Fantasia

Musician

Like legendary torch singers Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald before her, Fantasia Barrino endured a rags-to-riches story peppered with abuse, scandal, and the heavy price of fame. She rose out of obscurity after winning the hit singing competition series "American Idol" (Fox, 2002-16), and went on to release chart-topping albums, act on television, and write The New York Times best-selling memoir, Life Is Not a Fairy Tale (2005). Barrino also took Broadway by storm with a critically lauded performance in the musical adaptation of "The Color Purple" (2005), which showcased her powerfully raw and emotional vocals. Her real life drama, including a suicide attempt in 2010, played out for all to witness, yet Barrino's audacity and survival instincts helped her overcome such obstacles and come out as one of the foremost vocalists of her generation.