Fantasia (singer) facts for kids

{{Infobox person | name = Fantasia | image = Fantasia Barrino.jpg | caption = Barrino in The American Idol Experience motorcade at Walt Disney World in 2009 | birth_name = Fantasia Monique Barrino | birth_date = (1984-06-30) June 30, 1984 (age 41) | birth_place = High Point, North Carolina, U.S.

| occupation =

| relatives =

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| children = 3 | years_active = 2004–present

| module = Musical career

Fantasia Monique Barrino-Taylor (born June 30, 1984), known as Fantasia, is an American singer and actress. She became famous in 2004 after winning the third season of American Idol. Her first song, "I Believe", was the second debut single by a woman to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Fantasia has won many awards, including two Billboard Music Awards and a Grammy Award. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award for her acting. In 2024, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people.

Her first album, Free Yourself (2004), sold over a million copies. She later released hit songs like "When I See U" and "Bittersweet". "Bittersweet" won her a Grammy Award in 2011.

Fantasia wrote a best-selling book, Life Is Not a Fairy Tale (2005). It was made into a TV movie in 2006, where she played herself. She also starred as Celie Johnson in the Broadway musical The Color Purple from 2007 to 2008. She played Celie again in the 2023 movie version, earning more awards and nominations.

Contents

• Early Life and Musical Beginnings
• Career Highlights

• Becoming an American Idol Winner

• American Idol Performances

• Debut Album and Early Success
• Second Album and Acting Debut
• Broadway Success
• New Music and Reality TV
• Grammy Win and New Projects
• Recent Career and Film Success

• Personal Life
• Musical Style and Influences

• Fantasia's Voice
• Inspirations
• Music Genres

• Achievements and Recognition
• Discography
• Filmography

• Films
• Television
• Stage

• Books
• Tours
• See Also
• Images for kids

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Fantasia Barrino was born to Diane and Joseph Barrino. She grew up in High Point, North Carolina. She started singing when she was just five years old. Her cousins, K-Ci & JoJo, are well-known R&B singers. Her uncles, The Barrino Brothers, were also a popular R&B band in the 1970s. Fantasia attended T. Wingate Andrews High School in High Point.

Career Highlights

Becoming an American Idol Winner

Fantasia became widely known in 2004 when she competed on American Idol. Her performance of the song "Summertime" was very powerful. It even made her cry because she felt the song so deeply. The judges praised her, and it was called one of the greatest TV moments of 2004.

For the final show, Fantasia sang "Summertime" again. Judge Simon Cowell said she was the best contestant ever on any Idol show. On May 26, 2004, over 65 million votes were cast to pick the winner. Fantasia won, beating Diana DeGarmo by 1.3 million votes. At 19, she was the youngest American Idol winner until 2007.

After winning, Fantasia went on a U.S. tour with the other American Idol finalists. She also appeared in a 2004 Christmas TV special.

American Idol Performances

Fantasia's journey on American Idol included many memorable performances. Here is a list of the songs she sang during the competition:

• : During the Top 7 week, Fantasia was in the bottom two but was saved when LaToya London was eliminated.

Debut Album and Early Success

After winning American Idol, Fantasia signed with J Records. She released her first single, "I Believe", in June 2004. It went straight to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This made her the first artist in history to have a debut single start at number one. The song stayed at number one for eleven weeks, making it the longest-running number one for an American Idol contestant. "I Believe" was the best-selling single of 2004 in the U.S. Fantasia also won three Billboard Music Awards for the song.

Her first album, Free Yourself, came out in November 2004. It sold 240,000 copies in its first week. The album has sold over two million copies worldwide. Songs like "Truth Is" and "Free Yourself" became big R&B hits. "Truth Is" stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B Airplay chart for 14 weeks. In 2005, Billboard magazine named Fantasia the top artist in the Adult Urban Contemporary music style.

Fantasia promoted her album with many TV appearances in 2005. She played Aretha Franklin in an episode of American Dreams. She also voiced a character on The Simpsons and appeared as herself on All of Us. She performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno three times. In March 2005, she performed at the NAACP Image Awards and won the award for Outstanding Female Artist. She went on her first tour with her own band in 2005. She also performed at music festivals like the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival. Later that year, she opened for Kanye West's Touch the Sky Tour.

Second Album and Acting Debut

In 2006, Fantasia was nominated for three Grammy Awards for her first album. She performed at the Grammy Awards show with other artists.

In August 2006, Fantasia starred as herself in a Lifetime Television movie. The movie was based on her book Life Is Not a Fairy Tale. The film was very popular, with 19 million viewers during its first weekend. It became Lifetime's second most-watched program ever.

Fantasia worked with other musicians in 2006. She remade "Endow Me" with Faith Evans, Lil' Mo, and Coko. She also sang "I Wish" with Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams for the Happy Feet movie soundtrack. Most notably, she recorded a duet with Aretha Franklin that was released in 2007.

Her second album, Fantasia, was released on December 12, 2006. It included songs produced by Missy Elliott and Babyface. The album was certified gold. The song "When I See U" became her first single to top the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It stayed at number one for eight weeks.

Broadway Success

In February 2007, Fantasia announced she would star as Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple. This musical is based on Alice Walker's 1982 novel. After she appeared on American Idol and The Oprah Winfrey Show, ticket sales for the musical greatly increased.

Fantasia received excellent reviews for her performance. Critic Clive Barnes said she had "some elemental quality... that is either greatness or something close to it." She performed at the 61st Tony Awards in 2007. Fantasia won the Theatre World Award for her outstanding debut on stage. She was supposed to perform for six months but extended her run until January 6, 2008. The Color Purple saw a huge jump in sales after Fantasia joined the show.

New Music and Reality TV

Fantasia received two Grammy nominations for her second album. She started working on her third album in 2008. She wanted the new album to mix her American Idol and Broadway musical styles. She also wrote some of the songs herself.

In June 2008, Fantasia left 19 Entertainment but stayed with 19 Recordings and J Records. She also planned to release a gospel album. She performed with her mother, Diane Barrino, on BET's Bobby Jones Gospel. Fantasia also sang on Jennifer Hudson's album, on the song "I'm His Only Woman."

Fantasia also starred in a reality show called Fantasia for Real. It premiered on January 11, 2010, on VH1. The show was very popular and had two seasons.

The first official single from her third album, "Bittersweet", was released on May 11, 2010. It reached number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Fantasia's third album, Back to Me, was released on August 24, 2010. She said Tina Turner, Queen, and Aretha Franklin influenced her. She recorded with a live band, like musicians from their era. She promoted the album on shows like Good Morning America. On March 28, 2010, Fantasia sang "America the Beautiful" at WrestleMania XXVI. She also went on her first solo concert tour, the Back to Me Tour.

Grammy Win and New Projects

On February 13, 2011, Fantasia won her first Grammy Award. It was for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her song "Bittersweet". In 2011, she was chosen for her first film role. She was to play gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in a movie about her life.

On October 7, RCA Music Group announced that J Records would close. Fantasia, along with other artists, would release future music under the RCA Records label. In February 2012, VH1 named Fantasia 32nd on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music.

Fantasia released her new single, "Lose to Win", on December 19, 2012. Her album, Side Effects of You, was released on April 23, 2013. She also released another single, "Without Me", featuring Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliott. In June 2013, Fantasia toured with Andrea Bocelli. She also returned to Broadway in October 2013.

Fantasia starred in the musical After Midnight on Broadway. It opened on November 3, 2013. Critics praised her performance. She was the first of many guest stars in the show. She returned for a second time from May 13 to June 8, 2014. Fantasia also performed at the 68th Tony Awards. In August 2013, she co-wrote and recorded the theme song "In the Middle of the Night" for the movie The Butler.

Fantasia performing in 2017

On October 16, 2014, Fantasia was honored and inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. She appeared on Dave Koz's Christmas album, December 25. In November 2014, she worked with Michelle Williams on a remix of "If We Had Your Eyes". She also started working on her next album with producer R. Kelly.

"No Time for It" was the first single from her new album. It was released on January 7, 2016. Fantasia toured with Anthony Hamilton starting in April 2016. Her album, The Definition Of..., was released on July 29, 2016. It debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart. This was her fourth album to reach the top ten.

Recent Career and Film Success

After leaving RCA Records, Fantasia released Christmas After Midnight on October 6, 2017. She went on the Christmas After Midnight Tour to promote it. On August 31, 2018, Fantasia performed at Aretha Franklin's funeral. She also paid tribute to Aretha Franklin at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

On March 9, 2019, Fantasia announced her sixth album, Sketchbook, was finished. It has 14 songs and features artists like Meghan Trainor and T-Pain. The first song from the album, "Enough", was released on May 3, 2019. It reached number nine on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. In September 2019, Fantasia recorded the theme song "Shine" for the talk show Tamron Hall. In October 2022, she shared that she was working on two new albums, including a gospel album.

Fantasia returned to her role as Celie in the 2023 movie musical The Color Purple. The film was released on December 25, 2023. Critics praised her "stunning performance." She won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture. She also received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award. Fantasia and the cast won an Ensemble Award from the Critics' Choice Association. Fantasia will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025.

In December 2023, Fantasia reunited with Jennifer Hudson on her talk show. In July 2024, Fantasia sang the national anthem at the 2024 A Capitol Fourth concert.

Personal Life

In September 2005, Fantasia published her memoir, Life Is Not a Fairy Tale. In the book, she shared that she had trouble reading.

In 2008, Fantasia faced financial challenges with one of her homes. However, her lawyers and the lender reached a deal, and the auction was canceled.

Fantasia married Kendall Taylor, a businessman, on July 18, 2015. In November 2020, she announced she was expecting her first child with Kendall. She gave birth to a daughter in May 2021.

In November 2022, Fantasia became an honorary member of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. Fantasia has also taken a break from her music and acting career to go back to school. She enrolled at Central State University to study business.

Musical Style and Influences

Fantasia's Voice

Fantasia's voice is often described as powerful, soulful, and sometimes raspy.

Inspirations

Fantasia has said that since childhood, she has been influenced by soul singers like Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Tina Turner. She also admires jazz singers such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nina Simone. Patti LaBelle even calls Fantasia "baby Patti" because she sees herself in Fantasia. Fantasia also credits her church upbringing and the The Clark Sisters as influences. She enjoys rock music and is influenced by Queen and Elton John.

Music Genres

Fantasia's music is mainly contemporary R&B, with strong roots in soul music and gospel music. Her songs often talk about love, feelings, and strength. She also mixes in pop, funk, reggae, and hip hop. Her album Side Effects of You showed how versatile her voice is. She introduced a new, edgier sound she called 'rock soul'. Critics praised this album for its mix of R&B, rock, and soul. Fantasia has also shown her range by starring in Broadway musicals like The Color Purple and After Midnight. She also toured with Italian singer Andrea Bocelli.

Achievements and Recognition

Fantasia has received many awards since winning American Idol in 2004. These include a Grammy Award, two Billboard Awards, five NAACP Image Awards, and two ASCAP Awards. She has also been nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a British Academy Film Award. Music critics often call her "The Queen of Rock Soul."

VH1 ranked her number 32 out of the 100 Greatest Women in Music in 2012. She has also been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. In 2024, Time magazine named Fantasia one of the most influential people in the world. She is set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025.

Her first single, "I Believe", debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. This made her the second artist in history to achieve this with a first single. Billboard magazine named Fantasia the number-one artist in the Adult Urban Contemporary music style in 2005. She was the first artist to have two songs in the top three on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B Airplay chart at the same time. Her song "Truth Is" stayed at number one for fourteen weeks. Her American Idol performance of "Summertime" was named one of AOL's greatest television moments of 2004.

Fantasia won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in The Color Purple (2023). She also received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award for this performance.

Discography

• Free Yourself (2004)
• Fantasia (2006)
• Back to Me (2010)
• Side Effects of You (2013)
• The Definition of... (2016)
• Christmas After Midnight (2017)
• Sketchbook (2019)

Filmography

Films

Television

Stage

Books

• Life Is Not a Fairy Tale (2005)

Tours

Headlining

• 2010–11: Back to Me Tour
• 2013: Side Effects of You Tour
• 2016: The Definition Of... Tour
• 2017: Christmas After Midnight Tour
• 2019: The Sketchbook Tour

Co-headlining

• 2004: American Idols LIVE! Tour 2004 (with the Top 10 finalists of American Idol 2004)
• 2005: Find Your Way Tour (with Kem and Rahsaan Patterson)
• 2016: Fantasia & Anthony Hamilton: Live in Concert (with Anthony Hamilton)
• 2016: Annual Summer Jam (with Maxwell and Ro James)

Opening act

• 2005: Touch the Sky Tour (for Kanye West)
• 2006: Unpredictable Tour (for Jamie Foxx)
• 2011: Intimacy Tour (for Kem)
• 2013: 2013 World Tour (for Andrea Bocelli)
• 2017: In It to Win It Tour (for Charlie Wilson)

See Also

• List of Idols winners

Images for kids

• 

  Barrino in The American Idol Experience motorcade at Walt Disney World in 2009

• 

  Barrino performing in 2017