Joan Baez Biography and Full Profile.

Joan Baez was born on January 9, 1941 in Staten Island, New York, the second of three daughters to Dr. Albert Baez, a physicist, and Joan Bridge Baez. Her mother was English-Scotish, the daughter of an Episcopalian Minister and a professor of drama who had migrated to the United States, and her father was of Mexican parentage, the son of a minister. Her father's activities as a physicist, researcher and UNESCO consultant took him to many parts of the country, and Joan's childhood was spent first in the small town of Clarence Center, New York, and then in Redlands, California. She developed both her social consciousness and her love for music at a relatively tender age. Picking up the ukulele, Baez made her performing debut at a high school talent show when she was 14, performing "Honey Love."

There she began singing both for the high school choir and for herself, and learned to accompany herself on the guitar. When her father took a job at M.I.T. a few years later,the family moved to Boston, where for a short time she studied drama at Boston University. She enrolled at the university and soon began singing at the Boston coffee houses, colleges and later concert halls along the East Coast to increasingly large crowds. Then came her 1959 Newport Folk Festival debut. Baez signed with the then relatively small folk label, Vanguard, which first released her performances at the Newport Folk Festival, and then released her first album, Joan Baez, in 1960 and the rest, as they say, is history.

Her admirers transcend musical strata and national boundaries. Her growth as a musician and as a human being have proceeded hand in hand. Enrolling herself in the Civil Rights cause and the peace movement, a spokesman for non-violent resistance to and protest against immoral authority, she has refused to pay taxes that go to escalate the war in Vietnam, and has sung at almost every historic demonstration, and fosters a school for non-violent protest in California.

Mini Biography
Joan Baez was the middle daughter of Albert Vinicio and Joan Bridge Baez. At age 10, her father took a job (and the family) to Baghdad, Iraq, for a year, after which they moved to Palo Alto, CA, home of Stanford University. In 1956, she bought her first guitar and heard Martin Luther King, Jr.'s lecture on nonviolence; the following year, she heard Ira Sandperl, a Gandhian scholar, who also influenced her strongly. She graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1958, failed with a demo album, and move the next year to Massachusetts where her father had taken a teaching position at MIT. She performed at Club 47, a folk music club in Cambridge, and participated in an album "Folksingers 'Round Harvard Square". The same year, she met Odetta and Bob Gibson while she was performing at Chicago's The Gate Of Horn. Bob invited her to perform July 11 at the Newport Folk Festival, which launched her fame as a folksinger. Her first album for Vanguard, "Joan Baez" (1960), was a huge success. The following year, she met Bob Dylan and released her second very successful album, followed the year later by many southern civil-rights performances and "Joan Baez in Concert" (a Grammy nominee). She launched a tax revolt as part of her protest of the Vietnam war, protested Pete Seeger's exclusion by ABC-TV, and joined in the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley and the civil rights march in Selma AL. In 1967, she spent two brief periods in jail for anti-war protests. In 1969, she gave birth to Gabriel Earl while his father, David Harris, was serving 20 months of a three year sentence for draft resistance. In 1971, her songs were featured in the films Sacco e Vanzetti (1971) (aka Sacco And Vanzetti) and "Celebration At Big Sur". A 1974 world tour included Japan, Australia, Israel, Lebanon, Tunisia and Argentina. The 1978 film Renaldo and Clara (1978) featured her performances in Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder tours. In 1980, Antioch University and Rutgers University awarded her the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for her music and her activism. Next year, PBS aired the documentary "There But For Fortune: Joan Baez in Latin America". The albums, causes and concerts continue, far too numerous to list here.

American folk singer Joan Baez is recognized for her nonviolent, antiestablishment (against a nation's political and economic structure), and anti-war positions. She has used her singing and speaking talents to criticize violations of human rights in a number of countries.
Early life
 
Joan Baez was born on January 9, 1941, in Staten Island, New York. Her father, Albert V. Baez, was a physicist who came to the United States from Mexico at a very early age, and her mother was of western European descent. Joan inherited her father's dark complexion, and the occasional racial prejudice (hatred of a race) she suffered as a child probably led to her later involvement in the civil rights movement, a movement that called for equal rights for all races. Although as an adult she claimed not to share her parents' strict religious faith, it undoubtedly contributed to what some called her keen "social conscience."

Baez was exposed to an intellectual atmosphere with classical music during her childhood, but rejected piano lessons in favor of the guitar and rock and roll. Her father's research and teaching positions took the family to various American and foreign cities. When Joan was ten, she spent a year in Iraq with her family. There she was exposed to the harsh and intensely poor conditions of the Iraqi people, something that undoubtedly had an affect on her later career as a singer and activist. Baez went on to attend high school in Palo Alto, California, where she excelled in music more than in academic subjects. Shortly after her high school graduation in 1958, her family moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where Baez's interest in folk music surfaced after visiting a coffee shop where amateur folk singers performed.
From Boston coffeehouses to Newport,
Rhode Island

Baez briefly attended Boston University, where she made friends with several semi-professional folk singers from whom she learned much about the art. In addition to simple folk songs, she began to sing Anglo American ballads, blues, spirituals, and songs from various countries. As she worked to develop her technique and range of songs, Baez began to perform professionally in Boston coffeehouses and quickly became a favorite of Harvard University students. She was also noticed by other folk singers, including Harry Belafonte (1927–), who offered her a job with his singing group.

In the summer of 1959 Baez was invited to sing at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. This performance made her a star—especially to young people—and led to friendships with other important folk singers such as the Seeger family and Odetta. Although the performance brought her offers to make recordings and concert tours, she decided to resume her Boston coffee shop appearances.

After Baez's second Newport appearance in 1960, she made her first album for Vanguard Records. Simply labeled Joan Baez, it was an immediate success. She was then such a "hot item" that she could choose her own songs and prop designs for her performances. In the following years Baez sang to capacity crowds on American college campuses and concert halls and on several foreign tours. Her eight gold albums and one gold single demonstrated her popularity as a singer.
Politics a source of controversy

While many critics agreed that Baez's untrained singing voice was unusually haunting, beautiful, and very soothing, they saw her spoken words, lifestyle, and actions as conflicting and sometimes anti-American. In the changing world of the1960s, Baez became a center of controversy (open to dispute) when she used her singing and speaking talents to urge nonpayment of taxes used for war purposes and to urge men to resist the draft during the Vietnam War (1965–73; when the United States aided South Vietnam's fight against North Vietnam). She helped block induction centers (which brought in new recruits) and was twice arrested for such violations of the law.

Baez was married to writer and activist David Harris in March 1968. She was pregnant with their son, Gabriel, in April 1969, and three months later she saw her husband arrested for refusing induction into the military forces. He spent the next twenty months in a federal prison in Texas.
 
In the early 1970s Baez began to speak with greater harshness. By the end of the decade she had offended dozens of her former peace-activist allies—such as Jane Fonda (1937–) and attorney William Kunstler—with her views on postwar Vietnam. As she had done in the case of Chile and Argentina (without public outcries from former associates), Baez called for human rights to be extended to those centers in the war-torn country.
Baez's career through the 1980s and 1990s

In later years Baez's singing career faltered despite various attempts to revive it. Her 1985 effort featured a more conventional
Joan Baez. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.
Joan Baez.hairstyle and attire. Her supporters believed she would regain her prominence in the entertainment industry because her voice, although deeper, had the same qualities that made her so successful earlier. Meanwhile, she was quite busy throughout the world as the head of the Humanitas International Human Rights Committee, which concentrated on distracting (in any possible nonviolent way) those whom it believed exercised unauthorized power.

Baez has continued to make music and to influence younger performers. In 1987 Baez released Recently, her first studio solo album in eight years. She was nominated for a 1988 Best Contemporary Folk Recording Grammy Award for "Asimbonanga," a song from the album. Also in 1988 Baez recorded Diamonds and Rust in the Bullring in Bilbao, Spain. The album was released the following April. In 1990 Baez toured with the Indigo Girls and the threesome were recorded for a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) video presentation, "Joan Baez In Concert." In 1993 two more Baez recordings were released: Play Me Backwards, consisting of new material; and Rare, Live & Classic, a collection of her career from 1958 to 1989, featuring twenty-two previously unreleased tracks. Baez released Gone from Danger in 1997 and Farewell Angelina in 2002.

The singer's interest in politics and human rights has continued as well. In 1993 she was invited by Refugees International to travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina in order to help bring attention to the suffering there. In September of that same year Baez became the first major artist to perform in a professional concert on Alcatraz Island (the former Federal Penitentiary) in San Francisco, California. It was a benefit performance for her sister Mimi Farina's organization, Bread & Roses. She returned to the island for a second benefit in 1996 along with the Indigo Girls and Dar Williams. She has also supported the gay and lesbian cause. In 1995 she joined Janis Ian in a performance at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Fight the Right fundraising event in San Francisco.

In 2001 Farrar, Straus, and Giroux released Positively Fourth Street by David Hajdu. The book is an intimate portrait that explores the relationships between Joan, Mimi Farina, Richard Farina, and fellow folkster Bob Dylan (1941–) during New York City's folk scene of the early 1960s.

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Lady Antebellum Biography and Full Profile.

Born: 2006
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee
Best Known As: The country music trio who did "I Run to You"

Country music's Lady Antebellum is a trio made up of singers Hillary Scott (b. 1 April 1984) and Charles Kelley (b. 11 September 1981) and multi-instrumentalist Dave Haywood (b. 1982). Kelley and Haywood grew up near Augusta, Georgia and met in middle school. Both graduated from the University of Georgia in 2004, and by 2006 they were in Nashville, Tennessee, trying to make a go of it in the music business.

They joined that year with Scott, a Nashville native whose solo career had led to industry contacts, if not record deals. Lady Antebellum -- or "Lady A" -- released their first album in 2007, and the self-titled debut hit the top of the charts upon its release. With solid hits like "I Run to You" and "Lookin' For a Good Time," the band became Nashville heroes in 2008 and 2009, scooping up Grammys and CMA awards. They toured with Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban, then went back to the studio. Their second release, Need You Now (2009), was equally successful, and Lady Antebellum entered 2010 with a number one hit, "American Honey."

Hillary's mother is country singer Linda Davis (who had a 1993 hit with Reba McEntire, the duet "Does He Love You")... Kelley married Cassie McConnell in 2009.In the summer of 2006, three gifted young adults walked into a house hoping to create music together—and Lady Antebellum walked out.

The sound that Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood cooked up while hanging at the Nashville-area home of Charles’ brother throughout the summer of 2006 is a unique blend that mingles classic country, 1960s R&B soulfulness and the heart-on-the-sleeve openness of 1970s singer-songwriters, all presented with a razor-sharp contemporary edge. It’s a sound that had Lady Antebellum, as the threesome dubbed itself, generating deafening buzz as one of modern country’s brightest hopes even before the release of their new self-titled debut album.

Already the trio has been nominated for “Top New Group” at the 2008 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. They’ve watched the group-penned first single from Lady Antebellum, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore,” soar up the country radio charts, while its video has become a staple on CMT and GAC. They’ve performed on the legendary Grand Ole Opry, served as the opening act on Martina McBride’s 2008 arena tour, and opened shows for Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Phil Vassar, Rodney Atkins and Little Big Town. Outlets like Billboard, Country Weekly, MSN Music and the Boston Globe included Lady Antebellum among their annual shortlists of artists to watch in 2008, and Nashville Lifestyles magazine flat-out called them “the next big thing.” GAC has devoted a special, Introducing … Lady Antebellum, to tracing their brief but eventful history.

Martina summed up the general consensus of both fans and the media when she told one audience on their tour together, “You can say you saw them when.”
 
But it all began on that day in 2006 when Hillary Scott’s sultry alto, Charles Kelley’s gritty tenor and multi-instrumentalist/ harmony vocalist Dave Haywood’s musical overview first intersected. Hillary, whose parents are Grammy-winning country artist Linda Davis and accomplished musician Lang Scott, had met Charles at a downtown Nashville music spot—having recognized him from his MySpace page. She introduced herself, and they struck up a conversation that ended in an agreement to try writing together.

Enter Dave Haywood, Charles’ friend since they met at Riverside Middle School in Augusta, Ga., and co-writer since they attended college together at the University of Georgia. Dave had moved to Nashville in March 2006 at his pal’s suggestion, and both were staying at the home of Charles’ brother, singer-songwriter Josh Kelley. Hillary came by the house, and over the ensuing months she, Charles and Dave fell into a fruitful songwriting partnership. “We held ourselves hostage in a writing room until the early hours of the morning every night,” Dave remembers.

At first, the three weren’t sure what exactly they were writing for—but it soon became obvious that Charles and Hillary produced a combustible chemistry as a vocal duo, and that Dave’s instrumental prowess and harmony vocals filled out the picture perfectly. It helped matters a great deal that the three also sparked as friends, finding an easy balance of personalities. “I’m the analytical perfectionist, Hillary brings the silliness and the emotion, and Dave is the calming glue,” Charles explains. “Everyone balances everybody else out.”

Each also brought diverse influences into the collaboration, ranging from The Allman Brothers Band to Vince Gill, from The Eagles to Keith Urban, and from Gladys Knight to Travis Tritt. All those elements added up to something distinctly modern, yet grounded in old-fashioned gut-level passion. “It’s like a Neapolitan blend of all these flavors,” Dave says. “It’s a really great marriage, musically and lyrically.” Their old-school influences led them to choose an old-time moniker, inspired by a just-for-fun photo shoot in front of an Antebellum-style home: Lady Antebellum. (“There’s not anything too terribly meaningful behind it,” Charles admits.)

The three began posting demos on MySpace to see what kind of reaction they’d receive, and visitor feedback was immediately, overwhelmingly positive. Audience reaction was just as instantaneous when Lady Antebellum began playing small gigs around Music City. “It took on a life of its own,” marvels Dave, who booked their first shows himself. “There was no plan, we just kept churning out as many songs as we could.” Early fans soon took it upon themselves to bestow upon the trio the shorthand nickname “Lady A.”

By April 2007, the group had signed a recording contract with Capitol Nashville and begun work on their debut with the aid of megaproducer Paul Worley and award-winning songwriter Victoria Shaw. The resulting album is a vivid document of the group’s verve, versatility and vibrancy. Lady Antebellum’s 11 songs—10 of which were co-written by the band—effortlessly capture the trio’s musical interplay, emotional directness and all-for-one spirit. The chugging hit “Love Don’t Live Here” (inspired by a breakup Charles had just endured) announces their intent from its opening moments, as the chiming guitars give way to Charles’ gutsy voice, quickly seconded by Hillary’s backing vocal. Throughout the album, the two lead singers shift easily between taking the spotlight and sharing it, whether they’re trading off lines in the great tradition of country duet singers or supporting one another with sparkling harmonies.

The range of emotion on Lady Antebellum encompasses both the joyfully romantic “Love’s Lookin’ Good On You” and the desolation of the swelling ballad “All We’d Ever Need” (the very first song the trio composed together). Between those extremes is the driving “Long Gone,” a display of attitudinal assurance from Hillary; “Lookin’ for a Good Time,” an irresistible come-on from Charles; “Slow Down Sister,” a churning rocker with touches of Southern rock and Stax groove; and the pulsing “I Run to You,” in which the voices circle one another tantalizingly before melding seamlessly in the chorus. Fans drawn in by “Love Don’t Live Here” are about to discover just how much more there is to Lady Antebellum—and given the trio’s breathtaking rise to newly minted star status, it’s a sure bet that there are plenty of listeners out there waiting to do just that. “It still overwhelms me,” Hillary admits. “I’m a true believer that what’s meant to be will fall into place. When the ride starts, you’ve just got to jump on.”

With a one-of-a-kind vocal chemistry that evokes the tradition of classic country, an up-to-the-second modern sound, and a songwriting partnership that’s both timely and timeless, Lady Antebellum offers a combination that’s both shockingly fresh and as familiar as an old friend.

The meteoric rise of Lady Antebellum into one of Nashville’s premier vocal groups is the textbook definition of "overnight success." Most overnight success stories are founded on years of toil and hard work and unwavering perseverance. But shortly after friends Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood moved to Nashville and teamed up with Hillary Scott, the talented trio meshed instantly, and Music City was quick to notice—as did Rascall Flatts, who were summarily dethroned from their six-year reign as the CMA Vocal Group of the Year.

Origins and Early Musical Successes
The origins of Lady Antebellum began when friends, singer Charles Kelley and multi-instrumentalist Dave Haywood, began writing music together in Nashville in 2006. Kelley, who is the brother of singer-songwriter, Josh Kelley, had moved to Nashville from Winston-Salem, North Carolina to pursue a career in country music as a solo artist. Prior to moving to Nashville, he had worked with his brother, John, in construction. In Nashville, Kelley and Haywood, his classmate at the University of Georgia, wrote music together.

Soon, Kelley and Hillary Scott, who is the daughter of country singer, Linda Davis, and musician, Lang Scott, got to know each other through the social networking website, MySpace. Scott, who had previously received major-label interest, agreed to team up with Kelley and Haywood. The trio began making music together under the name Lady Antebellum.
Immediate Notice for the Group
Soon after forming, Lady Antebellum gained quick notice from the Nashville music industry. They began performing around town, and the positive buzz surrounding the group spread like wildfire, which resulted in even higher-profile gigs around town. In 2007, just one year after forming, Lady Antebellum made its recording debut as guest vocalists on adult-contemporary singer, Jim Brickman’s, single, “Never Alone,” which reached No. 14 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. Capitol Records signed Lady Antebellum in July of 2007 and sent them directly into the studio to record their debut album.

Debut Album Sizzles
Less than two years after forming, Lady Antebellum’s debut single, “Love Don’t Live Here,” was released in September of 2007. A music video for the song followed in December. The single climbed all the way to No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in May of 2008. The group’s debut album, Lady Antebellum, was released on April 15, 2008, and it became the first country album by a new duo or group to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Album chart.

The group’s second single, “Lookin’ for a Good Time,” was released in June of 2008. It peaked at No. 11 in December of 2008. The trio achieved its first No. 1 country hit in July of 2009 with “I Run to You.” The album, Lady Antebellum, achieved platinum status with the Recording Industry Association of America signifying shipments of 1,000,000 copies in the United States on October 7, 2009.

Lady Antebellum Gains Momentum
Released on August 24, 2009, Lady Antebellum’s fourth single, “Need You Now,” was the lead-off single to their second studio album, Need You Now. The single debuted at No. 50 on Billboard’s Hot Country chart and became the trio’s second No. 1 hit. In 2008, the group took home the Academy of Country Music trophy for Top New Duo or Group, as well as the Country Music Association (CMA) award for New Artist of the Year. They also received a Grammy nomination in 2008 for Best New Artist, while their single, “Love Don’t Live Here,” earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group category.

In November of 2009, Lady Antebellum upset six-time winner Rascall Flatts in the CMA’s Vocal Group of the Year category. They also took home the CMA award for Single of the Year for “I Run to You.”

Country music group Lady Antebellum were formed by Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott in 2006. Charles was the one who initiated the band. He persuaded his old middle-school classmate, Dave, to move to Nashville with him so that they could write songs together.

After successfully dragging Dave to Nashville, Charles met Hillary on MySpace and invited her to join the group. Like many other aspiring musicians, the trio started their career as indie artists. They showcased their talent by performing at local venues in Nashville before sealing a deal with Capitol Records in July 2008.

This band released their debut album "Lady Antebellum" in April 2008. The effort opened at number 4 on Billboard Hot 200 and at number 1 on Top Country Albums chart, selling 47,000 copies in its first week of release. They became the first country music group to have their debut album entering at the top slot of the Top Country Albums.Along with gaining success on the U.S. albums charts, trio Charles, Dave and Hillary also got coveted awards over the course of 2008. They won Top New Duo or Vocal Group at Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards and was named New

Christina Aguilera Biography and Full Profile.

Born Christina Maria Aguilera on December 18, 1980, in Staten Island, New York. The daughter of a military father and a musician mother, Aguilera appeared on Star Search at age 9 and was a cast member of the Mickey Mouse Club for two years before recording the hit duet "All I Wanna Do" in Japan with local pop star Keizo Nakanishi.

In 1998, the pop artist began her rapid ascent to stardom when she recorded "Reflection" for the soundtrack of Disney's Mulan. Her self-titled debut album followed shortly thereafter, with the single "Genie In A Bottle" becoming the biggest selling U.S. single of the year.
After winning a Grammy in 1999 for Best New Artist, Aguilera topped the charts again in January 2000 with "What A Girl Wants" and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You).The savvy release of a Spanish collection of hits titled Mi Reflejo and a cover version of LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade" for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack kept the star in the limelight.

In 2002, Aguilera unveiled a controversial sexually charged image for her second studio album, Stripped. The album's first single, "Dirrty," drew similar controversy for its decidedly steamy music video.

In 2006, Aguilera appeared somewhat more subdued when she released her third studio album Back to Basics. She considered it to be a modern spin on the jazz, blues, and soul music from 1920s to the 1940s. Though one track, "Still Dirrty," indicated that she was not completely shedding her sexy image.

In late 2007, rumors started to swirl around Aguilera about a possible pregnancy. Paris Hilton leaked the news at a September party in Las Vegas, saying "congratulations to the most beautiful pregnant woman in the world" to Aguilera, according to a report in People magazine. Despite this public declaration, Aguilera remained mum on the subject of whether or not she was pregnant.

Aguilera finally confirmed the rumors in early November that she and her husband of two years, music executive Jordan Bratman, were expecting their first child. The singer told Glamour's U.K. edition that her plans for New Year's Eve involve a new baby.

"That'll be about the time I enter into mommy hood so I'm hoping to have started a beautiful family with my husband!" Aguilera is quoted in a story posted on the magazine's Web site. Later that month, a very pregnant Aguilera modeled her baby bump on the cover of Marie Claire magazine.

The couple welcomed Max Liron Bratman on January 12, 2008. On the day of his birth, Aguilera posted a message on her website to her fans. Here is a part of that message, expressing their delight over their new addition: "Today is a very joyful and special day for Jordan and I as we welcome our first son into this world."
The next month Aguilera made her first public appearance since Max s arrival. To promote her new DVD Back to Basics: Live and Down Under (2008), she signed autographs at an electronics store in West Hollywood, California.

Teen pop diva Christina Aguilera was born December 18, 1980 in Staten Island, NY; the careers of her military father and musician mother ensured that the family traveled the globe before finally settling in Wexford, PA. By the time she was five, Christina knew all the songs from The Sound of Music and performed them at neighborhood block parties. It wasn't long before Christina Aguilera was performing the National Anthem at professional sporting events in the area. The youngster first began performing in area talent shows. At age eight, Aguilera appeared on the syndicated television series Star Search.

At ten she sang the National Anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins. When Christina Aguilera was 10, she also went to an open audition for The Mickey Mouse Club. She didn't make the cut, but two years later Disney invited her back. She got a part and became a Mouseketeer working with now-famous co-stars like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez (of *NSYNC ) and Keri Russell from Felicity. Christina Aguilera sang, danced and performed her heart out during her two years on the show.
During her Mouseketeer days, Christina Aguilera caught the eye of manager Steve Kurtz, who requested a demo tape to send to RCA exec, Ron Fair. Amazed by her voice and beauty he offered her a record deal when she was 15. As luck would have it, around the same time he received a call from a friend who worked at Disney who was looking for someone to sing Reflection, the lead song in the upcoming animated Mulan flick. His first thought was his new singer Christina Aguilera. She got the gig and the song was eventually nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture.

After two years on the show, Christina traveled overseas to further hone her musical skills. She recorded the duet "All I Wanna Do" with Japanese pop star Keizo Nakanishi. Aguilera's first pop music success came in Japan thanks to a smash duet "All I Wanna Do".

And later, Christina almost caused a riot at Romania's Golden Stag Festival when she waded into the crowd of 10,000 while performing her two-song set on a bill which included Sheryl Crow and Diana Ross.

Upon returning to the States in early 1998, Christina auditioned to sing "Reflection," a track which appears on her debut album, for Disney's animated film "Mulan." The film makers needed someone "who could hit a high E above middle C" according to Christina, who then cut a one-take demo in her living room singing to a karaoke tape of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Run To You." The demo was rushed to Disney, and within hours, Christina was in a Los Angeles studio recording "Reflection." That same week, RCA Records signed her to a record contract. "Mulan" premiered in America in June 1998, and "Reflection" became a Top 15 US single.

On her self-titled debut album for RCA in 1999, Christina showcased her many talents. From the sparkling upbeat dance-pop of the "Genie In A Bottle" to the soulful gospel strains of "So Emotional" and the awe-inspiring ballad "I Turn To You," Christina's powerful voice intertwined themes of finding one's own identity with the uncertainties of growing up. The album, which Christina says was very scripted for her, leaving her with little real involvement, fitted in with the popular music of the time to reap high sales.

October 2000 saw the release of "My Kind Of Christmas," a soulful collection of sacred carols, holiday pop classics, and newly written songs for the season. Said Christina, "I wanted to bring a real R&B edge to some of these songs. Making the album really unleashed the soul in me. I'd say it's an all-around feel-good album."

Christina was established fully in the industry, having three top 50 US albums, including a massive selling #1, and she said at the time, "It's been quite a roller-coaster ride but I think I've grown and learned a lot about myself. In this business, it's often all about hype, record sales, and parties, and it can be easy to get lost in believing in all that. But I try to monitor myself on a regular basis. The greatest thing is being able to touch peoples' lives. I know that's a greater accomplishment than selling records. I simply love what I'm doing everyday".

However, this joy was not to be for long and after having her heart broken for the first time and experiencing a close to breakdown stage in her life through stress, Christina went off and decided to be normal and rebuild her life. In that time she wrote as a way of relaxing and as therapy and set about recording a new album in 2002. The product, which was postponed and postponed as it was not "perfect" was finally released in October. With a very strong promotional campaign, the lead single "Dirrty" managed to be a worldwide hit. Combining a killer hip-hop hook and R&B chorus, the track hit #1 in the UK, and the only country where it underperformed was in America, where the single did not take off at radio, only reaching #48 in the national Billboard charts. Unbroken by the lack of love America was showing "Dirrty," Christina released "Stripped," her first album in over 2 years where it debuted at #2.

Aguilera topped the pop charts with the single "Genie in a Bottle." Christina Aguilera sold over 10 million copies worldwide in just under a year and turned its namesake into a superstar. She followed this successs with performances at the Super Bowl XXXIII Halftime Show and for President Clinton, and won a Best New Artist Grammy. Just over a year after she released her debut album, Aguilera released Mi Reflejo, a collection of Spanish-language songs, as well as a holiday album.

"Mi Reflejo," Christina's first Spanish language album, was a recording project very close to her heart. Her second album, produced by Latin music master Rudy Perez (Luis Miguel, Julio Iglesias) and recorded in Miami, the album included several new songs as well as five smash English language hits of Christina's, translated and re-recorded especially for the new album. Executive producer Ron Fair, producer Rudy Perez, and Christina sifted through more than 300 songs before making their final selections. Said Christina, "It's very cool for me personally, because it gives me a chance to explore my Latin side, something I've wanted to do for a long time, even before I was signed. I love the Spanish language, which opens up a whole new musical arena for me. This will make my grandparents proud."

Christina Aguilera has had a huge impact on the international music scene since 1999. A huge American story (three #1 smash hit singles, performing for the US President, taking home a Grammy for Best New Artist and a mammoth summer/autumn 2000 tour) has been reflected in her worldwide, and more specifically, her UK profile. Her debut album "Christina Aguilera" has sold thousands, peaking at #14 in the UK album charts, and produced some hugely enjoyable singles, including the two top 3 hits "Genie In A Bottle" and "What A Girl Wants," and it is of course near impossible to avoid the ludicrous media circus which follows her around.

"When you're seventeen years old, green and inexperienced, you're grateful for any guidance and direction you can get." Says Christina on her rocket sled ride to the top following the 1999 release of her eponymously-titled debut album, with its string of consecutive chart toppers, including "Genie In A Bottle" and "What A Girl Wants." It was a feat she would repeat the following year with Mi Reflejo, the smash Spanish language version of her debut, followed by her hit holiday release, My Kind Of Christmas.

Christina is an eclectic, seasoned artist and every single from "Stripped" - in fact every single song on the album - is different, reflecting this. From the jazz soul of "Walk Away" to the rock of "Fighter," to the beautiful ballad "Cruz" and the neo-soul of "Impossible," not to mention the R&B of "Get Mine, Get Yours," no two tracks sound the same. Feeling more "real" and safe inside her own skin, Christina's new image is her most personal and most real.

The sixteen new tracks that comprise Stripped, including her sensational debut single, "Dirrty," showcases an unadorned, unfettered and fearlessly outspoken artist who has liberated herself, her soul and her music on an album that is as much a declaration of independence as it is a convincing demonstration of her fierce and original talent. Simply put, this is the real deal.

Recorded over an eighteen-month stretch, with Christina firmly at the helm every step of the way, Stripped slowly but surely took shape, not only as an exercise in breathtaking stylistic diversity but as a resonant and revealing look into the mind and emotions of a young woman on the verge of personal and professional liberation.

The result is resonant and revealing original tracks that decisively shred Christina's squeaky clean persona, even as they set the stage for a career that, millions of albums and concert tickets later, is only now just getting started.

The proof is all over Stripped, from the opening notes of "Impossible," the smoky ballad by Alicia Keys, to the romantic revelations of "Can't Hold Us Down," featuring the persuasive production of Scott Storch; from the soaring affirmations of "Beautiful," to blistering licks of "Make Over," to the superheated funk of "Dirrty," featuring Redman and Rockwilder. "I loved 'Let's Get Dirty,'" Christina reveals, "So I asked Rockwilder to put something together kind of like that for me." She laughs. "What I got was a little too close, but then I figured, 'Why not?' The track is like an answer song to the original, only from a female point of view."

As much excitement and surprise as a first listening to Stripped might generate, there are other textures, urgent, honest and unguarded, that emerge with time. "Everything I sing about in 'I'm OK' is real," she asserts. "I took it right out of my life and I'm singing it right to my Dad." While another Stripped standout, "Can't Hold Me Down," may at first sound like payback to a certain superstar rapper, for Christina that's hardly the point. "I haven't got time for all that," is her retort. "I'm more interested in helping girls stand up for themselves. That's what the song is about - double standards and how we're supposed to look and act a certain way just to please men. If I have any influence as an entertainer, I want it to be optimistic and uplifting, to make this world a little better place to live."

For Christina Aguilera, it all begins by getting real. "This music is who I am," she confidently asserts. "You can take it or leave it, but I'm not going to change, not for anyone." In the end, she says, it's a tribute to the millions of worldwide fans who have made her a household name. "Fans grow up, too," she smiles. "We're all reaching out for something more real and if we really want it, we're going to find it. This album is for anyone who really wants it."

Alanis Morissette Biography and Full Profile.

Born: 1 June 1974
Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada
Best Known As: Singer of "You Oughta Know"

Alanis Morissette's 1991 album Alanis, a collection of danceable pop ditties, was a big hit in Canada and won Morissette a Juno music award while she was still a teenager. In the mid-1990s she reinvented herself as a mournful rock goddess, and her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill sold millions, won four Grammy awards and rocketed her to fame on MTV and around the world. The album included the hit singles "You Oughta Know," "Ironic" and "Hand in My Pocket." Since then she's recorded albums and toured internationally, occasionally charting on adult contemporary hit lists. Her other albums include Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998, with the single "Thank You"), Under Rug Swept (2002, with "Hands Clean"), So-Called Chaos (2004, with "Everything") and Flavors of Entanglement (2008). Morissette released a greatest hits album and an acoustic version of Jagged Little Pill in 2005.
She played the role of God in the 1999 Kevin Smith movie Dogma... Before her singing career took off, Morissette had a role on the kids' TV show You Can't Do That on Television... From 2004-06 she dated actor Ryan Reynolds.
Morissette took to music at an early age, and was playing the piano by age six and writing songs by age nine. When she was 10, she took part in ‘You Can’t Do That on Television’, a children’s variety show on the TV network Nickelodeon. After leaving the show’s cast, Morissette was signed to MCA Canada at the age of 14 and, in 1991, she released her debut album, ‘Alanis’ (1991). It sold 100 000 copies and earned her a Juno Award in 1992, for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year. The dance-pop album also saw comparisons being drawn between Morissette and other female pop singers at the time like Debbie Gibson, Madonna and Paula Abdul.

Her second album, ‘Now Is The Time’ (1992), a ballad driven album that was slightly less successful than its predecessor. She left MCA soon after, and relocated to Toronto. In 1994, Morissette moved to Los Angeles, where she met songwriter-producer Glen Ballard, who had previously worked with Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand and David Hasselhoff. In spite of her dance-pop beginnings, Ballard and Morissette were determined to pursue an edgier, more ‘alternative’ approach. This resulted in ‘Jagged Little Pill’ (1995), released on Madonna’s Maverick Records.
‘Jagged Little Pill’ struck a malodorous chord that resonated with the mainstream CD-buying public that was wallowing in the last throes of grunge, that welcomed an inward-looking, introspective, self-obsessive type of music that was both angry and cathartic. The lead single ‘You Oughta Know’, typified this attitude perfectly – a bitter, harsh song about an unfaithful lover and his cowardice; an anthem for the millions of jilted people who could identify with her when she sang “It was a slap in the face how quickly I was replaced/Are you thinking of me when you f*** her?” With bassist Flea and guitarist Dave Navarro (both in Red Hot Chili Peppers at the time), as well as Taylor Hawkins (later drummer for the Foo Fighters) as her backing band on ‘You Oughta Know’, it was a combination that could not fail.

But the massive hit on that album was ‘Ironic’, a song that perhaps spawned a million discussions on the lyrics of the song and the meaning of the word “irony”. Comedians and philosophers and linguists alike have pointed out that the events in her song could be seen as coincidental, karmic, bittersweet, cruel or just plain unlucky. (Was it ironic that ‘Ironic’ contained no traces of irony?) Pedantry aside, it was not hard to respond, at least with a wry smile, to lyrics like “It's like rain on your wedding day/It's a free ride when you've already paid” and say, “yep, I’ve had one of those days.”

The album was a massive success, selling more than 15 million copies in the US alone (10 million in UK and Europe). It won four Grammys for Album of the Year, Best Rock Song and Best Female Vocal Performance for ‘You Oughta Know’ and Best Rock Album. She then embarked on an 18 month world tour that culminated in ‘Jagged Little Pill, Live’ (1997), which won the 1998 Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video.

After the tour, Morissette headed to India for six weeks, “the goddess trip”, she calls it. She briefly volunteered at Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity hospital, and also hiked in the Himalayas. She also travelled to Cuba as part of an exchange group (a group that included Leonardo DiCaprio), and it was there she fell in love with actor Dash Mihok (‘The Thin Red Line’ [1998]).

In 1998, Morissette was a guest vocalist on Ringo Starr’s album ‘Vertical Man’ (1998), and on The Dave Matthews Band’s ‘Before These Crowded Streets’ (1998). She also recorded the immensely popular song ‘Uninvited’ for the ‘City of Angels’ (1998) soundtrack.
Later that year, her follow-up album ‘Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie’ (1998) was released – to critical acclaim but commercial disappointment. The anger and rawness of ‘Jagged Little Pill’ was gone. ‘Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie’ eschewed traditional song structures and lyrical formation, making it difficult for radio audiences to get to grips with. The profanities and vitriol were dispensed with, and nowhere is this more evident than on the album’s lead single ‘Thank U’ – the lyrics “thank you India” directly referencing her self-discovery trip to the East and her achievement of inner peace. From angry young woman to tranquil hippie, Morissette’s musical, and indeed personal, direction took another 90 degree turn.

In 1999, the new transcendent Morissette played God in Kevin Smith’s ‘Dogma’ (1999), also starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The film, a humorous indictment of organised religion and especially Catholicism, saw Morissette play a non-speaking, slightly playful and very zen personification of a loving God.

In 2002, Morissette released her fifth studio album, 'Under Rug Swept' (2002), which featured the hit 'Hands Clean' and ‘So Unsexy’, found the singer-songwriter taking the production reins and delivering arguably her most accomplished album. She was also the sole songwriter and producer for the first time. Later in 2002, she released a DVD called ‘Feast on Scraps’ (2002), which was a DVD of live concert and backstage documentary footage, and a CD containing eight previously unreleased songs from the ‘Under Rug Swept’ recording sessions.

In 2004, ‘So-Called Chaos’ was released, her sixth studio album. In ‘So-Called Chaos’, Morissette “revisit(s) her old themes of verbose insecurity, self-discovery, and empowerment” (The New Rolling Stone Album Guide 2004), but “allow(s) her music to stagnate under a pop sheen that…recycles the techno touches and Middle Eastern flourishes of earlier efforts but this time weds them to the weakest songwriting of her career.” The public seemed to agree, and it was Morissette’s lowest selling album.

In 2005, Morissette released an acoustic version of ‘Jagged Little Pill’ to commemorate the album’s tenth anniversary. In the autumn of 2005, she opened for The Rolling Stones on tour, and also released a greatest hits album, ‘Alanis Morissette: The Collection’ (2005). She contributed the song ‘Wunderkind’ to the soundtrack of the film ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ (2005).

In 2007, she recorded a tongue-in-cheek cover of the raunchy and provocative Black Eyed Peas song ‘My Humps’, which she reworked into a piano driven, mournful number. In 2008, she released ‘Flavors of Entanglement’ (2008), where she collaborated with producer Guy Sigsworth (Madonna and Björk). Allmusic.com called her lyrics “a mangled web of garbled syntax, overheated metaphors, and mystifying verbal contortions”, while Rolling Stone saw the music as possessing a “vaguely New Age grandeur”. ‘Flavors of Entanglement’ was called a “classic breakup record” by Allmusic.com, referring to Morissette’s high publicity split with actor Ryan Reynolds and his subsequent defection to actress and bona fide bombshell Scarlett Johansson.
Along with counterparts Jewel and Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette was one of the most successful singer/songwriters to ride in on the second wave of grrrl rock in the mid-'90s. Born on June 1, 1974, Alanis Nadine Morissette and her two brothers were raised in Ottawa, Canada by French-Canadian and Hungarian parents. By the age of 10, the precocious Morissette had landed a role on the Nickelodean TV show "You Can't Do That on Television" and recorded her first single, "Fate Stay With Me." She spent most of her pre-pubescent years performing throughout Canada, singing "O Canada" at sporting events and even making the de rigueur appearance on "Star Search."

The hard work paid off and at 14 Morissette was offered a recording contract with MCA/Canada. Her debut, Alanis, a collection of dance-pop songs, was released in 1991 and went platinum in Canada. That year, Morissette won the Juno award (Canada's Grammy) for Most Promising Female Vocalist. Her sophomore effort, 1992's Now Is the Time, was recorded and released before Morissette graduated from high school.

However, this album -- another collection of teeny bop dance tunes -- sold only half as well as her debut, and at age 17 it looked as if Morissette's career was on the wane. After high school, Morissette moved to Los Angeles where she had the good fortune to hook up with songwriter/producer Glen Ballard, known for his work with Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul and Wilson Phillips. The creative chemistry between Ballard and Morissette was evident from the beginning. Ballard pushed Morissette to pursue darker, edgier themes in her music, venturing away from the cutesy teenager and toward the introspective young woman.

"Most of the songs are, in a roundabout way, actually addressed to myself," says Morissette of her work with Ballard at this time. "There's a certain aspect of the songs that's very confessional, very unadulterated...It was a very unfettered, spiritual experience."

The resulting demo tape was shopped around to the major labels and Madonna's Maverick imprint eventually signed Morissette. Jagged Little Pill, was released in the summer of 1995. On the strength of the break-out single "You Oughta Know," the album reached platinum status and the Top 10. Follow-up singles "Hand in My Pocket," "All I Really Want" and "Ironic" kept Jagged Little Pill on the album charts the next two years, ultimately selling 28 million copies worldwide.

Morissette was showered with industry awards for Jagged Little Pill, including Grammys for Album of the Year, Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album. Her much-anticipated follow-up, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, was released in November 1998 on Maverick has sold over 7 million copies worldwide.

David Basham After finishing her recent tour with Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette has headed to New Zealand and Australia for a month-long tour, though she took time out to tape an episode of "MTV Unplugged" scheduled to air next month. Morissette's stripped-down set was recorded at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in mid-September, during which the Canadian songstress performed acoustic versions of such songs as "You Oughta Know," "Uninvited," and a cover of the Police's "King of Pain." The Alanis Morissette "Unplugged" is currently scheduled to be broadcast on MTV on November 1. Morissette also plans to release an accompanying "Unplugged" album via Maverick Records on November 23, and a version of "That I Would Be Good" from the taping is tentatively set to be issued as a single in early November. The song originally appeared on last year's "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie."

Britney Spears Biography and Full Profile.

Singer, songwriter, actress. Born on December 2, 1981, in Kentwood, Louisiana. For more than a decade, Britney Spears has been one of the most successful—and sometimes controversial—solo acts in popular music. For a time, however, she was better known for her personal struggles. Spears launched her latest comeback in 2008, releasing a new album and setting out on a world tour.
The middle of the three children, Spears developed an interest in performing at a young age. "Ever since I was 7 or 8 years old, my mom would have company over, and I was always performing for everybody in front of the TV. . .Even when I went to school, I was always the weird child; I would go outside and instead of playing, I wanted to have 'Star Search' competitions," Spears told Hollywood Reporter.

When she was eight, she auditioned for a spot on the Disney Channel's The New Mickey Mouse Club. Spears did not get the part, but she did eventually achieve one childhood dream: showcasing her vocal talents on the popular entertainment competition Star Search in 1992.

Spears tried again for The New Mickey Mouse Club when she was 11. This time, she was picked for the cast, which also featured other up-and-coming talents such as Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and actress Keri Russell. Spears appeared on the children's variety show for two seasons. "We had an amazing amazing time; we got to sing and dance and do everything," she later explained to Hollywood Reporter.

After its cancellation, Spears focused on developing her musical career. She eventually landed a contract with Jive Records. In December 1998, Spears released her first single, "...Baby One More Time." The catchy pop tune reached the top of the pop charts at the end of January 1999, propelled in part by its music video. In the video, the teenaged Spears wore a skimpier version of the traditional Catholic schoolgirl uniform, drawing sharp criticism from the parents of her young fans. Despite her racy outfit, Spears claimed to be a sweet, innocent Southern girl at heart.

The entire . . . Baby One More Time album hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts that same year, and went on to sell more than 22 million copies worldwide. At the 1999 Billboard Music Awards, Spears picked up three awards Female Album Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Best New Artist of the Year. She was part of a teenage pop music wave, which included fellow Mickey Mouse Club alumni Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson.
Building upon her meteoric rise, Spears released Oops! I Did It Again in 2000. The recording was an instant No. 1 hit on the album charts, selling more than 1 million copies in the first week. Her personal life was also receiving more media attention, as rumors circulated that she was dating Justin Timberlake, then part of the hit pop group 'N Sync.

With 2001's Britney, Spears made the first move toward shedding her virginal image, while also taking her sound in a different direction. The track, "I'm a Slave 4 U," sounded more like Prince than her bubble-gum pop of the past. "I'd get bored singing the same type of songs all the time. I still love my old stuff, but you have to extend yourself and grow," she explained to Entertainment Weekly. Performing "I'm a Slave 4 U" at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, Spears made heads turn by dancing with a seven-foot albino python around her neck and wearing a barely-there costume.

Britney Spears was born in Kentwood, Louisiana, U.S.A. on December 2nd 1981. "Even as a little baby, Britney was a real darling…she was always being noticed." Says Lynne Spears, Britney's Mom. Lynne has even said that Britney was dancing around at the early age of two. In fact, Britney's parents believed in her abilities so much that Lynne would drive two hours everyday just so Britney could attend gymnastics classes. Although gymnastics was a fun pastime for Britney--the uneven bars and floor exercise were her favorites--she found that she wasn't nearly as strong as the other girls and although she practiced over three hours a day, the moves didn't come near as easy to her. Giving up on gymnastics was a total loss, however, as Britney soon found out that it had developed her skills as a dancer. Changing her goals, the future queen of pop performed at her first talent show at the early age of six. By the time she was nine, she was already traveling around to different dance competitions performing in the jazz lyrical dancing category. Gymnastics and dancing at an early age wasn't the only preparation she did for her future career--Lynne has said that Britney could be found singing all the time. The song "What Child is This" was her first key to stardom--she sang it at her kindergarten graduation. It wasn't until later that Lynne realized that Britney could have a future in singing, when Britney was bouncing around on the trampoline. On top of Britney's singing and dancing as a young child, she also competed in beauty pageants. At five she won first place in the Kentwood Dairy Festival; at seven, she was awarded silver first-prize for Miss Talent USA. And that's not all--the Spears' home is filled with other trophies Britney has collected over the years.

Appearing in talent shows and choirs around her hometown, Britney's talents were obvious from a young age. She auditioned for The Disney Channel's 'Mickey Mouse Club' at the age of eight. Too young for the show, but too talented to dismiss, a Disney producer helped her to get an agent in New York where she spent the next three summers studying performing arts. She began to act in TV commercials and off-Broadway shows. At age 11, with varied and invaluable entertaining experience already behind her, Britney graduated to a coveted place in Disney's 'Mickey Mouse Club'.
Her first real lead was in a comedy called Ruthless. In 1992, Britney left Ruthless and landed a spot on Star Search. She won the first round, but was beaten by another contestant in the second. This setback didn't deter Miss Spears, who knew in her heart that she was destined for greater things. Finally, Britney returned to audition for the MMC again; except this time she was offered a job! Along with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Christina Aguilera, and Kari Russell, Britney rapped, sang, and danced through over 110 skits on the show. After two years, in 1994, MMC was canceled, leaving Britney to wonder what was next.

After a couple of years on the show, Britney went back to New York to start a music career hoping to follow in the footsteps of her idols Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. She started out by recording several songs on a homemade demo and then returned to the person who had helped her out before: Entertainment Lawyer Larry Rudolph. Rudolph immediately set Britney up with Jive Records. After listening to her tape, Jeff Fenster, senior vice president of artists and recording for Jive Records, said, "she was intriguing, so we had her come in and audition for us in person." What did she audition to? "Jesus Loves Me" and "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. After her performance, everyone in the room was amazed and Britney was immediately offered a recording contract.

Shortly after, Jive went to work on Britney's first album. The eleven tracks on her freshmen album were recorded all over the world: from Sweden at Max Martin's studio to New Jersey, where she worked with Eric Foster White. After the production on her CD was finished, Jive set forth on promoting their newest artist. Months before her album came out Britney's name was on teenager's lips everywhere. She even embarked on a mini-tour throughout malls in the US to promote her yet-to-be released CD. Britney then landed the coveted spot as *N Sync's opening act on their 1998 tour. But, that was only the edge of the iceberg for Britney.

In late December 1998, Jive Records released Britney's first single "…Baby One More Time" and by January, it was a number-one hit. Britney's album debuted at number one shortly thereafter, paving the road for one of the world's biggest stars. Unfortunately, in February 1999, Britney's luck took a turn for the worst. While filming the video for her second single, "Sometimes," Britney tore cartilage in her left knee and was forced take a brief break to have surgery. After she was done recuperating, Jive immediately set her up with her own headlining tour sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger. Her 2nd single, 'Sometimes' - a soft summer ballad - was released in June 1999 and was warmly received by a rapidly growing fan base.

After a massive summer tour across North America, Britney returned to the charts with another smash hit, '(You Drive Me) Crazy'. The highlight of 1999 for Britney was performing a poptastic medley at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Dublin, where she was the undoubted star. She won all four awards for which she was nominated. The categories were Best Female Artist, Best Breakthrough Act, Best Pop Act and Best Song for '…Baby One More Time'.

Born To Make You Happy', the fourth single to be taken from Britney's debut album, was released in January 2000 and shot straight into the top of charts around the World, securing her status as a pop phenomenon. In between touring and promotion, Britney recorded new songs for an eagerly anticipated second album: 'Oops!… I Did It Again' was the first single from an album with the same name. Released in April 2000, the melodious and upbeat song, accompanied by a stunning music video directed by Nigel Dick, shot to the top of music charts around the globe. The album release followed, debuting at #1 in the U.S.A., Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and 15 other countries worldwide. Its' reception stamped the title 'Oops!… I Did It Again' with uncanny appropriateness - she had indeed 'done it again!'.

The second single from the album, was 'Lucky' - a bittersweet tale of loneliness and stardom - containing the apt lyrical phrase "the World is spinning and she keeps on winning!" Britney's 'Oops!…' World Tour was announced on May 12th 2000. Her fans couldn't wait to see her perform. The shows packed 90 minutes full of her classic hits, energetic dance routines and magical costume changes. Fans were left in awe. Stronger' - an attention grabbing slice of classic up-beat pop - and 'Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know' - a smooth ballad, co-written by Shania Twain - , followed as the final singles from an exciting sophomoric record, that showed immense growth as a performing artist and a tight relationship with a sound that is undoubtedly 'Britney!' and now?…

Along with her rigorous schedule and the release of her successful 2X Platinum home video Time Out With Britney Spears in late 1999, Britney and her mother have written a book entitled Heart To Heart. As if that weren't enough, Britney has also created the Britney Spears Foundation in conjunction with the Giving Back Fund. Its first endowment is the formation of a performing arts summer camp for underprivileged kids in Massachusetts. "I'm so happy to be able to give kids the opportunity to learn about amazing world of dance and music that I've have been lucky enough to make such a big part of my own life."

Britney has appeared on screen and in print around the globe. 'Time Magazine' (International Edition), 'Marie Claire' (UK) 'Elle' (UK and Japan) and 'Vogue' (Spain) are some of the magazines that have embraced Britney's charismatic image for their cover stories. MTV, CHANNEL V, FOX, M6, RTL, along with a countless number of other television networks and programs around the world, anticipate Britney's new releases as fans would themselves.

Britney co-headlined at the Rock In Rio Festival in Brazil in January, 2001, performing to an audience of over 250,000. Also in January, Britney appeared with Aerosmith and *NSYNC at Superbowl 35 during the half time show, performing Aerosmith's classic hit "Walk This Way". Britney presented and won an award at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards and co-hosted and performed at the 2001 American Music Awards.

In 2001, the reigning Queen of Teen Pop shows us a fresh and more mature side. The new songs on her third album, 'Britney', reflect the changes in her life and her development from a teenage girl to a mature, young woman. Working with producers such as The Neptunes, on the first single 'I'm a Slave 4 U' has allowed her to move on to the next level. Other producers and songwriters on the album include Max Martin, Rami, Riprock 'n' Alex G, Dido, Josh Schwartz and Brian Kierulf of KNS Productions, Rodney Jerkins, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears herself.

In early 2001, Britney sparked her career as an actress, when she began filming Crossroads, a movie which she had a hand in creating. To help promote the movie, Britney began work on a third album, aptly named "Britney".

The first single, "I'm A Slave 4 U" was debuted by a racy performance at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards that still has people talking, more than a year after the performance ended. The album, released November 6, 2001, debuted at #1, making Britney the first artist to have her first three albums debut at #1. The album sold more than 800, 000 copies within its first week. A feat that doesn't quite match her previous attempt, but in comparison to any other female artist, is still an amazing accomplishment. She snatched up the spot for the second fastest selling album by a female artist. (The feat which would later be topped by Shania Twain's comeback album "Up!") Fortunately, Britney still holds the #1 spot.

"Crossroads" was released to theaters in February 2002, bringing in $17, 000 opening week. Not bad for a movie in which the lead character is starring in her first film. In June 2002, Britney opened a restaurant called Nyla (named after her two favourite places in the world: New York and Louisiana). Unfortunately, the restaurant didn't do so well, and in November 2002, Britney pulled out of the restaurant.

In late 2002, she went on a 6-month hiatus from the spotlight to lay low. In early December, the hiatus was called off, and she ventured back into the studio to begin work on her fourth album, later to be titled 'In The Zone'. With this album, she worked with a handful of famous producers, writers and even hooked up with a few people to costar on the album. Producers include Moby, R Kelly, P Diddy and more. She co-wrote 7 of the project's 12 sterling new compositions, collaborating with such heavy hitters as Red Zone ("Me Against The Music," "The Hook Up"), The Matrix ("Shadow"), Moby ("Early Mornin'"), and Cathy Dennis ("Toxic," "Showdown"). Also contributing hit worthy material to the album is R. Kelly ("Outrageous"), Ying-Yang Twins on "(I Got That) Boom Boom."

The musical union of Britney and Madonna within the taut, classic-funk groove of "Me Against The Music" is quite real, though, and it reveals each of them at their most kinetic and soulful. Collaborating with one of her all-time greatest musical influences was a dream come true for Britney. The song's accompanying video clip, directed by Paul Hunter, shows Madonna enticing Britney through a maze-like underground club, only to disappear into thin air when Britney gets close enough to touch her. The clip is rife with symbolic gestures of Madonna passing the baton pop power to Britney --- an image that the young artist finds exciting, humbling, and perhaps a bit premature.

Britney has never had a problem staying in the spotlight with everything that surrounds her. Her career has been built out of controversy and people keep coming back begging for more. In the beginning of her career the hottest talk in Hollywood was that Ms. Spears got breast implants in hopes to boost her image. No sooner did that talk die down before new rumors that she was dating teen heartthrob Justin Timberlake came out. These happened to be true, and Justin and Britney emerged as one of the hottest new couples on the scene. In March 2002, their four-year romance ceased due to various speculated reasons. Justin's "Cry Me a River" video seems to be the only clues as to why their relationship ended, essentially accusing Britney (through a look alike model) of cheating. Britney, however, has chosen to remain discreet about her love life. She did admit that her girl-next-door image wasn't entirely true: after years of speculation, she revealed that she wasn't a virgin. On! top of that, she smoked and drank alcohol. The media had a hay day coupling Britney with every single man in Hollywood, of which Britney can only laugh. Now, Britney has added further controversy to her career by kissing Madonna during their performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, a move that apparent Ms. Spears suggested herself.

In January 2004 she embarked on a bizarre week-long bender in Las Vegas culminating in a 'quickie' Vegas chapel style marriage to school sweetheart Jason Alexander. When the hangover had finally lifted the couple divorced two days later with Britney telling the newspapers: "I wanted to get married, then I ran away". In January 2004 Britney visited London briefly to publicize her new Pepsi TV commercial filmed with Beyonce Knowles and Pink. Amazingly, she managed not to marry anyone. But on September 18, 2004, Ms. Spears became Mrs. Federline when she married her former backup dancer, Kevin Federline. It was the first marriage for Federline, who previously fathered two children with Moesha star Shar Jackson. The two lovebirds honeymooned in various places including Fiji!

Loretta Lynn Profile and Full Biography

Loretta Lynn was born in Butcher Hollow, KY, on April 14, 1934. The second of eight children born to Ted and Clara Webb, Loretta was welcomed with open arms by the young couple. With her parents blessing and encouragement, young Loretta soon found her voice and a place where it would be appreciated. During the first twelve years of her life, she sang in churches and at a variety of local concerts.At age thirteen, Loretta married Oliver "Mooney" Lynn. Within the first few months of marriage, Mooney and Loretta's brother, Jay Lee Web, Jr., hitchhiked to Washington looking for work. Thirteen year old pregnant Loretta stayed behind until Mooney sent money and a train ticket several months later.
Settled into a new state, fourteen year old Loretta gave birth to her first child, Betty Sue, in Custer, WA. As a young mother and housewife, Loretta stopped singing publicly, and shared her passion for music with her young daughter, singing to her regularly.By the time she was seventeen, Loretta had four children. Inspired by his wife's vocal abilities, Mooney bought his wife a guitar on her eighteenth birthday, and Loretta began to teach herself to play. Within a few months, Loretta was writing her own music and with her husband's encouragement, she began singing with a local band on the weekends.Loretta's big break came when Mooney entered her in a local talent contest. Not only did she win, but she also received a personal invitation from Buck Owens to perform on his television show. Her performance was well received and caught the attention of Zero Records, who immediately contacted her and offered a recording deal. Loretta flew to LA in 1960, and recorded one of her own songs, "I'm A Honky Tonk Girl." Zero Records was a small firm and didn't have the money to promote Loretta's new single, so Mooney decided to do it himself. He and Loretta began mailing the record across the country, where it landed in the hands of radio station owners and disc jockeys. Mooney then packed the family and headed for Nashville, where he hoped he and Loretta could plug the record at local radio stations. The song was hit even before they reached Nashville. The single eventually climbed as high as number fourteen on the charts.
Loretta's first single attracted the attention of the Wilburn Brothers, who hired her to tour with them in 1960. After pleading with her to relocate to Nashville, Loretta and family moved to the city in 1960. A year later, she became a regular member of the Grand Ole Opry, had a number one hit album, and gave birth to twin girls.It didn't take long for Nashville to grab on to the rising star. Loretta was offered a record deal with Decca Records, and accepted. "Success," Loretta's first single with Decca Records was released in 1962, and climbed all the way to number six. For the next decade, Loretta released honky tonk hit after hit, all of them reaching the Top Ten List.In 1966, longing for her own sound, Loretta strayed from Honky Tonk, and began recording singles that she had written. Over the course of the next four years, Lynn pulled in 13 Top Ten hits, and was hailed the best country music lyricist ever.

In 1970, Loretta became the first ever female country artist to receive a gold album. Conway Twitty and Loretta formed a partnership and released 5 successful hit songs. They were awarded Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association, and released seven more Top Ten hits.In the mid 1970s, Loretta put pen to paper, writing the autobiography, "Coal Miner's Daughter." Six years later, in 1976, Loretta's book became a New York Times best seller. The book would eventually be adapted to the screen in 1980, and become a critically acclaimed hi,t with Sissy Spacek winning an Oscar for her performance. While the movie and the movie's theme song climbed the charts, Loretta became the only female country to to appear on the cover of Newsweek, in 1973.Despite her immense popularity as a result of the movie, Lynn's never regained her popularity in the music world. Her concerts were well attended, but record sales were down. She had two Top Ten hits in the he 1980s and was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, but still made the decision to back away from the recording studio, so that she could focus her efforts on performances.

Today, Loretta is a successful businesswoman who owns her own music publishing company. She also owns and operates a Dude Ranch and campground in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, featuring a plantation styled home that is an exact replica of her childhood home. Loretta continues to perform across the United States, and has released several singles. Loretta and Mooney's children take turns balancing the responsibilities of the Loretta Lynn Ranch and Campgrounds in Tennessee, and several serve as part of her touring entourage.

Singer, songwriter, musician, and author. Born Loretta Webb on April 14, 1934 (some sources say 1935), in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky. Lynn grew up in a small cabin in a poor Appalachian coal mining community. The second of eight children, Lynn began singing in church at a young age. Her younger sister Brenda Gayle Webb also later become a singer, performing as Crystal Gayle.Lynn married Oliver "Mooney" Lynn just a few months before her 14th birthday in January 1948. The following year, she and her husband moved to Washington State, where he hoped to find better work opportunities. Lynn stayed home to look after their growing family. The couple had four children together by the time Lynn turned 18. Encouraged by her husband, Lynn decided to pursue her interest in music. She landed a contract with Zero Records in 1959, and her first single was "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl." To promote the song, the Lynns traveled to different country music radio stations, urging them to play it. Their efforts paid off—the song became a minor hit in 1960.Moving to Nashville in late 1960, Lynn worked with Teddy and Doyle Wilburn, who owned a music publishing company and performed as the Wilburn Brothers. This soon led to a contract with Decca Records. She scored her first big hit with 1962's "Success."

During her early days in Nashville, she befriended singer Patsy Cline. Cline helped the naive young singer navigate the tricky world of country music. Lynn was heartbroken when Cline was killed in a 1963 plane crash. "When Patsy died, my God, not only did I lose my best girlfriend, but I lost a great person that was taking care of me. I thought, Now somebody will whip me for sure," Lynn later told Entertainment Weekly.
In 1964, Lynn scored a string of top 10 country hits, including "Wine, Women, and Song" and "Blue Kentucky Girl." Soon recording her own material, Lynn told the stories about all sorts of relationships. The singer had a talent for capturing the everyday struggles of wives and mothers in her songs, while injecting them with her own brand of humor. She, however, did not shy away from more controversial material, tackling the Vietnam War in her 1966 hit "Dear Uncle Sam."Lynn reached the top of the country charts with "You Ain't Woman Enough (to Take My Man)" in 1967. That same year, Lynn won the award for Female Vocalist of Year from the Country Music Association. She continued to enjoy great success with songs featuring an assertive yet humorous female perspective. "Don't Come Home A 'Drinkin (with Lovin' on Your Mind)" involved a wife telling her husband to forget any amorous intentions, which she penned with country star Kitty Wells. Another classic Lynn tune was "Fist City," a lyrical tell-off from one woman to another over her man.

Lynn shared her own personal experiences growing up in "Coal Miner's Daughter," which became a No. 1 country hit in 1970. The song told the story of her childhood, growing up poor but happy. Teaming up with Conway Twitty, Lynn won her first Grammy Award in 1971 for their duet "After the Fire Is Gone." This song was only one of many successful duets that the pair made; other hits included "Lead Me On" and "Feelin's." These collaborations explored romantic relationships—often adulterous ones. They won the Vocal Duo of the Year award from the Country Music Association for four consecutive years, from 1972 to 1975, for their songs.

Katy Perry Profile and Full Biography

Birth Name : Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
Height : 5' 8" (1.73 m)
Spouse : Russell Brand     (23 October 2010 - present)
Trade Mark : Contralto vocal range
Born: October 25, 1984
Famous as : Singer, songwriter
Birth Name :Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
Birth Date :October 25, 1984
Birth Place :Santa Barbara, California, USA
Spouse :Russell Brand (actor/comedian, since 23-Oct-10)
Claim to fame :Single "I Kissed a Girl" (2008)

 Katy Perry Profile and Full Biography
A former Christian artist, Katy Perry rebranded herself as a larger-than-life pop star and rose to prominence during the summer of 2008. Before she topped the charts with songs like "I Kissed a Girl" and "California Gurls," though, she spent the better part of a decade recording music under a different name. Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (or Katy Hudson, as she billed herself on her 2001 gospel album) was born on October 25, 1984, in Santa Barbara, CA. Raised in a religious household as the daughter of two pastors, she was forbidden to listen to secular bands as a child, although a childhood slumber party introduced her to the music of Alanis Morissette and Freddie Mercury. Religious music remained at the forefront, however, and Katy released a self-titled Christian album in 2001 under her original name. She would later abandon the genre (and her given surname) in favor of a pop career.

At age 17, she began working with hitmaker Glen Ballard, who had produced and co-written Alanis Morissette's chart-topping Jagged Little Pill in 1995. Several years later, she teamed up with the Matrix, a Grammy-nominated production/songwriting team whose résumé included collaborations with Avril Lavigne, Shakira, and Korn. Tired of producing music for other artists, the Matrix had plans to record an album of their own, with Perry serving as one of the group's two singers. The project was ultimately shelved, but not before Perry appeared in a 2004 write-up by Blender magazine, who hailed her as "the Next Big Thing!
With the Matrix's unreleased album sitting in the vaults at Sony Records, Perry went back to the drawing board and began working on a solo album for Columbia. The project was eventually canceled, although two of its songs were later given to Kelly Clarkson, who scored a Top 40 hit with "I Do Not Hook Up" several years later. Perry (who, by this point, had shed her original surname due to its similarity to actress Kate Hudson) then signed with Capitol, who encouraged their new client to write her own music and helped establish her image as a boisterous, tongue-in-cheek pop star. Perry's debut single, "UR So Gay," generated a small buzz with its mischievous lyrics and clever music video, but it was "I Kissed a Girl" that proved to be her breakthrough hit, topping the charts in 20 countries and pushing its accompanying album, 2008's One of the Boys, into the Top Ten in America. Perry supported her debut by joining the Warped Tour that summer, where she toured alongside her boyfriend at the time, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes. Meanwhile, "Hot N Cold" became her second multi-platinum hit, "Thinking of You" (one of the album's three songs written solely by Perry) cracked the Top 40, and "Waking Up in Vegas" cracked the Top Ten.
Katy Perry with bikini.

Such success meant that Katy Perry had officially become one of the industry's biggest pop stars, celebrated as much for her outsized behavior and outrageous fashion choices as the music itself. She continued touring through the summer of 2009 (albeit without McCoy, whose boyfriend status had been revoked earlier that year) and found time to tape an installment of MTV Unplugged, which was released in November. Meanwhile, she worked on a new album and started up a whirlwind romance with comedian Russell Brand, eventually becoming his fiancé. Recording sessions for her album wrapped up in early 2010, and Perry scored her second number one single with “California Gurls,” which was released that May. The accompanying album, Teenage Dream, followed in August. Andrew Leahey, Rovi