Melanie Amaro facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melanie Amaro
Amaro in Hollywood, California, in June 2013
Background information
Birth name	Melanie Ann Amaro
Born	(1992-06-26) June 26, 1992 (age 33) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Origin	Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Genres	Pop R&B adult contemporary Soul Dance
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Moorehouse Music Group Syco Epic
Associated acts	R. Kelly

Melanie Ann Amaro (born June 26, 1992) is an American singer. She became famous after winning the first season of The X Factor USA in 2011. This big win earned her a $5 million recording contract with Syco Music and Epic Records. Melanie was also the youngest person to win the competition during its time on TV.

Early Life and Dreams

Melanie Amaro was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She grew up on Tortola, British Virgin Islands from the age of three. Melanie lived with her grandmother there. She would visit her parents during summer and Christmas breaks. Melanie has two brothers, Mark and Michael, and a younger sister named Maya. Her mother remembers Melanie singing in her crib when she was only six months old.

From a young age, Melanie loved to sing around her house. She often used a hairbrush as a microphone. Melanie realized her passion for singing and acting when she was about eleven. She thanks her mother for always encouraging her to follow her singing dreams.

School Days and Singing

Melanie never joined singing contests when she was a child. However, she performed at weddings, churches, and other events. She went to Althea Scatliffe Primary School and then Elmore Stoutt High School. Melanie moved back to Florida when she was 15. She graduated from Plantation High School in 2010. Her high school chorus teacher, Gary Rivenbark, helped her develop her voice. Sadly, he passed away in March 2012.

Melanie's Music Journey

Winning The X Factor

In June 2011, Melanie's mother convinced her to try out for the first season of The X Factor USA. She sang "Listen" by Beyoncé Knowles for the judges. These judges included Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and L.A. Reid. Melanie first tried to get a "fast pass" at a local TV station but was not successful. So, she auditioned with everyone else in Coral Gables, Florida.

Melanie made it to the Top 32 finalists. She sang Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" at the judges' houses. Her mentor, Simon Cowell, was there. At first, Melanie was not chosen for the Top 16 and was eliminated. But two weeks later, Simon Cowell surprised her at her home in Florida. He invited her back to the competition. He said he had made "a huge mistake" by not picking her.

Melanie then moved on to the live shows. She was in Simon Cowell's girls' group. On December 15, Melanie earned a spot in the final. The next week, she was announced as the winner! Melanie was 19 years old, making her the youngest winner of the show. Her prize was a $5 million recording contract. This was the biggest prize ever guaranteed on television at the time. After winning, Epic Records signed Melanie. She also appeared in a Pepsi commercial with Sir Elton John. This commercial was shown during Super Bowl XLVI.

Melanie's Performances on The X Factor

Here are the songs Melanie Amaro performed on The X Factor:

Amaro did not originally make it through to the live shows, but was later brought back as a wildcard.

New Music and Projects

Melanie's album, Truly, was planned for release in 2012. Her Pepsi commercial aired during Super Bowl XLVI. In the commercial, Melanie sang a dance version of "Respect" with Elton John. This song was released in February 2012 and became popular on the Billboard Dance/Club Chart.

On August 1, 2012, Melanie released her first single, "Don't Fail Me Now". She also performed a new song, "Long Distance," on The X Factor in December 2012. Even though her album Truly was planned for March 2013, it was never released.

In August 2013, Melanie performed in Indonesia for a TV special called X Factor Around the World. She sang her song "Long Distance" and also performed "The World's Greatest" with another singer, Fatin Shidqia. On October 4, 2013, Melanie started performing in a musical play called "You're Never Alone."

In 2014, Melanie moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and started working with new management. She began touring and performing in different places. On June 19, 2014, she released a new song called "Fuel My Fire." She said the song was about her feelings regarding her music not being released by her record label. This song was released independently, meaning without her previous labels.

In May 2015, Melanie released another new song called "Dust," featuring hip-hop artist Fabolous. "Dust" quickly reached number one on the independent music charts. It stayed there for six weeks and remained on the charts for six months. This was her second independent release after leaving her old record labels. A version of "Dust" without Fabolous was also released. In February 2016, Melanie released another song called "The One."

As of January 2018, Melanie Amaro lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her son. She signed with an independent music label called Moorehouse Music Group, LLC. Under this label, Melanie has released singles like 'Whole Mood,' 'Enough,' and 'Play No Games.'

Melanie's Songs

Singles as the Main Artist

Awards and Recognitions

Melanie Amaro has been recognized for her work: