Anastacia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anastacia
Anastacia in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Anastacia Lyn Newkirk
Born	(1968-09-17) September 17, 1968 (age 56) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Pop pop rock blue-eyed soul dance-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer Songwriter
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Epic Mercury BMG Rights Sony Music Universal Music Group Live Here Now
Signature

Anastacia Lyn Newkirk (/ˌænəˈsteɪʒə/ AN-ə-STAY-zhə; born September 17, 1968) is an American singer and songwriter. She is known for her powerful voice. Her first two albums, Not That Kind (2000) and Freak of Nature (2001), had many popular songs. These included "I'm Outta Love", "Not That Kind", "Paid My Dues", and "One Day in Your Life".

Her third album, Anastacia (2004), was also very successful. She sang a popular duet with Eros Ramazzotti, "I Belong to You (Il Ritmo della Passione)", in 2006. Anastacia has openly shared her experiences with health challenges, including Crohn's disease and two times with breast cancer. She has done a lot of charity work to raise awareness about breast cancer. Because of this, she received the Humanitarian Award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in 2013.

Early Life and Health

Anastacia Lyn Newkirk was born on September 17, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois. Her father was a singer and actor, and her mother was an actress on Broadway. When Anastacia was three, her parents separated.

When she was thirteen, Anastacia was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. This is a long-term condition that causes inflammation in the digestive system. She went to the Professional Children's School in Manhattan. After school, she worked in restaurants and hair salons while trying to start her music career.

Starting Her Music Journey

Anastacia first thought about careers in archaeology or psychology before choosing music.

She began her career as a dancer. She appeared on MTV's Club MTV and in music videos for the hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa.

In 1990, she started singing backup for other artists. She sang on pop star Tiffany's album New Inside. In 1992, she got her first chance to sing solo on the TV show ComicView.

In the mid-1990s, producers liked her unique voice. However, they often told Anastacia that her sound didn't fit into any specific music style. She continued to sing backup for artists like Jamie Foxx and Paula Abdul.

By 1997, Anastacia joined a band called The Kraze. She also sang with the gospel group The Kurt Carr Singers.

Finding Her Voice: Not That Kind

In 1998, Anastacia was feeling discouraged about her music career. She decided to try out for MTV's talent show The Cut. She performed her own song, "Not That Kind".

Her performance impressed famous artists like Elton John and Michael Jackson. In March 1999, Anastacia signed a record deal with Daylight Records.

Her first album, Not That Kind, came out on June 13, 2000. It became a top ten album in many countries in Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Her first song, "I'm Outta Love", became a huge hit around the world in 2000. It reached number one in Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand. It was also very popular in Europe and the UK.

The second song, "Not That Kind", also did well in Europe. Other songs like "Cowboys & Kisses" and "Made for Lovin' You" also charted.

In 2001, Anastacia won the World's Best Selling New Female Pop Artist award at the 2001 World Music Awards. By 2006, Not That Kind had sold over five million copies worldwide.

Freak of Nature and Health Challenges

Anastacia performing live in 2005

Anastacia's second album, Freak of Nature, was released in November 2001. It was very successful in the UK and Europe. The first song from it was "Paid My Dues", which was a big hit in many European countries.

Other popular songs from the album included "One Day in Your Life" and "Why'd You Lie to Me". In 2002, Anastacia joined other famous singers like Celine Dion and Shakira for VH1 Divas Las Vegas. She also sang "Boom", the official song for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Freak of Nature sold seven million copies.

In January 2003, Anastacia found out she had breast cancer during a routine check-up. She had surgery and treatment right away. After this, Anastacia started the Anastacia Fund. This fund helps raise awareness about breast cancer, especially for younger women. She said her health experience inspired her next album.

A New Sound: Anastacia

Anastacia wanted to add more rock and funk to her music. She created a new sound she called "sprock," which is a mix of soul, pop, and rock. She named her third album Anastacia.

The first song from this album, "Left Outside Alone", was released in March 2004. It was one of the biggest songs of 2004 in Europe. It reached number one in many countries and stayed at number one on the European Billboard singles chart for 15 weeks. It also topped the charts in Australia.

Anastacia became her most successful album. It reached the top of the charts in many countries, including the UK, Ireland, and Germany. Other successful songs from the album included "Sick and Tired" and "Welcome to My Truth". The song "Heavy on My Heart" helped raise money for the Anastacia Fund.

From September 2004 to August 2005, Anastacia went on her Live at Last Tour. This tour was very popular.

In late 2005, she released her first collection of greatest hits, called Pieces of a Dream. This album included the hit song "Pieces of a Dream" and her duet with Eros Ramazzotti, "I Belong to You (Il Ritmo della Passione)". This duet was a number one hit in Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Switzerland.

By 2006, Anastacia had sold over 20 million copies of her first three albums. Her album Anastacia alone sold eight million copies.

In 2006, Anastacia released her first live DVD, Live at Last. It showed footage from her concerts and music videos. After this, she took a break from music to focus on her fashion line with the German brand s.Oliver.

New Music and More Tours

Anastacia with her World Artist Award in 2009

Anastacia performed at the Concert for Diana on July 1, 2007. This was one of her first big appearances after her break. She sang "Superstar" from Jesus Christ Superstar.

In 2008, Anastacia released her fourth album, Heavy Rotation. This album had a different, more "urban" sound. The first song from it was "I Can Feel You".

Even though this album was not as commercially successful as her previous ones, Anastacia remained positive. In 2009, she received the World Artist Award at the Women's World Awards.

In June 2009, Anastacia started her Heavy Rotation Tour in Europe. She also joined other singers like Chaka Khan and Lulu for the Here Come the Girls Christmas concert tour in the UK.

Anastacia performing at the 2010 Art on Ice gala in Switzerland

In 2010, Anastacia was a judge on the British talent show Don't Stop Believing. She also sang a duet with Russian singer Dima Bilan called "Safety".

In August 2010, Anastacia announced a joint tour with Belgian singer Natalia Druyts. They released a song together called "Burning Star".

In 2012, Anastacia was a guest judge on The X Factor UK. Later that year, she released It's a Man's World, an album of cover songs by male rock artists.

Second Cancer Diagnosis and Return

Anastacia in Prague, Czech Republic (2012)

On February 27, 2013, Anastacia announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. She had to cancel her European tour to get treatment.

Because of her many years of work raising awareness for breast cancer, Anastacia was given the Humanitarian Award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in 2013. She later confirmed she was writing new songs for her sixth album, returning to her "sprock" sound.

Resurrection and Evolution

Anastacia performing on The Resurrection Tour in Sydney, Australia (2015)

Her album, Resurrection, was released in May 2014. It was very successful, reaching the top ten in Italy, the UK, Switzerland, and Germany. Critics praised the album, saying it was a strong return for the singer. The first song, "Stupid Little Things", was released in April 2014.

In November 2014, Anastacia began her Resurrection Tour, which included Australia for the first time. The tour had 80 shows and was very popular.

In 2015, Anastacia released a jewellery collection with Tat 2 Designs. Her Ultimate Collection album was released in November 2015 and reached the top ten in the UK charts. She then went on the Ultimate Collection Tour.

Anastacia at the SWR3 New Pop Festival (2017)

In August 2016, Anastacia was a contestant on the British dance show Strictly Come Dancing. She finished in tenth place.

In June 2017, she supported Lionel Richie on some of his UK tour dates. In July, she released the song "Caught in the Middle". This was followed by her seventh album, Evolution, in September 2017. She then went on the Evolution Tour.

In January 2019, Anastacia played the role of Killer Queen in the musical We Will Rock You in the Netherlands. She performed many Queen songs.

Recent Years: The Masked Singer and Our Songs

In October 2021, Anastacia won the third season of The Masked Singer Australia as the "Vampire" mask. She was the first American singer to win the show. Singing cover songs on the show reminded her of her early career.

In November 2021, Anastacia announced her "I'm Outta Lockdown – The 22nd Anniversary European Tour" for 2022. The tour was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour ran from September 2022 to February 2023 and was very well received.

Anastacia performing at Night of the Proms in Germany (2023)

On February 7, 2022, Anastacia released "American Night", the theme song for the 2021 film American Night. She also had a small role in the movie. In November 2022, she launched a collection of bags called "Not That Kind of Bag Collection".

On April 28, 2023, Anastacia released "Best Days". This song is a translated cover of a German punk rock song. She also announced her eighth album, Our Songs. The album was released on September 22, 2023. It received a Gold certification in Germany.

In December 2023, she performed at Night of the Proms in Germany. She sang her own songs and a duet with English singer James Morrison.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Anastacia has supported many nonprofit organizations and charity events. These include Life Ball (a big AIDS charity event) and Challenge for the Children.

In 2002, she sang "Someday My Prince Will Come" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for the Disneymania album. She also performed "You Shook Me All Night Long" with Celine Dion at VH1 Divas Las Vegas to help the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

In 2003, Anastacia performed at the 46664 charity event, organized by Nelson Mandela to raise awareness about AIDS. She sang with artists like Beyoncé and Queen.

After her cancer diagnosis, Anastacia created "The Anastacia Fund" with Estée Lauder. This organization helps teach young women about breast cancer and why early screenings are important. She wants to help make a difference because a mammogram helped save her own life.

Anastacia has also sold her stage clothes on eBay to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In 2008, she performed at the "Pink Ribbon Gala" in Stockholm with other female artists who had fought breast cancer.

Personal Life

Anastacia has lived in Los Angeles, Florida, and now lives in Denver, Colorado.

She has faced several health challenges, including Crohn's disease, two battles with breast cancer, and a heart condition called supraventricular tachycardia. Her work in breast cancer awareness led to her receiving the Humanitarian Award in 2013.

Anastacia married her bodyguard Wayne Newton in April 2007. She became a stepmother to his two children. In April 2010, they filed for divorce. She wrote the song "Pendulum" about her divorce.

Music Albums

Film and TV Appearances

As herself

Concert Tours

Awards and Recognition

Images for kids

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  Anastacia performing live in 2005

See also

In Spanish: Anastacia para niños