Fiona Apple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fiona Apple
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Apple in 2020
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart |
| Born | September 13, 1977 New York City, U.S. |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
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Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart (born September 13, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter. She has released five albums between 1996 and 2020. All her albums reached the top 20 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. By 2021, she had sold over 15 million records around the world.
Fiona Apple has won many awards. These include three Grammy Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Music Video Award. Her music often blends art pop, baroque pop, and alternative rock.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart was born on September 13, 1977, in New York City. Her mother, Diane McAfee, was a singer. Her father, Brandon Maggart, was an actor. They met while working on a Broadway musical.
Fiona grew up in Harlem with her mother and sister. She spent her summers with her father in Los Angeles. She started playing piano when she was young. She also began writing her own songs at age eight. She learned by playing along to jazz songs. Artists like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald became big inspirations for her.
Fiona attended St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's School. She also went to Alexander Hamilton High School (Los Angeles). Sometimes, she was homeschooled. Throughout her life, Fiona has openly discussed facing challenges with her mental well-being.
Music Career Highlights
Fiona Apple started her music career in 1994. A friend shared her demo tape with a music publicist. This led to her signing a record deal with Sony Music.
First Albums: Tidal and When the Pawn... (1996–2001)
In 1996, Fiona released her first album, Tidal. It was a big success, selling 2.7 million copies. The album was certified three times Platinum in the U.S. The song "Criminal" became a hit. It reached the Top 40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Fiona won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in 1997. This was for her song "Sleep to Dream." During her acceptance speech, she shared a message. She encouraged people to be themselves. She said not to follow what others think is "cool."
Her second album, When the Pawn..., came out in 1999. The full title is a very long poem she wrote. It was once in the Guinness Book of Records for its length. This album was praised by critics. It sold one million copies in the U.S. and was certified Platinum. The song "Fast as You Can" was a Top 40 hit in the UK.
Extraordinary Machine and Later Work (2002–2010)
Fiona's third album, Extraordinary Machine, was released in 2005. It had a unique journey to release. Fans even started a campaign to support its official release. The album debuted at number seven on the charts. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. It later earned a Gold certification.
During this time, Fiona also collaborated with other artists. She sang with Johnny Cash on "Bridge over Troubled Water." This song was nominated for a Grammy Award. She also covered "Sally's Song" for The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack. In 2010, she released "So Sleepy." This song was written by children from a non-profit organization.
The Idler Wheel... and Recent Years (2011–Present)
Fiona's fourth album, The Idler Wheel..., was released on June 19, 2012. It became her most successful album on the Billboard 200. It reached number three on the chart. Critics highly praised the album.
In 2013, Fiona covered "Pure Imagination" for a Chipotle advertisement. The video was widely discussed. In 2014, she wrote the theme song, "Container," for the TV show The Affair. She also collaborated with Andrew Bird on his song "Left Handed Kisses" in 2016. In 2017, she released "Tiny Hands" for the Women's March.
Her fifth album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, came out digitally on April 17, 2020. Fiona produced all 13 tracks herself. The album received widespread praise from music critics. At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, it won Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. The song "Shameika" also won Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance.
Since 2020, Fiona has continued to collaborate. She played piano on Bob Dylan's album Rough and Rowdy Ways. In 2021, she covered "Love More" by Sharon Van Etten. She also joined Phoebe Bridgers for a cover of "Silent Night." In 2022, she performed "Where the Shadows Lie" for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV series. In March 2025, she was featured on a song by The Waterboys. In April 2025, she covered Neil Young's "Heart of Gold. In May 2025, she released "Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)." This song was inspired by her volunteer work.
Musical Style
Fiona Apple's music is known for its unique sound. It is often described as art pop, baroque pop, and chamber pop. Her style also includes elements of art rock, alternative rock, and jazz pop. Her music often features strong vocals and piano.
Helping Others
Fiona Apple is also known for her charity work. In 2019, she promised to donate two years of earnings from her song "Criminal." These earnings went to the While They Wait fund. This fund helps refugees with basic needs and legal services. By 2020, she had donated $90,000 to the fund.
Since 2021, Fiona has volunteered as a court watcher for Courtwatch PG. In 2020, she also pledged to donate two years of earnings from her song "Shameika." These donations went to the Harlem Children's Zone. This organization helps children and families in Harlem.
Discography
- Tidal (1996)
- When the Pawn... (1999)
- Extraordinary Machine (2005)
- The Idler Wheel... (2012)
- Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020)
Concert Tours
- Tidal Tour (1996-1998)
- The Extraordinary Machine Tour (2005-2006)
- The Idler Wheel Tour (2012)
Awards and Nominations
Fiona Apple has received many awards for her music.
- Her debut album, Tidal, earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Criminal."
- She also won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in a Video for "Sleep to Dream."
- For When the Pawn..., she won the California Music Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist.
- For Extraordinary Machine, she won an Esky Music Award for Best Songbird.
- Her album Fetch the Bolt Cutters won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
- The song "Shameika" from that album won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance.
See also
In Spanish: Fiona Apple para niños
