Bodyguard. In 2021, she played the Narrator in the West End revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

In 2023, Burke starred in the film Pretty Red Dress. In 2024, she returned to the musical Sister Act in the West End.

Artistry

Music and Voice

Burke's music is mainly contemporary R&B, but she also sings pop and soul. Her powerful voice has been compared to famous singers like Whitney Houston and Beyoncé.

Burke is very involved in making her music. For her first album, she wanted the music to be "fun, uplifting, and bold" to match her personality. For her second album, Heartbreak on Hold, she was the executive producer, which means she had a big say in how the album sounded.

Influences

Whitney Houston (left) and Beyoncé (right) are two of Burke's biggest musical influences.

Burke has been inspired by many artists, including Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston. Her biggest influence is Beyoncé. Performing with Beyoncé in The X Factor final was a dream come true for her.

Beyoncé praised Burke, calling her a "superstar" with a "beautiful voice". Burke's first concert tour, the All Night Long Tour, was inspired by the tours of Beyoncé and Michael Jackson.

Charity Work

Burke helped a campaign to get more people to sign up for organ donation.

Burke has been involved with charity work for many years. While on The X Factor in 2008, she and the other contestants released the song "Hero" to raise money for the charity Help for Heroes. The song was a huge success and raised over one million pounds.

Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Burke was part of a group of artists called "Helping Haiti". They recorded the song "Everybody Hurts" to raise money for the people affected by the earthquake. The song became the fastest-selling charity single of the 21st century in Britain. Burke also travelled to Haiti to help with the relief efforts.

She has also supported many other charities, including Breast Cancer Care and Save the Children.

Personal Life

In February 2022, Burke announced she was expecting a baby with her boyfriend, professional footballer Darren Randolph. Their first child was born in June 2022. The couple announced their engagement in September 2024. Burke has two children.

Stage

Discography

• Overcome (2009)
• Heartbreak on Hold (2012)
• The Truth Is (2018)

Filmography

Television

Film

Tours

• The X Factor Live Tour (2009)
• All Night Long Tour (2011)
• Lady Sings the Blues (2013)
• Alexandra Burke at Jazz Café (2015)
• The Truth Is Tour (2018)

See also

In Spanish: Alexandra Burke para niños