Christina Aguilera

Christina María Aguilera (born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and dancer. Aguilera is known for her strong voice, which can reach high notes, and for changing her style throughout her career. She is often called the "Voice of a Generation" and was even named a Disney Legend for her work with The Walt Disney Company.

Christina Aguilera
Aguilera performing on the Liberation Tour in 2018
Born	Christina María Aguilera (1980-12-18) December 18, 1980 New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupations	Singer songwriter record producer actress television personality television producer dancer model
Years active	1993–present
Spouse	Jordan Bratman ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2011)​
Partner(s)	Matthew Rutler (2010–present; engaged)
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop soul hip hop dance Latin
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	RCA
Website	christinaaguilera.com

Aguilera first appeared on The All New Mickey Mouse Club in the 1990s, then sang the song "Reflection" for the movie Mulan in 1998. She became famous in 1999 with her debut album, which had three number one songs in the U.S. – "Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants", and "Come on Over Baby (All I Want is You)". Wanting to change her teen image, she released Stripped in 2002, which became one of the best-selling albums of the 2000s. She later released Back to Basics in 2006, which was praised by critics. Some of her hits during this time include "Lady Marmalade", "Dirrty", "Beautiful", and "Ain't No Other Man".

In the early 2010s, Aguilera worked on popular songs like "Moves like Jagger", "Feel This Moment" and "Say Something". with the first of these reaching number one. She also acted in the movie Burlesque (2010). Aguilera was also a coach on The Voice from 2011 to 2016, acted in other films, and worked with the World Food Programme to help fight hunger.

Christina has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the best-selling music artists ever. She is considered one of the greatest singers of all time and was named one of the most influential people in the world in 2013. Her awards include five Grammy Awards, two Latin Grammy Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is also known for helping promote Latin music in the early 2000s.

Early life

Christina María Aguilera was born in Staten Island, New York, on December 18, 1980. Her parents Fausto Xavier Aguilera, was a soldier in the United States Army and Shelly Loraine (née Fidler), was a violinist and pianist, respectively. Her father has Ecuadorian ancestry. Her American mother has German, English, Irish, Scots-Irish, and French ancestry. Throughout her father's service in the Army, her family moved to various locations, including New Jersey, Texas, New York, and Japan. Her parents divorced when Aguilera was six years old. She, her mother, and her younger sister Rachel then lived at her grandmother's home in Rochester, Pennsylvania, a town outside Pittsburgh. Her mother later remarried.

Career

1990–93: Career beginnings

Aguilera made her debut in Star Search in 1990 at age 8, singing a cover of "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston. Three years later, she starred on The New Mickey Mouse Club. She starred alongside entertainers Britney Spears, Fergie, Ryan Gosling, JC Chasez, and Justin Timberlake.

1999–2001: Christina Aguilera

In May 1999, Aguilera released her first single, "Genie in a Bottle" which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks and became the second best-selling song of 1999. The song was a global hit, reaching number one in over 20 countries, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Her first album, Christina Aguilera, followed in August 1999, receiving critical praise and entering at number one on the US Billboard 200. The album sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and Aguilera won the Best New Artist award at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Aguilera continued her success with "What a Girl Wants", which became the first new number one song of the 2000s, and was also nominated for a Grammy. She followed this with "I Turn to You", which reached number three, and "Come on Over Baby (All I Want is You)," her third number one hit. In September 2000, she released Mi Reflejo, her second album, which topped the Billboard Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts for 19 weeks. The album, featuring Spanish versions of her songs and new tracks, sold six million copies in Latin countries and won Best Female Pop Vocal Album at the Latin Grammy Awards.

In October 2000, Aguilera released My Kind of Christmas, which initially received mixed reviews but later became a holiday favorite. It topped the US Top Holiday Albums chart, and that year, Billboard named her the top female pop artist. She also filed a lawsuit against her manager, Steve Kurtz, and hired a new manager, Irving Azoff, to take control of her career. In 2001, Aguilera worked with Ricky Martin on "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely," which topped charts worldwide and reached number 13 on the US Hot 100. She also joined Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink on "Lady Marmalade" for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack, which became another number one hit and won a Grammy.

In August 2001, Aguilera faced legal battles over the release of Just Be Free, an album of demo songs she had recorded in the mid-1990s. Although she initially sued to stop the album's release, the case was settled, and the album was released by Warlock Records.

2002–03: Stripped

After changing her management, Aguilera replaced her teen pop image with a new identity called Xtina. She dyed her hair black, got tattoos, and pierced her body, which sparked negative comments from some fans. In September 2002, she released "Dirrty", a song that received mixed reviews and peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video, which featured sexual themes, led to protests in Thailand, where it was banned on TV. Despite this, "Dirrty" became a hit in the UK and Ireland, earning its place as a fan favorite.

Aguilera’s fourth album, Stripped, was released in October 2002, with Aguilera working heavily on its creation and writing many of the tracks. The album received mixed reviews but was successful, entering at number two on the Billboard 200. In the UK, it sold over two million copies and became one of the best-selling albums by an American female artist in the 2000s. Stripped eventually sold 12 million copies worldwide.

The album's second single, "Beautiful", was widely praised for its message of self-acceptance and became popular within the LGBT community. It reached number two on the Hot 100 and topped the charts in several countries, including the UK, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. The song won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards. Other successful singles from the album included "Fighter", "Can't Hold Us Down" and "The Voice Within".

In 2003, Aguilera went on The Justified & Stripped Tour with Justin Timberlake, performing across North America and grossing over $31.8 million. Later that year, she also toured Europe, Asia, and Australia on The Stripped Tour. At the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, she performed with Britney Spears and Madonna, famously kissing Madonna during the show, a moment that became one of the most talked-about performances in VMA history. That same year, she hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards, where her sexual performance as a nun earned media attention, and she was named Billboard's Top Female Pop Act.

2006–08: Back to Basics

In June 2006, Aguilera released "Ain't No Other Man" as the first single from her fifth album. The song was praised by critics, who compared her to older singers like Etta James and Aretha Franklin. It became a big hit, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling 1.7 million copies in the US. The song earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Her fifth album, Back to Basics, was released in August 2006, inspired by music from the 1920s to the 1950s. The album combined old-school styles with a modern sound, and it entered at number one on the US Billboard 200. This was her first album to top the charts since 1999. Back to Basics was well-received and sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Singles like "Hurt" and "Candyman" also performed well in the charts.

In November 2006, Aguilera performed "Steppin' Out with My Baby" with Tony Bennett at a television special, and their performance was nominated for a Grammy. She also sang on Diddy's hit song "Tell Me," which was popular in the UK.

Aguilera then started the Back to Basics Tour, which visited North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The tour was a major success, earning $48.1 million, making it the highest-earning female tour of 2007. In February 2007, she did a highly praised performance of "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" at the Grammy Awards. In September 2008, she released "Keeps Gettin' Better" ahead of her greatest hits album, which entered at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

2010–11: Bionic

In 2009, Aguilera was named the twentieth best "Artist of the Decade" by Billboard and received a nomination for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Act Ever. She announced that her sixth studio album would be released in March 2010, but later delayed it to June. In April 2010, she released the album's first single, "Not Myself Tonight", which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. She also performed the song on The Oprah Winfrey Show and released the second single, "Woohoo" featuring Nicki Minaj.

Her sixth album, Bionic, was released on June 6, 2010, entering at number three on the Billboard 200 and topping the charts in Europe and the UK. The album, influenced by electronic music, was described by Aguilera as being "about the future" and inspired by her son. While it received mixed reviews, with some praising it in parts, Bionic sold over one million copies globally. The singles "You Lost Me" and "I Hate Boys" were released, but a planned tour was canceled.

Aguilera starred in her first feature film in 2010's Burlesque, where she played a waitress turned burlesque performer. The film opened in November 2010, and that same week, Aguilera received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Though the film received mixed reviews, Aguilera's performance was praised, and it earned US$90 million. The film was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 68th Golden Globe Awards.

Aguilera sang eight tracks on the Burlesque soundtrack. The album reached number 18 on the Billboard 200. Aguilera's song "Bound to You" earned a nomination for Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards, and the album was nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards. Aguilera also performed "Express" on The X Factor UK, though the performance faced negative comments for its sexual content.

2012–13: Lotus

In April 2011, Aguilera became a coach on NBC's The Voice, a role she would continue for the second, third, fifth, eighth, and tenth seasons. In the same year, she featured on Maroon 5’s hit song "Moves like Jagger," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. The song's success made Aguilera the fourth female artist to top the chart across three decades. "Moves like Jagger" was also nominated at the Grammy Awards.

In September 2012, Aguilera released "Your Body," the lead single from her seventh album, Lotus. The song performed well, reaching number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart and number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Lotus came out in November 2012 and was described by Aguilera as a "rebirth." While critics found the album more straightforward than her previous works, it peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200. The second single, "Just a Fool," a duet with Blake Shelton, received positive reviews and was performed live on The Voice and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

In 2013, Aguilera featured on Pitbull’s "Feel This Moment," which became one of her top-ten hits, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was performed at various major events, including the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. Later in 2013, she collaborated with A Great Big World on "Say Something," which reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy. Aguilera also sang on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack with the song "We Remain," which she performed on The Voice.

In January 2014, Aguilera joined Lady Gaga for the remix of "Do What U Want," replacing R. Kelly following news of his sexual abuse. The two performed the song together on The Voice. In 2016, Aguilera released the single "Change" after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.

2018–19: Liberation

In March 2018, Aguilera announced that she finished her new album and appeared on the cover of Paper Magazine, which got a lot of attention. She released her album Liberation on June 15, 2018, and it got good reviews. She had been working on the album since 2015, mixing R&B and hip-hop music. Liberation entered at number six on the Billboard 200 chart, making it Aguilera’s seventh album to reach the top ten in the US. The album had several singles, including "Accelerate" featuring Ty Dolla Sign and 2 Chainz, which became her tenth number one song on the Billboard Dance Songs Chart. Two other songs from the album, "Fall in Line" with Demi Lovato and "Like I Do," were nominated for Grammy Awards.

To promote Liberation, Aguilera went on her first tour in 10 years called The Liberation Tour, which happened from September to November 2018 in the US. The tour got great reviews from critics who loved her singing and stage presence. Billboard called it one of the best shows of 2018, and it made $8.7 million with 77,854 people attending.

In May 2019, Aguilera started her first concert residency, Christina Aguilera: The Xperience, at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. She performed 25 shows there until March 2020. Between these shows, from July to December 2019, Aguilera also went on The X Tour, a tour across Europe and Latin America.

2022–present: Aguilera

In early 2020, Aguilera recorded two songs for Disney's Mulan movie: "Loyal Brave True" and a new version of "Reflection." "Loyal Brave True" was released in March 2020 and received positive reviews. It was even considered for an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. The re-recorded "Reflection" came out in August.

Aguilera released her ninth album, Aguilera, on May 31, 2022. The album was split into three parts: La Fuerza, La Tormenta, and La Luz. The full album came out on September 30, 2022. Some of the singles from the album were "Pa Mis Muchachas," "Somos Nada," and "Santo." The album was well-received by critics, and it appeared on many year-end lists. Aguilera toured Europe and the UK to promote the album, and the tour was praised.

Aguilera won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the Latin Grammy Awards. The album also got two nominations at the 2023 Grammy Awards, including Best Latin Pop Album. The song "No Es Que Te Extrañe" was nominated for Record of the Year at the Latin Grammy Awards.

In August 2024, Aguilera headlined Summer Sonic in Chiba and Osaka, Japan.

Artistry

Aguilera possesses a four-octave soprano vocal range. She is also recognized her ability to sing in the whistle register.

She lists Cher, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Pearl Bailey, and the bands Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N' Roses as her musical influences.

Personal life

Aguilera has two children, son Max Liron Bratman (born January 12, 2008) from her former husband Jordan Bratman and daughter Summer Rain Rutler (born August 16, 2014) with her current fiancé Matthew Rutler. Both of her children were born via cesarean section.

Discography

See the main article: Christina Aguilera discography

Albums

Studio albums

• Christina Aguilera (1999)
• Mi Reflejo (2000)
• My Kind of Christmas (2000)
• Stripped (2002)
• Back to Basics (2006)
• Bionic (2010)
• Lotus (2012)
• Liberation (2018)
• Aguilera (2022)

Soundtracks

• Burlesque (2011)

Compilations

• Keeps Gettin' Better – A Decade of Hits (2008)

Other websites

• Official US website