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

After her big win, she released her first song, "Hallelujah". This song broke records in Europe for selling the most copies in 24 hours. It sold 105,000 copies in just one day! "Hallelujah" also became the best-selling song of 2008 in the UK and the UK's Christmas number one.

In 2009, Alexandra released her first album, Overcome. It quickly went to number one on the UK Albums Chart. Many songs from this album, like "Bad Boys", "All Night Long", and "Start Without You", also became number one hits. Her success with this album earned her three nominations for the BRIT Awards.

Alexandra has also starred in many popular musicals. She played Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard and Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act the Musical. In 2017, she showed off her dance moves on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, where she finished as a runner-up. In 2018, she released her third album, The Truth Is.

Life and Career

Early Life

Alexandra Burke was born in Islington, London, on 25 August 1988. Her mother, Melissa Bell, was also a famous British soul singer.

Alexandra has the same middle names, Cecelia Ewen, as her mother and sister. She has said that she had to grow up quickly because her mother was often away touring with her band. This meant Alexandra helped look after her younger brother. Her parents separated in 1992 but continued to raise their children together.

Becoming an X Factor Star (2005–2008)

Alexandra first tried out for The X Factor in 2005. She made it quite far, reaching the top 21 contestants. However, her mentor, Louis Walsh, felt she was too young to continue.

But Alexandra didn't give up! She took singing lessons for three years and tried out for The X Factor again in 2008. This time, she was mentored by Cheryl from Girls Aloud. Cheryl chose her for the live shows, where contestants perform weekly and are voted off by the public.

Alexandra impressed the judges and audience with many amazing performances. She sang songs by famous artists like Whitney Houston, The Jackson 5, Christina Aguilera, Donna Summer, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Toni Braxton. She often received standing ovations for her powerful voice.

In the grand final, Alexandra competed against Eoghan Quigg and the boyband JLS. She sang a Christmas song, "Silent Night", and performed a duet of "Listen" with her hero, Beyoncé. She said performing with Beyoncé was a dream come true!

After millions of votes, Alexandra Burke was announced as the winner of The X Factor with 58% of the final vote. Her winner's song, "Hallelujah", became the Christmas number one song of 2008 and sold over one million copies. As the winner, Alexandra received a recording contract with Syco Music.

First Album Success (2009–2010)

Burke performing during her All Night Long Tour in 2011

In 2009, Alexandra signed a big record deal in the US with Epic Records. Her first album, Overcome, was released in October 2009.

The first song from the album, "Bad Boys", featured the rapper Flo Rida. It quickly went to number one in the UK. Beyoncé, who had met Alexandra, even talked about possibly recording a song with her and invited Alexandra to join her on her I Am... World Tour.

Alexandra also signed a contract with fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana to be the face of their new fashion line. She wore their clothes in her music videos.

Other popular songs from Overcome included "Broken Heels", "All Night Long" (featuring Pitbull), and "Start Without You". "Start Without You" became her third number one single.

Alexandra was also the first ambassador for Sure Women deodorant, appearing in TV adverts. She continued to promote her album and perform on shows like The X Factor.

New Music and Challenges (2010–2014)

Alexandra said her next album would be "fiercer" and take more risks. She worked with famous producers and songwriters like RedOne, Bruno Mars, StarGate, and Ne-Yo. She even built a studio in her house to record new songs!

In 2011, Alexandra supported the T4 Battlefront show, helping young people raise awareness for organ donation. She also returned to The X Factor as a guest judge.

Her second album, Heartbreak on Hold, was released in June 2012. It featured songs like "Elephant" and "Let It Go". The album included different styles like electropop, R&B, and electro house. Alexandra was the main producer for this album, meaning she had a lot of control over the music.

In 2012, Alexandra also took part in Les Misérables for Children in Need. She released a holiday collection called Christmas Gift and started working on her third album. She wanted this album to go back to her original R&B sound.

In 2013, Alexandra started taking acting classes, hoping to work in films and musicals. She performed at the Apollo Theater in New York, sharing the stage with stars like Mary J. Blige and Patti LaBelle. She also released another collection of songs called #NewRules.

Musical Theatre Star (2014–Present)

Alexandra made her big debut in London's West End in June 2014. She starred as Rachel Marron in the musical The Bodyguard, a role made famous by Whitney Houston. She played the role for several months and was even nominated for 'Best West End Debut'.

She then toured the UK and Ireland with The Bodyguard from 2015 to 2016. After two years, her final performance in The Bodyguard was in Monaco in June 2016.

In 2016, Alexandra took on another lead role, playing Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act The Musical. She performed in this show for a year, ending in August 2017.

In August 2017, Alexandra became a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. She danced with professional dancer Gorka Márquez and made it all the way to the final, finishing as a runner-up.

After Strictly, Alexandra signed with Decca Records and released her third album, The Truth Is, in March 2018. She also returned to musical theatre, starring in Chess and Chicago in the West End.

In 2019, she went on a worldwide tour with The Bodyguard again. In 2021, she played the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium.

In 2022, Alexandra starred in the London Palladium pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. In 2023, she also appeared in the film Pretty Red Dress.

Music Style and Influences

Alexandra Burke's music is mainly contemporary R&B, but it also includes elements of soul and pop. Her powerful voice has been compared to famous singers like Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, and Beyoncé.

Alexandra is very involved in creating her music. She wants her songs to be fun, uplifting, and energetic. She has worked with many top producers to create her unique sound.

Her biggest musical influences include American entertainers Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Kelly Rowland, and Whitney Houston. She also looks up to singer-songwriters like Alicia Keys, John Legend, and Mary J. Blige.

Performing with Beyoncé on The X Factor was a dream come true for Alexandra. Beyoncé even called Alexandra a "superstar" with a "beautiful voice."

Other Projects

Fashion and Endorsements

In 2010, Alexandra and the boyband JLS (who were runners-up on her season of The X Factor) teamed up to create their own clothing line called 2KX. They designed clothes for both men and women, reflecting their personal styles. They even released a special T-shirt to raise money for charity.

Alexandra has also been the face of several brands. She was an ambassador for Nintendo DS and Sure Women. In 2012, she launched her own lipgloss line called "Lip Boom" with MUA Cosmetics. She has also promoted energy drinks, cocktails, and even The Happy Egg Company!

In 2016, she became an ambassador for Slimfast.

TV Appearances

Before The X Factor, Alexandra appeared on the TV show Star for a Night in 2001. She was also a guest judge on the British version of So You Think You Can Dance.

Alexandra has appeared on other TV shows like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Loose Women. In 2021, she was a contestant on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. She has also been a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Helping Others

Alexandra has always supported many charities. Even before she became famous, she performed to raise money for good causes.

In 2008, Alexandra and her fellow X Factor contestants released a cover of Mariah Carey's "Hero" to raise money for Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion charities. The song became the fastest-selling single of 2008 and raised over one million pounds!

Burke helped break records for getting people to sign up to donate an organ within an hour.

After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Alexandra joined many celebrities to record a charity single, "Everybody Hurts", to help the people of Haiti. This song also sold incredibly well. Alexandra even traveled to Haiti twice to help directly and check on the progress of aid efforts.

She has also supported charities like Breast Cancer Care and Save the Children UK, working to reduce child mortality. In 2013, she appeared on a TV show called From The Heart to promote organ donation.

Personal Life

In 2015, Alexandra appeared on Channel 4's Celebrity First Dates. In 2018, she got engaged to stage manager Joshua Ginnelly, but they later separated. She then dated footballer Angus MacDonald.

On 14 February 2022, Alexandra announced she was expecting a baby with her boyfriend, professional footballer Darren Randolph. Their child was born in June 2022. The couple got engaged in September 2024.

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)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Alexandra Burke para niños