Fantasia Barrino, winner of the 2004 Reality Contest – American Idol, has been described by fans as a vocal powerhouse. She was praised for her raw vocal ability which captivated the talent show’s voting audience and led to her victory.
She released her debut single I Believe after her well-deserved American Idol win and the song rocketed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut album, Breaking Free, was certified platinum by the RIAA. The album ultimately earned him three Grammy nominations that year.
The singer-songwriter favors several genres, including hip-hop soul, pop, R&B, soul and gospel. Here’s more from the resilient music star.
Who is Fantasia Barrino?
Fantasia Monique Barrino was born on November 30June 1984. She was raised in North Carolina by her parents – Joseph and Diane Barrino. Her father sang in gospel quartets during her teenage years, and her mother worked as a co-pastor at Mercy Outreach.
During her years at Andrews High School in HighPoint, North Carolina, the rising star was the victim of rape and to avoid the embarrassment of vice she had to drop out of school. When she was 16, Fantasia became pregnant by her then-boyfriend, Brandel Shouse, and became a first-time mom at 17.
Career
Fantasia Barrino began her singing career in 2004 after winning the competitive reality show, American Idol. Emerged as the idol of the year at the age of 19, she is the youngest to win this contest (at the time). Therefore, in 2005, she released her debut single I believe and subsequently, her debut album Free yourself as mentioned earlier. Her second album is titled Fantaisie while her third is Back to Me.
Her debut album earned her three Grammy nominations and, in a similar vein, her second release, Fantasy, also earned her two Grammy nominations. In 2011, the songbird won her first Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. year, Billboard Music Awards – Best Selling Record of the Year and many more.
Fantasia made her acting debut in 2005 when she starred in the film Life is Not a Fairy Tale which is based on her own autobiography.
Fantasia Barrino: husband and personal life
The American singer is married; she married Kendall Taylor, an American businessman on July 19, 2015. Reportedly, the couple got together in 2013 and officially got engaged in 2014 before they married in 2015.
Fantasia revealed that her husband inspires her in her music. The couple seem very much in love, even going so far as to tighten their bonds just after their wedding anniversary.
The musician was previously in a relationship with Brandel Shouse, who was his first love. Their relationship lasted from 1998 to 2003 and resulted in the birth of a daughter, Zion Quari Barrino, born August 8, 2001.
Between 2004 and 2005, she was in a relationship with Michael Clayton an American footballer. She then dated American rapper Young Dro in 2007, but the relationship ended the following year. Fantasia then dated Antwaun Cook from 2009 to 2011 and became a mother for the second time in 2011.
Everything you need to know about Fantasia Barrino
- Memory
The singer’s memoir, “Life Is Not a Fairy Tale,” was published in September 2005 and became a New York Times bestseller.
- Controversial
Fantasia was accused of dating Antwaun Cook while he was still married in August 2010. However, she claims her relationship with Cook began after he separated from his wife.
- attempted suicide
The American Idol star attempted suicide with an overdose of aspirin and an unidentified sleeping pill in 2010. Although the incident was classified as non-life threatening, the singer confessed he it was a suicide attempt.
- Genres and composition
The singer genre is mostly R&B and gospel. His words are imbued with resilience, love and pain. She also incorporates other genres such as reggae, pop, hip-hop and funk into her music.
- Net value
Fantasia Barrino has a net worth of $3 million which has been accumulated over the years due to her music and contracts.