Christina Aguilera

On my site, I've written about a few different stages of Christina's life. I've also got videos and other things at the bottom of the page, for fans, for people getting to know Christina or for people just browsing. But if you don't know Christina, where have you been???? Have fun!

Christina Aguilera was born in Staten Island, New York. Her father was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and her mother was a Spanish teacher. Her parents divorced when she was 7 years old and she moved with her mother and sister, Rachel, to her grandmother's home in Wexford, Pennsylvania. Christina's father had tried to keep contact with her and she now regrets not accepting his invitations, (the song "Hurt" is written about her father).As a child, Aguilera aspired to be a singer. Her musical influences included Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, and Madonna. She also cites the musical The Sound of Music as an early inspiration for singing and performing. As a child, she was known locally as "the little girl with the big voice", singing in local talent shows and competitions. On March 15, 1990, she appeared on Star Search singing Etta James' "A Sunday Kind of Love", but lost the competition. Soon after losing on Star Search, she returned home and appeared on Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV's Wake Up with Larry Richert to perform the same song. People remarked that the then ten-year-old "sounded 20".Her first major role in entertainment came in 1993 when she joined the Disney Channel's variety show The New Mickey Mouse Club. And that's where it all began!

Her real career began when she recorded herself singing in her bathroom and sent it off to a record company. Producers were amazed by her vocal ability. They recorded Mulan's "Reflections" and offered her a deal there and then, IF she could hit the "G" note, which she did. Aguilera's self-titled debut album Christina Aguilera was released on the 24th August 1999. It reached the top of the Billboard 200 and Canadian album charts, selling eight million copies in the U.S. and over 13 million copies worldwide. Her singles "Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants" and "Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You)" topped the Billboard Hot 100 during 1999 and 2000, and "I Turn to You" reached #3. Aguilera won the "Best New Artist" award at the 2000 Grammy Awards, and she was nominated for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for "Genie in a Bottle". Later in 2000, Aguilera first emphasized her Latin heritage by releasing her first Spanish album, Mi Reflejo. The Album has sold 2.5 million copies worldwide and has been certified Gold 3x Platinum (600,000)! In 2001, Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, and Pink were chosen to remake Patti LaBelle's 1975 single "Lady Marmalade" for the film Moulin Rouge! and its soundtrack. The single hit number one on the Hot 100 for five weeks and reached number one in eleven other countries, and it earned all four performers a Grammy Award for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals". Although Aguilera's debut album was very well received, she was dissatisfied with the music and image her management had created for her. Aguilera was marketed as a bubblegum pop singer because of the genre's upward financial trend. She mentioned plans of her next album to have much more depth, both musically and lyrically.

On October 29, 2002, after much delay, Aguilera's second full-length English album, Stripped, was released, selling more than 330,000 copies in the first week and peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200. Unlike previous work, the album showcased Aguilera's raunchier side. It was during this time Aguilera referred to herself as "Xtina", even getting a tattoo of her nickname on the back of her neck and several piercings. She denied that this change was a matter of publicity, claiming that the image better reflected her true personality than did the image she cultivated back in 1999. Aguilera joined Justin Timberlake that June on the final leg of his international Justified tour, held in the U.S. This portion of the tour became a co-headliner called the Justified & Stripped Tour. She later became the muse and model for fashion house Versace.

Aguilera later decided to embrace a more mature image; this move was met with more praise than criticism. She dyed her hair blonde and cut it short, and took on a Marilyn Monroe look; many of her fans believe she is one of the main proponents in bringing back the 1920s-1940s Hollywood glamour look. In late summer 2004 Aguilera released two singles. The first, "Car Wash", was a remake of the Rose Royce disco song recorded as a collaboration with rapper Missy Elliott for the soundtrack to the film Shark Tale. The second song was also a collaboration, but this time as a second single from one of Nelly's double-release albums, Sweat, titled "Tilt Ya Head Back". After much delay, Aguilera's first DVD live-recording from a concert tour, Stripped Live in the UK, was released in November 2004. In late December she officially released a fragrance, Xpose, which has only been available in a few European countries. Aguilera collaborated with jazz artist Herbie Hancock on a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You" recorded for Hancock's album Possibilities, released in August 2005. Aguilera and Hancock were later nominated for the Grammy Award for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals". Aguilera went back to her Mickey Mouse Club roots when she helped open the 50th Anniversary for Disneyland by performing "When You Wish Upon a Star", and she also collaborated with Andrea Bocelli on the song "Somos Novios" for his album Amore, released in early 2006. In late 2005, she performed at "Unite of the Stars", a charity banquet in aid of Unite Against Hunger in Johannesburg, South Africa, with stars such as Diana Ross and Westlife. She also performed at the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund at the Coca-Cola Dome in November.

In 2005, Christina married music executive, Jordan Bratman. The wedding took place at sunset under a mountainside tent in Rutherford, Calif. The singer walked down the aisle in a Christian Lacroix gown and her bridesmaids wore dresses by Stevie Wonder's wife, designer Kai Milla. The bride and groom exchanged wedding bands by London-based jeweler Stephen Webster, who also created Aguilera's five-carat, diamond-and-platinum engagement ring. Aguilera and Bratman had asked guests to make donations to Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief efforts, and all of the wedding gifts were also donated to this charity. The couple are now awaiting a baby.

Aguilera's third English studio album, Back to Basics, released August 15, 2006, went to #1 in thirteen countries. The critically-acclaimed lead single "Ain't No Other Man" was a substantial success, reaching #2 on the United World Chart. Aguilera described the double CD as "a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music, but with a modern twist." She received writing credit for every track and was the executive producer for the album, which debuted at number one in the U.S. and the U.K. The follow-up singles did very well in different regions, "Hurt" in Europe and "Candyman" in the Pacific. The Back To Basics album has sold 4.2 million copies around the world as of 2007. At the 49th Grammy Awards, Aguilera again won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ain't No Other Man". She made a noteworthy performance at the ceremony paying tribute to James Brown with her rendition of his song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".

Throughout her career, Aguilera has been involved with certain charities. She signed a letter from PETA to the South Korean government asking that the country stop its alleged killing of dogs for food. Her involvement in supporting the Defenders of Wildlife have also added to her donations with charities.

Aguilera is still a major contributor in her hometown of Pittsburgh contributing regularly to the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. According to her official website, she toured the center and donated $200,000 to the shelter. She also has auctioned off front row seats and back stage passes for the Pittsburgh-based charity. She has continued her donations and visits to the shelter, and plans to open an additional one. She also supports the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Refuge UK. Since then she has worked with Lifetime Television's 'End violence against women' campaign. Her work there included a public service announcement which aired on the network and during her 2007 tour.

Aguilera contributes in the fight against AIDS, by participating in AIDS Project Los Angeles' Artists Against AIDS "What's Going On?" cover project. In 2004, Aguilera became the new face for cosmetic company M·A·C and spokesperson for M·A·C AIDS Fund. Aguilera appeared in advertisements of the M·A·C's Viva Glam V lipstick and lipgloss. In addition, Aguilera contributed to YouthAIDS by posing for a joint YouthAIDS and Aldo Shoes campaign for "Empowerment Tags" in Canada, the U.S. and the UK. She was featured with one of three ubiquitous slogans, "Speak No Evil?" and stated, "HIV is something that people don't want to talk about, hear about, or face." Singer Elton John hand-picked Aguilera, among others, for his Fashion Rocks concert benefiting his AIDS foundation. The show, which accompanies music and fashion to benefit the fight against AIDS/HIV, is televised annually and aired in September.

In November 2005, all of her wedding gifts were submitted to various charities around the nation in support of Hurricane Katrina victims. In March 2007 it was announced that Aguilera will take part in a charity album (remaking Lennon's "Mother"), proceeds will benefit Amnesty International's efforts to end genocide in Darfur. The album titled, "Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur", has been released June 12, 2007, featuring John Lennon covers sung by several artists. Later that year she hosted a party alongside voting advocacy group Rock the Vote to raise awareness amongst young voters.